BK Participation in the Celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW), 2023 initiated by Uni-Harmony Partners Manila
Manila ( Philippines ): Brahma Kumaris joined the opening of WIHW at Fo Guang Shan Mabuhay Temple with prayers for love and peace and candle lighting. This was followed by a visit to a hall of greetings for an auspicious Year of the Rabbit.
Brahma Kumaris guided everyone in a meditation experience at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This set the tone of the program’s Celebrating People’s Resilience to Protect Mother Earth through Dialogue with Creation.
Here’s an excerpt of the opening meditation –
“May we invite you to share pauses of silence for Mother Earth as we focus on the image of light on the screen. Some words will guide us during this silence.
We are gathered here to reflect and share vibrations of hope with Mother Earth. Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.
The state of the world reflects humankind’s inner state of consciousness. As we rekindle the light within each one of us, the more we can be the light that helps others see. Our connection with the light coming from the Powerhouse, God, can keep the light in us, recharged and lit. Let each one of us shine the light from within and make a positive impact on the world. I am a being of light. I radiate the light of virtues. Think of one virtue that you are, your speciality of being a light.”
Atty. Salma Pir Rasul, the current Programs Director of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy, started her talk how these two tenets of love of God and love of neighbors can bring different religions together. The seed of the idea of forming UniHarmony Partners Manila came from those tenets.
The different Uni-Harmony partners that came together included Fo Guang Shan, Imam Council of the Philippines, Pacific Dialogue Foundation, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Charismatic Episcopal Church in the Philippines, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Focolare Movement, Religions for Peace Philippines, Peacemaker’s Circle, Immaculate Heart of Mary College Paranaque, Institute of Spirituality in Asia, Brahma Kumaris, Anawim Missions, and the Ministry for Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs, Archdiocese of Manila, Roman Catholic Church.
