![]() |
![]() |
|
|
||
News at Tipitaka Network |
![]() |
Vatican Vesak message focuses on world povertyPONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE MESSAGE TO BUDDHISTS FOR THE FEAST OF VESAKH/HANAMATSURI 2009 Witnessing to a spirit of Poverty, Christians & Buddhists in Dialogue
1. The forthcoming feast of Vesakh/Hanamatsuri offers a welcome occasion to send you, on behalf of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, our sincere congratulations and cordial best wishes: may this feast once again bring joy and serenity to the hearts of all Buddhists throughout the world. This annual celebration offers Catholics an opportunity to exchange greetings with our Buddhist friends and neighbours, and in this way to strengthen the existing bonds of friendship and to create new ones. These ties of cordiality allow us to share with each other our joys, hopes and spiritual treasures. 2. While renewing our sense of closeness to you, Buddhists, in this period, it becomes clearer and clearer that together we are able not only to contribute, in fidelity to our respective spiritual traditions, to the well-being of our own communities, but also to the human community of the world. We keenly feel the challenge before us all represented, on the one hand, by the ever more extensive phenomenon of poverty in its various forms and, on the other hand, by the unbridled pursuit of material possessions and the pervasive shadow of consumerism. 3. As recently stated by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, poverty can be of two very different types, namely, a poverty “to be chosen” and a poverty “to be fought” (Homily, 1st January 2009). For a Christian, the poverty to be chosen is that which allows one to tread in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. By doing so a Christian becomes disposed to receive the graces of Christ, who for our sake became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty we might become rich (Cf. 2 Corinthians 8, 9). We understand this poverty to mean above all an emptying of self, but we also see it as an acceptance of ourselves as we are, with our talents and our limitations. Such poverty creates in us a willingness to listen to God and to our brothers and sisters, being open to them, and respecting them as individuals. We value all creation, including the accomplishments of human work, but we are directed to do so in freedom and with gratitude, care and respect, enjoining a spirit of detachment which allows us to use the goods of this world as though we had nothing and yet possessed all things (Cf. 2 Corinthians 6, 10). 4. At the same time, as Pope Benedict noted, “there is a poverty, a deprivation, which God does not desire and which should be fought; a poverty that prevents people and families from living as befits their dignity; a poverty that offends justice and equality and that, as such, threatens peaceful co-existence (l.c.).” Furthermore, “in advanced wealthy societies, there is evidence of marginalization, as well as affective, moral, and spiritual poverty, seen in people whose interior lives are disoriented and who experience various forms of malaise despite their economic prosperity” (Message for World Day of Peace 2009, n. 2). 5. Whereas we as Catholics reflect in this way on the meaning of poverty, we are also attentive to your spiritual experience, dear Buddhist friends. We wish to thank you for your inspiring witness of non-attachment and contentment. Monks, nuns, and many lay devotees among you embrace a poverty "to be chosen" that spiritually nourishes the human heart, substantially enriching life with a deeper insight into the meaning of existence, and sustaining commitment to promoting the goodwill of the whole human community. Once again allow us to express our heartfelt greetings and to wish all of you a Happy Feast of Vesakh/Hanamatsuri. Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata source: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/interelg/documents/rc_pc_interelg_doc_20090403_vesakh-2009_en.html Buddhist News Features: Thursday, May 4, 2023 Vesak Extra! Sunday, May 15, 2022 Vesak Extra! Wednesday, May 26, 2021 Vesak Extra! |
Samsara Pulse Myanmar Sitagu Sayadaw receives international Buddhism promotion award in Yangon Samsara buzz How a Sri Lankan bhikkhu influenced the founding father of Israel Samsara buzz Jikji, not Gutenberg`s Bible — How Korean Buddhist monks created the first metal-printed book Thailand Unique annual candle procession graces Khlong Lat Chado, Ayutthaya Hawaii 1st Pā`ia Obon festival since Lahaina fires dedicated to victims South Korea Joint exhibition with the National Museum of Korea, the National Museum of Tokyo, and the National Museum of China Samsara buzz Gandhara Art in Xinjiang: A blending of cultures China View of Leshan Giant Buddha, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site Samsara buzz Japanese American Buddhist reaches 110 years old Indonesia What will be developed at the largest Buddhist site in Southeast Asia, Muarajambi? Samsara buzz How Buddhism first carried sugar from India to China (and back again) Obituary Eminent Buddhist scholar Ven. Walpola Kalyanathissa Thero passes away in Geneva Thailand Seven Thai universities present honorary doctorate degree to Bhutan’s King Samsara buzz BR Ambedkar: 14 books on his struggle for the dignity of India’s most downtrodden Samsara buzz Prince Gautama’s countless faces: On Philip C. Almond’s “The Buddha” Vietnam Ancient woodblock printing saved from the chop South Korea World`s largest Buddhist encyclopedia completed in Korea France Sri Lankan twins in Paris produce Buddhist song Afghanistan Shewaki Stupa: A masterpiece from Kushan Era in heart of Afghanistan New York Times A.T. Ariyaratne: A hero in Sri Lanka for helping the poor |
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammāsambuddhassa.
Buddha sāsana.m cira.m ti.t.thatu.