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VIEWPOINT Signs of maturity on the world stage

VIEWPOINT
Signs of maturity on the world stage
Hello
I cannot help but notice the different conduct of certain leaders in recent times.
The event that comes to mind immediately is the manner Pope Francis arranged his visit to the holy places, effectively his pilgrimage to the historical sites that reflect the history and Holy sites of Christianity.
For s start, he took with him a Muslim Imam and Jewish Rabbi. Now how thoughtful that really feels? Here he is, the spiritual head of the major part of Christianity, acknowledging that he, or indeed anyone, can bring change to the world on his own. Just as importantly is the fact that two senior clerics representing the other major religions, Islam and Judaism, happily accompanied the Pope. Admittedly, they happen to have been the Pope friends from his days in Argentina, but this should never take away any credit from their wholehearted participation in such a memorable visit.
The other event, of similar importance and historic relevance, and happening almost at the same time, is when the new President of India, Narendra Modi, took office, having secured a landslide victory at the recent Indian elections. Coming from a very humble background, and climbing up the greasy pole of office in the vast subcontinent of India, he managed to upturn a very entrenched political situation into a totally new one.
Of course, it remains to be seen how President Modi will shape up, but the interesting decision he took was to invite for his inauguration ceremony, the heads of all the states neighbouring on India. This is the first time this has happened. Most significantly is that the invitation included Mr Nawas Sharif, President of Pakistan, an erstwhile opponent state to India, and a reluctant neighbour. There is moreover a current and on-going dispute between India and Pakistan over the region of Kashmir, and their is at least some pent up tensions between the Muslim and non-Muslim factions of the Indian society.
So this gesture, a unique first, is of signal meaning.
Are we, therefore, going into a stage of conduct of world affairs that reflects a maturity that we so much lacked up until now? It looks like it.
The Pope visited Jordan because interestingly, the site where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist is actually on the Jordanian bank of the River Jordan. It used to be thought to be on the Israeli side, but Pope John Paul II identified the site as that on the Jordanian side. I had the good fortune to visit the site shortly after it was identified, and if you think that the Jordan river is a river in the commonly known sense, I shall disabuse of this. When it actually reaches Jordan, it is no more than a trickle. Be as it may, its historical value is inestimable.
The Pope made other gestures during his pilgrimage that are also of importance. He respected the status of the Palestinians, albeit in an oblique manner, and yet did not offend the state of Israel. He worshipped on one side of a wall, and kissed the other side, again as a mindful act of love to both Jews and Muslims. He showed care for the Christian community and its livelihood, a community that is under harassment and pressure to quit its area of abode that sustained its forebears for hundreds of generations.
And last, but not least, the Pope invited the Heads of State of both Israel and the Palestinians to meet and pray jointly in the Vatican. This was a surprise act that astonished and amazed everyone.
So here I have described two totally separate and unrelated actions by totally unrelated individuals to show how maturity is setting in on the world scene.
Are we to deduce too much from these two acts? I do not know, but I ask the opposite question: why should we not be encouraged to see our world leaders, whether political or religious, acting in this manner. By mere thinking of it and mentioning it, as I am doing now, I believe we can promulgated and publicise good acts. I am sure we can all do such good acts ourselves, certainly not on the world scene, but maybe in the little world around us, between our friends, neighbours, college mates and so on. We, in our little spheres, are the building blocks of society. And if our elders can do such acts towards harmony, then we also can do similar acts.
“The Buddhist Dhammapada tells us: Blessed is the arising of the awakened;
blessed is the teaching of the truth; blessed is the harmony of the community;
blessed is the devotion of those who live in peace”
This is when, as Abdu’l-Baha tells: “All the nations and peoples will come under the shadow of the Tent of the Great Peace and Harmony”
Good Bye
Nabil M Mustapha

(Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 29)

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 2 (tr. J. Richards))

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