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The Open International University For Alternative Medicines With students from all over the world and every region of India on its rolls, the university has acquired a truly international character and profile and is in presently actively engaged in further propagating holistic and natural therapies, through its various courses, to all corners of the globe. It offers a wide range of diploma, degree and post graduate programmes, through regular classes and means of distance education, in a number of alternative therapies such as Acupressure, Acupuncture, Aroma therapy, Bach Flower Remedies, Herbal Medicines, Electro Homoeopathy, Magnetotherapy, Naturopathy, Reiki, Yoga, etc. The campus of the university is situated on a picturesque plot of land and is in the process of being developed so as to make it the ideal seat of learning for natural and complementary therapies. Its faculty consists of qualified and experienced doctors and educators who are committed to the needs of all its students whilst striving to research and unearth new and productive trends and integrate them in their teaching and practice. In the short span of a few years, the university has established itself as an organisation of renown and innovative learning. Its credentials have been endorsed by the International Council for Open and Distance Education (Norway), an affiliate of UNESCO, of which it is a member and the World Association of Universities and Colleges, a global accreditation organisation in the USA, which has granted it accreditation. The Indian Board of Alternative Medicines, under whose charter the university has been established, is the only organisation in India to be recognised by and affiliated to the United Nations Peace University (established under UN Resolution No. 35/55/5/XII/80 to which the Govt. of India is a signatory) and is also affiliated to the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (an affiliate of the WHO). The university, through the Indian Board of Alternative Medicines, publishes its own course materials which are written in a simple and lucid manner to facilitate the study of the various subjects. The medium of instruction of all the courses is English and the materials are designed to cater to the needs of all its students who are of diverse backgrounds, races and cultures. The annual convocation is a keenly awaited event with students from overseas and nationwide coming together to receive their degrees and participate in the Board's yearly international conference of which the convocation is an integral part. Meritorious students are also awarded medals and trophies for their academic excellence and achievements at a glittering awards presentation ceremony. Motivated by its overriding desire to alleviate suffering and hardship imposed by disease and sickness, the Open International University for Alternative Medicines will continue to endeavour to popularise alternative and complementary therapies as a viable system of health care, through the powerful medium of education and social service. Mission Statement The executive Board of The Open International University for Alternative Medicines believes firmly that the citizens of the world want and deserve the opportunity to receive the highest quality of health care, with the broadest range of care options. In keeping this set of beliefs, The Open International University for Alternative Medicines is organized to educate and develop health care professionals, including those already in health care practice, to serve the public with love, care and compassion. The learning community of The University seeks to cultivate a renewed sense of purpose and leadership within each individual and to promote an enduring search for knowledge, influence and excellence in human and medical service. These who graduate are required to demonstrate a broad understanding and competency in health care and maintain a commitment to intellectual development, health and medical practice, and scholarship in complementary, alternative and traditional medicine. Hony. Chancellor Emeritus Hony. Chancellor Emeritus He was recognised at an early age to be a reincarnate Lama healer and was enthroned at Gangchen Choepeling Monastery at the age of five. When he reached the age of twelve he received the "Kachen" degree which is usually conferred after twenty years of study. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, he studied medicine, astrology, meditation and philosophy in two of the major monastic universities of Tibet: Sera and Tashi Lhumpo. He also studied in Gangchen Gompa, Tropu Gompa and Neytsong Monastery. He was disceple of some of the most important Gelugpa Lamas like H.H. Trjichang Rinpoche. In 1963, he went into exile to India where he continued his studies for the next seven years at the Varanasi Sanskrit University in Benares. In 1970, he received the Geshe Rigram degree (similar to a Ph. D.) from Sera Monastic University situated in South India. After his graduation, he worked as a Lama healer among the Tibetan communities in Nepal, India and Sikkim, during which time he saved the lives of many people and was named private physician to the Royal Family. In 1981, Lama Gangchen visited Europe for the first time and has since become a resident and Italian citizen. In the same year, he also established his first European center: Karuna Choetsok in Lesbos, Greece, where he planted a bodhi tree in the 'Buddha Garden', and where he consecrated what was to become the first in a long line of World Peace Buddha Statues, thankas and images. Since 1982, he has travelled extensively, both healing and teaching worldwide, leading many pilgrimages to some of the most important holy places of different religious and spiritual denominations in the world. Since many years Lama Gangchen promotes a very important project: the integration between Tibetan Medicine (an incredible and unlikely still unknown treasure of humankind) with allopathic medicine. Lama Gangchen is the holder of an ancient and unbroken lineage of Tantric Masters dating from the time of Shakyamuni Buddha. His Ngalso Tantric Selfhealing is based on Buddha's teaching but it's suitable for modern people. At present he has more than 100 Inner Peace Education centres or Self-Healing Study Groups worldwide. Doctorates, Diplomas, “These awards are not important to me personally; however, they are important in the sense that the work that myself, my friends, followers and members of the Lama Gangchen World Peace Foundation have been doing, has been extensively recognized. I receive them as the representative of all of you, and I would like to personally thank you all very much, and request you all to continue your efforts to make the world a better and healthier place to live. I am not at all interested in the politics of any country, my only wish is to share the messages of Self-Healing, Inner Peace education and Environmental Care everywhere. For this reason, I accept everyone's personal and political views and lifestyles and attend many different kinds of meetings and conferences. I would like to make friends with everyone, and share good alternative ideas such as tantric economy and energy saving, whilst learning the idea and views of others.” Lama Gangchen Before 1967  Tibetan Tantric Medical Lama Healer, Tibet 1967-1994 Diploma of Sanskrit, Bramapatra, Varanasi, Sanskrit University, 1967 Doctor in Buddhist Philosophy (Geshe Rigram), S. India, 1970 Appreciation by the Man Fatt Lam Buddhist Temple, Singapore, 1990 Honorary President of the Academy of Energy, Informative Sciences in Moscow, Russia, September, 1992 Honorary President of Yutok Ling, France Appreciation by the Pokok Sena Persatuan Buddhist Center, Malaysia, 1992 Homage and appreciation in recognition for his healing work and participation in the first Seminar on Medicinal Plants of Campos do Jordao, Honorary citizenship, publicly declared by the "Prefeiture Municipal da Estancia de Campos do Jordao", Brazil, March 23rd, 1993 Premio Internazionale per il Dialogo "San Francesco e Chiara d'Assisi" inter-religious dialogue for the year of the family Massa/Carrara, Italy, Oct. 16, 1994 Appreciation by the Confucian Private Secondary School, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, November 1994 Appreciation by the Medicine Buddha Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Nov. 1994 1995 Doctor of Naturopathy and Natural Homeremedies, Cosmo Medico Healers Research Ass., linked to Academy of Naturopahty, Atlanta Georgia USA, Bombay, India, 1995 Doctorate of Holistic Medicine International Institute of Polypathy, Delhi, India, 1995 Doctor of Science given by the Open International University for Complementary Medicines, Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 1995. Doctor of Philosophy, International Independent University of Ecology and Politology, Moscow, Russia, 1995 Vice-Chancellor, for a period of five years, of the Open International University for Complementary Medicines, Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 1995-2000 Visitor of the Global Open University, Delhi, India, 1995 Professor and Head of Buddhism Department at the East-West University of Holistic Health Sciences, Missouri, USA, November 8th 1995. Board of Directors, International Holistic Medical Society, Stockton, CA, USA, 1995 Patron of the Nepal Buddhist Society, Kathmandu, Nepal, 1995 Patron of the Cosmo Medico Healers Research Association, Bombay, India, 1995 Patron of the Association "International Children's Peace Council" Italy, 1995 National Appreciation of the Capital Territory of Delhi Civic Reception,"signed by Sahib Singh Verma, Minister of Education, Science, Technology, Environment and Development Gov't of National Capital Territory of Delhi, April 22, 1995. Academia Diplomatica de la Paix, Fellowship Award for Professional Excellence, issued under the Patronage and Authority of the Dag Hammerskjold Awards Committee, PAX MUNDI medal award for contributions for Peace , Cooperation and Solidarity to benefit all humanity by the Open Int. University for Complementary Medicines, Sri Lanka, (reg. with UN), March 24th to 26th - Delhi, India , 33rd Int. World Congress for Alternative Medicines organized by the Indian Board of Alternative Medicines, 1995 Honorary Degree of the Community Association of European Order of Merit, to promote human dignity, freedom, solidarity and democracy in the building of a united Europe. To encourage friendship which transcends national frontiers and individual differences. Signed by the Secretary General and President of ACOEM, November 27th, 1995 Gold Medal for Alternative Medicines, Indian Board of Alternative Medicines, Calcutta, April 8th 1995 The Ancient Royal Order of Physicians, for having contributed towards a global Medical Movement for the integration of medicines, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 1995. Sewa Chakra Award, presented by the Hon. Governor of Orissa, Dr B.S. Reddy, 2nd Intern. Congress on the Occasion of World Health Day, Calcutta, India, April 7-9, '95 Gem of Alternative Medicines, presented by Mother Teresa of Calcutta, 8/4/95 Eco-Peace Awards, Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment, Delhi, India, April 22 '95 Two special awards, during a National Congress on Astrology, Palmistry and Criminology, Bombay, India, April 17, '95 Shree Jagatguru Shanti Muni, Supreme World Guru of Peace, by Oriental Research Academy of Occult Religion, Astrology and for spreading the humanistic message of World Peace and Universal Brotherhood, Bombay, India, April 14-16, '95 Certificate of Fellow Concili Scientiarum (F.I.C.A.) International Council of Ayurveda Ludhiana, Punjab, India, 24 March '95 Fellow of Foundation of Integrated Medicines, Prashanti Medical Care Institute, Benares, India, April 1st, '95 Fellow of Environment, Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment, New Delhi, 22 April 1995 1996 Doctor of Energetic Medicine, International Foundation for Energetic Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, March 6th, 1996. Doctor of Philosophy Rel. Sc, East West University, Missouri, USA, given at the occasion of the First Aids Congress, Lahore, Pakistan, Dec. 3rd 1996 Medical Surgeon of Natural Sciences, Askari Academy of Tibb, Karachi, given at the occasion of the First Aids Congress, Lahore, Pakistan, Dec. 3rd 1996 Honorary President, Buddha Institute of Technology, Delhi India, 1996 Diploma of Honorary Membership, Brazilian Academy of Oriental Art and Science, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil given at 34th World Congress in Sri Lanka, Dec. 28th 1996 Chief Patron of the Indian Council of Acupressure Yoga, Nechua Jalalpur, (Gopalganj), Bihar, India, 1996 Certificate of Appreciation by the City of Miami, USA, 23rd August 1996 Appreciation, Peace Commission, ECLAC (Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribians), Chile, July 1996 United Nations Society of Writers Award of Excellence, New York, USA, May 24th 1996 For the contribution towards the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of the United Nations, Award presented by Boutros Boutros Ghali, Secretary General of United Nations, Habitat II June 3-14, 1996 Albert Schweitzer Gold Medal, Int. Inst. of Universalistic Medicine, Poland, Jan.'96 International Environmental Communication Award, Eco-Communication Summit, New Delhi, India, 1-4 Dec. 1996 Emblem of Universidad del Pacifico, Santiago, Chile, July 1996 Emblem of University of Belgrano, Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 1996 1997 International Bodhi Club - Love and Compassion Services, Patna, India, Jan. 1997 National Appreciation, Civic Reception, International Appreciation by Rt Hon. Sahib Singh, Chief Minister of New Delhi, India, 25th Jan. 1997 Honorary Chancellor Emeritus, Open International University for Alternative Medicines, Calcutta, India, 1997. Honorary President, Buddha Institute of Technology, Delhi India, 1996 Distinguished Service Award, Sports Science Research Foundation, Olympics India, World Congress New Delhi, 24 Jan. '97 Awards of Honor by Bihar Citizens Association, by Bodhi International, and by Rotary Patna South, Patna, India, Jan. 29th 1997 World Peace Leader, Institute of Universal Consciousness, Delhi, India, 25 Jan. 1997 Gem of Peace, Acupressure Parishad, Patna, India, 28th January 1997 Fellow of International Management, Indian Institute of Business Management, Patna, India, 28th Jan. 1997 Fellow of Non-Violence, Dr. Zakir Husain Institute for Non-Formal and Continuing Education, Patna, India, Jan. 28th 1997 Fellow of Polypathy, International Institute of Polypathy, New Delhi, India, 25 Jan. 1997 Fellow of World Association for Integrated Medicine W.A.I.M., New Delhi, Jan.1997 Global Peace Ambassador, New World Academy, London, UK. 12th Jan. 1997 Sanskrit Award, New Delhi, India, 23 Jan. 1997 Royal Order of Physicians Medal Award from Sri Lanka, given during the First International Congress at HHC Kathmandu, Nepal, Feb. 1997 Doctor of Theology, Open Intercultural University, Opeinde, Holland, 29th April 1997 Director of the Global Peace University, Opeinde, Holland, April, 1997 Certificate of Merit, Academic Council for Cultural Integration of India, Spain, May 97 Certificate of Honor, South Asian Federation Games, India Olympic Ass., Spain, May 17th 1997 Professor at the Open International University for Complementary Medicines, Colombo, Sri Lanka for ten years, August 1997-2007 Honorary Advisor of the Nepal Yoga and Nature care Association, Nepal, Aug. 6th '97 Honorary Membership of Mamba Datsan, Institute for Traditional Mongolian Medicine, Ulaan Baator Mongolia, Aug. 29th 1997 Certificate of "Supreme Healer", Tashicholing Monastery, Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia, Aug.28th, 1997 Special Award, "Guaritore dell'Ambiente" (Healer of the Environment), given by the City of Aquiterme, Italy, Sept. 20 '97 Board of Directors, East-West Combined Medical Association, Lahore, Pakistan, 1997 Appreciation by SanaArte Foundation, for promoting inter-religious dialogue, Non-Formal Education and Self-Healing, Caracas, Venezuela, October 1997 Diploma for developing a Culture of Peace, Catedra UNESCO Planeta Libre, Caracas, Venezuela, October 1997 Appreciation by the Beijing Argus Culture and Science Developing Center, Aug. 1997 Rector (great supervising professor) at the Chinese College for Advanced Buddhist Studies in Tibetan Language, Beijing, China, September 1997 Chief Patron of the National Health Education Society of India, Mumbai, India Indian Traditional Order of Pandit, Indian Council of Natural Medicine and Research, Bombay, India 30 Nov. '97 Award of Appreciation, Zoroastrian College, Bombay, India, 30. Nov. '97 International Advisor of the World Association of Integrated Medicines, Varanasi, India, Nov. 1997 Mahavajracarya of the universal Life Buddhist Association, Boston, USA, 7th Dec. 1997 International Felicitation by the Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment, Dr Zakir Husain Institute for Non-Formal and Continuing Education, International Association of Educators for World Peace, 23rd December 1997. 1998 Certificate of Excellence of the Ancient Royal Assyrian Order of Merit, Kathmandu, Nepal, February 1998. Certificate of Appointment as Honorary Chancellor Emeritus of the Open International University for Alternative Medicines of Calcutta, India, 27th February 1998. Certificate of Appointment as National Chancellor for Italy of the International Association of Educators for World Peace (NGO affiliated to the United Nations with ECOSOC, UNDPI, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNCED), Kathmandu, Nepal, February 26th 1998. Honorary member of the University Association of Yoga Masters, Scientific European Union of Yoga Masters, Madrid, Spain, February 1998 Patron and Honorary advisor of the National Foundation of Holistic Health Sciences, Khulna, Bangladesh, April 1998 Honorary President of R.O.C. Dha Jin-Buddhist Headquarter, Taiwan, May 1st 1998 Trustee and Executive Board member, "Sleeping Elephant Trust", New York, Sept. 98 Founder and President Emeritus of The Global Open University for World Peace, Milan and Bagni di Lucca, Italy June 5th 1998 "Certificate of Participation" 1st World Congress on Health and Urban Environment, Madrid, Spain, July 6-10, '98 "Fountain of Universal Peace Award", IAEWP, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Aug. 5th '98 "World Peace Recognition" World Peace Academy, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Aug. 5th '98 "Certificate of Participation" 9th World Congress of IAEWP, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Aug. 3-8 '98 "Albert Einstein Award", International Association of Educators for World Peace, Rio de Janeiro, August 8th 1998. UN Plenipotentiary Envoy for IAEWP, 1998 Executive Board of Directors for IAEWP, 1998 Felicitation by the Lion's Club of Tainan, Taiwan, Sept.7th '98 "Premio Cycrus '98 per la Pace" Ass. Culturale New Age, Casino Municipale Sanremo, Italy, Sept. 25th '98 "Honorary Member", Ass. Culturale New Age, Casino Municipale Sanremo, Italy, Sept. 25th '98. Academician, World Peace Academy, IAEWP, UK, 26 Sept. '98 Doctor of Philosophy, International Academy of Culture and Political Sciences, USA, 26 Sept '98 Member of the Multifaith, Multicultural Mediation Service, London, England, 07/10/98 Honorary member of Academia Ecologica, Iasi, Romania, 12 Oct '98 Certificate of Honor, Institute of International Affairs, Paris, France, 18 Oct. 1998 Recognition from the Lion's Club of Macerata, Italy, 27th Oct. '98 Certificate of the Canadian College of Acupuncture Science, Karachi, Pakistan, Nov. 1 '98 Bureau Chief of Holistic Medical Highlights of Al-Shifa Institute of Alternative and Complementary Medicines, Lahore, Pakistan, Sept. 98 Lifelong Member of the European Medical Association, UK, '98 1999 G51 Millennium Award, World Peace Council for the Third Millennium, India, Kathmandu, Nepal, 19th Feb. 1999 International certificate of Honor, IAEWP, Brussels, Belgium, 26 Feb. '99 Founder & Chairman of the Himalayan International University of Yoga and Naturopathy, Kathmandu, Nepal, March 2nd 1999 Honorary Ecumenical Fellowship, St Fancis Animal Apostolate, International Council of Community Churches, Namur, Belgium, 2 March '99 Patron of the World Hindu-Buddhist Solidarity Council, Kathmandu, Nepal, 10/03/99 Founder of the Himalayan Broadcasting Network- Peace Radio, Himalayan Healing Center, Kathmandu, Nepal, 1999 Recognition of the Rotary Club of Colli Briallianti, Lecco, Italy, March 16th 1999 Earth Trust Society Award, United Nations, New York, USA, March 20th 1999 Representative of IAEWP to the United Nations in Geneva for 1999 Doctor Honoris Causa in Natropathy, University Libre des Sciences de l'Homme de Paris, Paris, France 1 April 1999 Honorary Chancellor and Member of the Academic Council, University Libre des Sciences de l'Homme de Paris, Paris, France 1 April 1999 Honorary Member of the Comision de Educacion a Distancia, Madrid, Spain April 12 1999 Honorary Citizenship and Key to the City of Loano - twin town to Franchville, Loano, Italy, 24 April '99 Dhammaraja, from the National Chapter of IAEWP of Russia, Greece, Tanzania, Japan, Canada, May 2nd & 3rd, 1999. Honorary Advisor of the Spanish Association of Professionals Workers Health and Environment, Madrid, Spain, May 5th 1999. Ambassador of Peace, International Association of Educators for World Peace, May 7th Madrid Spain Honorary Professor of Journalism and Communication, Int. Academy of Culture and Political Science, Milan, Italy, May 5th 1999 UN News, Diploma of Scholarship, Korea, May 5th 1998 Doctor of Philosophy, Institute for International Communication, Tver, Russia, May 6th 1999 Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa in Peace Education), Academy of Slavonic Culture, May 8th 1999, Tver, Russia World Environment and Livelihood Award, Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment, Delhi, India, May 9th 1999 IAEWP Gold Medal, at LGWPF Congress, Madrid, Spain, May 9th 1999 Highest Honor of the Open Intercultural University, Opeinde, Holland, May 1999 Albert Einstein Peace Medal, Albert Einstein Academy, New York, September 1999 Cycnus Award 1999, San Remo, Italy Oct. 8 1999 Honorary Advisor of Nepal Institute for United Nations and UNESCO, Nov. 99 2000 World Education Award, World Education Festival - San Remo, Italy, May 4th 2000 Honorary President of European Union University, Iowa, USA, May 6 2000 Messenger of Peace Award, Nepal Institute for United Nations and Unesco Patron, National Buddhist Federation, Kathmandu, Nepal Peace Medal, International Association of Educators for World Peace-IAEWP Man of Year Award, IAEWP Mahatma Ghandi Peace Prize, IAEWP World Peace Envoy, IAEWP Chief Patron of the Indian Institute of Human Rights supported by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, India FOUNDER: Lama Gangchen World Peace Foundation, United Nations Affiliated NGO Kunpen Lama Gangchen, Head Office, Milan, Italy Over 100 Self-Healing Peace Study centers worldwide Himalayan Healing Center, Kathmandu, Nepal South East Asia Principal Health and Peace Prayer Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Lama Gangchen Peace Publications, L.G.P.P., Milan, Italy Radio Atlanta, Peace Radio, Milan, Italy Tibetan Medical Research Center, Madrid, Spain Global Open University, India, Italy Lama Gangchen International Foundation, Delhi, India Lama Gangchen World Peace Services, Milan, Italy Global Village Project, Bagni di Lucca, Italy Ass. L.G. pour la Paix Interieure et la paix Mondial, Paris, France Help in Action, Adoptions at a distance, Milan, Italy Himalayan Amazon Healing Arts Association, Brazil, 1996 Lama Gangchen International Foundation, New York, USA International Global Peace Association, Holland, 1996 Lama Gangchen Peace Editions, Germany, 1995 Buddha Institute of Technology, Delhi, India, 1996 Environment News and Features News Agency, Delhi, India, 1996 Son de Paz - Magazine Association, Madrid, Spain ? Courtesy Printers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Uddhyana Research Center, Swat Valley, Pakistan, and Italy, Dec. 1996 Writers Society, Milan, Italy Public Relations and Exhibition Programs Borobudur Research Center East West Cultural Arts Exchange Group, Milan, Italy East West Healing Arts Development Dharma Handicraft Shop Tibetan Kitchen Catering Service, Milan, Italy United Peace Voice Company, Italy, Brazil Thangka and Tsatsa Arts Development, Italy World Peace Culture Center, Lugano, Switzerland, 1997 Research Institute for Natural Medicines, Switzerland, 1997 Global Peace University, Holland, April 29th 1997 Himalayan Tibetan Medicine Production, Kathmandu, Nepal Peace Times, Good News for the World, Milan, Italy, 1996 Medicine Buddha Hospital, Kataragam, Sri Lanka School and Dispensary near Shigatse, Tibet/China Nubling Tibetan Men Tse Khang, Milan, Italy, Jan, 1997 Reconstructed Gangchen Monastery Himalayan Peace Network - Peace Radio at the Himalayan Healing Center, Nepal.
(last revision: Aug 2001) The Inner and the Outer Culture of Peace: Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen: Let us first invoke ‘peace’ with a minute of silence. Let us use this moment of silence to link into the deepest statements of peace: our own inner peace. (SILENCE) My friends: The Great Paradox The greatest paradox facing humanity today - and this gathering in particular - is the fact that while we are here to promote “the culture of peace”, we are at the same time experiencing major wars and conflicts in today’s world. Just think about Africa and the Middle East. I see myself around this table surrounded by souls who are “converted”, who are seekers of peace, or who understand the real importance of a peaceful world, rather than a world in a state of conflict. It seems that the choice we have is a simple one: we all want to live at peace and in peace. Yes, all of us belong to this club that groups together those who are already converted. With your permission, I would like to take this opportunity and my intervention as a vehicle and as a conduit to reach: the hearts and souls of those who, in practice, do not believe in peace; those that are not at peace with themselves; the hearts and souls of those who are the major promoters of conflicts through partisan politics, selling and buying weapons, covering up major realities of human existence in the name of democracy, religion, and ethnicity; and the hearts and souls of those who are denying that conflict is the major disease affecting humanity today. My friends: I want to reach those millions of children who are in combat today and who have become heads of household because of the death of their parents. I want to reach those innocent lives lost as casualties in so many conflicts in this world. I want to speak to those who are at the negotiation table taking ‘grand stands’ in the name of winning the war rather than of establishing everlasting peace. They are not here, although they should be here, and share their personal testimony. But, we all know that they are either the architects of conflict and war, or, clearly, they are the victims of major destruction. Simply said, right now, they are at war somewhere else in the world. They are the ones who need our peace energy, our peace hearts, ad our peace souls. The Culture of Peace The culture of peace, if ever applied in practice, is the most revolutionary paradigm that humanity has ever put forth on the table of each and every household in the world. A paradigm that touches the rich and the poor, the north and the south, the developed and developing countries, all different races and communities in the world, governments, private sector, NGOs, and so on. The key to this revolution is a fundamental change in the existing value system so dominated by economics, excessive consumption, exclusion and marginalisation. All of these are happening in a world that globalises so rapidly, and sees that poverty is increasing at an ever high rate. The culture of peace is not a title, or another theoretical proposition, but a totally new way of life on this planet. A planet that is getting smaller and smaller, as billions of people search for co-existence and betterment. The culture of peace is, and should be, the foundation of everything we do. From economics and finance to equality and an acceptable form of distribution of productive assets. From social imperatives in our societies to cultural and institutional sustainability. From the human dimensions of progress and change to the moral and ethical dimensions of life and our human existence. It is the culture of peace that provides the substantive elements to close the existing gap of a notion of economic development that is practised today within a major ethical and moral vacuum. But we seem to be far from having adopted this culture of peace. We seem to talk about it rather than to identify the true transformational instruments and actions that will actually provoke the changes we are all looking for. Three fundamental steps The way forward requires three fundamental steps. The first fundamental step is the basic distinction between our outer peace and inner peace. Most of what humanity and leadership is doing to attain some acceptable level of peace is to grab the elements of outer peace. What looks like a world without conflict. Physical conflict, I must say. But the absence of conflict is NOT tantamount of a state of peace. Lack of physical conflict is simply “the lack of physical conflict”. And in doing so, we are using more sophisticated weapons of mass destruction, so some can neutralise others who are prepared to create more conflict. This happens within countries, between countries and all over the world. Thus, instead of addressing crime, we train more police officers, we expand the space under the prison system, so we can keep more and more people inside those facilities; we create an industry of alarm systems and anti-alarm systems that is now in the trillions of dollars,..., all in the name of outer peace. All in the name of maintaining a world without apparent conflicts. We have seldom gone beyond the management of physical conflict, despite the fact that we know that there are so many other forms of conflict. These remain totally unattended. Of course, the results are clear: very high suicide rates in teenagers, increased trafficking and prostitution of young girls, of highly illegal drug, ad so on. Peace, on the other hand, is a state of consciousness. An inner state in each of us, with individual and social connotations. We simply cannot buy peace. There is no supermarkets for peace. There is no level of material wealth that will be capable of buying everlasting peace either for a person or for a nation. Therefore, if any progress is to be made in the practice and materialisation of a culture of peace, we must focus on its inner values, its inner dimensions, and its inner realities rather than on its outer elements. This approach will demand a different discourse, a different attitude, a different system of education, a different way of facing life in all its dimensions within this planet. The second fundamental step is to recognise the importance of what I call the “presence factor”. Many of our meetings and many of our institutions are filled with people who advocate and promote peace, but who are not at peace within themselves. Many people have never experienced the state of inner peace. As long as you have not done so, everything tends to stay in a state of abstraction. We simply cannot promote that which we do not know what it is. How can we allow those who are not at peace with themselves to sit at the table to negotiate a peace treaty? How can we trust architects who are in deep inner conflict to construct a world of peace? This is an element we must understand and strive for in the next few years. This is particularly the case in children who have been taught how to kill through the media, films and toys. Our children have been trained to take the life of another human being. Yes, the future leaders of the world, some, who should have been here today, may become the most effective machines of destruction. This is simply not acceptable. This presence factor also applies to our teachers, our political and spiritual leaders, and to everyone who is in an influential position. We must take massive steps to assist and contribute to the peace of those who are making decisions that affect each and everyone of us. We must get closer to them now. We must approach them with huge respect and compassion, but with a firm and unequivocal message that peace is the objective and not just the elimination of conflict. The third fundamental step is to bring in action. Peace must be an intrinsic element of all we do. We must have peace in ourselves and among ourselves. We must have peace with all of the elements and constituents of nature. We must have peace within every institution and organisation, as a coherence factor as well as a performance factor. We must have peace with all religions, with all ethnic groups, with all possible communities of interest. This is a step we all feel comfortable with, although it has proven to be the most difficult one to attain in practice. Peace in action means peace in every step of the way of our existence. Peaceful thoughts. Peaceful actions. Peaceful goals and commitments. Peaceful instruments. Peaceful forms of exchange. Peaceful politics. Peaceful business. And so on. Our public commitment My friends: This cannot be just another meeting. This cannot become just yet another self-congratulatory event. This cannot be the platform of speeches that have no transformational implications or that remain in one book of proceedings for historians to decide if we made it or not. This meeting must be the new beginning of a massive concerted effort to transform the world into a world of peace, once and for all. My personal commitment is to go out of this door with my heart and soul full of that peaceful light and that peaceful energy that will be able to transform everyone I see, everyone I touch, everyone I think of. My personal commitment is to go out of this room and create the level of awareness that this problem deserves before more people get killed on the streets of so many cities in the world. My personal commitment is to heal those who have been affected by war and conflict and those whose wounds go far beyond the physical body. But what is our collective commitment? What actions are we planning to take here and now so the impacts of our existence touches every corner of the world? In this regard, I would like to propose only one simple idea: the opening of the international bilateral or multilateral dialogues - anywhere they happen - into a debate that takes due account of human, spiritual, cultural, ethical and moral values. We have gone too far in promoting material welfare. It is time we promoted spiritual welfare. In practical terms, I have called this idea the creation of a Spiritual Forum in every instance of public policy making. This is practical and do-able, if we are in the vein of transformational change, and if we would like to reach far beyond political or allegorical declarations. Let is stand up for peace. The choice is really ours. Thank you very much. |
