On an Interfaith Conference Held in a Mosque in Lisbon: Baha'is Participate Along with the Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama receives a souvenir with the symbols of all religions
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Mr. Mário Marques of the Portuguese Baha'i community (right) saluting the Dalai Lama

From Marco of Povo de Baha comes this wonderful report. -gw

Dear Friends,

Last Sunday we had an Interfaith Conference here in Lisbon. It took place at Lisbon Central Mosque and we had the Dalai Lama with us. Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and Baha’is were present. Many politicians, scholars, journalists also attended this conference.

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The Tibetan Leader expressed several ideas very similar to the Baha’i Faith: we should not judge religions by the mischievous acts of some believers; we have to respect every human being because he/she is a divine creation. Mr Mário Soares, former President of Republic and Chairman of the Religious freedom committee was also present.

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The Muslim hosts were very kind to all the people present. Closing the Conference, the Chairman of the Islamic community quoted Ibn Abari: "My heart has become capable of every form: it is a pasture for gazelles and a convent for Christian monks, And a temple for idols, and the pilgrim's Ka'ba, and the tables of the Tora and the book of the Koran. I follow the religion of Love, whichever way his camels take. My religion and my faith is the true religion."

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The Baha’i representative included a prayer in his speech. This was a unique moment: how many times a baha’i prayer was hear inside a Muslim mosque? This world is changing faster than we imagine.

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The following video is about this conference. Part of it is in Portuguese and part of it is in English. Please note the sense of humour of the Dalai Lama when he mentions the Baha’is.

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http://videos.sapo.pt/Ej8ZD5K6mKamRISpuFD1

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Greetings from Lisbon,
Marco Oliveira