JAINA Convention 2007 07 Edison NJ

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 93

Interfaith dialogue has shown to provide a way to serve peaceful goals within the context
of religious faith. Interfaith dialogue can unlock the power of religious traditions
and provide the inspiration, guidance, and validation necessary for populations to move toward non-violent means of conflict
resolution.
Each participant must assume a similar commitment to honesty and sincerity in the other partners.
Each participant must define him/herself.
• Each participant must come to the dialogue with no hard-and-fast assumptions as to where the points of disagreement are.
Dialogue can take place only when each person's contribution is given equal value.
• Dialogue can take place only on the basis of mutual trust.
Persons entering into dialogue must be at least minimally willing to be critical of their own positions.
• Each participant eventually must attempt to experience his/her partner-in-dialogue's perspective "from within."
For thousands of years Jains have been active in enhancing and preserving the sanctity of life and human dignity through their daily behavior and steady efforts. Now they must actively participate in interfaith dialogue expanding its culture of peace to the world and help deepen and strengthen the global civilization. Even with handful of Jains leading the way, we will be able to transform the present culture of war, and foster and nurture energy toward the creation of a century of peace by simply sharing and participating in a mode of empathic listening in every interaction one encounters.
Resources to learn more about dialogue:
• United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations http://www.un.org/Dialogue/
• UNESCO Celebrates the Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations http://www.unesco.org/dialogue2001/
• Global Dialogue Institute - http://global-dialogue.com/
• The Dialogue to Action Initiative - http://thataway.org/dialogue/
• How to Resources" to Help You Get a Dialogue Started http://wwwt.hataway.org/dialogue/res/res3.htm
• Learn More About the Dialogue Movement & Process http:www.thataway.org/dialogue/res/res5.htm
• Peace Through Dialogue: A Time to Talk Peace, 2000 Peace Proposal by Daisaku Ikeda http://www.sgi.org/english/sgi president/works/peace/
peace00.htm
14th Biennial JAINA Convention 2007
Thoughts on a Culture of
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PEACE THROUGH DIALOGUE