Three Buddhist monks returned home to Myanmar last week from the Nobel Institute with World Harmony Awards, presented by the Parliament of the World’s Religions a statement on its website reports.
Former Prime Minister of Norway Kjell Magne Bondevik of the Christian Democratic Party joined Imam Malik Mujahid, Chair of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, in awarding the monks at the opening of the Oslo Conference to Stop the Systematic Persecution of Myanmar’s Rohingya.
“These extraordinary monks challenge the widespread perception that all Buddhist monks clamor for violence against the Rohingyas,” Mujahid said presenting the awards to His Holiness Rev. Seindita, His Holiness Rev. Withudda, and His Holiness Rev. Zawtikka.
The World Harmony Awards recognized acts of “fostering compassion, kindness, and harmony among faith communities in Myanmar,” where more than one thousand Rohingya Muslims survived violence by being protected inside of Buddhist monasteries.
Rev. Seindita proclaimed, “They will have to kill me first,” before allowing aggressors to harm the Rohingya masses.
In his remarks, Mujahid said that the three honourees personify the Golden Rule- describing it as both the maxim of the interfaith movement, and the beacon of all peace and justice movements.
“The Buddha proclaimed that we must love and care for all creatures. The Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him, said that none of you are truly believers unless you wish for another what you wish for yourself. These teachings are at the heart of all our faiths, where the beauty of religion is rooted.”
He continued, “While fear, anger, and hate rises in America and communities around the world, people of compassion are rising to demonstrate neighbourly loving relationships. We must become our brother’s keeper.”
The Parliament was a co-sponsor of the meetings held at the prestigious Norwegian Nobel Institute and Voksenaasen Conference Centre in Oslo, Norway.
Participants from 16 different countries, including Rohingya activists, Buddhist monks, Christian clergy, and Muslim leaders from Myanmar converged with genocide scholars to adopt a statement pressing for immediate international action.
The two-day conference concluded with an additional call to action from seven Nobel Peace Laureates, describing the plight of the Rohingya as nothing less than a genocide.