Peaceful Interfaith Dialogue

By honouring others, one makes oneself a person who is worthy of honour. BUILDING HARMONY THROUGH MUTUAL RESPECT Family unity is based on mutual consideration and respect. This happy state of affairs can easily be extended to the level of communities if enough individuals simply put their minds to carrying it into effect. If the kind of harmony that families achieve through patience, affection and general tolerance is set up as a definite aim by all communities, there is no reason why it should not be attained. It is a question of wishing it to be so, making positive efforts towards it and forgetting all the old scores and grievances. From my childhood days, I remember a friend who used to recite: Kabhi bhul kar kisi se na karo suluk aisa Ke jo tum se koi karta tumhen naagawar hota (Never, even in a moment of forgetfulness, should you behave with anyone in a manner that you would find unbearable if someone behaved with you in the same way.) The message contained in this couplet is a vital principle for social life. If we can only call it to mind at crucial moments, both inside and outside the home, all frictions might disappear.