Interfaith dialogue
Positive interaction of different religious people
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We include updates on Pope John Paul II, Swami Vivekananda, 14th Dalai Lama, Jodhaa Akbar, Thích Nhất Hạnh, Thomas Merton, Gülen movement, Khilafat Movement, Richard Rohr, Nostra aetate, Abrahamic Family House, Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar, Hindu–Muslim unity, David Steindl-Rast, Inclusivism, Keiji Nishitani ... and more.
| 2025 | The Dalai Lama published his book 'Voices for the Voiceless', where he stated that Tibetans worldwide want the Dalai Lama institution to continue and that his successor would be born in the 'free world'. |
| July 2025 | At age 90, the Dalai Lama reaffirmed his commitment to reincarnation, emphasizing that his successor should be identified through traditional Tibetan Buddhist practices and exclusively by his non-profit Gaden Phodrang Foundation. |
| 2025 | Scheduled publication of 'Voice for the Voiceless: Over Seven Decades of Struggle With China for My Land and My People'. |
| 2024 |
Thomas Merton
The Spring 2024 issue of The Catholic Historical Review published 'The Official Thai Reports on Thomas Merton's Death', clarifying that his death was due to natural causes and not accidental electrocution.
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| 2023 |
Thomas Merton
Columbia University opened the Thomas Merton Institute for Catholic Life at the Church of Notre Dame.
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| April 2023 | The aforementioned video resurfaced, leading to widespread condemnation of the Dalai Lama's conduct, which many labeled as 'inappropriate' and 'scandalous.' In response, his office issued a statement offering apologies for any hurt caused and emphasizing that the Dalai Lama often engages in innocent teasing. |
| February 2023 | In a video recorded at his temple in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India, the Dalai Lama was seen kissing a young boy on the lips and requesting that the child 'suck my tongue.' This interaction occurred in front of nearly 100 students, including the boy's mother. |
| 2021 | It was revealed that members of the Dalai Lama's inner circle were targeted with spyware as part of the Pegasus project, with strong indications that the Indian government was involved. |
| December 2021 | In December, the Dalai Lama reiterated his view that India serves as a role model for religious harmony in the world. |
| 2020 | Released the single 'Compassion' from the 'Inner World' album. |
| 2020 |
Pope John Paul II
A report was released detailing the handling of sexual misconduct complaints against Theodore McCarrick, which prompted some to call for John Paul II's sainthood to be revoked.
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| 2020 | The Dalai Lama reiterated his non-support for Tibetan independence and expressed his hope to visit China as a Nobel Prize winner, advocating for a concept of a 'republic' within the People's Republic of China. |
| 2020 | In a statement for Time magazine, the Dalai Lama addressed the COVID-19 pandemic, advocating for a response grounded in compassion, empirical science, prayer, and the bravery of healthcare workers. He highlighted the interconnectedness of humanity and the importance of compassionate actions during the crisis. |
| September 2020 |
Pope John Paul II
Poland unveiled a sculpture of John Paul II outside the National Museum in Warsaw, depicting him holding a meteorite. In the same month, a relic containing his blood was stolen from the Spoleto Cathedral in Italy.
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| July 6 2020 | The 14th Dalai Lama released a studio album titled 'Inner World' under the label Khandro. |
| May 7 2020 |
Pope John Paul II
The Holy See approved opening the diocesan phase of the beatification cause for Pope John Paul II's parents.
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| 2019 | Chinese hackers posing as reporters from various organizations targeted the private office of the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan representatives. |
| 2019 | Emory University's Center for Contemplative Sciences and Compassion-Based Ethics launched the SEE Learning program in New Delhi, India, in partnership with The Dalai Lama Trust and the Vana Foundation, aimed at developing ethical reasoning and compassion in education. |
| 2019 | Following the passage of a US law denying visas to Chinese officials restricting foreign access to Tibet, the US Ambassador to China encouraged substantive dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama or his representatives. |
| 2019 | When addressing attacks on minority communities in India, including a recent incident against a Muslim family in Gurgaon, the Dalai Lama remarked that such actions do not represent the whole nation. |
| 2019 | The 14th Dalai Lama stated that if a female Dalai Lama comes, she should be more attractive. |
| 2019 | The Dalai Lama fully sponsored the first-ever 'Celebrating Diversity in the Muslim World' conference in New Delhi. |
| October 2019 | In October, the Dalai Lama commented on India–Pakistan relations, highlighting the differences in speeches made by the Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers at the UN and advocating for a realistic approach from Pakistani leaders. |
| October 2019 | The 14th Dalai Lama expressed that the reincarnation system should end due to its feudal origins. |
| October 10 2019 |
Pope John Paul II
The Archdiocese of Kraków and the Polish Episcopal Conference approved nihil obstat for opening the beatification cause of Pope John Paul II's parents, Karol Wojtyła Sr. and Emilia Kaczorowska.
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| December 2018 | The Dalai Lama stated that Muslim countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Syria should learn about religion from India in order to promote peace in the world. |
| September 2018 | At a conference in Malmö, Sweden, the Dalai Lama stated that 'Europe belongs to the Europeans,' while also asserting that Europe has a moral responsibility to help refugees facing life-threatening situations. |
| April 2018 | In April 2018, the Dalai Lama confirmed claims made by the Chinese government regarding Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, stating that he had learned from 'reliable sources' that the Panchen Lama he had recognized was alive and receiving normal education. |
| 2017 | Following the death of Chinese dissident and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, the Dalai Lama expressed his deep sadness and asserted that Liu's efforts for freedom would eventually bear fruit. |
| 2017 | In a speech at Kolkata, the Dalai Lama expressed that Tibetans wanted to remain with China and did not desire independence, acknowledging significant changes in China. |
| March 5 2017 | The Dalai Lama appeared in an episode of HBO's Last Week Tonight, where he was interviewed by John Oliver about Tibetan sovereignty and self-immolations. |
| 2016 | The Dalai Lama co-authored 'The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World' with Archbishop Desmond Tutu. |
| 2016 | The Dalai Lama spoke to German reporters, expressing his belief that there are 'too many' refugees in Europe and emphasizing that 'Germany is Germany' and cannot become an Arab country. |
| 2016 | During a compassion conference in Indiana, the Dalai Lama was seen touching Lady Gaga's leg while appearing to pay little attention to the speaker, leading to controversy when the video resurfaced in 2023. |
| 2016 | Indian citizens and political figures demanded that the Dalai Lama be conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour. |
| 2016 | The Dalai Lama reiterated his position on Dorje Shugden, stating that he encouraged people not to practice it, but clarified that he had not imposed a ban or discrimination against Shugden worshippers. The International Shugden Community disbanded the same year. |
| 2015 |
Thomas Merton
The Festival of Faiths in Louisville honored Merton's life and work during the centennial of his birth.
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| 2015 | Despite turning 80 years old, the Dalai Lama maintained a busy international lecture and teaching schedule, offering teachings that were often web streamed. |
| 2015 | The International Shugden Community (ISC) came under scrutiny from Reuters, which reported that while there was no independent evidence of direct Chinese financing, Beijing had supported Shugden devotees, making the ISC a tool to discredit the Dalai Lama. |
| 2015 | In a BBC interview, the Dalai Lama stated that if a female were to succeed him, 'that female must be attractive,' later clarifying that his comments were meant as a joke, although his office issued an apology for the translation error. |
| 2015 | The 14th Dalai Lama claimed he may be reincarnated as a mischievous blonde woman. |
| September 24 2015 |
Thomas Merton
Pope Francis mentioned Merton as one of four Americans during a speech to a joint meeting of the United States Congress, praising him as a man of prayer and dialogue.
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| May 2015 | The Dalai Lama called on Myanmar's Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi to do more to assist the Rohingya Muslims and noted that he had previously urged her to address their plight in two private meetings. |
| 2014 | During an appearance at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, the Dalai Lama remarked on women's abilities to be more sensitive to others' suffering and suggested that their leadership could be more effective. |
| 2014 | In an interview with Larry King, the Dalai Lama stated that same-sex marriage is a personal issue, can be ethically accepted socially, and he personally accepts it, while cautioning that individuals should not contradict their chosen traditions. |
| September 7 2014 | In an interview with the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, the Dalai Lama stated that the institution of the Dalai Lama has served its purpose and suggested finishing with a popular Dalai Lama. |
| 2013 | At the Culture of Compassion event in Derry, Northern Ireland, the Dalai Lama emphasized the importance of warm-heartedness for the health of individuals, families, and communities. |
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This contents of the box above is based on material from the Wikipedia articles Thomas Merton, Pope John Paul II, Seventh-day Adventist interfaith relations & 14th Dalai Lama, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.