Indore, MP — The political leader of Tibet Dr Lobsang Sangay called on world political and spiritual leaders gathered for the 3rd International Dharma-Dhamma Conference in Indore city of Madhya Pradesh on Monday to take firm action on 'Harmony of Religions', urging them to explore shared values of the world's major religions.
Speaking at the conference, Dr Lobsang Sangay, Sikyong or the democratically elected political leader of the Tibetan people greeted the people gathered in the hall before addressing the global dangers of unlimited power.
The organisers said the idea behind this conference was to "bring about solidarity, peace, prosperity and welfare in the world through the agency of religion— seeking to explore shared values among different religions of the world."
According to the organisers, hundreds of political leaders and religious scholars from across India, Southeast Asia and around the world took part in the conference.'
In the Valedictory Session, along with HH Shri Shri Ravi Shankar and Hon Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chauhan, as the Distinguished Guest of Honour.
Sikyong began his speech by quoting His Holinesss the Dalai Lama, "my religion is simple. My religion is kindness" and underscored the importance of compassion as a core essence of leadership, giving a call to religious and political leaders to incorporate compassion in their official activities.
He said, "compassionate gurus lead to harmony of religions while compassionate leaders lead to the welfare of humankind."
He stated that spiritualism is not the problem, but the interpretation, raising the question 'how should the interpretation be?'
Sikyong quoted Mahatma Gandhi and said, "Like the bee gathering honey from different flowers, the wise person accepts the essence of the different scriptures and sees only the good in all religions."
He explained that the original teaching of all religions is status less and calls for love, compassion and non-violence, as is evident in the Christian holy book where it says, "So in Jesus Christ you are all children of God".
"In Hinduism it says "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" meaning the world is one family while we Buddhists call for love towards all sentient beings, not just human beings and humankind," Sikyong noted.
"Islam also shares the belief that all humans are created in the image of Allah and so is Jainism which professes non violence, non possession, and non absolutism," Dr Sangay explained.
"We should explore shared values among different religions of the world," Sikyong stressed.
"The inherent inclusiveness of all religions that does not discriminate is turned to exclusiveness with religiosity by us. This exclusiveness becomes ideology and the individuals of the institution seek the spread of this ideology through the priests, pandits and mullahs," Sikyong futher added.
"The problem occurs during the transition of inclusiveness to exclusiveness as the concerned religious leaders exploit its disciples," the Tibetan leader stressed.
According to a media report, "Sikyong's address was met with a roaring applause from the several thousand people who have come to listen to the talk."
The conference on Dharma-Dhamma held on 24-26 October, 2015 and organised by the Madhya Pradesh state cultural department in association with Sanchi University of Buddhist-Indic Studies and India Foundation.
The conference was attended by more than 300 spiritual leaders, academics and experts from 26 countries. The first and second edition of the conference was held in 2012 and 2014 respectively.
The conference aims to focus on the harmony of all religions and the usefulness of religion for individual, social and cosmic well being.
The CSRS had organised the first and second edition of the International Conferences on Dharma-Dhamma in 2012 and 2014 respectively. Both the Conferences saw the participation of several hundreds of delegates from around the world.
The conference was also promoted as a prelude to the Simhastha fair or Maha Kumbh Mela to be held in holy city of Ujjain in April-May 2016.
