The Way to Reconciliation Insights from religious teachings, statesmen, and spiritual leaders Universal Peace Federation - International Leadership Conference

International Year of Reconciliation The UN General Assembly, recognizing that reconciliation processes are particularly necessary and urgent in countries of the world which had suffered or were suffering, situations of conflict that had affected and divided societies in their various facets, proclaimed 2009 the “International Year of Reconciliation.” Resolution A/61/L.22

Judaism You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Leviticus 19.18

Christianity If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Matthew

Islam Better and more rewarding is God’s reward to those who believe and put their trust in Him: who avoid gross sins and indecencies and, when angered, are willing to forgive… Let evil be rewarded by like evil, but he who forgives and seeks reconciliation shall be rewarded by God. Qur’an

Islam Moses son of ‘Imran said, “My Lord, who is the greatest of Thy servants in Thy estimation?” and received the reply, “The one who forgives when he is in a position of power.” Hadith of Baihaqi The best deed of a great man is to forgive and forget. Nahjul Balagha, Saying 201

Sikhism Where there is forgiveness, there is God Himself. Adi Granth, Shalok, Kabir, p Jainism Subvert anger by forgiveness. Samanasuttam 136

Hinduism Let us have concord with our own people, and concord with people who are strangers to us; the Divine Twins create between us and the strangers a unity of hearts. May we unite in our minds, unite in our purposes, and not fight against the divine spirit within us, nor the arrows of the War- god fall with the break of day. Artharva Veda

Buddhism He brings together those who are divided, he encourages those who are friendly; he is a peacemaker, a lover of peace, impassioned for peace, a speaker of words that make for peace. Digha Nikaya Tevigga Sutta

Mohandas K. Gandhi I have nothing new to teach the world. Truth and Non-violence are as old as the hills. All I have done is to try experiments in both on as vast a scale as I could. Political and spiritual leader of India’s independence movement

Abraham Lincoln With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan—to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations. Second Inaugural Address President of the US during the Civil War,

Winston Churchill We shall only save ourselves from the perils which draw near by forgetting the hatreds of the past, by letting national rancours and revenges die, by progressively effacing frontiers and barriers which aggravate and congeal our divisions, and by rejoicing together in that glorious treasure of literature, of romance, of ethics, of thought and toleration belonging to all. Prime Minister of England during World War II Address to the Congress of Europe in the Hague, 1948

Martin Luther King, Jr. I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. American civil rights leader

Nelson Mandela I saw my mission as one of preaching reconciliation, of binding the wounds of the country, of engendering trust and confidence. Anti-apartheid activist, first black president of South Africa,

Desmond Tutu Without forgiveness, there is no future. Anglican Archbishop, Chair, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, South Africa

Tenzin Gyatso All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness... the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives. The 14th Dalai Lama

Sun Myung Moon To achieve the goal of peace, people on both sides need to take the stance, “I exist for you.” Then they can come to the point of consoling one another. Peace can only arise when we say to our opponent, “I am here for you.” Founder, Universal Peace Federation