Christians and Buddhists should love humanity, says Cardinal
-08/05/06
Taking the oppo
Christians and Buddhists should love humanity, says Cardinal
-08/05/06
Taking the opportunity provided by the Vesakh feast, the Catholic Churchís Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, presided by Cardinal Paul Poupard, has sent a message of greetings to Buddhists across the world, stressing the common interest of the two faiths in serving humanity in an age of division.
In countries where the Theravada Buddhist tradition exists (Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar) Vesakh is a moveable feast which marks important events in the life of Gautama Buddha. In the Mahayana Buddhist tradition (China, Japan and Korea) these events are commemorated on different days.
Cardinal Poupardís message from the Vatican reflects on the nature of love, addressed in Pope Benedict XVI’s first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est. This, he says, should be the basis of renewing human values.
ìThe Pope is convinced that this word, so frequently used and yet so often misunderstood, needs to have its true meaning restored in order to become a beacon of light for everyday life,î declares the Cardinal, who also heads up the Pontifical Council on Culture.
The message continues: ìThrough our dialogue we have come to appreciate the importance that you Buddhists give to love for one’s fellow human beings which is expressed in the concept of metta, a love without any desire to possess but only to help others. It is understood as a love which is willing to sacrifice self-interest for the benefit of humanity.î
ìSo metta, according to Buddhist teaching, is not confined to benevolent thought, but extends to the performance of charitable deeds, to the service of one and all. It is indeed a universal benevolence. Nor should one forget that other virtue, karuna, through which is shown loving compassion for all living beings.î
Asks the Cardinal: ìIn this world where the word love is so often used and misused would it not be useful for Buddhists and Christians to rediscover its original meaning according to their respective traditions and to share their understanding with one another?î
He concludes: ìThis would be an encouragement for the followers of both traditions to work together to build up relations based on love and truth, to promote mutual respect, to foster dialogue and to further collaboration in the service of those who are in need.î
Christians and Buddhists should love humanity, says Cardinal
-08/05/06
Taking the opportunity provided by the Vesakh feast, the Catholic Churchís Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, presided by Cardinal Paul Poupard, has sent a message of greetings to Buddhists across the world, stressing the common interest of the two faiths in serving humanity in an age of division.
In countries where the Theravada Buddhist tradition exists (Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar) Vesakh is a moveable feast which marks important events in the life of Gautama Buddha. In the Mahayana Buddhist tradition (China, Japan and Korea) these events are commemorated on different days.
Cardinal Poupardís message from the Vatican reflects on the nature of love, addressed in Pope Benedict XVI’s first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est. This, he says, should be the basis of renewing human values.
ìThe Pope is convinced that this word, so frequently used and yet so often misunderstood, needs to have its true meaning restored in order to become a beacon of light for everyday life,î declares the Cardinal, who also heads up the Pontifical Council on Culture.
The message continues: ìThrough our dialogue we have come to appreciate the importance that you Buddhists give to love for one’s fellow human beings which is expressed in the concept of metta, a love without any desire to possess but only to help others. It is understood as a love which is willing to sacrifice self-interest for the benefit of humanity.î
ìSo metta, according to Buddhist teaching, is not confined to benevolent thought, but extends to the performance of charitable deeds, to the service of one and all. It is indeed a universal benevolence. Nor should one forget that other virtue, karuna, through which is shown loving compassion for all living beings.î
Asks the Cardinal: ìIn this world where the word love is so often used and misused would it not be useful for Buddhists and Christians to rediscover its original meaning according to their respective traditions and to share their understanding with one another?î
He concludes: ìThis would be an encouragement for the followers of both traditions to work together to build up relations based on love and truth, to promote mutual respect, to foster dialogue and to further collaboration in the service of those who are in need.î