The tapestry of human culture, with its vivid and enchanting hues has evolved into a unanimous interpretation of peace. The evolved human intellect has translated all philosophical and religious ideologies in the light of humanity and love-an unconditional love for all mankind irrespective of beliefs and identities, values and norms, customs and attitudes. This respect for the individual while maintaining a collective harmony transformed into laws, norms and ethics, and hence shaped the human thought into a desire to live and let live.
The idea of peaceful co-existence is annealed with the awareness of a very fundamental truth, that the entire human race shares more commonalities than differences. The shrine of Hazrat Nizammudin, for example, has been the symbol of religious harmony since 1325, as Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs have prayed in their own ways at this blessed place which has been a source of inner peace for everyone who steps into this island of spirituality.
Our hurts, happiness, celebrations, our need to love and be loved, our hopes and dreams, and our collective conscience is rooted in the same soil, as seven billion people breathe in and out the incense of life, at the exact same rhythm.
The respect for life and liberty, demonstrations for peace and human rights, organized efforts to protect humanity, a very strong voice always in favor of the most peaceful solution to international problems, and an ever increasing reverence for the sanctity of human dignity, all speak loudly of the readiness to share the similarities between us. The United Nations Organization and all its associated organs as well as donor organisations like USAID have renewed trust in humanity as they strive to eliminate misery and pain from the entire world.
With the awareness of being similar comes the admiration of differences, which makes the portrait of human identity very beautiful. The understanding that being different is not synonymous with being wrong, the acknowledgement that everyone is right in their own context and the eagerness to preserve the right to have a personal freedom of beliefs and actions has given a new hope to this world. Now we see mass protests all over the world against the violation of human rights, no matter where it takes place, we see a very strong sentiment for anti-war foreign policy in all countries and organisations like the Melinda Gates foundation helping the world beyond the boundaries of countries or regions.
It is a beautiful dream to see the world celebrating Christmas, Eid, and Holi and appreciating the soulful musicality of the bells of monks; to live in a world where humanity is the most sacred law, where tolerance is the supreme quality and unconditional love the most ethical virtue.
I believe that life is too short for animosities, and letting differences get the better of us as individuals and lead us to conflict, thus, we must understand that though, an individual, a sect, a social group, or another religion, might be different from us in terms of ideologies, mindsets, and thinking, however, the universal understanding of good and evil being the same, should be our guiding principle towards the fact, that such differences must not be allowed to hinder us from our universal goal, which is to work for the greater good, which encompasses a world that believes that there is much more than just skin color, nationality, ethnicity, and religion, which may influence our opinion about others, that much more is the strength of morals, character, and honesty of intention.
Alan Wilson Watts says: “Through our eyes, the universe is perceiving itself. Through our ears, the universe is listening to its harmonies. We are the witnesses through which the universe becomes conscious of its glory, of its magnificence.”
MUHAMMAD AHMED TAJAMMUL
Lahore