Contributor: Leo Lefebure, former SBCS President
In early June 2023, I participated in the meeting of the Buddhist Studies and Dialogue Group of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific at the Seven Fountains Jesuit Retreat Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Jesuits and their friends involved in Buddhist-Christian studies and dialogue from across Asia gathered to discuss their experiences and hopes for Buddhist-Christian relations. Petrus Puspobinatmo, SJ, who is from Indonesia and who works at the Catholic seminary in Yangon, Myanmar, described the difficult situation in Myanmar at present. Ven. Phra Archan Pittaya, a wandering monk, shared a very engaging story of his entry into the United States. The US border control officials asked how much money he had, and he replied that he had none. They asked how long he intended to stay and he replied six months. He clearly did not fit their usual expectations, and he had to wait about four hours before at length they decided to grant him entry. A leader in the Focolare movement, Tom-Taem Preeyanoot, described how she came to a deeper understanding of the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths in relation to the suffering of Jesus on the cross. In both traditions she found the power of love as an animating force. Ari Dy, SJ, who organized the meeting, invited me to give a presentation on Buddhist-Christian relations. I described some of the activities of SBCS, including our Statement in Solidarity with Persons of Asian and Pacific Islander Descent during the outbreak of anti-Asian racism in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. There was significant interest in our activities.
In 1986 I had visited Chiang Mai and visited Wat Ram Poeng, where I was introduced to the Theravada practice of vipassana meditation. On the afternoon after I had made my presentation, our group visit Wat Ram Poeng, where we were graciously received by the Abbot, Ven. Ajahn Supan, who told us about life in the monastery, which today welcomes many visitors who wish to practice meditation. Paolo Kriangyot, SJ, served as our interpreter. I told the abbot of my earlier visit and how beneficial it was to me in my exploration of Buddhist life and practice.
Two of the participants, In-gun Kang, SJ, and Ven. Vy Socochea, work in Cambodia. After my presentation, they urgently invited me to come to Cambodia to lecture at the Royal University of Phnom Penh and at Preah Sihanouk Buddhist University in Battambang, where Vy Socochea teaches. I hope to go to Cambodia in late December 2023 and early January 2024.
After the conclusion of our meeting in Chiang Mai, some of us traveled to the Xavier Learning Community in Chiang Rai in the far north of Thailand. Jesuits established this community to educate young people from the indigenous communities of northern Thailand, who have traditionally not had many opportunities for formal education. They teach English for eco-tourism and hospitality, as well as English for health service and for teaching.