February 2010
Fourth Buddhist-Christian Symposium Held in Thailand
The Fourth Buddhist-Christian Symposium took place February 1-5 at Vipassana Meditation Center at Wat Phrathat Sri Chomthong Voravihasa in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The symposium was organized to provide an opportunity for Buddhists and Christians to reaffirm their shared values of compassion and love.
The symposium's main theme was "Response of Religions to the Challenges of Globalized World." Some 180 Buddhist and Christians from 20 Asian and European countries took part. They included lay followers of various Christian denominations and the Focolare Movement, and leaders of Theravada Buddhism in Thailand, as well as representatives of the Mahayana Buddhist traditions in Japan. Rissho Kosei-kai was represented by President and Mrs. Nichiko Niwano; Rev. Yuji Numata, director of the Dharma Missions Bureau; Rev. Munehiro Niwano, dean of Rissho Kosei-kai Gakurin Seminary; and Rev. Keiichi Akagawa, head of the External Affairs Group (Interfaith).
At the opening ceremony on February 1, Ms. Christina Lee and Mr. Roberto Catalano, directors of the Focolare Movement's Center for Inter-religious Dialogue, spoke about the significance of the biennial symposium, which first convened in 2004 at Castel Gandolfo in a suburb of Rome under the theme "The Dharma and Buddhist Compassion - Christian Agape."
A welcoming address by the temple's abbot, Grand Master Ajahn Thong Sirimankalo, was followed by the addresses of six distinguished guests, including H.E. Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, apostolic nuncio to Thailand; Msgr. Andrew Thanya-anan Vissanu, undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Inerreligious Dialogue at the Vatican; and President Nichiko Niwano of Rissho Kosei-kai.
In his address, President Niwano mentioned recent global developments such as the swine flu pandemic and the aftereffects of the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, saying the world has entered an era in which people must think beyond their own and their country's benefit. He added that what we learn from religion is the importance of using a divine rather than a human yardstick to value things. He said that as human beings share one small planet, it is meaningless for them to fight one another, with everyone looking out only for their own interest. He emphasized that since our lives are sustained by all living things, we should live in harmony, in a world of love and compassion. Furthermore, pointing out that the Italian word focolare means "hearth," a place where people gather for life and warmth, he said the Focolare Movement aims to create places where people can overcome differences of nationality, ethnicity, and religion to live in harmony. Finally, he expressed his idea that Rissho Kosei-kai would further cooperate with the Focolare Movement in building a harmonious world where everyone can come together to warm themselves spiritually.
The symposium was divided into three categories, beginning February 2. The themes were: "Collapse of Values in the Family, Youth, Mass Media" on February 2; "Sufferings of Contemporary Men/Women" on February 3; and "Financial Crisis and Wealth Disparity (Economic Systems)" on February 4.
At the third session on February 3, Rev. Munehiro Niwano spoke of the need for spiritual growth through respect for other people rather than accumulating material possessions, as the Buddha taught, to survive in difficult economic times. He illustrated that by referring to Bhutan's adoption of the standard of gross national happiness (GNH) to measure its quality of life, and the success of the Japanese city of Minamata, in Kumamoto Prefecture, in cleaning up its environment. From 1956, the city suffered widespread outbreaks of what came to be called Minamata disease, caused by mercury poisoning.
At the second session on February 4, moderated by Rev. Akagawa, Focolare President Maria Voce spoke on the theme "The Mystery of Suffering," and recalled the words of the Focolare founder, Ms. Chiara Lubich, at the first symposium, on how love and compassion overcome suffering.
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