In this essay, Ridhi Madhusudan, a graduate student of Religious Diversity in a Globalised World at the University of Groningen, presents Raimon Panikkar’s Vision of a Mindful Peace through his nine aphorisms on Peace. Madhusudan, a Programmes Intern with the International Secretariat of Religions for Peace, discusses Panikkar’s view that peace is rooted in “cosmotheandrism” – the act of living in harmony with the divine, community, and the world around us. Panikkar was a Spanish philosopher, priest, and proponent of Interfaith Dialogue. Through his “Nine Sutras on Peace,” he challenges our conventional understanding of conflict, arguing that true peace is not a victory to be won, but a dynamic harmony to be discovered through “cultural disarmament” and radical humility.

Photo: Tore Bustad

In this essay, Alessia Martucci, Master’s Student, ReD Global, and Secretary General and Programmes Intern at Religions for Peace, explores how globalization and migration foster shared sacred spaces as vital tools for interfaith coexistence. While resource scarcity can drive conflict, these sites offer unique opportunities for collaboration. By negotiating space synchronically or diachronically, diverse faiths transform physical boundaries into “seeds of hope,” proving that peaceful, multi-religious co-living is possible in a polarized world.

Photo: Bartek Kuzia

Ms. Geetika Chandwani, Development Programme Associate at Religions for Peace highlights the growing improper disposal of unused medications and how this is resulting in wasteful and costly problems, and even incineration of waste emits toxins into the air. In her blog, Exploring the Role of Religious Institutions in Collecting Pharmaceutical Waste, she explains how religious communities, with their influence and commitment to environmental conservation, can play a crucial role in supporting pharmaceutical waste reduction programmes. Collaborative efforts among the public, healthcare providers, and faith-based organisations are essential to promote behaviour change and contribute to the overall care of communities and the Earth.

Mr. Sourajit Ghosh, Ph.D. Scholar, explores the growing need for gender-inclusive policies and initiatives in spiritual and cultural spaces. With experience in field work studying the spiritual and social life of Tibetan nuns and Japanese nuns, he understands a world of conflict, trauma, displacement, and an unknown struggle for identity. Women, and women of faith, experience culture, religion, and participation and faith-based spaces differently than their male counterparts. In his blog, Feminine Wisdom, Sustainable Peace, and Unsung Agency: Contemporary Tibetan Bhikkhunī Saṇgha in Exile as Faith-Based Healers of Conflict Trauma, Mr. Ghosh looks at the experiences of Buddhist nuns and provides recommendations for policymakers.