There is much spiritual energy in the world at the moment — some of it moving humanity in positive directions and some of it moving humanity in negative directions. Two of the seemingly postive initiatives at the moment are the Charter for Compassion project started by Karen Armstrong and the other is the World Parliament of Religions meeting in Melbourne in early December. Today's commentary from Andrew McAlister helps draw our attention to both these endeavours...

An initiative worth supporting...

In February of 2008 Karen Armstrong – academic, religious historian, author and now activist – was awarded the TED Prize. As part of this prize, those awarded it get to make a wish. The TED organisation then does its best to bring this wish to fruition. Karen Armstrong's wish was that TED assist her and other like-minded people to create and promote a Charter for Compassion.

On Wednesday November 12, after nearly two years of work, the Charter for Compassion was finally released to the world via the Charter for Compassion : website. The charter is inspiring reading. It is a rallying call to conscience. It invites its readers to look beyond exclusive self interest to see that our deepest needs for safety and fulfillment can only be met if we act together and in the interests of the common good. The charter maintains that the global imperative to make compassion a practical reality has never been stronger.

Armstrong, originally frustrated by the hijacking of religion by fundamentalism, extremism and dogmatism, wanted something that would help the modern world of ethics, politics, and religion come back to what religion at its core seeks to promote: the transformation of the human heart from egotism to love. The hope is that this charter, as well as the movement supporting it, will encourage both religious and political leaders to a remembering and discovery of the importance of compassion to human life and spirit.

Armstrong wished that the inspiration for this charter be what is called the Golden Rule: 'treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves'. This foundational guidance is to be found at the heart of all religions. It transcends and completes the unique dogmas of religion. Indeed the Golden Rule places these dogmas in a healthy context because it goes to the core of what all good human relations are about: include the other, share your resources, lose your ego-centricity.

In the middle of 2008, for a six week period, the Charter for Compassion website asked for suggestions from the world's population about what the charter could say about compassion. Thousands of contributions were posted from over 100 countries. After this six week period, representatives of the world's five major religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity) sorted through the contributions.

After this, 18 religious 'sages', chosen from the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Islam and Christianity) met to finally form the charter. This group decided to name themselves The Council of Conscience.

Compassion — more needed in this country...

To live a life growing in compassion may seem like weakness to many, an indulgence or fantasy to others. Surely if Australia's politicians chose to act out of genuine self-less compassion, this would mean more asylum seekers risking the high seas in leaky boats? And would not an outstretched hand and a loving eye see some Australians settle for a welfare payment when what is really needed is the motivation to be found only in the reality of their circumstance?

There is an unfortunate hardness that is sometimes evident in Australian culture. What is missing, perhaps, is a popular, inclusive and practical focus on the art of compassion itself. If a handful more of our political leaders were to listen to and act upon the insistence of compassion, then maybe a public life promoting values consistent with compassion would not appear so utopian. Perhaps this charter can help with that.

Perhaps this charter can also entice more of us who profess to be religious back to a renewed commitment to compassion first? Perhaps this charter can help build a bridge of sorts uniting theist and atheist alike in a shared embrace of what we can be together: human and compassionate?

From the www.parliamentofreligions.org website

In Sydney, an Islamic Imam named Afroz Ali has been chosen as an Australian ambassador for the Charter. The Islamic School of which Afroz is the Imam – The Al-Ghazzali Centre for Islamic Sciences and Human Development – has been named as a Producer Partner by the Charter for Compassion website. Given the nature of the media attention that some Muslim leaders and their communities have received in this country – it is hard to forget the coverage of Sheik Taj al-Din al-Hilaly and the Lakemba Mosque a couple of years ago — could this association with an Australian Imam and his Islamic Madrassa be a risk for the charter?

Earlier this year I was part of a group who attended a short course of study at the Al-Gahzzali Centre Academy. The course taught those taking part about how the Qur'an makes it possible for Muslims to be friends with Non-Muslims. The course was open to Non-Muslims. I am a Catholic Christian. During the course the Imam and his fellow Muslims treated the participants with respect and openness. The women present were treated as equals. In the company of these Muslims I felt at peace and safe. From what I saw and experienced, Imam Ali will be a worthy and humble ambassador for the Charter for Compassion in Australia. Having the Al-Ghazzali Centre as a partner should do the charter no ill. How the Charter is to be received by Afroz Ali's fellow Australians, time will tell.

www.charterforcompassion.org

©2009 Andrew McAlister

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