Compassionate Action Network, Fetzer Institute, Seeds of Compassion, and Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education hosted a celebration and symposium on compassion on April 24 at The Center for Spiritual Living.
The day began with a ceremony honoring the affirmation by Seattle's Mayor and City Council of the Charter for Compassion and their declaration that Seattle is a participant in the Ten Year Campaign for Compassionate Cities. Seattle is the first city to adopt the Charter, which appears below the fold with additional photos.
Above: Panel Discussion on Personal and Intergenerational Compassion, *L-R Ruby Love, Isa D'Arleans, Andy Himes, Deb Grover, Ron Hertel (see links to their organizations, below).
| | THE INTERFAITH AMIGOS
Sheikh Jamal Rahman, Pastor Don Mackenzie, and Rabbi Ted Falcon, led the opening prayers and meditations at Compassionate Seattle, an April 24, 2010 ceremony at The Center for Spiritual Living. The day marked the beginning of a Ten Year Campaign for Compassionate Cities and honored a Proclamation by the Mayor of Seattle and Seattle's City Council which declares Seattle a participant in that Campaign and affirms the Charter for Compassion. |
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 empathetically 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 indispensable to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.
| | Eric Liu introduced Karen Armstrong, religion scholar, popular author, and founder of the Charter For Compassion, who delivered the keynote address. |
| | Lora Ellen-McKinney introduced Seattle City Councilmember Richard Conlin and Marcelas Owens who read the Seattle Compassionate City Proclamation.
Owens is the Seattle fifth grader to whom President Obama dedicated the health care bill when he signed it into law in March 2010. He became a health care reform activist along with his mother Tiffany, after she was denied health care coverage after losing her job. |
*Notes on image appearing above the fold that shows the participants in the panel on Personal and Intergenerational Compassion. Left to right: