Selfless service to others is key to personal growth and enhancing capacity to contribute to social progress, and ultimately peace, stated the Baha'i International Community (BIC) Jakarta Office at a recent conference held in Malang, East Java, Indonesia from 18 to 19 August.

Convened by Universitas Islam Raden Rahmat (UNIRA), an institute for higher education supported by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the largest Islamic organization in the world, this second annual conference was titled “Building An International Peace Network,” and centered on peace as an “all-human-beings-duty.” The panel of speakers comprised former President of Timor-Leste, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Sufi leader KHM Lukman Hakim, and a representative of BIC,  Chong Ming Hwee.

Acknowledging UNIRA’s commitment and efforts, Mr. Xanana called to attention the multifold challenges to peace that the world faces and urged us to make people aware that “the future of humanity belongs to all of us, so that we do not turn our backs, feeling resigned and powerless…”

Mr. Lukman also spoke about the need for patience in conflict resolution processes, emphasizing that “people must push [aside] their ego in order to advance the process of unity.”

Offering an optimistic vision of humanity’s future as one body, Mr. Chong underlined the spiritual principle of the oneness of mankind as the key tenet that would re-cast relationships between individuals, institutions and communities. This call for unity in diversity was mirrored, most appropriately, by the audience in choral shouts of “salam satu jiwa”—a Malang phrase which means “Greetings of One Spirit”—at  the start and end of each keynote speech.

Issues raised by the diverse international audience at the ensuing open discussion included the roles of media and of education in efforts towards peace.  The plenary sessions were followed by parallel workshops in which students across the region presented papers related to the theme of the conference.

Highlighting that peace is more than the absence of violence at the close of the event, Mr. Kristanto Budiprabowo, Adviser of the GUSDURian Network, called on all participants to assume individual responsibility in advancing well-being and prosperity. The organizing committee at UNIRA affirmed their commitment to establishing Malang as an icon of peace,and it plans to have a Peace Festival in 2017.