This is alone True, All Else is False: The Significance of Inter -Religious Dialogue from the Early Buddhist Perspective.

The prime concern of this paper is to elaborate the importance of inter - religiousdialogue with reference to the early Buddhist teachings. In the sake of religion,today religious unrest is prevailing almost in many societies. Therefore, religion hasbecome a major barrier to create a harmonious society. Religion is frequentlymisinterpreted and misled in achieving extremist goals of various people. Religiousintolerance is the enemy of any religion. Where the religious intolerance prevailsthere is no place for respecting religious diversity and dialogue. Respecting todiversity and understanding attitudes of others could be the most difficult practicein a religion. Buddhism rejects the assertion like this alone is true, all else is false(idhameva saccaṃ moghamaññaṃ) at its very inception. The Buddha speaks of theills of praising one’s own religious view despising the views of others. The wordslike persecution, heretics, heathens and pagans are carried in the name of religiousintolerance. So that the light on inter - religious dialogue could be elaborated fromthe early Buddhist discourses such as the Brahmajāla, Madhupiṇḍika,Araṇavibhaṅga, Cūļagosiṅga, Abhayarājakumāra, Udumbarikasīhanāda,Soṇadaṇḍa, Pāṭika, Sigāla, Mahāparinibbāna, Poṭṭhapāda, Cūlasakuludāi,Tevijjavacchagotta, Upāli, Kālāmā, Cūļaviyūha and Mahāviyūha Sutta-s.Therefore, it is expected to explore the Buddhist implications of inter - religiousdialogue with regard to the early canonical texts of Buddhism which will be guidedto establish a more peaceful, harmonious and congenial surrounding to live all ofus regardless of any religious conviction in the ۲۱ st century while preserving one'sown religious identity and protecting the religious rights of others.

Keywords:

Early Buddhism , Extremism , Inter - Religious Dialogue