At the Asian Studies Development Forum we asked scholars, faculty, students, and community members to respond to the central question:

“Our world is full of struggle and conflict that is often based on irreconcilable differences between what religious and spiritual traditions hold as sacred. Hindus are killing Christians, Muslims are killing Hindus, Turks are killing Kurds, and the list goes on…

Do you think that beneath the differences there is, or could be some commonly shared notions of sacredness? If yes, what would that be? Do you see a way that what’s held in common as sacred could help promote social justice, environmental sustainability, and peace?”

We asked to answer this question with about 500 words. The answers from scholars, students, and community members was published in the spring of 2009 under a title:

Save The World in 500 Words (1.5mb pdf)

Bellow are some of the responses to this question:

Peace and Social Justice are Possible, By Chungliang Al Huang

“Everything is Possible” From a talk by Krishnammal Jagannathan, transcribed by David Albert

“Resolve the root of all our problems within” interview with Lama Anam Thubten Rinpoche

“Every part of this country is sacred to my people” from Chief Seattle’s speach re-translated back into original Lushootseed by late Vi Hilbert

ASDP participants