Buddhist - Muslim Dialogue (mystic, Buddhism, worship, POV, faith)

[Cordoba]

Greetings and Peace to All:

This interesting article presents the views of two leading South-East Asian thinkers and human rights activists - Sulak Sivaraksa of Thailand and Dr Chandra Muzaffar of Malaysia - who believe that the age-old teachings of Buddhism and Islam offer a springboard for an alternative politics in the region

QUOTE

Many, then, may quickly dismiss the notion that Buddhism and Islam can still offer a way out of the modern world's self-destruction.
But two Southeast Asian thinkers, Sulak Sivaraksa of Thailand, and Dr Chandra Muzaffar of Malaysia, believe otherwise.

Solutions to the modern world's ills, they insist, can be found by going back to the essence of one's religion - and then having the courage to follow one's conscience.

Sulak Sivaraksa, 63, is a Buddhist scholar and an outspoken social critic whose lifelong campaign for human rights in Thailand won him a prestigious Right Livelihood Award, an alternative Nobel Peace Prize, in 1995.

An Indian Malaysian, Dr Chandra Muzaffar, 49, is a well-respected intellectual and activist whose thoughts on society and politics, as well as his human rights campaigns, are deeply influenced by Islam.

The two met recently in Penang for a Buddhist-Muslim dialogue to compare notes on current problems of Muslim and Buddhist countries and ways to foster a more humane politics based on religious teachings.

The meeting was co-organised by the Just World Trust and the Spirit in Education Movement.

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/7813/sul_demo.htm

What do you think?

All the best.

[Cordoba]

This is a first quote from the article:
Common challenges


It is true that science and technology from the West have greatly improved the people's general quality of life.

It is also true that democracy has institutionalised dissents, allowing different interest groups to voice their concerns through formal channels.

Yet both thinkers are wary of the newly-emerged, environmentally-destructive global religion that comes with Western economic development.

"Consumerism is our common enemy," said Sulak.

Added Chandra: "Development has a genetic code that leads to self-destruction."

The materialistic view that "we are what we buy" is now being intensified by waves of globalisation made possible by information technology that is pressuring both Muslim and Buddhist countries, they said.

This globalisation has also homo genised consumption patterns worldwide in favour of wasteful Western tastes, which has put a severe strain on the environment. Both also see international treaties, such as that on intellectual property rights or the newly-founded World Trade Organisation, as part of the effort to perpetuate the West's economic dominance over the rest the world.

"Because they know full well that power comes from the monopoly of knowledge and the control of science," said Chandra.

At the heart of globalisation, they agree, is the control of the mass media which spreads the West's notion of a good life around the world as well as its pride and prejudices.

One of the most dangerous values, he said, is the obsession with living in the present moment which promotes hedonistic lifestyles. "It's the idea that only this moment counts, nothing else," he said.

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/7813/sul_demo.htm

[Ulver]

Bumping this because I think more people should look at it.

[Cordoba]

Thanks Alver.

There is so much to be done for humanity around the world, as billions of people don't yet have basic necessities or a decent life standard.

Joining efforts between people of all faiths to alleviate poverty, famine and illness, saving the environment and other important human issues, while at the same time keeping an open dialogue going would be a constructive and positive approach to follow for a better world.

[ALifetimeToWaitFor...]

In my opinon there has never or can be enough compassion in the world, but the same questions keep popping up. Do we really deserve to live? Aren't we the parasite? just maybe it would be best for the planet for it to wipe out the human race. Sorry if this statement is off topic...

[MysticSang'ha]

What an intriguing dialogue. Thank you, firstly, for bringing this up, Cordoba.



I think that the biggest area of similarity between Muslim and Buddhist is the communities' overt and blunt apathy toward consumerism. This dialogue has expressed very respectfully the reluctance of joining with the west because of the perceived worship of the dollar, and therefore globalisation has been delayed.




I'd like to see Sulak Sivaraksa of and Dr Chandra Muzaffar discuss the issues further with Hindu minds to gain even more cross-cultural effort.






Peace,
Mystic