Islamic Information & Services Foundation

REPORT ON MUSLIMS & BUDDHISTS INTERFAITH DIALOGUE

VENUE: Hang Tuah Room, Mines Wellness Hotel, Seri Kembangan

TIME: Saturday, 8th May 2010

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INTRODUCTION

Opening speech by Moderator of the dialogue, Bro. Mohamad Isham bin Isnin, volunteer at IIS. In his opening speech, he introduced the speaker from both Muslims and Buddhists side. Buddhist speaker was Venerable Suthoda Thero, an invited speaker of Buddhist Maha Vihara. The Buddhists was lead by Mr. Sirisena Perera, Vice President of Buddhist Maha Vihara. Muslim speaker was represented by Bro Shah Kirit Bin Kalkulal Govindji, Chief Da’wah Officer of IIS. After the introductory remark, the Moderator of the dialogue read out the agenda and guidelines of the dialogue.

Later, Puan Sabariah, Secretary General of IIS was invited to deliver her welcoming speech. In her speech, some of the keypoints were,

1. Faithful people are the defenders of faiths not the ones causing trouble.
2. It is okay to be different as long as we agree to disagree respectfully. This was addressed in regards to the issue of unity in diversity.
3. The role of media. Most of the time media do not represent the true image of religious communities.

After Puan Sabariah, Mr. Sirisena was invited to give his welcoming speech. In his speech, he stressed:

1. The importance of education and the need to educate our respective communities.
2. Cordially invited Muslim NGOs to make a visit to their Sunday Dhamma School at the Maha Vihara Temple Brickfields.
3. Accepted the hand of friendship extended by Muslim NGOs.

PROGRAM

Bro Shah Kirit presented on Solat. His presentation consist of 10 minutes video presentation and 10 minutes explanation. The presentation began with a video on the origin of the practice of Solat. Among the highlights from the Muslim presentation on solat is the difference between the word “prayer” and “Solat” and also the wisdom behind the prayers. Following suit was the presentation from Buddhists side. Buddhism as presented is a non-theistic religion which focuses on the human mind through three stages, Panna, Samadhi and Sila.

During the dialogue session, numerous of questions were asked from and towards each side. Q & A session was very warm and active. Basically the questions asked by the Buddhists were more on certain norms in Islam as well as religious and social relationship between Muslims and Buddhists.

Example of questions asked by the Buddhists.

1. Can a non-Muslim touches Al Quran?
2. an Muslim pray at public places?
3. Can a Muslim in Malaysia learn about Buddhism?
4. Are there difference school of toughts regarding a particular issues in Islam?

The Muslim side had also posed few questions to the Buddhist side. Among those questions are:

1. Discipline of eating for monks and Budhists
2. Is there life after death in Buddhism?
3. Do Buddha considers Siddharta as human or prophet?

It is quite interesting to note that during this dialogue session, some members of the dialogue both from Buddhists and Muslims side have shared some of their personal and social relationship experiences in the past. For example, from the Buddhist side, one person was telling about how closed he was with his Malay friend in Kelantan and some stories about how sensitive the Malays are when it comes to dogs and pork. The stories were later clarified in terms of it real position from the Islamic point of view by the Muslim side.

However, with the professionalism displayed by both parties, the dialogues resume friendly and smoothly. The morning session was adjourned for lunch at 1.00pm.

The noon session was focused on future collaboration between Buddhists and Muslims. Quoting the successful dialogue experience with the Hindu Sanggam, Puan Sabariah was very hopeful of getting the same momentum in the future with the Buddhists.

Many suggestions were brainstormed during this noon session from both parties.

The conclusion of the dialogue decide that in future the following will be done :

1. To hold more interfaith talks and dialogues in future.
2. To visit the Sunday Dhamma School and have a look at the Brickfields Maha Vihara temple.
3. To organize an activity where children of these two different faiths can mix together for example through sports activity.
4. Create more opportunity for Q and A program.

Thus, the dialogues arrived at four future plans. There are:

1. Religious talks
2. Visits
3. Youth program
4. Answering the questions (Q&A)

Before calling the dialogue a day, Tan Sri Lim delivered a concluding remark. Among others, his short concluding speech talked about :

1. Introduction to Cheng Ho Multi Culture Education Trust and its role in support towards unity in Malaysia society.
2. The importance of religious education and to practices filial piety.
3. Religious dialogues or interfaith activities should promote harmony and stress on national interest.

There are some suggestion on:

1. Providing Mandarin translation of Azan so Buddhists or Mandarin speaking people would have better understanding about the azan and therefore will appreciate its message rather than unhappy with the sound.
2. Finding similarities between Islam and other faiths.
3. The importance of all religions is working together especially during if there were in big disaster like earthquake.

ADJOURN

The Interfaith Dialogue session adjourned with a small group of press conference about 4.30pm.

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Islamic Information & Services Foundation (IIS) Press Release

Sowing Seeds of Understanding & Harmony
(An Interfaith Dialogue between Muslims & Buddhists)
Venue: Hang Tuah Room, Mines Wellness Hotel, Seri Kembangan
Time: Saturday, 8th May 2010

Religions as Defenders of Humanity
Contrary to what many people mistakenly believe, religions are seldom the cause of human conflicts and miseries. The two world wars were certainly not fought in the name of any religion, and even the so called ‘holy wars’ were not due to any religious teachings. They are the direct results of human greed for wealth and power and the need of others to defend themselves against such people.

The pattern of generating discords and conflicts in Godless pursuit of material gains, while making scapegoat of religions, continues till today. It’s time people of all Faiths come together and make real effort to restore religions to their rightful place – that is, as defenders of humanity.

Need for Dialogue
Islam is one of the most misunderstood religions in the world today, in spite of it being the second largest with 1.8 billion followers and one of the fastest growing religions in the world. That is not to say other religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity are not being misunderstood by adherents of other religions including Muslims.

In Malaysia, we are fortunate to enjoy excellent relation between people of various races and various faiths, ever since independence. However, this state of intercultural bliss should never be taken for granted. We are all aware of the occasional ‘ripples’ in the otherwise perfectly calm water – a constant reminder for us to always consciously work towards maintaining the precious peace. Central to this intercultural peace is the interfaith component.

At best, the media is proven to be inadequate in helping to promote interfaith and in fact is a hindrance, at worst. The government and social organizations can only do so much, especially in faith related issues. The responsibility would then fall mainly on the religious NGOs as the last check point to help iron out any faith-related intercultural discords. So what tools are there at our disposal that can be used to help foster interfaith communication? Without any doubt, the interfaith dialogue is as effective today as it was during Spain’s seven hundred years rule under Islam.

The Qur’an states that God created the various races and ‘nations’ so they “may know one another, not despise each other”. Similarly, scriptures of other religions too preach love and respect among human beings. This would then be the strong “common platform” from which to initiate and maintain interfaith dialogue.

So, are all religions the same? No, clearly they are NOT – neither do they have to be, for peace to prevail. Agreeing to disagree in certain matters is no stumbling block to unity in diversity, nor the reason why we cannot achieve “One Malaysia”!

Sowing Seeds of Muslim/Buddhist Understanding
Welcome to the “Sowing Seeds of Understanding & Harmony” – an interfaith dialogue between the Muslims & the Maha Vihara Buddhists of Malaysia, organized by the Islamic Information & Services Foundation (IIS), in collaboration with the Buddhist Maha Vihara.

Following the ground breaking 2-day dialogue with the Malaysia Hindu Sangam in August’08, IIS is pleased to announce the second in a series of formal interfaith dialogues, taking lessons from numerous interfaith encounters prior to 2008 on ad-hoc basis.

Through this dialogue, we hope to demonstrate the powerful role that interfaith communication can play in helping to establish cross-culture understanding between adherents of Islam and Buddhism –  the two religions with the most number of followers in the country.

“One Malaysia” ambition would be that much more achievable, strong, meaningful and lasting with these two groups actively cooperating and working towards the common goal of maintaining peace & harmony in this beautiful country of ours, for ourselves, for our children, forever – insha’allah.

Other Info
Post-dialogue news will be available on the IIS website www.iis.com.my.

About Islamic Information & Services Foundation (IIS)
IIS is a non-profit organization dedicated to informing the world on true Islam through the dissemination of information to all – both Muslim and non-Muslim.

Its long term goal is to help maintain racial and religious understanding in the country and indeed the world, through inter-faith dialogues, various social events and also through countering misinformation and disinformation about Islam and Muslims.

Events organized by IIS range from talks, courses, the Hotel Qur’an Project, high-teas & dinners, Buka-Puasa and Hari Raya get-together events, to the full fledged high profile International Islamic Fair (IIF), of which IIS is a co-organizer. Themes like ‘unity for peace’ and ‘world peace now’ are typical with events organised and co-organised by IIS.

IIS is run by a small core group of permanent staff assisted by volunteers. It is funded by public donations and through sales of tickets for its events. IIS always welcome constructive comments and suggestions that can improve its services, and is always on the lookout for new ideas, new cooperation and new volunteers.

About Buddhist Maha Vihara (BMV)
The Sasana Abhiwurdhi Wardhana Society (SAWS) means “Society for Dispensation of the Buddha Dhamma”. The SAWS, also known as the Buddhist Maha Vihara (BMV) was formed on 1 January 1895 by a group of pioneer Sinhala Buddhist immigrants led by Mr TA Gunasekara, the founder President of the Society.

The Society took a turn for the better with the arrival of  Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda in 1952. Ven. Dhammananda worked tirelessly to propagate Buddhism to all corners of Peninsular Malaysia even in a very risky time like the communist insurgency of the 1950s. The reorganization of the Sunday Dharma school, the recognition of Wesak as a National holiday and the increased number of devotees to the temple was due to the efforts of Ven. Dhammananda. The BMV has the distinction of being the oldest registered Buddhist Society in Malaysia. Through the untiring efforts of the late Ven. Dr K Sri Dhammananda (1918 – 2006), the former Chief High Priest of Malaysia and Singapore, the BMV has become a center of Buddhist learning and culture.

Today under the leadership of the new resident monk, the Chief Priest of Malaysia, Ven K Sri Dhammaratana Nayaka Maha Thera and the Committee of Management with it’s President, Mr Tilak Leslie Jayawardena, this center has grown vibrantly . We are fortunate that with the support of the devotees and increasing interests of our Dhamma friends we are able to carry out the many activities including religious services, counseling and distribution of free publications on Buddhism. Apart from it’s religious obligations, the BMV conducts many social programmes and strongly believes in preserving the culture and heritage of the Malaysian races. This is to expose and remind the younger generation of our rich culture and traditions which should be preserved.

Islamic Information & Services Foundation (IIS)
8th May 2010

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Buddhist Maha Vihara Press Statement

Islamic Information & Services Foundation
And
Buddhist Maha Vihara

“Sowing the Seeds of Understanding and Harmony”
A Dialogue

The Buddhist Maha Vihara (BMV) was very pleased to receive an invitation to dialogue with the Islamic Information & Services Foundation (IISF). Our Chief High Priest of Malaysia, Ven K.Sri Dhammaratana advised us, ‘When someone extends a hand of friendship, accept it. Go, listen, learn and explain so that there is mutual understanding then we can continue to live in harmony’.

The BMV delegation comprises of members who are either serving and/or a product of our education arm, the Buddhist Institute Sunday Dhamma School (BISDS). We have come with the intent of learning and our Buddhist tenant of enquiry. As a religion, Buddhism has no problem with Islam or any other religion but those professing to be Buddhist and Muslim may, due to a lack of mutual understanding, disrupt the harmony we enjoy.

We trust this dialogue will help foster understanding between our two organizations and we extend an invitation to IISF to visti BMV and as we say in Buddhism, Ehi Passiko “Come and See” our activities of service to society especially our youth who are our future.