Promoting Peaceful Coexistence and Common Citizenship

[ 111 ] — CLOSING CEREMONY — uring the last two days, under our theme of Interreligious Dialogue for Peace: Promoting Peaceful Coexistence and Common Citizen- ship, we have encountered earnest dialogue and discussion. In our present world, a process of divi- sion is progressing at all levels and it is far from true that social cohesion is being realized. We, religious and political leaders, have a common mission to change the direction of division to that of cohesion. We must take this critical situation seriously and, in so doing, progress to taking the necessary actions. Why is our world facing a crisis of division and confron- tation? Is it not due to the fact that we human beings resort to greed in order to pursue only our own desires, as well as to exercise feelings of exclusivity and aggression against a world of difference and heterogeneity? I would like to share with you what I believe to be the important messages, issued by people of faith and religion. These messages convey that one should: v Spread not only our own religion, but the religion of dialogue. In other words, I, as a Buddhist, promote the approval of those of other religions, and the acceptance of differences. v Transform one’s way of life from self-centred greed to that of pursuing the enabling of equal dignity of all beings, and creating a common good. Namely, the way of life that respects “little desire, knowing satisfaction”; and that respects fulfilment and happiness of all Rev. Kosho Niwano D