WUXI, Jiangsu, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The Second World Buddhist Forum opened Saturday in the eastern Chinese city of Wuxi with more than 1,700 Buddhist monks and scholars from about 50 countries and regions putting their heads together to discuss how Buddhism can contribute to building a harmonious world.
Jiangsu-2nd World Buddhist Forum opens in eastern Chinese city
"Buddhism is a religion boasting its openness and tolerance. Ever since he founded the religion, Buddha had advocated his ethic 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 held in the gigantic Buddhist Palace in the Lingshan Mountain.
The opening ceremony of the Second World Buddhist Forum (WBF) is held in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province on March 28, 2009. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) Photo Gallery>>>
"We anticipate that the Buddhism circle in the world
will continue to carry forward the spirit of 'harmony and synergy', manifest the
feelings of mercy and compassion, reclaim people's internal spirits, help
resolve the difficulties so as to promote the harmonious coexistence between man
and nature, man and society, man to man as well as man's internal world," said
Du, also head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of
China (CPC) Central Committee.
Master Yicheng (C), president of the
Buddhist Association of China (BAC), Master Hsing Yun (R), founder of the
Taiwan-based Fo Guang Shan Monastery, and Master Kok Kwong (L), president
of Hong Kong Federatin of Buddhists, participate in the opening ceremony
of the Second World Buddhist Forum (WBF) in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu
Province on March 28, 2009. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
He said the world is confronted with the financial
crisis, social contradictions, culture shock and environment contamination, and
"in order 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 undertakings and create promising perspective for world peace
development."
"We should respect diversities 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 been unswervingly
holding high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, pursuing the
opening strategy of mutual benefits and win-win outcome, actively developing the
exchanges and cooperation with the countries all over the world, positively
participating in coping with the international financial crisis, committing
themselves to promoting world's economic growth and progress of human
civilization and working together with people across the world to establish a
harmonious world featuring lasting peace and common prosperity," he added.
The 11th Panchen Lama, Bainqen Erdini
Qoigyijabu, talks with Xu Jialu, former vice-chairman of the Standing
Committee of the National People's Congress of China, before the opening
ceremony of the Second World Buddhist Forum (WBF) in Wuxi, east China's
Jiangsu Province on March 28, 2009.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
During the five-day event, the participants will
exchange ideas on how to better preserve Buddhist music and the Tripitaka, which
is considered as the encyclopedia of Buddhist culture. They will also talk about
the relationship between Buddhism and science, Buddhism and public welfare,
Buddhism and environment protection, and other topics.
In addition to seminars, a series of exhibitions on
Buddhist relics, porcelain, handicrafts, photos and calligraphy will be held
during the forum.
The forum, with the theme of "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.
Masters burn incense at the opening
ceremony of the Second World Buddhist Forum (WBF) held in Wuxi, east
China's Jiangsu Province on March 28, 2009. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
The forum will be held in two parts, with the first
part to be held from March 28 to 29 in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. The participants
will move to Taipei by four direct charter flights on March 30, where the second
part of the forum will be held from March 31 to April 1.
Such an arrangement is viewed as another sign of improved relations between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.
