Christians and Buddhists Together for Well Being of World
(17 May 10 – RV) The feast of Vesakh, the most important for Buddhists, is celebrated
May 21st in countries that follow the Therevada tradition(Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia,
Biramnia, Malaysia, etc.) it was celebrated in Japan on March 8.The feast marks the
principal events of the life of Buddha. Here is the text of the message from Cardinal
Jean Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue,
on the occasion of the feast: Christians and
Buddhists Respect Human Life As the Basis of Respect for All Beings Dear Buddhist
friends,
1. On the occasion of your feast of Vesakh, the Pontifical Council
for Interreligious Dialogue extends congratulations and heartfelt best wishes for
peace and joy to all of you around the world. May this message help strengthen our
existing bonds of friendship and collaboration in service to humanity.
2. Let
us take this opportunity to reflect together on a theme of particular relevance today,
namely, the environmental crisis that has already caused notable hardship and suffering
throughout the world. The efforts of both of our communities to engage in interreligious
dialogue have brought about a new awareness of the social and spiritual importance
of our respective religious traditions in this area. We recognize that we hold in
common a regard for values like respect for the nature of all things, contemplation,
humility, simplicity, compassion, and generosity. These values contribute to a life
of nonviolence, equilibrium, and contentment with sufficiency.
3. Pope Benedict
XVI, has noted that “the various phenomena of environmental degradation and natural
disasters… remind us of the urgent need to respect nature as we should, and to recover
and value a correct relationship with the environment in everyday life” (General Audience,
26 August 2009). The Catholic Church considers the protection of the environment
as intimately linked to the theme of integral human development; and for her part,
she is committed not only to promoting the protection of land, water and air as gifts
destined for everyone, but also to encouraging others to join the efforts to protect
mankind from self-destruction. Our responsibility to protect nature springs, in fact,
from our respect for one another; it comes from the law inscribed in the hearts of
all men and women. Consequently, when human ecology is respected within society, environmental
ecology also benefits (cf. Encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, n. 51).
4.
Both Christians and Buddhists have a profound respect for human life. It is crucial
therefore that we encourage efforts to create a sense of ecological responsibility,
while at the same time reaffirming our shared convictions about the inviolability
of human life at every stage and in every condition, the dignity of the person and
the unique mission of the family, where one learns to love one’s neighbour and to
respect nature.
5. May we together promote a healthy relationship between
human beings and the environment. By enhancing our efforts to promote ecological
consciousness for serenity and peaceful coexistence, we can give witness to a respectful
way of life that finds meaning not in having more, but in being more. By sharing the
insights and commitments of our respective religious traditions, we can contribute
to the well- being of our world.
Dear Buddhist friends, once again allow us
to express our sincere greetings and to wish all of you a Happy Feast of Vesakh.