HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, Co-founder of Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, was warmly welcomed as a torch-bearer for interfaith dialogue recently at a historic interfaith meeting hosted by HH the Dalai Lama.
On the occasion Pujya Swamiji said, “today everyone is speaking about the vital importance of combating climate change. However, I believe that we need to strengthen the inner climate to change the outer climate, the balance needs to strike within to resound without.” He also addressed the participating leaders and said, “Time has come that we must worship your own but respect all. Time has come that we put our prayera into practice and come together to collectively address the challenges that we face, especially on vital issues of water, sanitation and hygiene.”
Addressing the gathering HH the Dalai Lamaji said, “I believe that my principle responsibility is as a human being. I am just one of 7 billion others and therefore I strongly believe that in order to combat the growing violence and climate change in the world, which are issues that affect all of humanity, we must work differently. We must start now, moving beyond our individual identities, to share a message of compassion, love and understanding that resonates with all human beings, even those who don’t identify with any particular faith. I believe that India is the only country that not only can lead this dialogue but be a true model of interfaith harmony, as it has been home to all various spiritual traditions living together in harmony for so many years.”
The two day long meeting feratured inspiring speeches of revered saints and leaders as well as break out sessions and group discussions. Key points and suggestions from the discussions were shared at the end of the conference as concrete ways in which the continual efforts for peace and harmony can be expanded and brought into our day to day life and thereby shared with our communities.
