Interfaith Peace Prayer

by blogadmin | Aug 20, 2015 | Delaware, DSAC, Sikhism, Year 2015

A Peace Prayer to ONE From Many

Faiths across the world concur in the belief that even when religions are many, God is one.

Still, a razor thin minority dedicate themselves to destroying the peace of the majority in the disguise of religion. I agree with Napoleon (not a particularly peaceful person himself) when he said: “The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of good people.”

Why do these “good people” stay silent and later whimper in pain, suffering and disgust?

On Saturday, August 15, local leaders and members of various faiths came together at the recently opened Sikh temple (Gurdwara) near Middletown to demonstrate that good people can collectively serve the community and pray in peace and solidarity. The event also reflected the belief that service and prayer together in such a way can frustrate hatemongers more powerfully than any other individual effort.

This was the second year that a group of Sikhs sponsored and organized such a gathering. Last year the venue was close to the Wilmington train station where an interfaith peace prayer was said before food was served to the homeless in the spirit of community service.

This year we gathered at our new Gurdwara in Middletown. Members of many faiths joined together to help clean Route 896, where the Gurdwara is located. This was done as a community service project under the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) Adopt-A-Highway program. Families living in the neighborhood of the Gurdwara also generously joined the effort. Following the cleanup, we gathered at the Gurdwara for fellowship and remarks by government leaders and representatives of several religions.

This year’s event coincided with the third anniversary of the tragedy in Oak Creek, Wisconsin in which a gunman attacked a Sikh temple, killing six members and wounding several others including a police officer. The incident was remembered by watching “Waking in Oak Creek,” a half-hour movie that recounts how on August 5, 2012, an individual driven by hatred and neo-Nazi leanings shattered the lives of Sikhs in this small suburban town. But the finest achievement of this film, produced by Not In Our Town and distributed by Department of Justice, is in showing the resilience of the Sikhs. The film illustrates how in the true spirit of their faith Sikhs remained invested in peace, love and forgiveness.

This shining spirit was certainly enabled by enormous love and support of Americans at large in the true spirit of the creators of our country. The documentary convincingly depicts how governments at all levels and people from all walks of life embraced and comforted the Sikh community.

However, this year’s interfaith initiative was not just focused on Oak Creek. It was an act of remembrance and tribute by people of all faiths for all those who have been wounded or died from hate crimes and violence. It was for the nine victims of Charleston Church shooting, three victims of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, four victims of Chattanooga, Tennessee, for Michael Brown, in Ferguson, and others in Madison, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Baltimore and elsewhere.

As a Sikh, I was taught since childhood that there is nothing larger than seva (selfless community service) and simran (prayer). A seva that is intended and performed for the universal betterment (sarbat da bhala in Sikh parlance) can only invoke the Supreme Being’s blessing of glory.
Simran can progress towards acme only when it promotes harmony, equality and togetherness.

I can’t imagine a peaceful world unless there is peace among various faiths, which can only start once there is peace amid faith leaders of the world. Will it ever happen?

Rather than sitting and debating about it, I believe in doing what we can, regardless of how meager it may be.

Through interfaith activities in Delaware over the years, I have met and interacted with many people of different backgrounds and beliefs who share a common vision of community and peace. They have helped sustain my hope in times when it was faltering. We extend a warm thanks to all those ladies and gentlemen, and our sincere gratitude to all who participated in today’s community service and interfaith peace prayer.

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This column was published online by the www.delawareonline.com on Aug 04, 2015.