URI GLOBAL COUNCIL MEETING 2007 IN ANTWERP

The UNITED RELIGIONS Initiative’s Global Council and Staff gathered in Antwerp , Belgium last June, 2007 for their annual meetings to deepen relationships, exchange knowledge and experiences and to co-create vision and plans for URI’s growth and development in the coming years.

We were graciously hosted by URI Europe in the beautiful grounds of the Theological and Pastoral Center in Antwerp . The staff and volunteers of Bond Zonder Naam ("Movement without a name") CC were great hosts. We thank Fr. Patrick Hanjoul, the dynamic Director of the movement for their great hospitality.

“A THRESHHOLD MOMENT FOR URI” was the theme of the meeting of the three day Global & Regional Staff (June 6-8). Seven years after the signing of URI’s Charter and with over 350 CC in more than 60 countries of the world and the enormous challenges, URI is now poised to enter a new, dynamic stage of growth and development...
(to read the full story and see more photos, click here: http://www.urigcmeetingantwerp2007.blogspot.com/ )

Editorial: ENVISIONING URI IN THE REGION AT ITS THRESHOLD

by Sr. Sandra G. Clemente, RSCJ

Dearly beloved URI co-workers,

United Religions Initiative (URI) as a global organization is now seven years old from the time of its charter signing in June 26, 2000. We are not a “toddler” anymore as we are now beginning to enter the world of “knowing and learning”. In the process of human development, the child at this stage not only grows physically and intellectually but spiritually as well. In a similar manner URI is now entering the world of “knowing and learning” and the organization has now begun to ask a lot of WHY & HOW questions.

Indeed, URI as a global organization is now at a threshold - a moment of joy, a celebration of continued hope for the future at this critical stage of our growth. During the Global Council (GC) meeting, we were able to cross some challenges and envision DREAMS of a brighter future for URI.

The URI Foundation has been affirmed and its organizational structures and governance have been approved. Its role in forging the future of URI as an organization has been laid, and this brings joy and hope for the global URI family, including our region, Southeast Asia & Pacific.

Another significant decision made at the GC was the amendment of extending the term of service of a Global Council Trustee from one term of three years to three terms. It is at this point of the process where I, as a current trustee, really felt the immensity and depth of our responsibilities in the whole URI organization. This is one of the thresholds we had crossed that will remain in my memory forever.

For me, this threshold is a leap of faith that will keep us on the path towards that image of what I have always envisioned URI doing: “gathering all the leaders of different faiths from the different nations in the world in one circle-- to discuss, reflect on and decide upon the future and safe-keeping of the world”. This is a very powerful vision indeed!

And how does this relate with our region? What repercussions do such processes have for us?

My co-Trustees in the region, Dr. Ratnam Alagiah and Dr. Amir Isahak, together with our Regional Coordinator, Dr.Shakun Vaswani and myself, as well as all the other officers and trustees from the other regions were given some time during the GC meeting to ponder on these questions and plan for these visions. In our attempt to see where we are going as a region for the years ahead, we have identified several strategy points like: Network-building with other non-government organizations (NGO) and the media; More visible and active involvement in local/national as well as international interfaith dialogues/conferences; a strengthened Support Structure, Communication, and Public Relations; creation and development of leadership training for peace-building; even working towards a URI-SE Asia Pacific Center and Training Institute!

As we continue to plan for the growing presence of URI in more SE Asia-Pacific countries, we also envision strong, well-trained and active Cooperation Circle (CCs) members (most especially, youths) ready to take on leadership roles in the region and global organization.

As I share with you these bright visions I am filled with gratitude and honor in being a part of this newsletter, and to share as well the reflections and stories of hope and inspiration that have fueled these dreams-- bringing them to reality.

Together, let us dream and manifest a URI future in our region with vibrant, self-witnessing, self-reliant CCs that will share its LIGHT and PEACE to the world! We may begin by looking ahead to a full-force participation in the URI GLOBAL ASSEMBLY in Mayapur, in India on November 2008!

Yours in Peace,

Sr. Sandra G. Clemente, RSCJ

Reflections: WHEN SIDDHARTA AND JESUS MEET

by Mr. Michael Lim, Unitarian Universalist from Malaysia

I wish to reflect on the tale of two masters – Siddharta and Jesus – two individuals whose life stories have touched the lives of billions for over two thousand years.

Siddharta (meaning “wish fulfilled”) Gautama or better known as the Buddha was born about 500 years before Jesus in Lumbini in the plains of what is today called Nepal. He was a prince who had everything while confined within the walls of their palace. When he finally saw the reality of human suffering in the outside world he gave up his affluent life to seek enlightenment through ascetism and meditation. He eventually found it and dedicated the rest of his life teaching loving kindness, compassion, mindfulness, tolerance and understanding.

Five hundred years later, in a very different part of the world, in what is today called Palestine and Israel, another master, whom we know by the name of Jesus, was born. Jesus unlike Siddharta, was not a prince but the son of a poor carpenter. He did not live in a palace and probably lived a simple life of poverty. We do not know too much about his youth except that he was also a wanderer and at about the age of thirty, he went into the desert to meditate for a long period. When he emerged, he experienced enlightenment, and like Siddharta went about preaching his message of love, compassion, justice and understanding.

How is it that two very different people, living 500 years apart and going through vastly different experiences and history; one the son of a king, the other a son of a carpenter, ended up walking the same spiritual journey and preaching the same spiritual truths? No doubt there are differences between the two; but I think they have more in common than most of us think.

The famous Vietnamese Buddhist monk,Thich Nhat Hanh, said that he was asked the question, “ If Jesus and the Buddha met today, what do you think they would tell each other?” He answered, not only have they met today, they met yesterday, last night and also will meet tomorrow. The spirit of Jesus and the Buddha is in all of us – the spirit of love and compassion. It is up to us to be in touch with it; to make it alive; to share it with others. There is no conflict between the Buddha and Jesus. They are real brothers. A Christian is a child of Jesus, a continuation of the spirit of Jesus. A Buddhist is a child of the Buddha, a continuation of the spirit of the Buddha. Just as you are a child of your father and mother who are the children of your grandfathers and mothers. How do you keep alive the memory of your parents? By living and practicing the values they taught you.

When my mother passed away in July 2005, my son, Michael had this to say: “Some people leave behind large fortunes when they pass away, but this money is of little consequence in the long run. Far more important is how they have lived their lives and the lessons they taught those around them….Although we say good by to her for a final time today, I know that she will always be with us, in our thoughts and memories, as well as who we are and how we choose to live.”

So it is true to say that when a Buddhist meets a Christian, the Buddha is meeting Jesus. What do they ask or tell each other? Who are you? What are you here for?

If I ask you these questions, what are your answers?

For most people they will say I am John (my name), or I am a teacher (occupation), I am a Filipino (nationality), I am a mother (familial role), I am a Christian (religion) etc.

One day someone asked me whether I am a Catholic, Protestant or a Buddhist? I answered that I am a bit of each and all of the above. She was quite shocked and I did not have time to explain to her.

I consider myself, first and foremost, a human being, a child of God, a citizen of the world. I seek the commonalities that bind us together as human beings, while appreciating and enjoying the differences between us. If there were no differences, life would be boring. However, it is through this bond of commonness and understanding that we build a better and more loving world; a heaven on earth, rather than a heaven after life. Heaven is not the absence of suffering; it is where love and compassion exist.

Let each of us seek that spirit that Siddharta and Jesus taught us, to live it in our lives, to meet each other daily as Jesus met the Buddha in the past, present and future.

Mr. Lim has formerly worked in the Philippines as an executive in an international bank . During his stay in the country he has contributed to the Peacemakers' Circle programs, and was instrumental in the formation of the Unitarian Universalist Community in Manila.

InterSPECT: THE GOLDEN RULE

InterSPECT (Interfaith Perspectives) features centeral themes and subject matters viewed from the perspective of the different religions and faith traditions.

The GOLDEN RULE is the most fundamental common ethical denominator of all religious and non-religious belief systems on Earth.

In fact, the GOLDEN RULE is a rather simple but very profound precept.
It means: “TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED” or “Do not treat others as you would not like to be treated”.

This is the basic law of peaceful human coexistence and can, therefore, be characterized as the mother of ethics or the constitution of humankind.
As a matter of fact, the GOLDEN RULE is found in the holy scriptures of all major religions and faiths – in different words but with the same divine meaning.

Below are the interpretations of the Golden Rule in the different faith traditions:

HINDUISM:
"This is the sum of duty: do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you."
— Mahabharata 5:1517

JUDAISM:

What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor: that is the whole Torah (the basic law); all the rest of it is commentary; go and learn."

— Rabbi Hillel, Talmud, Shabbat 31a

ZOROASTRIANISM:"That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself"

— Dadistan-i- dinik 94:5

"Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others."

— Shayast-na- Shayast 13:29

BUDDHISM:

"A state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?"

— Samyutta Nikaya v. 353

"Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful."

— Udana-Varga 5:18

CONFUCIANISM:

"Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you"

— Analects 15:23

"One should not behave towards others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself"

— Mencius VII.A.4

TAOISM:

"Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss."

— T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien 213-218, Lao Tzu

SHINTOISM:

"The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there your own form"

JAINISM:

"A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated."

— Sutrakritanga 1.11.33, Mahavira

CHRISTIANITY:

"In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law (of God) and (the teachings of ) the prophets."

— Matthew 7:12 ; Luke 6:31

ISLAM:

"No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself."

— Hadith of an-Nawawi 13

SUFISM:

“If you haven't the will to gladden someone's heart, then at least beware lest you hurt someone's heart, for on our path, no sin exists but this."

— Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh, Master of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order

SIKHISM:

“Do as you desire goodness for yourself as you cannot expect tasty fruits if you sow thorny trees.”
— Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Slok 23, p. 1379

BAHA'I:

"Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not."

"Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself."

— Baha'u'llah

"And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself."

— Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

WICCA:
"And it harm no one, do what thou wilt."
— The Wiccan Rede

PIMA (Native American):

"Do not wrong or hate your neighbor. For it is not he who you wrong, but yourself."
(a Pima proverb)

YORUBA (Nigeria):

"One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts."

INDIGENOUS SPIRITUALITY:

"Do not strive to cause your neighbor’s undoing, for as you strive for your own good treatment, so render it to others."

TAGALOG SPIRITUALITY (Filipino):

"That which you do not want others to do unto your spouse, child and sibling, do not do to another's spouse, child and sibling."
— Emilio Jacinto, Kartilya ng Katipunan

ANCIENT GREECE:

"Do not do unto others what angers you if done to you by others."

— Isocrates (436-338 BCE)

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM:

"We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent of all existence of which we are a part."

— Unitarian Principles

There are many other moral values and ethical standards which are shared by all faiths and belief systems, like the respect for human rights (i.e. every human being must be treated humanely), love and compassion, justice, caring and sharing, environment (nature) protection, honesty, integrity, accountability, etc.

Let us try to make the Golden Rule and the many other common ethical standards and shared moral values to be accepted as the global ethic of human kind by as many people as possible!

We should do this not only in our families but also in the school system. This means that education about the Golden Rule, shared moral values and common ethical standards should become an integral part of the curricula. Such an education would be a peaceful but forceful weapon against the spread of extremism on all sides.

Obviously, if the great majority of people practice the Golden Rule, we would definitely live in a better and much more peaceful and just world.

(by Peter Schier, Konrad Adeneur Foundation & inaugural member of MIN-CC, Malaysia)

LISTENING TO THE OTHER: Peace & Taoism

Listening is the essence of true dialogue. It is about silencing our minds so that we can hear what is in the heart of the “other.” This space is for essays and articles from friends and supporters of the Circle. We invite you to engage in the spirit of dialogue by “listening” to what is being said with openness, respect and understanding.

Peace Among Religions: A Taoist Perspective

by Mr. Tan Hoe Chieow*

Each and every religion teaches mankind to be peaceful, righteous, virtuous, kind and loving.

All conflicts, be they political, religious or racial must be resolved WITHOUT violence.

To quote some verses from the Tao Te Ching (Chapter 8), the sacred scripture of Taoists:

The sage’s way, Tao is the way of water.
There must be water for life to be, and it can flow wherever.
And water, being true to being water is true to Tao.

Those on the way of Tao, like water need to accept where they find themselves;
And that may often be where water goes to the lowest places, and that is right.

Like a lake the heart must be calm and quiet having great depth beneath it.

The sage rules with compassion, and his word need to be trusted.
The sage needs to know like water how to flow around the blocks and how to find the way through without violence.

Like water, the sage should wait for the moment to ripen and be right: water, you know, never fights, it flows around without harm.

Man, especially political and religious leaders, need to learn how to flow like water. Like water flowing around blocks, they need to learn how to find the way through challenges WITHOUT violence.

All conflicts must be resolved at the negotiating table, through negotiations and dialogue. All avenues must be exhausted to achieve a peaceful solution to conflicts.

Malaysia had often been looked up to as a model country where its citizens of diverse religions, cultures and races living peacefully and harmoniously together. One of the main reasons is that Malaysians display the highest level of TOLERANCE. But more importantly is UNDERSTANDING. Inter-religious dialogue should be held more often to promote understanding of each others’ religions. Understanding comes with respect. We must respect others if you want others to respect you.

As it is said in Chapter 1 of the Tao Te Ching:

"Follow the nothingness of the Tao; and you can be like it, not needing anything, seeing the wonder and the root of everything.”

This means we must be humble and Selfless.

In Chapter 3 it was mentioned:

“If the sage refuses to be proud, then people wont compete for his attention.
You see if there is nothing to fight for, then there is nothing that can break the flow.”

We must be humble and generous and graceful in what we do, without ever claiming any merit. Our greatness lies in taking no credit.

We must be selfless, we are nothing, we are not important and always look after the interest of others. Then we can see the goodness and the root of everything.

Man must live in peace and harmony among religions. We must be tolerant, understanding, respect and trust one another. All these are universal values of all religions that must be practiced.

We must adopt the Golden Rule that was the fruition from the last conference on Religious Harmony:
“Do unto others what you want others to do unto you“ and “Do not do unto others what you do not want others do unto you.”

This conference on Peace among Religions had indeed brought people of various religions together working in close cooperation to promote Peace among Religions, globally and regionally, But it should not stop there. It should go down to the basic unit, the man on the street, to the villages and housing estates.

Malaysia’s unique “Open House” for Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Christmas and Deepavali should be continued as these activities provide interactions among the races.

I would suggest that residents Association or Rukun Tetangga be roped in to organize inter-religious dialogue and conferences that will promote peace among religions.

Tao zu chi bei!

Mr. Tan Hoe Chieow is the Secretary General of Federation of Taoist Association in Malaysia. He presented this article during the Peace Among Religions interfaith conference organized by InSaF URI KLCC on March 18, 2007 held at the Singhasana Hotel in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

EMBRACING DIVERSITY with Dr. Judy Banu (Catholic from the Philippines)

This is an interview section with practitioners of interfaith dialogue. In this issue, we feature Dr. Judy T. Banu, DVM, RN, a Folk-Catholic from Manila, Philippines. She is a former board member of The Peacemakers’ Circle CC.

TCC: What is your faith tradition?

Judy: I was raised in a traditional Catholic family. Going to other churches was considered taboo. But later on, questions kept cropping up. These questions weren’t easy to answer so the SEARCH for answers began. I got involved in different spiritual groups and tried visiting other churchewhen friends invited me. However, I did this without having to convert to another faith.

Later on, I became an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher and met and made lasting friendships with people of different faiths and nationalities. The journey brought me back to my own faith.

Now, I have a deeper appreciation and understanding of Catholicism as I realized that while no single dogma is perfect, it could be a guide to perfection. What matters most is what is in a person’s heart and the effort he/she exerts to achieve perfection.

TCC: What are your experiences in interfaith dialogue?

Judy: Even before becoming a member of The Peacemakers’ Circle I believe I was already involved in interfaith dialogue. This would happen during my English class when my students would ask me about my religion. Instead of avoiding the question I would try to answer them in an informative and sensitive way, taking care not to offend anyone and controlling my emotions whenever I receive offensive comments from anyone.

It was also during my life as a full-time English teacher when I met the members of Shinji Shumei Kai (a Japanese spiritual organization). It was a Shumei friend, Yoshiyuki, who brought me to The Peacemakers’ Circle Interfaith Dialogue Center. At the first encounter I immediately liked what I saw and I resonated instantly with its activities. It was then that I found a name for what I have been doing all along—“interfaith dialogue”.

At one point, we had a Jordanian and a Moslem who lived with my family for two years. Mealtime was a leisurely experience then as we usually share the richness of our faith traditions without disagreement or debate and always in the spirit of learning and understanding.

TCC: How has interfaith dialogue enriched you?

Judy: Interfaith dialogue has not only enlarged my world, but it also extended my family. Furthermore, It has helped me answer many, if not all, of the questions that has bothered me about my own faith. It has made me a more accepting and more understanding person. It has made me a better listener and has taught me restraint and sensitivity. I would not be what I am today without the love and support of my interfaith family.

TCC: What teachings from your faith enabled you to appreciate interfaith dialogue?

Judy: I would quote my favorite passages from the Christian scriptures: “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brother-- that you do unto me.”

Another one is: “There will come a time when man will no longer worship in the temple but in spirit.”

TCC: What personal message would you like to share to the readers?

Judy: It is natural to fear what we do not know. But our weapon against ignorance is knowledge. We acquire knowledge through learning. And we learn by keeping an open mind and heart. Others may think that the wars will not end, and that peace can never be achieved.

But I say that understanding ourselves and being at peace with ourselves and our God would eventually help us understand and make peace with others.

URI SEAP Family welcomes new CCs in the region!

Mabuhay, TULAY CC - Bohol, Philippines!

TULAY (a word in the Filipino language which literally means “BRIDGE”) stands for Trust, Understanding & Learning Among Youth. The name says it all— our CC’s purpose is to serve as venue for us youths to trust, understand and learn from each other. In establishing our group and registering as a cooperation circle we commit to contribute our time and talents to serve the purpose and vision of the URI.

Our CC has a total membership of 12 youths with ages 16 to 33. TULAY CC’s religious, spiritual, indigenous diversity includes: Roman Catholic, non-denominational Christian, Islam & Baha’i.

TULAY CC plans to visit each other’s places of worship as part of our mutual learning and bridge-building activities. We also intend to visit remote areas in our province to inspire other youths, and expand of our membership. We also plan to campaign for our identified advocacies of ending the wars in Mindanao and responding to the global climate crisis. We hope to sponsor movies like AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH to show it to as many youths as possible.

CC Contact: LUDWIG BON M. QUIROG (warlock_avatar@yahoo.com)

Selamat Pagi, Malaysian Interfaith Network (MIN) CC!

The Malaysian Interfaith Network is a pre-existing organization that was launched in February 15, 2003. Represented by different religious leaders, it aims to organize programs to get Malaysians to practice unity, peace and the common values of different religions in order to create a more harmonious and peaceful society in multi-racial and multi-religious Malaysia.

Its theme is based on The Golden Rule: “Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated”—which is found in all the scriptures of major religions. This is MIN’s response to the need to promote common moral values found in different religions.

MIN’s Mission is primarily three-pronged: 1) to proactively promote DIALOGUE between faith organizations in Malaysia; 2) to foster better UNDERSTANDING of common concerns and values and areas of contention; 3) to organize specific ACTIONS, sharing information, service and advocacy.

Aside from the URI Charter, MIN draws inspiration from two documents as their guiding vision statement, namely: 1) the DECLARATION ON RELIGIOUS HARMONY which was signed by representatives of all faiths on September 16 2001 in Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA; and 2) The TAIPING DECLARATION on the CULTURE of PEACE which was adopted at the International Seminar of cities, meeting in the Peace Park in the historic town of Taiping (which means “Everlasting Peace”) in Malaysia on September 2001.

Some MIN key projects include an interactive website, a program on promoting The Golden Rule, an action calendar—Days of Action, how to make international days (UN days of Environment, Tolerance etc) work for promoting interfaith Harmony—A “Malaysia Day of Harmony” September 16 (the day Malaysia was established) is planned. Currently, MIN membership is composed of 22 people coming from the Muslim, Roman Catholic & Protestant, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Baha’I faith traditions.

CC Contact: Dr. John Gurusamy johngurusamy@gmail.com, http://www.malaysianinterfaithnetwork.net/

(Written by M. KRISHNAMOORTHY)

Welcome Peace, Justice and Harmony (PJH) CC - Sydney, Australia!

The PJH CC was recently formed through the encouragement of Mr. Sabapathy Alagiah (from Mozambique CC) and Dr. Ratnam Alagiah (from Gold Coast CC) and our members all agreed to name it: PEACE, JUSTICE, HARMONY (PJH).

Our purpose is to learn from and study the different religions and faith traditions in order to promote understanding, mutual respect and tolerance and to contribute towards bringing an end to religious motivated violence , and towards peace, justice and healing for mankind and all living things on earth.

Our religious, spiritual, indigenous diversity includes: Baha’is, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists.

At the moment all the members have agreed to meet and decide of our future plans and goals, and the first project we want to do is to plant a Peace Pole. We plan to involve the local council and the representatives from various religions to be present in this gathering.

CC Contact Person: Nemat Sabapathy (adib9@unwired.com.au)

COMMON CC EVENTS IN AUSTRALIA (Regional update)

"HEALING LOVE IN ACTION”

(In conjunction with Heart Flow Worldwide; SLAM; UNESCO Clubs; & APNIEVE)

Over 150 people gathered on April 29, 2007 for the event that was held at the Sanctuary of the Heart, Daylesford, Victoria.

The panel discussion moderated by Margaret Coffey an ABC presenter looked at healing and what it means for each religion. In the panel we had Uncle Reg Blow (Aboriginal elder); Jessiee Kaur-Singh (president of COMMON and Sikh representative); Dr. Farvardin Daliri (Baha’i), director migrant resource of Townville, Joy De Leo, president of APNIEVE from South Australia, Ron Laurie, president of SLAM, Yasser Soloman from Islamic Society and Bishop Neville Anderson.

With a room full of people who only want to feel and give love this conference flowed smoothly from one session to another. It feels like this is the beginning of joining people to support one another, creating connections that will bring people to feel they can be at one and always feel loved. Where isolation is a thing of the past and links and bridges replace. In our uncertain, changing society we need to create these events more and more so those who are fragile can feel it’s ok to laugh, cry and show emotions. The conference was born out of love and enveloped the message of unconditional love to those we mix with and interact with. It’s a clear sign that times are changing, truth, justice, honesty and freedom can become our reality.

(a report by Helen Greenway )

Living under Civil Laws and Religious Laws in Australia: Conflict or Harmony?

The Multi-Faith Centre of Griffith University organized and hosted a one-day public inter-faith forum on the 1st of May, 2007. It was very encouraging that over 120 participants attended the forum from diverse faith, interfaith, social and governmental agencies, communities and organizations from Qld, NSW and Victoria.

The Forum consisted of four panel sessions exploring the subthemes: Sharia Law and Living as Muslims in Australian Society; Respecting Faith “Laws” Codes and Doctrines and Australian Civil Law: Jewish and Christian Perspectives; Practicing Hinduism, Buddhism, & Sikhism under Australian Civil Law; and Responses: Social, Cultural & Legal Perspectives
COMMON CC president, Jessiee Kaur-Singh who is also the Multifaith Director of UNITEDSIKHS and the multifaith representative of the Sikh Council of Australia was one of the panelists. She highlighted the problems the Sikhs were facing especially since Sept. 11, and talked of the importance of equity for all.

(a report from http://www.commonmelbourne.com/)

SEEING THE WORLD THROUGH WAITANGI: Reflections on Building Bridges

3rd Asia-Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue

Waitangi, New Zealand (May 29 - 31, 2007)

SPECIAL REPORT

by Marites Guingona-Africa

The Peacemakers' Circle URI CC Philippines

I was privileged to be part of the Philippine delegation that was among the 150 delegates representing the diversity of religions and cultures in 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. We gathered together in Waitangi, New Zealand from May 29 to 31, 2007 to “Build Bridges” of interfaith understanding and cooperation in our parts of the world. Being the third in the region, the conference built on the commitments from the 1st Asia-Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue Conference in Yogyakarta , Indonesia in December 2004 and the 2nd Conference in Cebu , Philippines in March 2006.

At the conference, New Zealand Prime Minister, Rt. Hon Helen Clark, acknowledged the rich diversity in our region “where all the world’s major religions are represented,” and called on “responsible nations and people of good will to build bridges across the divides of our societies." Her call was echoed by the other nation leaders who expressed hope that despite our differences in culture and beliefs, we, in Asia and the Pacific, will be able to create “greater mutual understanding and respect for each other” and “deeper interfaith ties within the region towards building a culture of peace.” This is a “shared journey that demonstrates the diversity and openness of our societies,” it was said. The role of regional dialogue in connecting religious leaders and faiths across the region was deemed of great importance, and building bridges at all levels of society was called for.

The resulting Waitangi Declaration recommended that faith leaders and governments establish and facilitate faith and interfaith points of contact at the local and national levels; that there be further exchanges between people (e.g. youth, students, teachers, religious leaders, academics) of different faiths, within and between countries, and at the grassroots communal levels; and that faith groups and civil society develop partnerships with each other and with governments to work for social and economic justice, minority empowerment and reconciliation among conflicting groups within society.

The sense that something big and awe-inspiring is happening in our midst heightened my awareness of the significance of the URI. I spoke of the URI before the plenary during the first day of the conference as I responded to the talk of Dr. Zainal Abidin Bagir of Indonesia on the challenges and opportunities of Interfaith Action for Peace and Security.

This 3rd Asia-Pacific Regional Interfaith Conference in Waitangi had me experiencing, for the second time in my life, the sense of awe at seeing the world the way I envisioned the world to be, the realization of the kindom of God here on earth. The first time I had that experience was in 1999 at the URI Summit in Stanford University in California where two hundred people from diverse religions, spiritual expressions, and indigenous traditions gathered together in the spirit of mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation to articulate their hopes, dreams and aspirations for the world in the United Religions Initiative Charter! I feel blessed to have borne witness to two momentous occasions in history!

On the third and last day of the conference, we, the 150 delegates, came up with a plan of action focusing mainly on three areas of concern: Building bridges, Education (with emphasis on the strengthening of intra-faith dialogue); and the role of Media.

As I listened to the various articulations of our highest hopes, dreams and aspirations, and bore witness to the gentle workings of the human spirit in seeking wholeness for itself and oneness in our midst, I could not help but realize that, truly, we are at the threshold of something big and awe-inspiring happening in the world!

Back home, as I reflect on the Waitangi experience, I am filled with hope and joy knowing that there is a growing awareness in our midst of the need to cross the great divides in our parts of the world and to collaborate with one another. But I also realize that the best action plan that I could take in this direction is that of disarming the heart and speaking the language of the heart so that all of us may come together to that "safe space," that "sacred ground" of our common humanity, and together we can bring forth the triumph of our human spirit!

DIALOGUE WORKSHOPS FOR MUSLIM YOUTHS HELD IN MANILA (Newsbrief)

The Peacemakers’ Circle has recently conducted two workshops on The Art and Soul of Muslim-Christian Dialogue for two groups of Muslim youths from the Manila district. The first workshop was held on February 25, 2007 for 22 youth members of the Filipino Muslim Foundation Youth Council for Peace and Development (FMYCPAD), and was conducted at the office of its co-organizer, the Filipino-Muslim Foundation, Inc. (FilMus) in Ermita, Manila.

The second workshop was conducted on April 3, 2007 in Quiapo, Manila for the 24 members and friends of the Integrated Muslim Students Association of the Philippines (IMUSTAPHIL) who were gathered together by another partner organization, the Agama Islam Society (which is led by The Peacemakers’ board member, Alim Said Basher).

The one-day workshop was designed to introduce and orient Muslim youth leaders to ways of engaging in Muslim-Christian Dialogue in building relationships of mutual respect, understanding and cooperation with Christian youths. This is in response to the expressed need to help the young Muslim leaders develop interest in participating in the endeavor of promoting peace and harmony between Muslims and Christians in the metropolis.

The workshop engaged the participants in conflict awareness exercises, viewing of the “In the Light of the Crescent Moon” Peacemakers’ DVD-documentary, lectures on Muslim perspectives on dialogue and relationship-building, and a demo-lecture on “Aikido as a Way of the Peaceful Warrior”. The two workshops were also made possible through the support of the Miriam College Center for Peace Education.

INTERFAITH DIALOGUE WORKSHOP FOR EDUCATORS HELD AT MIRIAM COLLEGE (Newsbriefs around the region)

On March 28, 2007 The Peacemakers’ Circle was invited by the Griffith Multifaith Center (Queensland, Australia) in partnership with Miriam College Center for Peace Education and the Silsilah Dialogue Movement of Mindanao to co-facilitate a workshop for educators entitled: “Promoting Understanding, Respect and Harmony Among Faiths for a Culture of Peace”. Held at the Caritas Hall of Miriam College campus in Quezon City, the one-day workshop was attended by around 50 representatives from various non-government, academic and peace institutions—from all over the country. With the support of the Australian Government through the Strengthening Grassroots Interfaith Dialogue and Understanding Program of the Australian Embassy, the workshop brought to Manila educators from Mindanao, the Cordillera, and other regions.

The event was organized with the aim of: enhancing the knowledge, and pedagogical skills of educators in Philippine schools, especially from the Mindanao region, in educating for understanding, respect and harmony among communities of different faiths in the Philippines; strengthening the educational and leadership roles of educators in the Philippines in building a culture of peace and non-violence in their school communities: and fostering cooperation and linkages among educators, administrators and schools in Manila and other regions with colleagues from Mindanao, especially from conflict zones, thereby enhancing interfaith understanding and acceptance.

The program consisted of interfaith prayers for the opening and talks from a panel of interfaith speakers showing perspectives of diverse faiths on key issues and themes related to building a culture of peace in the Philippines. Dr. Shakun Vaswani and Ms. Marites Africa of The Peacemakers’ Circle shared from the Hindu and Christian perspective respectively. Sharing from Islam was Ms. Mucha Shim-Arquiza of the Lumah Ma Dilaut Center, from the Buddhist perspective was Prof. Toh Swee-Hin of the Griffith Multifaith Center, and Ms. Beting Colma of the Manobo tribe, speaking for an indigenous spiritual tradition of Mindanao.

Case studies and best practices of multifaith and interfaith dialogue initiatives were also presented by representatives from organizing educational institutions and NGOs. Dr. Loreta Castro and Ms. Jasmine Galace talked about the Miriam College Center for Peace Education, Fr. Sebastiano D’ambra represented Silsilah Dialogue Movement in Mindanao, and Prof. Toh and Ms. shared the Griffith University Multifaith Center). Ms. Africa represented The Peacemakers’ Circle with a powerpoint presentation of its beginnings, various programs and current projects. The afternoon sessions consisted of a lectures on pedagogical principles and a workshop on the integration of interfaith perspectives in educational programs.

THE SYMPHONY OF WORLD PEACE PRAYERS AT MT. FUJI (Newsbrief)

On May 20, 2007 the Byakko Shinko Kai (White Light Spiritual Organization), with the support of the World Peace Prayer Society (WPPS) and the Goi Peace Foundation, held its Third Annual Symphony of Peace Prayers at the Fuji Sanctuary (located at the foot of Mt. Fuji) in Japan. The event gathered together more than 10,000 Japanese participants and hundreds of leaders and representatives from different faiths from over 80 countries.


In conjunction with this event, the Byakko Phils.—in cooperation with The Peacemakers’ Circle—organized a connecting activity of meditation and prayers for world peace through body prayers and mandala-writing held at the Peacemakers’ Interfaith Dialogue Center in Quezon City to synchronize and synergize with the major event happening in Japan on the same day. Simultaneously, other connecting activities were also held elsewhere at the Center for Migrant Youth in Quezon City; Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (SFIC) – Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation Commission (JPICC); Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters and Kalinaw URI Cooperation Circle in Cebu (led by Sr. Sandra Clemente, RSCJ).

Newsbriefs around the region: FIRST PHILIPPINE CONVERGENCE FOR HUMAN SYNERGY

On May 26, 2007 representatives from The Peacemakers’ Circle attended the First Annual Philippine Convergence for Human Synergy held in Quezon City. The whole day event was organized by SanibLakas ng Taongbayan Foundation under the initiative of its Lead Founder and Executive Director, Mr. Ed Aurelio “Ding” Reyes (also a recent regular attendee of the Peacemakers’ Tuesday Inner Work Circle).

The talks, group discussions and paper-reading (and even the community singing!) centered around the significance of cooperation, interconnection, and human synergy as a necessary factor in consciousness and social transformation, and nation-building. Also featured in the gathering were the convergence events in Mt. Fuji (Symphony of Peace Prayers), as well as the Silo’s message convergence at Punta de Vacas, Argentina on May 3-5, 2007 (where also around 10,000 people were gathered). Although not as many as tens of thousands in number (compared to the events in Mt. Fuji and Argentina), the conference which was attended by only about 24 participants was a humble—yet timely, significant and historic—contribution of the Philippines to the world synergy of convergence and the celebration of the oneness of humanity amidst these times of awakening.

THE URI GLOBAL COMMUNITY: An inspirational message from the hub

A Reflection from the URI President, RET. BISHOP WILLIAM SWING

Five years ago a few men commandeered four airplanes. Two crashed into the World Trade Center Towers and one into the Pentagon. This scene of horror was motivated by a conviction that God would be praised by such devastation. Two years ago hurricanes Katrina and Rita carved a path of destruction through Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and Alabama, causing many people to wonder if there was a message from God in those events.

One year ago a tsunami washed away villages, towns, adults and children throughout the Indian Ocean region. Flurries of articles were written by believers and non-believers as to whether God had visited these places with divine justice.

The question arises: can the hand of God be perceived by sifting through the rubble created by planes, hurricanes and tsunamis?This kind of question was once raised in Hebrew Scripture. Elijah, a prophet, went up to Horeb, the mountain of God. While he was standing on the mountain “Behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains…but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake; but the lord was not in the earthquake; and after this earthquake, a fire, but the Lord was not in this fire, and after the fire, a still small voice.” (I Kings, 19:11-12)

How to make sense of the world where constant claims are being made that destruction is god-like, god-inspired, god-pleasing? How to make sense of a God who may well be recognized in the unfolding of human and natural drama? Clue: trust the still small voice.

In interfaith dealings, people of various religions don’t agree on doctrines or dogmas. Nevertheless, despite wide and deep chasms gouged by centuries of differing beliefs and conflicting destinies, there is a bridge connecting the various boundaries, a bridge where orthodoxies are not threatened and actual accords can be discovered. The bridge is formed by sitting together, quietly, in common respect for the still small voice.

Almost any ritual of one religious group has the potential to offend people of other religious groups. If that is the case, can people of differing religions find any middle ground for being together reverently? Yes, we can all be quiet together, on alert to hear the still small voice. This has promise and actually happens.

Personally, I muse about the core of the United Religions Initiative effectiveness, i.e. the basic Cooperation Circle (CC). What each CC is supposed to do is not handed down from headquarters. Instead, it is discovered in locales around the world. At least seven people of three or more religious/spiritual traditions sit together until it becomes clear as to their unique and inspired agenda. The question is always, “What should we do together? What is to be our common vocation in the local community? Where does a still, small voice direct us in finding a common vocation for the good of all life?”

All options are self-generated and all of them are tested by the participants. There is no book of objectives to choose from. Each CC is on its own to weigh the possibilities. To sit quietly together and pay attention to the still small voice that matters ultimately. And, once there is agreement, action commences.

The 14th Principle of the URI Charter states: “We have the right to organize in any manner, at any scale, in any area, and around any issue or activity which is relevant to and consistent with this Preface, Purpose and Principles (of the URI).” The entire enterprise holds together in trusting each other’s discernment of this tiny body’s primary focus. Something special happens when peoples of different faith traditions map out their specific destinies together. Today we are witnessing a burst of energy globally as new Cooperation Circles come into being daily and the world begins to change in an interfaith direction.

Interesting enough, after 9/11, people around the world began to turn to the URI in hope. After hurricanes Katrina and Rita, URI volunteers flooded the South. After the 2005 tsunami URI CC’s all around the Indian Ocean began to respond to the devastation and are still hard at their tasks today.

The genius of the Elijah story would say that the will of God could not be recognized in the crashing airplanes or in the howling winds or in the rising, rushing water. But afterwards, in the still small part of the heart, the conscience, the exposed soul, a voice was heard. That voice collects people together and propels them in a clear, good direction. Paying attention to the still small voice is, in my opinion, at the center of the URI. It is the essential context in which we discover our core authority and find our mutuality. We never make a noise unless we are silent.

The Power of Prayer

by Mother Mangalam (spiritual leader of the Pure Life Society in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Prayer is an invisible power generated by pure thought force, directed by our will to the object of our love. The purer the thought the more powerful becomes our prayer― more so if it comes from the depths of silence within us.

In the depths of silence lies dormant the creative energy that gives shape to the trillions of objects that we behold with our naked eye. The manifestation of that creative energy or force becomes a reality sooner or later depending much on pure thought force stemming from the elements of sincerity and faith in the individual. Of course, the force of will has to come into play. And if the human will merges into Divine Will there need be no doubt of its materialization.

Prayer that has its root on pure thought-force exudes positive energy and gains momentum, and its velocity increases as the earth rotates and consequently has a boomerang effect on the individual who says the prayer. Therefore, it behoves on the individual to nurture pure thoughts at all times. The world and all its creatures benefit through the generation of this positive energy. The Cultivation of Inner Silence is the slogan that can bring forth miracles through the power of prayer.

URI-SEAP Regional E-Newsletter Vol. II No. 1 (Jan - Mar 2007)

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:
Dr. Amir Farid bin Dato Isahak

MANAGING EDITOR:
Shakuntala Moorjani-Vaswani

PUBLISHERS:
URI SEAsia-Pacific Regional Office & The Peacemakers' Circle

CONTRIBUTORS:
Rev. Charles Gibbs
Dr. Shakun Vaswani
Ms. Marites Africa
Mother A. Mangalam
Mr. Bob Guerrero
Mr. Alfred Tay
Mr. Orlan de Guzman, Jr
Mr. Mike Alar
Ms. Michelle Sia