Nostra Aetate - In Our Time

79 Being among people who have the same opinions must be very pleasant and self-satisfying, but ‘chatting’ is not dialogue. Dialogue is communication or interaction with a different being to oneself. There exists something to be transcended or overcome. Dialogue is an interaction with the will to – or intention of – trying to overcome the discrepancy and conflict generated by the encounter with different values, while recognising and admitting the fact of difference in itself. At the Nostra Aetate fiftieth anniversary event held at the Gregorian University of Rome, I spoke about the upgrading of dialogue and many participants generously talked to me after my presentation. This upgrading is easier said than done. I would firstly like to cherish the idea of proving that others can be right. Although we are very good at insist- ing on our own standing points and values, we seldom listen to others’ voices. Even if we are ready to listen, their voices easily pass through us. But if we are really sincere in proving the values of others, we will challenge ourselves to listening seriously as well as finding good points in others. When we work hard to find good points in others, our eyes are warm and our hearts and minds are rich and affluent. I would like to close my speech by promising to you all that I will continue with my friends and colleagues the dialogue of ‘proving others’, even though it may be a humble challenge. Thank you very much. BROADENING INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE AND COLLABORAT ION FOR OUR T IME Rev. Niwano talking with Ven. Seihan Mori, Chief Priest of Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto, Japan