SHARED WISDOM

from diverse religious backgrounds should contribute to the common good, to the wider humankind, and even to the rest of the creation, and not be concerned only about their co-religionists. This is how people from different religious backgrounds live in peace, harmony, and goodwill with each other. Humans are social beings. A person generally leads his life amongst many other people, constantly in contact with them. When human beings interact with one another, everyone should benefit in one way or the other from everyone else, going beyond the boundaries of religion and community. When two human beings meet, it is not like the meeting of two stones. Rather, it is the meeting of two living beings who should be examples of mercy and blessing for each other, no matter their religion or ethnic background. COMMUNITY AND COMMITMENT The solution to commu nal conflicts lies in changing the attitude of the individuals who make up each community. What is it that draws members of society together in closeknit unity so that they live, at least for the greater part of the time, in mutual peace and harmony? Some of the reasons for this are found in the history of a people and the geography of their environment—elements shared in common by every member of the society. However, often, common ideals are a great cementing factor, being in many cases derived, consciously or unconsciously, from religion. In their daily