‘Religious harmony has been traditionally followed in India’

Religious leaders from different faiths attended the ‘World Peace and Harmony Through Inter-Faith Dialogue’ on Friday, marking the foundation day of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti, an organisation run by a Jain monk.

Held at Birla Matushri Sabhagar, Mumbai, among those who attended were Sri Sri Ravishankar of Art of Living, scholar of Geeta and Mahabharat Rameshbhai Oza,  30th Jathedar of Akal Takth Jathedar Giaani Gurbachan Singh, spiritual luminary from Sindhi community Dada JP Vaswani, cleric from Muslim community Dr Imam Umer Ilyasi, Buddhist monk Gyalwang Drupka, Dr Binny Sareen of Brahma Kumaris, and Acharya Lokesh, Head of the Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti, the organisers of the event.

Among non-religious leaders who attended the meet were Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind, and Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment at the central government Ramdas Athawale.

“All religions of the world are similar. Religion is never a hurdle or barrier; people treat it as so. Great rulers like Ashoka and Akbar never enforced any religion,” said Kovind.

“Happiness and peace are inter-dependent. If all religious leaders agree to live in peace, the world will be a happier place,” said Rinpoche.

Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar emphasised on three things for world peace: Passion, dispassion, and compassion. “It is important that people sit and talk to each other,” added Rameshbhai Oza.

Singh, on the other hand, stressed on the importance of truth. “Till the time there is no peace of mind, a man is not happy. Even emperor Ashoka did not have peace of mind after the brutal war of Kalinga. It was only after he embraced the eight-fold path of Buddhism that he gained respite,” said Athawale.

Meditation experts who attended the event suggested meditation as a means to gain solace. “The best way to have peace in one’s life is through meditation,” said Dr Sareen, adding “the other important thing is to accept one’s fault with an open heart”.

Sharing an example of co-existence, Imam Ilyasi said that India has traditionally honoured different religions. “Once, when I was meeting Kanchi Sankaracharya, aarti was about to take place. Around the same time, there was a call for azaan from a nearby mosque. Hearing the azaan, activities at the temple were paused for a while. When I narrated this to the Imam of the mosque where I had gone to perform namaaz, he said that is the tradition here,” recalled Ilyasi.

The chief guests, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis skipped the event. However, Fadnavis’s wife attended the meet.

At the event it was also decided that the organisers will raise money for the education of the children of the Sukma martyrs.