International Symposium on Cultivating Wisdom, Harvesting Peace: Educating for a Culture of Peace through Values, Virtues, and Spirituality of Diverse Cultures, Faiths, and Civilizations; Symposium Recommendations

On the 10-13th August 2005, over 120 delegates from 25 countries gathered at the International Symposium to share their inspirational insights and experiences on the theme of “Cultivating Wisdom, Harvesting Peace.” The Symposium was organized and hosted by the Multi-Faith Centre of Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia with the support of Pure Land Learning College, UNESCO and various UNESCO National Commissions, centres or offices, and numerous faith, interfaith, educational and civil society organizations and institutions. Reflecting a diversity of cultures, faiths and spirituality traditions, the delegates presented rich and empowering stories as well as critical analyses of how communities, institutions, civil society organizations, and international or global agencies have organized educational projects and programs to address the root causes of violence and conflicts and build a culture of peace at all levels of life. Over four intensive days of inter-faith and intra-faith dialogue, the Symposium participants engaged with humility and passion in sharing their wisdoms on ways to promote mutual understanding, solidarity, and cooperation across cultures and national boundaries. While recognizing that differences between faiths and cultures need to be understood, the dialogue also clearly showed that all faiths, cultures, and civilizations have, at their core, key values, virtues, and ethical principles that inspire and sustain peaceful relationships, communities and societies.

The Symposium also highlighted the urgent need for exemplars and possibilities for transforming principles, values and visions into personal and social actions and practices in all the multiple dimensions of a culture of peace. In this first decade of the 21st century, it is clear that there are still many formidable challenges of building peace posed by prevailing realities of conflicts and violence in local, national, international and global contexts. The Symposium on “Cultivating Wisdom, Harvesting Peace” was therefore a most timely and relevant event, not only for promoting the urgent dialogue needed, but also most importantly in proposing constructive policies for educational transformation worldwide. This Summary of the Symposium Recommendations will hopefully be a very helpful document for the implementation of effective and creative strategies and practices of educating for wisdom towards a culture of peace. It is offered to government leaders, policy makers, educators, and leaders and members of diverse faith and interfaith institutions and communities in all societies and regions, in the hope that we will join our minds, hearts and spirit in solidarity to build a “one world” of peace, compassion, justice, love and diverse shared values for the well being of a common humanity and earth community