Religious Harmony

Outlines of similarities between Sufism and Buddhism go in the right direction concerning generalities, but need to be supplemented with detailed analyses of specific cases in order to avoid misunderstanding.

All major religions try to answer the questions around what the self is and where it comes from. The Dalai Lama advises us to develop respect for each of the different traditions in order to know the essence of these religions and thus appreciate their value.

An overview of the basic Buddhist concepts that allowed Islam to consider Buddhists “People of the Book” – those who follow the ethical teachings of a higher authority.

With the hope of defraying some common misunderstandings and exploring resonances between Islam and Buddhism, “Inquiring Mind” set up a conversation between Dr. Alexander Berzin and Dr. Snjezana Akpinar, a Buddhist practitioner with an academic background in Islam.

The Dalai Lama shares his conviction that in today’s interconnected world, belief in one religion and one truth can be helpful for one individual, but acceptance of multiple truths is needed for society as a whole.

The Dalai Lama advises that the concept of nonviolence and dialogue needs to be taught in educational institutions. It is important for the younger generation to learn them, so that the ideas of dialogue and nonviolence become a part of their lives.

The Dalai Lama looks at the major world religions, each having their own specialty. Through close contact in a globalized world, they can learn new things from each other and enrich their own traditions.