Address presented by Sadhguru on August 30, 2000 at the working session of the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders at the United Nations.

Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Global Challenges, Local initiatives

Sadhguru: Speaker after speaker has been stressing on the universality of religion. Yes, I know and revere this fact. This is the very fabric of the culture from which I come. But what is the purpose of this summit? Is it to expound the often repeated but never practiced “Love Everyone,” or to find solutions to the bitter realities that we face in the form of religious bigotry, intolerance, and hatred? I want to know if this is a cosmetic summit or a true promise of peace.

I call upon all the religious leaders to allow each individual to pursue his own way to the Divine. Labeling the sacred traditions of other religions as the work of the demons is the worst kind of violence.

“Reconciliation” - I am hearing this word too often. Here in this summit, I may forgive all the crimes of the past, but the young men of the wounded cultures will not forgive.

I call upon all the religious leaders to allow each individual to pursue his own way to the Divine. Labeling the sacred traditions of other religions as the work of the demons is the worst kind of violence. Unless we remove force, inducements and cunning from religion, there will be no forgiving. I say this with pain as I hold you all as my brothers – there will be no peace.

I beg you, let us do what is needed.