PATIALA: A three day international seminar on the theme "Towards building a peaceful society: Role of Religion" concluded here on wednesday.The seminar was organized by Prof. Harbans Singh Department of Encyclopaedia of Sikhism of Punjabi University in collaboration with International Interfaith Centre, Oxford, UK.
 

In his valedictory address Swami Ved Bharti said that all names lead to one name. He talked about the problems and solutions of the conflicts.  He said that concept of revelations, concept of holy water is common to all religions and statue (icon) workship is almost everywhere.  He said "there is no need to find ways of uniting as they already exist, what is needed is to recognise these ways".  In his enlightening speech he said that source of inspiration for one and all has been same for the centuries and is needed to be understood and accepted.  He emphasized that conferences should not be end of life.  Very highly intellectual tools have been given to us in the shape of olden literature and Sikh text being the unique example as it carries every body with it.  It is the text of unity of religions. 
 
In his presidential address Vice-Chancellor  Swarn Singh Boparai expressed his happiness about the conference and told the audience that more than 30 such conferences have been organized by this university. Responding to the proposal of Prof. Edmund Webber about holding International Interfaith Relgious Charity Conference in the Punjabi University.  Boparai suggested the delegates present in the seminar to form a council and decide about the same. 
 
Earlier in the morning Prof. S. Rimpoche said that in this post modern age every community is in a hurry and has created a sort of disbalance in his life.  Now religions are being revisited.  The religion has played a role uptill now.  If everybody follows religion, there will be no conflict any where.  Religion is a state of mind and not the ritual, the icon or any institution.  He stated clerly that insitutionalization of religion hampers the real purpose of religion as institutions create ego among the followers.  Real dharma lies in the experience.  He urged the people to see the meaning of dialogue.  Are we not engaged in monologues? he asked as we do not listen to others.  Listening attentively to others could minimise conflict.  If traditions and institutions could come together there would be tolerant and beautiful world. 
Ends Regards
 
Seminarians presented research papers on cultural hermeneutics, global peace through global values, interfaith thems in the life and writings of Swami Vivekanand and Buddhism towards social harmony.  While speaking utility on cultural hermeneutics Prof. Yong Huang from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania,