Peace Mala

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Peace Mala
Type Charitable organization
Founded 2002, Cardiff, Wales
Founder(s) Pam Evans
Headquarters Morriston, Wales
Key people Pam Evans
Norma Glass MBE
Martin Green
Pam El-Hosaini
Products Peace Mala bracelets
Guides for Teachers
Literature
Website www.peacemala.org.uk

Peace Mala (The Peace Mala Youth Project for World Peace), is an organisation based in Morriston, Wales dedicated to fostering inter-cultural and inter-faith tolerance through the manufacture, distribution and wearing of a symbolic mala (bracelet) whose beads represent various faiths.

The organisation's aims are "promotion of understanding, respect, friendship, tolerance and peace between all communities, cultures and enlightened, compassionate faiths".[1] Peace Mala promotes global citizenship and invites all people to treat each other with respect and compassion regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, sexuality, ability, size or age.

Contents

[edit] The Peace Mala Bracelet

A Peace Mala is a symbolic bracelet used to promote the message of the Golden Rule of mutual respect recognised by many spiritual paths. It consists of 16 beads, forming a double rainbow, which represent Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, Judaism, Bahá'í, ISKCON, Zoroastrianism, Tribal and Native Religions, Jainism, Earth Religions, Taoism, Hinduism and Yungdrung Bön. The central white bead represents the wearer and whatever path they follow, with two knots on the elastic thread: one symbolising the wearer's uniqueness, the other a reminder of causality and the path of peace and friendship to follow.[2] Peace Malas, hand-made in Wales and protected by UK Design Registration No 3008422, are available in ready-made or kit form, and come in a monochrome variant and a hand-carved sterling silver bespoke version by the jewellers Mari Thomas and Nicola Palterman.

[edit] History

Peace Mala was founded in the year 2002 by Pam Evans, former Head of the Department of Religious Studies at Coedcae Comprehensive School in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales. The idea arose from class discussions about the contribution of the "9/11" attacks in New York to Islamaphobia, racism, religious intolerance and fundamentalism worldwide, as well as local effects exemplified by the experience of the student Imran Sheikh: "I suffered from racist taunts and our local mosque was attacked following September 11 and that is when the Peace Mala all started."[3] In 2005, Evans gave up her position as Head of Department at Coedcae School to focus on her work with Peace Mala. On 16 November 2006, (25th Shawwal 1427 AH), Pam was awarded the Noble Soul Award 2006 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to challenging Islamaphobia in schools. The award was presented by RAHMA (Racial Attacks and Harassment Monitoring Association) on the International Day of Peace.

[edit] Launch

Peace Mala was officially launched in the UNA Temple of Peace in Cardiff on Wednesday 27 November 2002 by the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams (then Archbishop of Wales). He was joined by members of the fourteen faiths represented on the Peace Mala bracelet, whose procession opened the ceremony, along with NGOs, students and teachers of schools from across Wales, lecturers from the University of Wales, and pupils and staff of Coedcae Comprehensive School.

[edit] Awards

Through the promotion of peace, tolerance and respect, Peace Mala has received numerous awards for their work, notably The Prince's Trust Millennium Award in 2003, the Co-op Community Dividend Award in 2003, the ChildLine Cymru CHIPS Friendship and Respect Award in 2003 (1st Prize), and the Carmarthenshire Police Community Challenge Award in 2004. In 2004 Peace Mala was also awarded First Prize in the CEWC-Cymru "Right-On" National Competition to promote Human Rights in Welsh schools. In 2006, Peace Mala was awarded a grant by Awards for All (Wales) in support of the Peace Mala Awards for Youth.

[edit] Charitable Status

On 21 February 2007, Peace Mala, already a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital, was entered in the Central Register of Charities as Registered Charity No. 1118053.

[edit] Patrons

The Most Reverend Dr Rowan Williams Archbishop of Canterbury was patron of Peace Mala from 2003 until 2008. He continues to be an enthusiastic supporter of the project. Lama Khemsar Rinpoche, Spiritual Director of the Yundrung Bön Study Centre is the current patron of the organisation.

[edit] Dr Rowan Williams

Dr Williams and Evans first met when he visited Coedcae School to give talks to the pupils about his work as Archbishop of Wales, a position now held by Barry Morgan. Dr Williams was one of the first persons to be contacted by Evans when she came up with the idea of the Peace Mala. One of Dr Williams final acts as Archbishop of Wales was to join 14 other religious dignitaries in the launch of the Peace Mala in November 2002.

In 2003, Evans asked Dr Williams if he would be a patron. He accepted the offer saying he would be "honoured"[4] to hold the position.

[edit] Lama Khemsar Rinpoche

Lama Khemsar Rinpoche also visited Coedcae School prior to his involvement with Peace Mala. At the school he became known to the children as Smiling Lama. Rinpoche left Tibet in 1959. He is the first resident Lama of the Yungdrung Bön tradition in Europe and also teaches widely in the USA.

Evans asked Lama Khemsar Rinpoche if he would be a patron of the organisation after a 21 day peace retreat he undertook in Los Angeles. He replied saying that he would be "very happy"[5] to accept the position, valued the trust placed in him and that he would do his best to support the great vision of the Peace Mala.

Since then, Lama Khemsar Rinpoche's students have made use of the main room in the Peace Mala Registered Office for their weekly Bon Zogchen Ngon-Dro prayers and meditations. The Tibetan room at the centre is often used by Rinpoche when he visits Wales.

[edit] Website

The Peace Mala website was created in 2002 using money granted by the Princes Trust Millennium Award. It was designed and published using 100% solar power by the web publishing company Arcania. The website includes news articles relating to Peace Mala activities and endorsements from prominent religious leaders, political dignitaries and celebrities including the His Holiness Pope John Paul II, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Jillian Evans MEP, Sir Mark Tully Beth Nielsen Chapman, Bonnie Tyler and Barbara Dickson.

[edit] Disclaimer

During late 2007, a disclaimer appeared on the website indicating the group's neutrality, and political and religious disassociations. The disclaimer was signed by all the Directors of Peace Mala including Evans, Norma Glass MBE, Martin Green and Pam El-Hosaini.

[edit] Peace Mala International Awards for Youth

In 2006 Peace Mala launched the Peace Mala Awards for Youth. The awards encourage young people "to become aware of and involved with issues of peace, justice, tolerance and friendship."[6]. The competition focuses in issues of equality, human rights and global citizenship.

The Youth Awards allows entrants from educational institutions, youth groups and faith groups. Two prizes are awarded. One for juniors (5-11)and the other for seniors (12-18).

In 2007, the Peace Mala Awards for Youth became an international competition with youth groups in the USA taking part in the project.

[edit] 2006 Winners

Following a huge response from participants, Peace Mala decided to increase the deadline for competition entries. Many schools and youth groups sent in entries, but ultimately, it was decided that Ysgol Gynradd Brynaman (Brynaman Primary School) in Carmarthenshire and Pontygof Primary School in Ebbw Vale would win the competition. It was decided by the judges that these two entries were of such high calibre, as compared to senior entries, that both awards should be given to the junior entrants.

Highly Commended prizes were given to the Ethnic Youth Support Team in Swansea, the 1st Llansamlet Brownies in Swansea and to Swansea College Ty Coch Campus.

As a surprise to the winners, commemorative framed posters signed by Gary Marlon Suson from the Ground Zero Museum Workshop in New York were given as gifts to Evans for the winners. Gary Marlon Suson was the official photographer appointed by New York Fire Department to be with the recovery workers at the site of Ground Zero after the attacks of September 11.

The awards ceremony included many acts included a Native American Hoop Dance performed by First Nations descendant Malcolm Edwards (Rising Eagle), a performance of whirling by the Naqshbandi Haqqani-Mevlevi Dervishes led by Sheikh Ahmad Dede, songs performed by the Hemiola Young Musicians, and a song performed by Evans herself (under the pseudonym of Magic).

[edit] Registered Office

On Wednesday 18 August 2004, the Peace Mala Registered Office was officially opened during a ceremony attended by the Lord Mayor and Consort of the City of Swansea. They were joined by Stephen Thomas, Secretary of UNA Wales and Director of the Welsh Centre for International Affairs, various NGOs and faith representatives who celebrated the achievements of Peace Mala since its launch in the Temple of Peace in Cardiff with the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams two years previously.[7]

Faith representatives who attended included members of Govindas ISKCON Centre in Swansea, Native Indian 'Rising Eagle', the Granthi and members of the Guru Nanak Sikh Community Centre and Temple in Swansea, Tibetan Buddhists, Pagans, Hindus, Orthodox, Catholic and Anglican Christians, Bahá'í's, Sufi Muslims, members of Swansea Orthodox Synagogue, and Yungdrung Bön practitioners. Venerable Robert Williams Archdeacon of Gower represented the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, and Lama Khyimsar Rinpoche, one of the patrons of Peace Mala, lead the opening ceremony. A candle for world peace was lit by Rinpoche and the Archdeacon. Prayers for peace and reconciliation were given by the representatives of all the faiths.

The Registered Office is currently used as a base for Peace Mala activities including workshops and public talks. Yungdrung Bön practitioners in Wales also use the centre for their weekly Bon Zogchen Ngon-Dro prayers and meditations. Yungdrung Bön (meaning Eternal Light or Enlightened Teaching) is the pre-Buddhist Bön faith of Tibet. According to the booklet which accompanies every Peace Mala, Yungdrung Bon "promotes indiscriminate love and compassion for all sentient beings."

[edit] Peace Garden

Attached to the Registered Office is a peace garden designed for use as an area of peace and tranquility. The garden has many features including a shrine to Saint Francis of Assisi, Buddhist statues and prayer flags, a miniature Zen-style stone garden, water features, and a tree area which has been blessed in a ceremony lead by Witches, and Druids. There is also a tranquil area facing Mecca, which is dedicated to the Muslim faith.

[edit] Work

Peace Mala raises awareness of issues of global interdependence and encourages schools and youth groups to be involved in activities that support compassionate causes and human rights.

The organisation views the acceptance and celebration of the plural global community, along with its diversity, as one of high importance. Peace Mala works with youth groups, state schools and colleges, religious schools and inter-faith groups across the UK and further afield. The desire is to educate young people and encourage the growth of a more tolerant generation.

Peace Mala had outlined its "Main Aims" as:

  • Education for global citizenship through the promotion of understanding, respect, friendship, tolerance and peace between all communities, cultures and enlightened, compassionate faiths.
  • Peace Mala supports human rights, confronts bullying and all forms of prejudice.'
  • Peace Mala raises awareness of issues of global interdependence and encourages active compassion by learners that will effect positive changes locally and globally.

[edit] Pilgrimage for World Peace

During Easter 2008, thirty-seven students from St. John-Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive School in Llanelli Wales UK, travelled to Rome, Florence and Assisi on a ten day Peace Mala Pilgrimage for World Peace. The journey, which combined art, prayers for peace and self-discovery, was recorded and made into a presentation which led to the school earning a Peace Mala Senior Award for the 2008 Youth Awards. [8]

The peace pilgrimage inspired Evans to compile a booklet of Peace Prayers, Mantras, and Noble Sayings of the spiritual traditions represented on the double rainbow Peace Mala bracelet. Copies of the booklet were received by religious leaders around the world including Pope Benedict XVI and His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ From the 'Main aims of Peace Mala'
  2. ^ Official description of the symbology and representations
  3. ^ Word spreads of 'peace mala', BBC Wales interview upon winning first prize in the ChildLine in Partnership with Schools (CHIPS) initiative.
  4. ^ According to the Peace Mala account
  5. ^ According to the Peace Mala account
  6. ^ According to Youth Awards page
  7. ^ Official account of the events
  8. ^ Positive News No. 57: Positive Youth News,Peace Mala Youth Awards, Autumn 2008, p. 59
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