Too often, interfaith meetings end in grand declarations, plans, commissions and admonitions on improving relations. Here, though is something simple and true, a most valuable call from this important conference:
“If we want to achieve peace, all individuals first need to try to bring peace to our hearts. That individual peace will transmit from one to another.”
“Burma’s first Catholic cardinal Charles Bo agreed.
And we of IRFWP agree whole-heartedly (ed.)
Religious leaders, peace activists and parliamentary members at the pre-celebration of International Day of Peace on Saturday in Rangoon.
RANGOON — Burma’s religious leaders have joined together in urging people to continue building peace on an individual level throughout the country.
Following the new government’s Union Peace Conference—the initial national level peace negotiations that will continue in the coming months at the state and divisional levels—Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and Hindu religious leaders called on people to cease the misunderstanding and hatred between different ethnic and religious communities, at the pre-celebration of the International Day of Peace in Rangoon on Saturday.
Ashin Issariya, a Buddhist monk and writer, told participants that previously there had been misunderstandings and hate speech spread among different communities because there had not been open discussions held in the country.
“We all need to cooperate in building peace. We all have a duty to stop hate speech, which can cause unrest,” Issariya said. “If we want to achieve peace, all individuals first need to try to bring peace to our hearts. That individual peace will transmit from one to another.”