One
day the leaders of all the great world religions met to discuss and decide this

question, "What is the
most important religion?"  Each leader mentioned his or her own religion and
then these influential people began to argue among themselves.  Finally they
said, "We have failed to decide.  Now what shall we do?"

   
One leader said, “I suggest this. We should choose the wisest person in the
world.  Then he will decide this question.”  Now the leaders heard that there
was a famous prophet called Nabii who lived on the top of the tallest mountain
in East Africa (the region of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda).  He had great
experience and knowledge about religion and everything in life.  Therefore the
leaders went to ask him, "What is the most important religion?"  This revered
prophet Nabii did not say a word.  Immediately he went into his cave to pray and
fast for three days.  All the leaders waited for him outside.

    Then Nabii returned
to the group of leaders of the great world religions and said, "I don’t want to
decide your question right now; but I ask each leader to return to his or her
home and talk with your advisors.  Then after one week come back here again.  In
front of me and all the other leaders you will state one word that explains the
heart or center or foundation of your religion.  Then I will compare all your
answers and decide which is the most important religion.  Immediately all the
leaders of the great world religions returned to their homes to discuss with
their advisors the very heart or center of their religions. 

    Then they climbed to
the top of the great East African mountain again. There were leaders from the
great world religions of African Religion, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism,
Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism and so on.  In front of Nabii they stated the
one word that explained the deepest meaning of their religions. 

    When they had all
finished, Nabii said, "Very good.  You have all answered well.  All your
religions have deep meaning and great importance.  We have heard the heart of
these world religions to be these key words:

1. Ancestors

2. Community

3. Compassion

4. Contemplation

5. Equality

6. Faith

7. Forgiveness

8. Joy

9. Justice

10. Life

11. Love

12. Mercy

13. Nothingness

14. Oneness

15. Peace

16. Praise

17. Prayer

18. Relationships

19. Resurrection

20. Self-empting

21. Self-sacrifice

22. Service

23. Silence

24. Spirits

   
Nabii continued:  "Among yourselves, various leaders said LOVE is the heart of
your religions. You have answered especially well.  On the basis of your answers
the religion that stands out is Christianity.  For the heart of Christianity is
not just love but FORGIVING LOVE.  Merciful love is better.”

    The
famous prophet Nabii went on: "Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity, did a
very surprising thing while he was hanging on the cross.  The Jews arrested him
and crucified him.  But before his death he said, "Father, forgive them; they do
not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).  This is a unique example of love,
of forgiving love.  Jesus also said. “I give you a new commandment, that you
love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another."
(John 13:34).  He taught the importance of love, forgiveness and mercy."  "In
the prayer the Our Father Christians pray, ‘Forgive us our trespasses as we
forgive those who trespass against us.’"

   
Finally standing on the top of the tallest
mountain in Africa the revered prophet Nabii said to all the leaders who had
assembled together: "Now you have heard.  Go and do deeds of FORGIVING LOVE."