mettavalokanaya_international_buddhist_magazine_january_2020

Theravada Theros from Sri
Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar and
Sambodhi Sangha(Chinese
Sangha) cosigned the
“Development and Cooperation
Agreement of Buddhist Sangha”. On
October 30, 2019, Most Venerable
Kirama Wimalajothi Maha Thero from Sri
Lanka together with Theravada Theros
from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar
and America, as well as Ven. Vūpasama
Thero from Sambodhi Sangha(Chinese
Sangha) cosigned the “Development
and Cooperation Agreement of Buddhist
Sangha”, at Nairong Temple in Bangkok,
Thailand.
This <Development and
Cooperation Agreement of Buddhist
Sangha> mainly includes three parts: 01.
Exchange and cooperation: All Sanghas
establish cooperative partnerships
on cultural exchange, friendship, and
mutual development, to advance the
development of each party involved. 02.
Promote Buddhism: All Sanghas work
together to promote the Dharma and
Vinaya of Theravada Buddhism around
the world. 03. Chinese Sangha: All
Sanghas cooperate to help the Chinese
community to establish the “Four
Noble Truths Sangha”, to strengthen the
development of Theravada Buddhism.
All the Theros signing this
agreement have many years of exchange
and cooperation. They fully trust each
other, and have a consensus on the
further cooperation and development
Development
and Cooperation
Agreement of
Buddhist Sangha….
of Buddhist Sangha. Most of the content
of this agreement represents the sincere
intention of Ven. Vūpasama Thero, who
established the “Four Noble Truths
Buddhist Sangha” in Chinese community
and are all agreed by the Theros who
attended the meeting. Ven. Vūpasama
Thero had also received “The Pillars of
Ashoka Award” and “The Most Notable
Contribution Award” from Buddhism
Promotion Center of Thailand and Royal
Thai Advisors.
At 7:00 pm, on October 29,
all the Theros discussed the current
situation and dilemma of Buddhism,
as well as the importance and purpose
of the cooperation and development
of Buddhist Sangha. Many Dharma
supporters also participated in the
discussion. At the beginning of the
meeting, the host introduced all the
Theros from different countries, and
then invited Theros to express their
opinions. A reputable Thai Medical
President of Buddha’s
Sangha Association, The
Chief Monk of Original
Buddhism Sambodhi
Sangha Society in Taiwan,
Saddhamma Cultural
Centre & Holy Buddha
Monastery, Jiaohe City,
China
Most Venerable Bhikkhu
Vūpasama Maha Thera
China
Doctor presented his experience on
psychological education and society
welfare in the Thai community.
Finally, Ven. Vūpasama Thero from
Sambodhi Sangha(Chinese Sangha)
explained the theme of this meeting
to the attendees — “the Development
and Cooperation of Buddhist Sangha”.
Ven. Vūpasama Thero had also received
“The Pillars of Ashoka Award” and “The
Most Notable Contribution Award” from
Buddhism Promotion Center of Thailand
and Royal Thai Advisors.
First of all, Ven. Vūpasama Thero
mentioned: “In this visit, I deeply felt
the warm hospitality of Thai people.
I am touched by the considerate
arrangements made by Thai Theros,
making me want to be a Thai myself
too”. The audience laughed heartily
thus established a congenial meeting
atmosphere. Afterwards, Ven. Vūpasama
Thero expressed his appreciations to
all the Theros from different countries,
for their common concerns on “how to
develop the future of Buddhism”. The
main focus of this meeting is how to
confront and respond to the challenges
of modern society to Buddhism.
Ven. Vūpasama Thero said:
Although Western society believes
in God, the prosperity of Western
society is built upon science rather
than faith. What is science? There are
four basic elements of science: (1) to
be practical; (2) to be evidence-based;
(3) the practical effect can be similarly
reproduced; (4) responding to the needs
of the realistic world. Therefore, the four
basic elements of science are actually
characteristics of the Four Noble Truths.
There is no conflict between the Four
Noble Truths and science.
In the past century, except for
Islam increasing believers mostly
through breeding population, the
religious believer of all other religions
has declined. The cause of the decline
in religious faith and believer is not the
differences and conflicts of religions, but
the domination of science in the modern
world. For example, the reason for the
decline in Buddhists is not Christian
churches or Islamic mosques, but
schools, universities, research institutes,
academic centers, giving updated news
internet information, and knowledge
for modern life. Because the main axis
of modern young people’s learning is
knowledge and abilities led by science,
and through the platform of social
structure and life experience, it has
been repeatedly proven that “science is
the most effective realistic way to solve
problems”. Therefore, the elites and
young people of modern society believe
in and supported science instead of
religion, belief, or philosophy.
Ven. Vūpasama Thero mentioned:
“In God We Trust” is printed on American
banknotes, which clearly states that the
United States believes in God. However,
the United States constitution clearly
stipulates the principle of “separating
religion from government “. The
strength of the United States is not due
to Christianity. It uses the science and
the Four Noble Truths as the standard
on governing the country. In contrast, in
all countries that believe in Buddhism in
Asia, the Buddhist monks and lay people
believe in Four Noble Truths. Even
Mahayana Buddhism does not deny
the Four Noble Truths. There has never
been a Buddhist sect against Four Noble
Truths. However, we should deeply
introspect on “do we regard Four Noble
Truths as a religious belief or the criterion
of our daily life?” Buddhism is more than
just faith. Independent of any sects, all
religious activities and social charity are
valuable contributions. However, for
Buddhism to expand, the practice based
on religious activities and social charity is
not enough to support the proliferation
and prosperity of Buddhism.
Ven. Vūpasama Thero mentioned:
Over the past 30 years, the number
of young people believing in science
continued to increase. To their life
experience, “science is realistic and
factual knowledge can effectively
solve one’s life problems.” With
the development of science, young
people who believe in religion and
study philosophy continued to decline,
especially in Buddhism. The central
teachings of Buddha Sakyamuni — Four
Noble Truths, is neither beliefs, religions,
nor even Hinayana. If Buddhism is a
religion by faith only, Buddhism will
have no tomorrow unless human society
abandon science. Buddhism must
recognize the main axis of modern human
society, and return to Four Noble Truths
with scientific principles. It teaches the
public how to solve problems practically
and effectively, to develop life, and to
get rid of sufferings. Only in this way,
can Buddhism sustain today and prosper
tomorrow. At the end of the meeting,
all the Theros reviewed the contents
of the <Development and Cooperation
Agreement of Buddhist Sangha> and
reached a consensus, in response to
Ven. Vūpasama Thero’s proposal “Unify
the Buddhist Sanghas with Four Noble
Truths”.
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