[HWPL]

[HWPL] HWPL's 3rd International Religious Peace Academy

Chairman ManHee Lee is the head representative of the global peace organization HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), which is striving for the enactment and implementation of the international peace law 'Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)'. The  DPCW is a legal instrument comprised of 10 articles and 38 clauses that can end wars and hostilities throughout the world. HWPL is also spreading a culture of peace and implementing peace education.

Chairman ManHee Lee experienced the cruelty and tragedy of war as a veteran of the Korean War. This is one of the reasons why he founded a global peace campaign as the head of HWPL. He has traveled the globe more than 35 times to meet and persuade politicians, legal experts, journalists, professors, peace activists, civil organization leaders, heads of tribes and others to unite them for the work of peace. The significant fruits borne out of his hard work are the World Alliance of Religions' Peace (WARP) Summit and HWPL Peace Committee. The DPCW was drafted and finalised by the HWPL Peace Committee.

How, you may wonder, do I know this? About 10 years ago, when I had just been discharged from military service, I came to know HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee while researching the topic of civil conflicts to satisfy my curiosity in ongoing global issues. At that time, the island of Mindanao in the Philippines was suffering from a major civil conflict that lasted more than 40 years, and Chairman ManHee Lee and HWPL resolved this conflict through non-violent means.

Chairman Lee brought an end to the conflict in Mindanao by holding a peace talk between the warring Catholic and Islamic groups. Before the talk, HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee held a Peace Walk to spread the culture of peace in Mindanao with the many locals who had gathered out of a desire for peace.

Chairman ManHee Lee's pressing appeal today is that humanity unites for sustainable peace in order to pass on the legacy of peace to future generations worldwide. He doesn't just talk peace, but has worked tirelessly for it through practical peace campaigns for over a decade.

I decided to become a supporter of HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee's peace initiatives because I also desire a world of peace for all posterity.

Today I'd like to introduce an article regarding HWPL's 3rd International Religious Peace Academy :)

The 3rd HWPL International Religious Peace Academy

On January 11, 18, and 25, 2025 (Saturdays), the 3rd HWPL International Religious Peace Academy (IRPA) was held online at 9 AM, 2 PM, and 9 PM (UTC) for an international audience. A total of 1,212 participants from 100 countries attended this session. Unlike previous sessions, not only religious leaders but also social leaders took part. This expanded participation strengthened solidarity between religious and social leaders, laying a new foundation for cooperation in establishing a culture of peace.

During the three-week IRPA program, religious leaders representing five faiths—Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism—each delivered a 15-minute lecture based on their respective scriptures. In total, 15 religious leaders served as lecturers.

Lecture Topics at the 3rd IRPA

• Week 1: About the Beginning of Man
• Week 2: Holy and Unholy Trees and Their Fruits in Religious Scriptures
• Week 3: About Forgiveness of Sin

The in-depth exploration of various religious scriptures facilitated active exchanges among global religious leaders. Even after the lectures ended, participants pledged to continue their efforts to deepen their understanding of one another’s religions and religious texts.

Sarma Aryasomayajula, President of the Siva Alayam Temple in Berlin, highlighted the significance of IRPA, stating: “It is a great initiative to bring all religious leaders onto this platform. It is also great to bring the whole world together, not only some specific regions. When all religions are taught in depth and convey their true messages, all the leaders confirm that, at their core, all religions say the same thing.”

Zandan Unurjargal, a representative from Khukh Turmus NGO in Mongolia, reflected on the experience: “Listening to the speeches of religious leaders over the past few days has been a very enriching experience for me. I could feel in every word that these people were summarizing their scriptures that have been studied for centuries. I hope that in the future, we will discuss the issues facing humanity from the perspectives of our respective religions and gain valuable insights.”

The 3rd IRPA was a meaningful occasion where religious and social leaders gathered to engage and build solidarity. Continued dialogues that foster mutual understanding and respect will greatly contribute to peaceful coexistence beyond religious and cultural differences. HWPL looks forward to further expanding IRPA as a platform for interfaith cooperation and communication.

For more information about the lecturers and lecture videos from the 3rd IRPA, please visit: http://irpa.hwpl.kr/

Interested in HWPL's peace work for the world? Please visit following link :)

HWPL Official Homepage

https://www.hwpl.kr/language/en/home-hwpl-_en/