June 8, 2026

Dear Friends,

We began a one-year observance of our twenty-fifth anniversary on September 8, 2025. It will conclude on September 8, 2026. 

As part of our observance, we began, on September 21, 2025, a year of reflections on the heart of the Interfaith Peace Project – the Interpath Principles. The reflections are being sent to you on the eighth and twenty-first of each month. If you would like to view the previous reflections, you can find them on our blog at: interfaithpeaceproject.org.

If you have anything that you would like to share, please contact:

Thomas P. Bonacci, C.P.
peace@thomaspbonacci.net
925-787-9279

THE INTERFAITH PEACE PROJECT
A Legacy of Peace-Making for Twenty-Five Years
September 8, 2001 – September 8, 2026
ONGOING EDUCATION AND FORMATION
THE EIGHTH INTERPATH PRINCIPLE

We strive to grow in wisdom,
continuously inspired by the Traditions of Humankind.

COMMENT

As we commit ourselves to the service of the communities in which we live, we seek to provide opportunities for our friends to learn, cherish, and incorporate the wisdom of the Traditions of the World in their daily lives. We make this possible through our ongoing study of the Traditions of Humankind. Our research and studies are not limited to religious sources. We seek wisdom in the beauty of art, the words of literature, the sound of music, the grace of dance, and the conversations with everyone we encounter. This study invites us to rediscover our hearts in new and profound ways. 

REFLECTION

We are rooted in our heritage as individuals and communities. At the root of any great work is the endeavor to rediscover the heritage from which we came. Like a great tree, centuries old, the invisible roots growing deep into the soil sustains its life and stability.

Our past is always at work in our present moment. Sometimes all we remember is what afflicts us. While what afflicted us can now become a source of understanding and empathy for others, there is more to the story. While nothing ever justifies what hurt us in the past, a fearless and courageous probing of our history as individuals and communities can remind us of the great and inspiring people we might too easily forget.

The “ongoing education and formation” suggested by the Eighth Interpath Principle goes a long way to jarring our memories of the great and inspiring people in our personal and collective histories. 

The more we know the myths, legends, and history surrounding the great people who inspired the Great Traditions of Humankind, the better we will be in our own time. Almost every great founder of any religious tradition suffered greatly in the cause of contributing to humanity the wisdom by which so many live today. 

Think of Abraham, Lao Tzu, Aspasia, Thecla, and Baha’u’llah, to name a few. They struggled with the societies in which they lived as they committed themselves to the betterment of the world and its people. Their courage was remarkable, their teaching profound, their wisdom transforming, and their example worthy of study and consideration. One can never go wrong being nourished with a steady diet of inspiring people (past, present, and future). As we continue to be inspired by the great teachers, we grow in wisdom, courage, and creativity to make our world a better place for everyone.

Blessings to you, Beloved Community, for having the courage to learn from the great people who touched your heart. Thank you for all the times you pursued what is good and honorable, not only for the sake of yourself but for the benefit of others and all the world.