The Parliament of the World’s Religions is very happy to announce the first group of Founding Members of the new Circle of Patrons. The Circle of Patrons is a group of generous supporters and interfaith leaders who wish to help ensure the strength and sustainability of the Parliament’s vision of interfaith understanding and partnership working to bring into being a world of peace, justice and care for the Earth. 

We offer our deepest gratitude and appreciation to these greatly valued Patrons for their important support. These are the initial Founding Members of the Circle of Patrons:

A worldwide humanitarian and educational organization established in 1966 by Dharma Master Cheng Yen, a Taiwanese Buddhist nun. Tzu Chi volunteers endeavor to promote the universal value of “Great Love,” reverently accepting the Buddha’s teaching of "expressing great kindness to all sentient beings, and taking their suffering as our own," manifesting kindness, compassion, joy and selflessness through concrete actions. In its “Four Major Missions” of Charity, Medicine, Education and Humanity, Tzu Chi carries forward extensive programs of aid to the poor, health care, bone marrow donation, education at all levels, international relief and environmental protection.

See: https://www.tzuchi.org.tw/en/

A group of Jains inspired by the vision of Virchand Raghav Gandhi (VRG), who represented Jainism at the historic World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893 and brought Jainism into a dialogue with other faiths which has continued ever since. Through VRG and his legacy, Jainism has inspired leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela and many others with the modern relevance of the Jain values of Nonviolence (Ahiṃsā), Non-possessiveness (Aparigraha) and Non-Absolutism (Anekāntavāda) – all key tenets for a peaceful, just, sustainable and loving world. Jains are proud to carry forward the torch lit by VRG and to develop programs and initiatives that will spread in the world the message of the Tīrthaṅkaras or “Makers of the Crossing” including Mahāvīr, the 24th in the ancient Jain lineage of great enlightened beings. 

A group of Sikhs inspired by the Sikh vision to create a world order in which all human beings are equal and empowered to serve and uplift the marginalized and the oppressed. The Committee seeks to educate those around us about the rich message of love and egalitarianism enshrined in the Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib.  We are guided by the timeless principles of Guru Nanak and the Sikh Gurus, including the core Sikh values of earning an honest living (kirat karni); contributing generously to society (vand chakna); and remembering Vaheguru – the Ultimate Truth – at all times (naam japna).

The Parliament anticipates announcing other Founding Members of the Circle of Patrons in the near future.

To learn more about the Circle of Patrons, please contact Emma Pittsley, Development Associate, at: emma@parliamentofreligions.org