Wuxi Tour, Travel China - The Second World Buddhist Forum opened in the eastern Chinese city Wuxi on March 28 with more than 1,700 Buddhist monks and scholars from about 50 countries and regions gathering to discuss how Buddhism can contribute to building a harmonious world.
"Buddhism is a religion boasting openness and tolerance. When he founded the religion, Buddha advocated his moral position -- equality of all living beings as well as harmony and amicability," Du Qinglin, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), told the opening ceremony in the gigantic Buddhist Palace at Lingshan Mountain.
"We anticipate that world Buddhist circles will carry forward the spirit of 'harmony and synergy', manifest the qualities of mercy and compassion, reclaim people's souls and promote harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, humans and society, among people and within each
individual," said Du, who is also head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
He said the world faces the financial crisis, social contradictions, culture shock and environmental contamination.
He added: "To persist in 'harmony and synergy' and co-create harmony, we are called upon to depend on the people's welfare, hold high the banner of human progress and create promising conditions for world peace.
"We should respect diversity on the basis of equal treatment, strengthen mutual understanding through communications and achieve common progress while making up for each other's deficiencies," he said.
"The Chinese people have always unswervingly held high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, pursued a strategy of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes and actively developed international exchanges and cooperation," he said.
They have also "positively participated in coping with the financial crisis, committed themselves to promoting world economic growth and the progress of human civilization and worked with people across the world for harmony, lasting peace and common prosperity," he added.
The 11th Panchen Lama, Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, delivered a speech in English at the forum, offering his views on building a harmonious world and urging people to do more good deeds and help others.
"Sutras tell us: Good is rewarded with good, evil with evil. We should now guide and encourage people with the law of causality to serve others with good deeds," he said.
"Only if we carry forward the philanthropic moral spirit, will everyone be guided to do good and not harm others; can everyone display love and mercy, benefit all sentient beings and protect the environment, so as to enable people to enjoy a harmonious and happy life," he said.
He also called for achieving harmony among different Buddhist sects.
"Different sects within Buddhism should respect each other and coexist in harmony," he said. "So Buddha Dharma can live on and flourish, we should foster more outstanding talent."
The 19-year-old Panchen Lama also thanked the central government for its "kindly" concern for and "powerful" patronage of the forum.
"This forum is convened in my country -- China, which has a Buddhist cultural tradition going back 2,000 years. This event fully demonstrates that today's China enjoys social harmony, stability and religious freedom. It also shows China is a nation that safeguards and promotes world peace."
During the five-day event, the participants will discuss how to better preserve Buddhist music and the Tripitaka, considered the encyclopedia of Buddhist culture. They will also talk about the relationship between Buddhism and science, public welfare, environmental protection and other topics.
Exhibits of Buddhist relics, porcelain, crafts, photos and calligraphy will be on display during the forum.
The forum, with the theme "A harmonious world, a synergy of conditions," was jointly organized by the Buddhist Association of China, the Buddha's Light International Association, the Hong Kong Buddhist Association and the China Religious Culture Communication Association.
The forum has been organized into two parts. The first is from March 28 to 29 in Wuxi. The participants will then go to Taipei on four direct charter flights on March 30, where the second part of the forum will be held from March 31 to April 1.
The arrangement is viewed as another sign of improved relations between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.
Buddhism was introduced into ancient China from India more than 2,000 years ago.
The First World Buddhist Forum, with the theme "A harmonious world begins in the mind," was held in the eastern Chinese cities of Hangzhou and Zhoushan in 2006. Statistics published at that time showed around 100 million Chinese, or one in every 13 Chinese, are Buddhist followers.
"This is the second time I came to China to attend the World Buddhist Forum, and I think China has really done a lot to promote Buddhism -- just look at the gigantic venue of the Buddha Palace," said Ven. Banagala Upatissa, president of the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka.
"It's an open forum with participants from around the world. I hope I can have extensive exchanges with others on a wide range of topics in the following days, especially the spread of Buddhism in the world," he said.
(Source: China Culture)
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