Charter for compassion
December 2009
Karen Armstrong, author of The Case for God and winner of the 2008 TED prize, along with religious leaders from around the world, gathered on November 12, 2009, at the National Press Club, Washington, D.C., to unveil the Charter for Compassion.
It was crafted by people from all walks of life, nationalities, beliefs and backgrounds with the intent to unify, inspire and bring compassion back into the heart of society.
Compassionate living: Karen Armstrong At the unveiling, Karen, and religious leaders, called upon the world to make a commitment to living a life of compassion. As she explains, “Compassion is not the feeling of goodwill or pity. Instead it is the principled determination to put ourselves into the place of the other that lies at the heart of all truly religious and ethical systems.”
The charter calls upon all men and women to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion; to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate; to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures; to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity; to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings – even those regarded as enemies.
Events to commemorate the launch of the Charter are taking place across the globe. They include everything from art exhibits and film screenings to small lectures and large conferences. Closer to home, in Kolkata, leaders of different faiths will assemble and discuss the positive role of religion and spirituality in achieving compassion around the globe. Affirmers of the charter include luminaries such as the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Queen Noor of Jordan, Deepak Chopra and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche.
TED is a non-profit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It is an annual conference which brings together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives. Karen won the TED Prize in 2008 and the Charter for Compassion was her wish. You can affirm the charter at www.charterforcompassion.org
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