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Youth Interfaith Report by Participants of 2011
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Participants’ Reports
2011
Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama Core 4A, UGF, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003
Tel: (91) (11) 24648450 ∫ Fax: Tel: (91) (11) 24648451 Email: [email protected] ∫ Website: www.furhhdl.org
YOUTH INTERFAITH
PILGRIMAGE PROGRAMME
Foundation for Universal Responsibility
of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
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"To meet the challenges of our times, I believe that humanity must develop a
greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not
just for our own individual self, family or nation, but for the benefit of all
mankind.
Today we are so interdependent, so closely interconnected with each other,
that without a sense of universal responsibility, a feeling of universal
brotherhood and sisterhood, and an understanding and belief that we really
are a part of one big human family, we cannot hope to overcome the dangers
to our very existence – let alone bring about peace and happiness."
- His Holiness The Dalai Lama
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About the Foundation
VISION
Foster the celebration of diversity, the spirit of universal responsibility and the
understanding of interdependence across faiths, creeds and religions.
Support personal transformation in ways that facilitate larger processes of social
change.
Develop and sustain peace building and coexistence initiatives in regions of
violent conflict and social unrest.
Encourage and cultivate Ahimsa (nonviolence) as a guiding principle for
interaction among human beings and with their environments.
Offer inclusive and holistic paradigms of education that prioritize experiential
learning, cross-cultural dialogue, and a global ethic of peace and justice.
Build capacity for conflict transformation, human rights and democratic freedom
through partnerships with civil society groups across the globe.
Explore new frontiers on understanding of the mind by building bridges between
science and spirituality.
Support the professional development of future leaders and decision-makers
through scholarships and fellowships.
Create media products and educational materials that promote the objectives of
the Foundation.
Nurture an understanding of the relevance and value of Tibetan civilisational
heritage to contemporary issues and predicaments.
MISSION
To promote universal responsibility in a manner that respects difference and
encourages a diversity of beliefs, practices and approaches.
To build a global ethic of nonviolence, coexistence, gender equity and peace by
facilitating secular processes that cultivate personal and social ethical values.
To enrich educational paradigms that tap the transformative potential of the
human mind.
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Youth Interfaith Pilgrimage Programme
The Youth Interfaith Pilgrimage programme seeks to provide space for young
participants to embrace religious diversity, build cross-cultural understanding and
encourage spiritual growth through first-hand exploration of different faith traditions.
The fourteen-day programme involves visits to religious centres across South India. It
will start from Bengaluru and move on to Mysuru, Shravanbelagola and Bylakuppe.
Two days will be spent at each centre. The first day will be dedicated to
lectures/discussions on each faith and the second day will be spent in attending
prayers. Sessions will be conducted and coordinated by the centres as per a pre-
determined schedule after consultation with the Foundation. The centres may conduct
guided tours of the place and visits to their respective places of worship.
Participants are requested to bring modest clothing and prepare themselves with a
basic understanding of each faith prior to the commencement of the programme. As
per the norms of the tour, participants are requested to read the application form very
carefully and stick to the fundamental instructions. However, there are no rigid
directives, and participants are requested to be understanding and open-hearted.
Modest accommodation will be provided at each centre with vegetarian meals, unless
otherwise arranged at nearby commercial areas. The group will travel together and use
local transport, as the centres are within a relatively small geographical area. During
the programme transportation, accommodation and meals will be arranged by the
Foundation and the group will be escorted by a staff member. During the pilgrimage,
some places require extensive walking to reach the destination, and we prefer
applicants to be physically fit. Should the participants require further information,
please do contact us.
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Eight Interfaith Dialogue Programme
By Dalai Lama Foundation
Date - 2nd to 16th of May – 2011
Venue - Bengaluru, Shravanbelagola and Bylakuppe (Karnataka state)
Total Participants – 20
Faiths – Sikhism, Islamism, Christianity, Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism
My experiences
Before I start I want to make clear that here I am not going to give information
about religion but I will focus on practical things which I observed in this spiritual
journey. I have reached to Bangalore at 4 am in the morning. It was long journey
but I was excited to participate interfaith journey with Dalai Lama Foundation.
We had first meeting with all participants I was glad to see monks and nuns just
seating next to me. I never have live conversation with them before that’s why it
becomes more interesting journey which I ever had in my life.
Every morning our session starts with meditation early in the morning. I
never used to wake early but it was good experience to start life with health
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thoughts. Now I started to wake early in the morning and do some exercise. It’s all
credit goes to Interfaith Journey which made me aware on my health.
Sikhism - First we have visited Gurudwara at Bangalore. I ate food in the ‘Langar’
(free food, served in a Guurdwara). This is the place where all can seat in one row
and have a food without any discrimination. I love this place and the concept
behind Langar.
Islam - Islam session begin with lots of question came from participants, there
are lots of misunderstanding about faith and through these question we were able
to found out the correct answer and how some people using religion as a tool to
satisfied their need. At the end of Islamic session all participant could understand
the politics behind religion and how to keep away ourselves from bad politics. We
went to visit mosque and had a discussion on that later. It was nice interaction
with facilitators came after one another. However, I learnt that how to particular
things in a different angel through Islamic session.
Christian – I have some friends from Christian faiths but I never been get change
to visit church on Sunday. It was good experience for me to visit Church. I felt
peace in church some time we sang songs with chorus and in between father gave
us some speech from Bible. After finishing prey they offer us chicken in the
breakfast, I was happy because I thought only I love chicken in breakfast but
thanks to God I not alone.
Hinduism – For Hinduism session we went to Ramkrishna Temple in Bangalore.
It was oldest and big temple. I love the session held with swami. He gave us good
understanding about Hinduism.
Jainism – It was pleasure for me to met “Shri Charukirthi Bhattaraka
Mahaswamiji” at Shravanabelagola. We talk to him and asked some questions
related to Jainism. He gave us good idea about faith of Jain. After wonderful
meeting with him we met some “Naga Sanyasi” (Nude Monk). They are living
their life without any selfishness and they are not depended to anyone. However,
I liked the way they are living their life. Earlier I thought that how these people
get naked and moving around the people but when I met them personally, I felt
that they scarified their life for truth or Faith. But we never understand them
without practice and believing them because its matter of faith. After met with
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Nude Monk I felt something missing in myself because we always bother about
our future life like food, clothes, marriage, child, house, car and etc. But without
these things life is still possible, So I learnt that try to minimize need as much as
possible.
Buddhism - Its religion of peace, what I understood in three days of my visit at
Bylakuppe, Mysore. As a Muslim I felt Buddhism’s teaching is very much close to
Islam teaching. However, one cannot agree with my point but I will explain my
experience on Buddhism. Out of 20 participants 10 were Buddhist followers. I felt
that they are always ready to help others even they become happy when you ask
them for help. They never eat snacks or water without sharing they always
concern about other need. They offer others fist then they eat at the last. It’s gave
me a hint that what my religion is taking and what I am practicing. Most of the
times we are just talking more but doing nothing. I learnt from my Buddhist
friends talk less do more. I have started to practice these things in my day to day
life but I still to learn more. I thank to them for being part of my life and gave me
some wonderful teaching which I will never forget.
Conclusion
I appreciate the work doing by Dalai Lama Foundation. These types of activity
give us more clarity about other as well as once faith. It was my pleaser to joined
Interfaith Journey with Dalai Lama Foundation. I love to do interfaith dialogue in
my area too so that can help others to reduce misconception about other faiths.
Interfaith journey gave me lots of memory and inspiration to work more in this
field.
SAFIK ANSARI
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A Chance Of Only Once In Lifetime
Today is the third day from the expiry of the Inter-Faith Dialogue
program, organized by The Foundation For Universal Responsibility Of His
Holiness The Dalai Lama.
A sense of nostalgia has been floating on the wall of my mind since that particular
morning of our final day. As I peel the layers of my memory back to the journey
that we covered, there is a tremens sense of gratitude and complacency for the
blissful moments. Personally, a fortnight of spiritual journey has injected me the
ethical and value-based education, far better than a couple of years of teacher/text
centric methodology of imparting education in the college. The angle of
happiness and motivation kissed on my forehead to see about the program in the
mid of my annual university examination for I obtained a precious opportunity to
utilize my leisure hours of holiday in a meaningful way.
Generally, a duration of two days for each particular religious session is
obviously too short to touch and imbibe an unheard and voluminous tradition.
Notwithstanding, I felt over elated for it happened at least once in lifetime and
what we have afterwards is the footprints that we left in each step. Here, the
discussion oriented teaching and the interactive sessions for educating the insight
values of each tradition have been main tool for us. Each session has been the most
blissful milestones of our life.
After all, whether it is a tradition of Guru(Sikhism) , Allah(Islam), God(
Christianity),Krishna(Hinduism) or Self fashioning( Jainism and Buddhism),what
we have the real gem of essence in store is the core value of all religion is the
upliftment of ethical quest and basic human values of love and human fellowship.
Religion is a way of living and it is the founding institution of spiritual values.
Religion is the engine where spirituality is the fuel. Apart from the different
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approaches of the concept of creation, all religions lay emphasis for the
purification of human soul for eternal happiness and harmony.
Personally, I learned to respect other beliefs of understanding their goodness and
virtues in the essence of their principles. I was mesmerized by the universal
impartial love and charity of the Silkhism, universal brotherhood of Islam,
sacrificial redemption and glorification of Mother (The kingdom of paradise lies
on the feet of mother.), the simplicity and benevolent livelihood of Jainism and
down to earth implementation of the Rama Krishna Movement. The dialogue
based sessions cleansed the patches of doubts and erstwhile misconceptions such
as the stereotypical concept of Islamic Terrorism. My blurring percept of
politicians as the biggest terrorist has logically and informatively proved by the
sessions. Significant values of different symbols of each tradition made to respect
their worthwhile values.
However, while journeying the milestones of the different and diverse traditions,
what I was dissatisfied is the boundary between the kingdom of human and
animals. The devaluation of animal life in the fake concept of balancing the food
chain in the nature diverged my appreciation for their supreme values.
After all, this sacred spiritual journey medicated my infected and afflicted
attitude of temporary physical comfort and self centric approach in the sail of life.
It added a chapter in my life which reminds me that there is a better, holier and
long lasting path towards perpetual happiness over material livelihood in the long
and perennial journey of life. Religious essences and intrinsic appeals are a sort
of campus, directing the ship of human epistemological to a righteous way. Apart
from beneficiary in my personal life, it enriched me with the strength to share
what I was gifted with my friends and other people in my circle and encourage
them to participate in the program in the future.
Above all, I owe my deepest thankfulness for the foundation for initiating this
esteemed program for the youngsters and may His Holiness life will prolong for
thousands of kalpas for illuminating the path of enlightenment for the whole
sentient being.
-Sonam Dolkar, LSR College, University Of Delhi
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The Foundation works with a modest corpus. There are no charges or tickets for our
events. DONATIONS are welcome to meet expenses towards organizing secular
events like this one. These are tax exempt under Sec 80G in India.
Contributions are accepted preferably by cheque or draft payable to ‘Foundation for
Universal Responsibility of HH The Dalai Lama’.
For other modes of payments, please visit
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Join
Us!
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Should you have any
queries regarding the
Youth Interfaith
Pilgrimage Programme, or
any queries in general,
we will be glad to hear
from you.
WRITE TO US!
Sr. Manager
Programmes & Administration
Foundation for
Universal Responsibility
of His Holiness The Dalai Lama
Core 4A, UGH
India Habitat Centre
Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003
Tel: (91) (11) 24648450
Fax: (91) (11) 24648451
www.furhhdl.org
REGISTERED OFFICE
The Foundation for Universal Responsibility of HH The Dalai Lama
Private Office of His Holiness The Dalai Lama
Thekchen Choeling, McLeod Ganj
Dharamsala - 176 219
District Kangra
Himachal Pradesh
India
Tax ID No in India: AAATF 0174 E
Trust Registration No.7989/ FCRA182450033
Tel: (91 (1892) 21879
Fax: (91) (1892) 21813
www.dalailama.com