Religious Harmony
(By Tsem Rinpoche)
These days, whenever we read or listen to the news, we often hear about religious tensions and conflicts in various countries around the world. Whether it is between Muslims and Christians, Buddhists and Muslims, Christians and Buddhists, etc… we have heard it all. After an endless stream of religious persecution stretching back to the beginning of time, it is refreshing to see people from different religions and backgrounds respecting each other.
It is such a beautiful sight to see the kind individuals from the Muslim Social Welfare Group of Mandalay offering Buddhist robes and meals to the monks of Ma Soe Yein Monastery. This Muslim organization is setting a great example to promote peace, interfaith harmony, tolerance and acceptance not only for Buddhists, but for people from all other religions in their country too. This is a great example of true spiritual leadership.
As a monk living in Malaysia, a beautiful diverse country where religious harmony has been part of mainstream living for many generations, my students and I have experienced great kindness from people of all religions for many years. For example, in Kechara we have a robe sponsorship program and many people from different religions have contributed to this fund… not because they want to be Buddhists but because they understand the importance of helping fellow human beings whenever they can. To me, these people are true practitioners of whatever holy religion they follow, as they can look past the outer facade of someone’s religion, culture and tradition, and see a person for who they really are.
I rejoice in this wonderful news and hope to see more of this in the future. The world can be a better place when we all take on the responsibility as individuals to set a good example for our peers and for future generations. And I thank the Muslim Social Welfare Group of Mandalay for their sincere deeds in promoting peace between the Muslims and Buddhists of their country. Islam is a religion of peace and love as shown by these people.
Tsem Rinpoche
Muslim Organization Makes Offerings to Mandalay Buddhist Monks
A member of the Muslim Social Welfare Group makes an offering to Buddhist monks at Ma Soe Yein Monastery on Sunday. (Photo: Teza Hlaing / The Irrawaddy)
RANGOON — A Muslim organization in Mandalay said it has offered meals and robes to about 50 Buddhist monks at Ma Soe Yein Monastery to promote harmonious inter-communal relations in Burma’s second biggest city, which was rocked by clashes between Buddhists and Muslims last month.
Sein Win of the Muslim Social Welfare Group of Mandalay said the group made the offerings on Sunday to the monks in order to mark the Islamic festival of Eid, which follows after the holy month of Ramadan and was celebrated last week, on July 28.
The rainy season is also the time of Buddhist Lent, or Wa Dwin, an annual retreat of the monks during which it is customary to offer gifts to the holy men.
“About 55 monks in Mandalay, including the 98-year-old War So Sayardaw and a chair monk from Mandalay Sangha Maha Nayaka, and leaders from Christian and Hindu communities attended the event,” Sein Win told The Irrawaddy.
He added that War So Sayardaw had told participants that he came to the event as he would like Buddhist and Muslim communities to live in peace and have them control their deeds, speech and minds.
It is the third year in a row that the Muslim organization offered gifts to Buddhist monks in Mandalay, but Sein Win said that this time it carried special significance as local monks had on several occasions during the recent unrest urged residents to remain calm and not engage in any riots.
“We especially thank the monks who stand for all people, and we would like to bring back the social harmony between Buddhists and Muslims in Mandalay,” he said.
Sein Win added that his organization held another communal event on Monday, inviting 80 local civil society groups in Mandalay for a ceremony at Oriental House in Mandalay from 5 pm to 8 pm to celebrate the end of Eid.
In early July, inter-communal riots erupted after rumors spread that a Muslim tea shop owner had raped a Buddhist maid, a claim that the government later said was false. In the ensuing violence, which lasted several days, a Buddhist man and a Muslim man was killed and 14 people were injured.
Thein Tan, of the Mandalay Peace Making Committee, said the event to make offerings to the monks would help heal relations between communities in Mandalay after the recent unrest.
“Neither Buddhists nor Muslims began the recent riot. An outside organization intentionally caused the incidents and everyone knows that,” he said without elaborating about who was behind the riots. “But we are uniting through an event like this in order to ensure that we don’t misunderstand each other.”
He said his committee was continuing discussions between Buddhist and Muslim leaders, and talks are being held in monasteries and mosques to restore social harmony. “Now, Mandalay is calm,” Thein Tan added.
Source: http://www.irrawaddy.org/burma/muslim-organization-makes-offerings-mandalay-buddhist-monks.html
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Religious freedom is one of the most fundamental of human rights. As religious freedom comes from the dignity of the human being. It allows different faiths and beliefs to flourish. It protects the rights of all religious groups and individuals. We must respect religious freedom and all religions must be tolerated. Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom. Respect for religious diversity is an essential element of any peaceful society. Offering of robes to Buddhist monks by the Muslim Mandalay Buddhist Monks is a very good example for everyone. Its such a wonderful way to foster religious harmony.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing .
The world had witnessed a lot of conflicts, misunderstanding in which people of different religions were also involved. It is very important to have harmony and respect amongst the different religions. Muslim community in Mandalay is doing a great job coming together offering meals and robes to Buddhist monks at Ma Soe Yein Monastery . Wonderful idea to practise respect, compassion, kindness, harmony among other community. It is very important to have harmony and respect amongst the different religions to live a harmonious society.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing .
It is such a beautiful sight to see the kind individuals from the Muslim Social Welfare Group of Mandalay offering Buddhist robes and meals to the monks of Ma Soe Yein Monastery. We should practise the value of whatever our religion is. All religion practise respect, compassion, kindness and etc. The offering act shown by the Muslim Social Welfare Group is very inspiring. It shows their care and love to others is regardless of religion, race and cultural. Thank you Riinpoche and blog team for this pleasant article ?☘️
Spiritual paths must promote harmony and closeness with one another.
Rejoice may there be much more harmony amongst people of various faiths and denominations.
It is really great to read such positive reinforcement of true tolerance, respect and religious acceptance which unfortunately nowadays are few and far between. The offering of robes to Buddhist monks by the Muslim community is clearly respective of their true understanding and practise of their faith which emphasizes a lot on peace. After all, it is only when we do not focus on the differences but instead focus on respect, acceptance and compassion for others that peace can be achieved. This also brings to mind another article that is similarly as inspiring as this one, where Bangladeshi monks feed hundreds of poor Muslims during Ramadan.https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/current-affairs/bangladeshi-buddhist-monks-feed-hundreds-of-poor-muslims-during-ramadan.html
This is a very good news, happy to hear about the understanding and tolerance among various religion. No one religion us more superior than the other.
We should practise the value of whatever our religion is. All religion practise respect, compassion, kindness and etc. The offering act shown by the Muslim Social Welfare Group is very inspiring. It shows their care and love to others is regardless of religion, race and cultural. This is very inspiring and hope this article will bring more awareness to others, to respect everyone.
Thank you Sarah for this article, tolerances among religion is now at its lowest ebb. As we can see now there are countless conflicts, disagreements and wars in the name of religion as compared to before. I have often asked myself why we have all come to this depressing situation, basically all religious teachers of the past teaches all to be good, to be kind, to forgive and to love all human kind but presently why do most of these people go against these very basic teachings. There are no easy and clear answers to it but I would assume today our minds are easily polluted and what teachings that have been laid down for us to emulate many find it hard to put in practice especially now materialism apparently appears to be the pulling force.
The advancement of communication technology and the borderless world may also be a contributory factor however those who are still inclined towards the tenets of Buddhism have less friction comparatively. There was an occasion that registered in my mind; it happened some years before I came to Kechara. I was at a Buddhist temple in Subang Jaya celebrating Wesak day and amidst the noises, countless of devotees mingling around, the blazing sun, a Muslim chief minister of Selangor arrived and promptly was given a rousing welcome and gave a speech whereby he emphasize on tolerance among religions. It was a very short speech but the mere fact being as a respectable head of state and a Muslim he has no qualms of coming to a Buddhist temple. This visit from the chief minister exemplifies a good example of good leadership, tolerance, understanding and lesser inhibitions and suspicion of other religion. May we pray and hope that we have more of these leaders here in Malaysia
World peace is near when communities of diverse faith put aside the differences and be kind towards each other. Many a times, the differences were a result of deep rooted stereotyping and mindset over ‘me’ versus ‘you’. We must be mindful to reduce this self-cherishing mindset if we want lasting peace among mankind. Hope that Dharamsala can emulate this wonderful example by the Muslim Social Welfare Group.
Thank you Rinpoche and Sarah for sharing this uplifting news.
How wonderful to read of the Muslim community in Mandalay practise generosity during their holy month and religious acceptance by offering robes to Buddhist monks. This is a good way to promote peace and understanding between religions and if more were to emulate, then there will be greater peace in the world. After all, the world is made up of such diversity and we depend on each other to build a harmonious society.
Thank you Rinpoche and Sarah for this heartening article. May we be able to achieve the peace so needed in times of degeneration.