Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar here on Monday described stress as the biggest problem of the present time. Addressing concluding ceremony of the three-day international dharma conference for welfare of mankind, he said it is because of social maladies like immorality, corruptions which prompt a person to commit suicide and said it is through religion only that we can curb crimes.
Stressing the importance of religion, the spiritual leader said for ushering the world into an era of peace and happiness it is important that scholars of various sects, religious faiths sit together and think over it as how to promote, nurture and expand religion.
Talking about secularism, he said today secularism is being construed as keeping away from religion but the fact is that only a wise man can become religious as wisdom can be achieved only through religion. Explaining religion, Ravi Shankar said religion is all about how we can be helpful to others and make a place in someone’s heart.
lauding the conference, he said such event is essential for the welfare of human being.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said based intellectual discussion held during three-day conference, a manifesto for the welfare mankind would be released next year in Ujjain during Simhasth. He said efforts would be made to spread the message of religious seers, spiritual gurus to people across the country.
He also announced to open Centre for Integrated Healing and Centre for Alternative learning at Sanchi University. Besides, land would also be made available at Sanchi University to open study centres of different countries.
Sikyong lobsang Sange of Central Tibet Administration said that goal of religion is building a compassionate world. God showers love, mercy and compassion. Human beings seek happiness and riddance from sorrow. Hinduism believes in principle of world as single family. Christianity considers entire human race as children of God. Sikh Guru Gobind Singh has said that every human has a part of God. Poet laureate Rabindranath Tagore has described probity of mind, speech and deeds as religion. Tension and struggle crop up when one religion is imposed on any other person. Religion teaches us courage, knowledge, wisdom, probity, mercy and dutifulness.
Principal Secretary Culture Manoj Shrivastava proposed a vote of thanks. Prof. Gajneshwar Shastri presented summary of the seminar.
Thousands of persons attended the seminar organised by Culture Department, Sanchi Buddhist and Indic Studies University and Centre for Study of Religion and Society. About 300 research papers were received of which 150 were read out in different sessions of the seminar. About 25 foreign scholars also read out papers.
Representatives of America, Japan, China, South Korea, Spain, Britain, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Trinidad & Tobago, Nepal, Sri lanka, Bangladesh and Israel attended the seminar.
As many as 1221 registrations for all categories were made of which 550 were made online. About 120 representatives of religions from all districts of the state were also present. Folk artistes presented colourful programmes during the seminar.