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The Dhamma Times, 13 June 2004
The Third Global Conference on Buddhism was held on 12-13 June at Suntec Singapore. The theme for this year's conference is 'Bridging the Traditions'. |
Dhamma Times, Singapore - More than 1,200 delegates gathered yesterday in Singapore for two-day conference on Buddhist traditions, the path, life challenges and visions to shape the future of Buddhist world.
Speaking at the opening address, Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Singapore's Acting Minister for Health shared how meditation has made him live a better life. Putting it in a candid way, Ms Angie Monksfield, the conference chair, said that practising meditation can lighten the work of the Ministry of Health because meditation keeps the mind and body healthy.
The keynote speaker, Ajahn Brahmavamso, the abbot of Bodhinyana Monastery in Australia, kicked off the session with a talk on the different traditions in Buddhism. He spoke of cakes with different icings. When we take away the icing, we have the same type of cake as the base. Ajahn Brahm was referring to the different traditions that share the common basic teachings of the Buddha.
Dr Wong Yin Onn, a practising medical doctor from Malaysia, talked about the relevance of rites and rituals in Buddhism. While ritual can serve as visible symbol of our faith and aspiration, it must not degenerate into complex ceremonies that devoid of the spiritual meaning. He added that the Buddha's teachings should be merged seamlessly into every aspect of our daily life.
Another interesting issue raised was on animal liberation. Recently, media in Singapore reported on the irresponsible practice of liberating animals into national parks that could create harm to the environment. The panelists agreed that animal liberation must be done with wisdom. Releasing animals into the wrong environment will defeat the purpose because the animals cannot survive in the non-native habitat. The worst is when this practice encourages people to take advantage by capturing animals just to be sold to devotees for the ceremony. Animal liberation must start from our dining table.
The conference is organized by the Singapore' Buddhist Fellowship and sponsored by Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery and Lee Foundation. The Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore also endorses the conference.
Role of Buddhist nuns has changed
The Dhamma Times, 13 June 2004
Straits Times, Singapore - Think that Buddhist nuns are inferior because they have to bow to the monks? Think again.
The role of women in Buddhism has evolved and in places such as Taiwan, nuns outnumber monks, said Venerable Dr Yifa from Taiwan.
She spoke yesterday at the start of the Third Global Conference on Buddhism, organised by Singapore's Buddhist Fellowship.
Leading Buddhist monks from various parts of the world are here for the two-day conference, flying in from countries such as China, Australia and the United States, joining speakers from Singapore.
Some 1,200 delegates, including the guest of honour, Acting Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, filled two cavernous ballrooms at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre yesterday to hear them discuss topics ranging from homosexuality and 'outdated' rituals to terrorism and women's role in Buddhism.
Venerable Dr Yifa, who spoke on gender and sexual issues, said there was a perception among some people that nuns were inferior to monks because in the past, nuns had to bow to monks.
She explained that Buddha had asked them to do so because at the time, women who embraced Buddhism were from royal families. The men, however, came from different castes. She said Buddha had wanted the women to cross the caste divide, and so, had asked them to bow to the monks.
But the role of women in Buddhism has evolved, she said. They no longer bow to monks. And in Taiwan, nuns outnumber monks four to one.
Asked to elaborate on his address, 'Terrorism, Virus and Natural Calamities', the Venerable K. Piyatissa, who was born in Sri Lanka and now teaches in New York City, said: 'No one becomes safe by fighting. In a war, the winner will anger the losers, who'd seek revenge for the pain and defeat they suffered.'
Today, delegates and speakers will discuss topics such as life after death, the Zen way and how Buddhism is shaping the world, with a presentation on the vision for Buddhism in the 21st century.
Critics against Thai government's low morality
The Dhamma Times, 13 June 2004
Thaksin and his Cabinet accused of encouraging killings, stealing
The Nation, Bangkok - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his administration were given failing marks yesterday by critics for encouraging and engaging in morally unacceptable policies.
"The moral standard of this administration is not high at all," said Somkiat Tangkitvanij, a research director at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), who accused the PM and his Cabinet of being involved in and encouraging acts of killing, stealing, lying and gambling.
As an example, Somkiat cited billboards across the Kingdom that quoted one of the Prime Minister's promises: "I will not allow drug dealers to live in this society."
Instead of jailing, expelling or reforming drug dealers, Somkiat said, the wording of that billboard encourages a spate of state-sponsored killings, which is against the first Buddhist Precept of abstaining from killing.
He was speaking at a symposium entitled "The Turning Point of Thai Morality in the Thaksin Era", organised by the Buddhist Network for Buddhism and Thai Society at Thammasat University.
The symposium concluded that the gambling, stealing, killing, lying et al were both the root and fruit of contemporary Thai society's perception that wealth and power were synonymous with goodness.
Besides encouraging murder, the government was called to task for lying both during the bird-flu cover up and through tampering with local media.
"The government often conducted itself in a manner that can be considered mendacious", Somkiat said.
The symposium stated that laws that benefited the businesses of Thaksin's cronies were equivalent to stealing, as was state-sponsored gambling via proposed legalisation for casinos and the failed attempt to purchase Liverpool Football Club through a state lottery.
Participants also said the stock market was nothing more than a legal gambling den for people who called themselves investors.
"Many teachers and even MPs are absorbed by daily stock figures to the point that they simply fail to carry out their duties," said Somkiat.
"We're at the crossroads of societal morality," he added, saying it was crucial for the country and its leader to possess morally sound goals and ethics.
As a first step, Somkiat asked Thaksin to stop interfering with the media and lying to the public and donate his estimated Bt50 billion in savings to charity so as to reduce any public suspicion that his family firms had a vested interest in government projects and policy.
Senator Chermsak Pinthong, another staunch critic of Thaksin, said the PM was trying to strengthen the patronage system through the recent setting up of a direct post box for petitioning the Prime Minister.
The senator said the fact was that only a very small number of petitioners would have their cases addressed.
Chermsak said widespread forms of legal gambling fostered a mentality of dependency on luck. His views were echoed by Phra Dusadee Methangkuro, abbot of Wat Thungphai in Chumpon province.
Phra Dusadee said that as conspicuous consumption and heavy borrowing became commonplace, temples across the kingdom receives less and less in donations.
He added that many people's temperaments were tied to the daily rise and fall of the stock market, where many Thais had sunk their life savings. He deprecated those who judged others by wealth and how that wealth was displayed, in cars, clothing and housing.
Bank Ngarm-Arunchoke, an 18-year-old student leader from Bangkok Christian College, said it was hypocritical for the PM to say gambling was bad when seemingly every adult child he had was a gambler.
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