Jain Spirit 2002 10 No 12

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 53

H.R.H. Prince Charles with Britain's faith leaders at the launch in Birmingham
seems to be very difficult to enact in our lives. Yet it is such a tragedy that when the various faith communities have so much in common, its members are often divided by the different ways we have of interpreting the inner meaning of our existence. The founders of our ancient religions were those truly enlightened souls whose own lives were the most profound examples of how love and forgiveness, both on the outer and inner planes, are the only means of breaking the cycle of cause and effect of hatred, vengeance and conflict, and of reconciling the opposites in our relations with each other.
When we give a gift of time, let's remember that we are in fact united by a common bond of faith -- faith in a sacred dimension beyond ourselves; faith in a divine 'essence' to the meaning of our existence; faith in the integrity of life itself. This bond is something infinitely precious at the time of human history when we have already crossed the threshold into a world where faith itself is denigrated, where humanity is to be re-designed in Man's and not in God's image, and Nature is to be re-engineered for the purpose of our own convenience. Faced with the ultimate consequences of such Promethean activities all people of faith have every reason to put their differences and intolerances to one side and to unite in defence of the Sacred.
Seek First To Understand
We need to remember what has sometimes been lost from our communities and to repair it. Good neighbourliness is one of the things most in need of repair. In the next two years the Movement we are launching today will hopefully be able at least to help in the repair work. It is about the young Muslim mowing the lawn for the elderly Hindu lady down the street. Or the choir from the Catholic Church or Anglican Parish Church singing to entertain the Jewish old people's club. It is these small things that will make our communities better places to live in.
Many thanks and best wishes to everyone who will be involved in the next two years. The public response has been particularly encouraging, and I cannot help feeling that there are many people out there who have wanted to be part of such a scheme but have not yet had the opportunity. With 'Respect' those people now have a chance.
The above speech was given at the NEC in Birmingham on 29 April 2002. Details about the campaign can be found on www.timebank.co.uk/respect. Atul Shah is representing Jains on the advisory committee. In a letter to Jain Spirit, His Royal Highness has very kindly agreed to visit Jain centres in the UK to promote this campaign.
September November 2002 Jain Spirit 51