Parliament of World Religions reclaims heart of our humanity

Over 9,000 delegates and other participants from 73 countries, representing 30 major religions and 548 sub-traditions, attended the 6th Parliament of the World Religions held a few weeks ago at Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States. The overarching theme was “Reclaiming the Heart of our Humanity Working for Compassion, Justice, Peace and Sustainable Development”, and the gathering at the sprawling Salt Lake Convention Centre did just that over five glorious days in October. The 10,000-strong gathering had their hands full through all five days, welcoming, meeting, jostling each other, singing, thinking, speaking formally, talking informally, listening, eating and drinking singly or eating together at the Sikh langar, demonstrating, selling, enticing, appreciating, applauding, amusing, worshipping, praying, responding, helping, exhibiting, multi-tasking, guarding or thanksgiving.

It was as if the barriers that divide the human race had been swept away, that the “multiplying ills of a disordered society, the wretchedness of the world, the lamentable circumstances from which so many people are unable to gain relief” would soon be resolved and all people united and bound together as citizens of one country live in peace and harmony.

The Parliament of Religions was truly a clarion call to humanity that the moral force and ethical precepts that sustain civilisation need to be urgently replenished. So intense was the spirit of fellowship and bonhomie that I never heard a loud argument or faced a situation causing disruption. Such is the power of unity in diversity. Being a strong promoter of gender equality and youth empowerment, it was such a joy to witness: women and young people under 30 constituting more than 65 per cent of participants at this parliament. The majority of emcees were women.

The parliament board chair who led an extraordinary procession of indigenous people of Utah along with representatives of different religious communities welcomed everyone, saying: “With the permission of the indigenous community, the original people of this land, on behalf of the board, with love in my heart, compassion in my mind and smiles on our faces, to reclaim the heart of our humanity, I declare this sixth Parliament of the World’s Religions open.” And people kept their smiles on through all five days, although there were a lot of tears at heartfelt moments. An executive team of fantastic women led efforts for the past year to bring it all together. Hundreds of volunteers were lined up each day at dawn to help guests from around the world make their way to the hundreds of surprises waiting at every corner of the convention centre.

It was a historic milestone: The first women’s assembly; the first live streamed parliament: with 28,000 views; the largest number of programme presenters; the largest number of exhibitors and films including Oprah’s Belief; the original documents of Mahatma Gandhi and pieces of art in the cultural hall. The first mayor’s panel on compassionate cities, along with the first panel of police chiefs; and the Imam of Mecca for the first time attended this parliament. The Dalai Lama addressed the parliament through pre-recorded video-conferencing; the Pope’s Green Encyclical, Laudato si, resonated harmoniously with believers and non-believers alike.

Native American leaders, rabbis from Israel and Buddhist monks from many countries of Southeast Asia alongside Tibetans from India, Muslims from all over the world; Hindu sadhus and yoga practitioners, scholars; Christian clergy of various denominations; Zoroastrian priests and lay followers; the Baha’is led by the North American Temple Choir; Jains and Sikhs of America and India, the whirling Sufis, it is impossible to describe the myriad diversities all bound together by voices and choices, both regarded sacred.

The participants flocked to plenary meetings, panel discussions, dialogues, workshops, symposia, performances, exhibits and devotional programmes addressing a plethora of topics: climate change and the consequences of global warming; the threat to bio-diversity; conflicts over the planet’s finite resources; the rights of indigenous people and special groups; anguish at the plight of the oppressed, suppressed and marginalised for any number of reasons; indignation at the failure of the world’s leaders to tackle terrorism, be it state-sponsored or religiously motivated; the latent power of religious teachings for spiritual uplift and personal salvation; multi-pronged consensus to strengthen and sustain the inter-faith movement by holding such parliaments biennially, hopefully the next one in India in 2017.

When true religion (dharma) interfaces with altruistic science (vigyan) then the results of whatever endeavour we undertake is light upon light. This parliament is fresh testimony that dharma and vigyan can collaborate and support each other for the good of humanity.

These were just a few of the major issues discussed at the sessions.I represented the Temple of Understanding — a global inter-faith association that is accredited to the United Nations, and the Baha’i faith. We had four specific sessions: “Community Resilience — Peace, Justice, Food and Water,” “Shakti & Prakriti: The Power of the Divine Feminine for Sustainability and Preservation of Mother Earth & Mother Nature,” “Faith at the United Nations: Sustainable Development Goals, Peace and Inter-faith Understanding,” and “Religions Respect and Protect Women.”

The message of Dr Karan Singh, president of the Indian Temple of Understanding and chair of its international board, resonated strongly: He appealed to all to establish peace among religions, invoking the ancient Vedantic dictum: “Ekam Sat Viprah Bahuda Vendanti” (Truth is One, the Wise describe it in different ways). On its penultimate day, the multi-faith devotionals included hundreds of children representing every race, nationality, religion and creed, and the scene at the Salt Lake Tabernacle was truly spectacular.This was my third active participation in a Parliament of World Religions — Salt Lake City in 2015 came after Barcelona (2004) and Melbourne (2009). Each time I have come away with a stronger conviction in the power of “dharma.”

When true religion (dharma) interfaces with altruistic science (vigyan) then the results of whatever endeavour we undertake is light upon light. This parliament is fresh testimony that dharma and vigyan can collaborate and support each other for the good of humanity. Thus shall the prophecy of Prophet Isaiah be fulfilled: “and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together... they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain,” such a new world, Baha’i writings affirm, is “the goal towards which humanity, impelled by unifying forces of life, is moving.”

The writer is general secretary of the Temple of Understanding (India) and national trustee of the Lotus Temple & Baha’i Community of India. He can be reached at ak9merchant@gmail.com