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Dec. 8, 2006
From tolerance to empathy
Interfaith panel explores interactions among different religions.
BAILA LAZARUS
As book launches go, it was perhaps one of the most unique the
Vancouver Public Library has ever held. A panel of seven members
of different religious groups came together to discuss the issue
of empathy with an audience of about 150 on behalf of the book Illuminations.
The publication brings together 180 writers and artists who contributed
personal stories about the struggles they have with their faith.
Contributors include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Artist's Way
author Julia Cameron and women's rights activist Fatima Gailani.
Illuminations – Expressions of the Personal Spiritual Experience
is edited by Mark Tompkins and Jennifer McMahon. Tompkins, who was
moderating the event, said he wanted to foster empathy for other
religions through the book, so he requested that people write about
their challenges. "It's easier to empathize when people tell
you what their struggles are," he told the crowd gathered at
the downtown branch last week.
Rather than have a typical book-signing, Tompkins decided to hold
the panel discussion in order to "advance the cause."
He selected the topic "How do we develop empathy for people
of other spiritual paths?"
Speaking on the panel were Bishop Michael Ingham of the Anglican
Church of Canada, Victor Chan, founder of the Dalai Lama Centre
for Peace, Tony DuMoulin of Canadian Jewish Congress, Nafees Shams
from the Muslim-Jewish Feed the Hungry Program, Bhupinder Singh,
a Sikh representative, Mohamad Rachid from the B.C. Muslim Association
and Acharya S.P. Dwivedi from the Global Hindu Foundation.
Each panellist gave a few minutes' talk, with Ingham leading off
the discussion saying how important it is to enter into another
person's experience in order to truly feel empathy. Chan conveyed
some feelings on the subject from the Dalai Lama, who believes that
empathy for others results in tangible, physical benefits. "To
be authentically happy, reach out to others and think less about
yourself," Chan said.
DuMoulin began by acknowledging that, in some faiths, such as Judaism,
strong identity with the religious group has helped preserved the
culture, but can lead to intolerance, as well.
"While such an emphasis on belonging to a people has allowed
us to survive and preserve a rich tradition of questioning, studying,
praying, learning and spiritual striving, it does not exactly encourage
the development of empathy for those of other faith traditions,"
he said, adding that to survive, Jews have had to create protective
barriers, which might lead some to believe that their own faith
is more important than that of others. To break down these barriers,
DuMoulin said, it helps to look at some of the Jewish laws, particularly
the law of shmirat halashon (guarding one's speech) –
laws against slander or bearing false witness.
You must not make a derogatory comment about another person, even
when true, said DuMoulin, you must not listen or believe it to be
true if someone says something to you, you must defend the person
spoken of and you must try to also guard your thoughts and not think
the worst.
"A sincere effort to pursue this discipline, guarding one's
tongue, one's ears and one's thoughts, can help break down barriers
and lead to tolerance and understanding of other faith traditions,"
said DuMoulin. "Then the stage is set for open, honest and
unguarded dialogue with other faith traditions."
After DuMoulin, Shams drew laughter from the audience when he spoke
about his work volunteering for the Feed the Hungry group, a monthly
activity where Jews and Muslims make meals for people in the Downtown
Eastside.
"If Muslims and Jews can work together, the rest of the religions
should be a slam dunk," he said, adding that his volunteer
work has helped him "gain a lot of hope and faith in humanity."
Singh spoke of the Sikh tenet, "If you can't see God in all,
you can't see God at all," and reminded the audience that "other
people are always going to be as sure of their religion as you are."
In order to have a constructive discussion, therefore, it's necessary
to fight against ego, so you don't think you're better than others,
he said.
Rashid's and Dwivedi's comments focused on the idea of all people
being connected. Rashid pointed out that all nations come from Adam
and Eve and so are all related, while Dwivedi said that Hinduism's
perspective is that the whole universe is one family. "The
moment you start thinking about the world in this way, you will
affect change," he said, adding that he thought the Illuminations
book would be a good companion to the Bible in hotel rooms around
the world.
After introductory comments, members of the audience added their
thoughts and questions. A few noted critically that there were only
men on the panel and that there should have been women and perhaps
First Nations representation, to which Tompkins replied that he
wanted to keep the discussion faith-based, but had not purposely
selected the panellists based on gender. DuMoulin added that Rabbi
Laura Duhan Kaplan was originally supposed to speak on the panel
and he was a last-minute replacement.
More information on Illuminations can be found at www.illuminationsbook.com.
Baila Lazarus is a freelance writer, photographer and
illustrator living in Vancouver. Her work can be seen at www.orchiddesigns.net.
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