The Charter is Unveiled
Karen Armstrong, author of “The Case for God” Joins with Multi-national Council of Religious Leaders to Bring Compassion Back to the Heart of Society
Karen Armstrong, winner of the 2008 TED prize, along with religious leaders from around the world, gathered today at the National Press Club to unveil the Charter for Compassion (www.charterforcompassion.org). The Charter is a single document, endorsed by HH the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu among others. 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. Compassion is the principled determination to put ourselves in the shoes of the other, and is often referred to as the Golden Rule - a tenet that is central to all major religions.
At the unveiling, Ms. Armstrong, and religious leaders, called upon the world to make a commitment to living a life of compassion. Over 60 Charter for Compassion Plaques, designed by Yves Behar and his team at fuseproject, will be hung in significant religious and secular locations around the world, in cities such as New York, Cairo, London, Ramallah, Melbourne, and Buenos Aires. The design focuses on the power and meaning of the Charter's words rather than purely the form. Consisting of sustainable maple, simple construction and laser-engraving, the plaques have a unique and iconic design reflective of the key messaging of Karen Armstrong. The text can be viewed at www.charterofcompassion.org.
As Ms. Armstrong explains, “Compassion is not the feeling of good will 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 of Compassion’s Call to Action
The final text of The Charter calls upon all men and women
* to restore compassion to the center 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
Celebrating The Golden Rule
Events to commemorate the launch of the Charter are taking place across the globe from Australia and South Africa to Argentina and Thailand with more than 100 partner organisations today and in the following week. They include everything from art exhibits and film screenings to small lectures and large conferences. Religious leaders will be giving services on compassion and the Charter in houses of worship.
Affirmers from All Walks of Life
Affirmers of the Charter hail from near and far and include luminaries such as Queen Noor of Jordan, Sheikh Ali Gomaa, Candido Mendes, Jody Williams, Deepak Chopra and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, as well as cultural icons Meg Ryan, Vusi Mahlasela, and Salman Ahmad.
Origin of the Charter for Compassion
A 2008 winner of the TED Prize and renowned author, Ms. Armstrong has been working with the TED community to create, launch and propagate a Charter for Compassion—a document that would bring attention back to the principles of universal justice and respect that are central to all the world's great religions.
During the Charter-writing period, people of all faiths, from around the world, contributed their ideas, suggestions and stories. “I was excited to join so many different individuals contributing to the Charter's development. I believe that this Charter will help bring people together to recognise our interdependence, commit to furthering our mutual wellbeing, and act with compassion for all, not just one's own group” said contributor Vincent Cheng. A Council of Conscience, made up of eighteen renowned religious thinkers and leaders, then wrote the final version.
“TED is committed to ideas worth spreading, and you can make the case that the Golden Rule is the best idea humanity has ever had,” said Chris Anderson, Curator of TED. “It is an idea that builds on our fragile biological instincts to care for those close to us and extends it to all. Without it, we might already have blown ourselves out of existence. In a world where all of the big problems are global in nature, we need it more than ever. It can act as a lightning rod to foster collaboration instead of conflict between the great religions and also provide a common moral cause with the secular world.”
About the Charter for Compassion (www.charterforcompassion.org)
Karen Armstrong had a desire to impact the violence attributed to religion around the world and wanted to remind people of the core similarity that lies at the heart of all religions – the Golden Rule. Karen won the TED Prize in 2008 and the Charter for Compassion was her wish. Global participation in an open writing process was the critical starting point for the creation of the Charter for Compassion was launched in the fall of 2008 to allow people of all nations, all backgrounds, and all faiths to contribute. People from all over the world have contributed to this Charter; it transcends religious, ideological and national difference; it has been composed by leading thinkers from many traditions with passion, insight, intellectual conviction and hope.
A Project of the TED Prize (www.ted.com)
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 (in 18 minutes). TED.com makes the best talks and performances, the ideas worth spreading, from TED available to the public, for free.
The TED Prize is designed to leverage the TED Community's exceptional array of talent and resources. It is awarded annually to three exceptional individuals who each receive $100,000 and, much more important, the granting of "One Wish to Change the World."
Made Possible by the Fetzer Institute (www.fetzer.org)
A private operating foundation based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the Fetzer Institute engages with people and projects around the world to help bring the power of love, forgiveness and compassion to the center of individual and community life. Founded by broadcast pioneer John E. Fetzer, the institute carries out its mission in a number of ways: by supporting scientific research to understand how to increase the human capacity for love and forgiveness; by convening conversations that help community leaders explore the practical application of love and compassion in their work; and by sharing compelling stories of love and forgiveness at work in the world. While the Fetzer Institute is not a religious organisation, it honors and learns from a variety of spiritual traditions.
The Charter For Compassion
The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.
It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others - even our enemies - is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.
We therefore call 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.
We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensible to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.
