How to Create Compassion and Harmony Across Diversity for a Better World
Diversity is a bridge not a barrier
In a world as diverse as ours, the network of humanity spreads through multiple cultures, languages, religions, colors, races, and nationalities.
Despite the fact the great nature verifies the peaceful coexistence of diversity all around us. Yet, there lies a paradox: while diversity is celebrated for its liveliness, it also serves as a breeding ground for conflict and segregation, chaos and unrest.
It is this duality that invites a pragmatic approach to the crucial task of nurturing harmony and compassion within our diverse global society.
Here, my purpose is to identify diversity as a perennial source of innovation and multi-dimensional growth, and not a source of conflicts. Diverse people create diverse aspects. Blending of diverse thoughts generates new ideas. We need to encourage mutual understanding and compassion among diversity.
Awareness plays a crucial role in developing harmony and compassion among diverse cultures and religions.
I was brought up in a city where Hindus and Muslims live in perfect harmony. I had many Muslim friends who used to take part in our cultural festivals and religious meets. I, too, did the same.
We were fully aware of the basic concept behind a celebration in the respective religion. This was the reason that we respected each other’s rituals and religious practices.
Thus, we gain a deeper appreciation for the values, traditions, and beliefs that shape our world. Then diversity becomes a bridge, not a barrier — as a result, it bridges the gaps between cultures and religions — one that connects us to a shared humanity.
There is a need to identify a resident as a citizen irrespective of their culture, religion, language, or race. Although most of the countries accept it in their constitution, but not in practice.
Even the great United States as a self proclaimed custodian of democracy in the globe has frequent conflicts between black and white, between natives and immigrants within the nation.
There is a need to challenge existing norms and structures that keep alive inequality, and to create environments where diversity is considered a confluence of diverse creative potentials.
We can build bridges across culture, language, and nationality with empathy and compassion. Without keeping us in someone’s place, we cannot experience their feelings and reactions. When we visualize ourselves in a place of someone’s situation who becomes angry, we understand them at a deeper level.
We need to be extra careful about our manners and attitudes while visiting a foreign country. As we unofficially represent our country there because people there see the reflection of our country’s people in my manners and actions. They observe us like checking a few grains of the cooking rice to make a final perception of our country.
They completely ignore the fact that people differ from individual to individual. A few cannot represent the qualities of all the people in a country. But, we all do the same even in our country. If some foreigners come, we consider them a mirror of their respective country.
When I was studying at a university in my country, I met there some Nigerian students who lived at the different locations in the city. After a few months, I came to know the police caught two Nigerians with drugs. And some of them were involved in digital scams.
In the light of these two acts, people in my city drew the last picture of Nigeria.
Thereafter, house owners stopped renting their homes to Nigerians. Even in our country, some people are involved in drugs and other criminal activities.
Does it mean we are all like them? Not at all. But people ignore the qualified logic.
These days a good number of Indians are illegally immigrating to The United States and many European countries. Some of them are caught and put behind bars. As a result, if someone genuinely applies for a visa to these countries, concerned authorities suspiciously check their credentials. Although thousands of Indians are their respectable citizens.
The philosophy of harmony and compassion in diversity hinges on a little but meaningful act of kindness. Acts of kindness can bridge gaps and create connections, whether it’s giving a stranger a helpful hand or a friend some words of support. Kindness is a ray of light in a world where conflict and division are commonplace, serving as an ongoing symbol of our humanity.
The most important thing about encouraging peace and compassion is perhaps passing it on to the next generation. We can inculcate these ideals in young people’s hearts and minds from an early age by integrating diversity and inclusion into educational curricula. We may teach them to appreciate varieties as a source of strength and to develop empathy for others through tales, lessons, and experiences.
There are obstacles in the way of creating a world that is more compassionate and peaceful.
It requires that we acknowledge our assumptions and biases, question the norm, and defend equality and justice.
It requires bravery, resilience, and an unwavering dedication to the concepts of empathy and mutual understanding.
We have the power to create a more promising and open-minded future for humanity.
Diversity is an insignia of the creative energy that keeps on creating without a pause.
Look at your fingers. Are they equal in size?
Look at your fingerprints. Do they match with any other humans?
We are all unique and different from others.
Look at plants and trees. What a variety! What a diversity that pleases our eyes when we look around!
Look at the species. What mesmerizing shapes and designs! What a puzzling truth! Each one has a perfect body, from the tiniest to the largest!
We cannot survive without diversity. It is human selfishness that has created boundaries for regions, religions, races, languages, colors, and cultures.
We are the generation of humans who understand the cosmos and have dissected the bodies and brains of diverse species.
Should we not have sufficient reasons to believe that diversity is like fingers in our hands of different sizes, only to make the strongest fist?
If fingers were of the same size, we could never fold them in the tightest grip.
