Speech for the Opening Ceremony of the Multi-Faith Centre at Griffith University Given by Venerable Master Chin Kung
23 May 2002
Respected Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, religious leaders, ladies and gentlemen: Good Morning.
I have heard the prayers of twelve representatives from different faiths. I was deeply moved by their words, the words of loving peace.
Today our world is filled with natural disasters and man-made disasters. Our situation is critical. Therefore, it has become crucial to unite all religions and ethnicities.
About one year ago, when Mr. Uri Themal told me that Griffith University planned to build a Multi-Faith Centre, I was deeply touched that Griffith could do something so great for our world. All of us should do everything possible to bring the aspirations of this project to fruition.
There are many wise people in the world who wish to help eliminate disasters and reach world peace. Humanity has longed for peace for millennium, yet lasting peace has yet to be realized. Cruelty, conflicts, and wars are increasing. Why? This is a profound and extensive problem.
We are all religious followers. We deeply believe that there is only one God. He has incredible wisdom and ability, and can help all beings in the universe who are suffering.
The Universe is an extended family, like a city where we live. The Milky Way is like the community in which we live. The Earth is like our immediate family. Therefore, all who live on this Earth are one family. God will manifest in various identities to give countless forms of guidance to meet the needs of beings in different areas. In China, he manifested as Confucius, Mencius, Lao-Tzu, and Chuang-Tzu. In India, he manifested as Brahma and Buddha. In the Middle East, he manifested as Jesus and Mohammed. His incarnation is omnipresent and supreme. The image of his incarnation may be different, but his teachings are the same.
"God loves all people." God loves everyone regardless of their nationality, race, faith, or culture. Jesus taught "Love." Buddha spoke of "Compassion." Muhammad taught "Mercy." Therefore, when we carefully observe the religious scriptures, we find the world's religions are based on "Compassion and Love." Then why do we not yet have peace? It is because of our lack of sincere lovingkindness.
Through the teaching of many religious scriptures, we can conclude that God guides us to be leaders, parents, and teachers for all sentient beings. Especially important is the role of parent and teacher. To provide the best example, we should care for all beings as parents care for their children and as teachers guide their students.
We know we must resolve conflicts in order to attain peace. Where do conflicts come from? They come from the family. In today's families, we see conflicts between husbands and wives, between parents and children, and brothers and sisters. When these conflicts are carried into society, there are conflicts between employers and employees, leaders and subordinates. Then, there are fights among ethnic groups and countries, and this is the cause of our disasters today.
But the deepest conflict can only be spoken of by the saints, we ordinary being would never be able to speak of this. As the Buddha said, it is the conflict between the true nature and our habitual human nature. In other words, it is the conflict between the benefit of others and self-benefit. All the sages and saints have taught us to give up selfishness, to care for others, society, and all beings in the universe. Doing this, we will be the messengers of God, the disciples of God.
We definitely cannot underestimate the importance of each of our thoughts. The reality is that the vibration from our thoughts will spread throughout the universe in an instant. Therefore, to eliminate conflict in order to promote peace, we must start from awareness of our every thought.
Although I have not been in Australia for long, many of the people whom I have met and been touched by are messengers of God, and successors to Buddha.
I hope that through this Centre, many religious leaders and followers can learn from one another, encourage one another, respect one another, and work together to bring not only bring happiness to Australia, but also to bring peace and harmony to the whole world and well-being to all people.
Yesterday, when I read the three-year proposal for the Centre, and then when I visited here a few days ago and saw the new building, I felt very happy. Today, as I listen to the heart-felt wishes from each religious leader, I am very thankful for their aspirations. We shall do our best to promote world peace and harmony as well as well-being for all human beings to accomplish great kindness and virtue.
Finally, I hope people of diverse ethnicity and faiths will not isolate themselves from others but will, instead, communicate with one another. The Chinese say that when people come together, they will develop close ties. Only through communication will all of our problems be solved. Misunderstandings and conflicts come from a lack of communication. It is necessary for all people, religions, and nations to foster closer ties through contact, exchange, and dialogue. This is the only path to the resolution of misunderstandings and to peace.
Even when I was young, I was convinced that religions provided the best social and sacred education. Last month, on a visit to Japan, I saw a master who is 97 years old. He told me that the founders of all religions of the world are the manifestations of Guan Yin Bodhisattva. So we are one family. If we truly understand this, how can different religions not work together? They will unite. When different faiths and ethnic groups can work together, world peace can be attained, society will be stable, and the welfare of people will be fulfilled.
In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to the Griffith University, and especially to the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor for their work to unite and guide all faiths to unite as one family. I offer my best wishes for good health, happiness, and good fortune to everyone.
Thank you.
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Showing posts with label Master Chin Kung. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Master Chin Kung. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Talk Given in the Greening Ceremony
Talk Given in the Greening Ceremony at the Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution of the University of the Queensland by Master Chin Kung
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Respectable Vice-Chancellor John Hays and professors, I would like to express my appreciation to the university for giving me this opportunity to share and exchange my ideas with you. I have been a Buddhist lecturer for forty-four years. In my understanding, Buddhism is a multi-cultural social education. Today, we would say that Shakyamuni Buddha was the founder of multi-cultural social education, a true social volunteer. His goal was to help sentient beings understand the true reality of life and the universe, to treat everyone equally, to co-exist harmoniously, and to live in mutual cooperation with all others.
In my lectures, I have said that the Buddha taught three principles. The first is to treat everyone equally and to co-exist harmoniously regardless of nationality, race, and religion. The second is to regard nature and all existence with a non-discriminatory mind. The third is to treat all spiritual beings with equal respect and harmony. In Buddhism, peace is the core concept for guiding all sentient beings. Whether or not peace can be achieved depends on "equality." Only with a non-discriminatory mind, will peace be realized. Shakyamuni Buddha was a humble person who respected, helped, and cared for everyone. He showed us, through his example, the only way to attain peace.
When I read the Chinese translation of your report on the Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution, I was impressed and greatly moved. I thought of a gentleman, Mr. Jia-Cheng Li in Hong Kong. He and others deeply understand the importance of education and are very enthusiastic in their support. After sharing the same report with them, they expressed support for the centre. Mr. Lee, whom I have met only once before, would like to see me again. He and I agreed that the curriculum (to eliminate conflict and promote peace) offered at this centre is of the utmost importance and needs to be taught as soon as possible. We should do our best to accomplish this project. We hope this centre will have a strong positive influence on society.
We must resolve conflict with peace, even if all we did was to prevent one war. We need to realize that we can never really calculate the true loss and damage from war. We hope this centre can lead us to peace by resolving all human-made disasters and warfare. This will bring infinite merit to the centre.
Today, it is very important to help the younger generation set new moral standards and to gain proper understanding of life and the universe. Fame and wealth diminish with time. Only by benefiting society will we receive infinite merits and virtues.
Looking back through history, how many of us remember leaders and prestigious people from the past? Consider the founders and leaders of spiritual traditions: Confucius in the Orient and Jesus in the West, Islam's Mohammad and Buddhism's Shakyamuni Buddha. They lived lives of hardship and sacrificed their own interests for the well being of others. After hundreds and thousands of years, they still have the respect of those who learn from their examples. This is the true value of life: Life is only valuable and meaningful when we lay aside our own interests to dedicate ourselves to the interests of others. Only a person who can accomplish this will not have wasted his or her precious life.
Today, the vice-chancellor and professors of the University of Queensland have generated utmost compassion and are working towards the great and proper goal of world peace. This is a ray of bright light for our world. I have told everyone that you are messengers: Bodhisattvas who are here in this world to accomplish this good work to help save this world. We should all work together to support this great mission. I am just following behind you with this small contribution. I sincerely offer my best wishes to the University and hope that the Centre will soon accomplish its goal. I truly believe that all those who endure suffering will be very grateful to the University and to all of you, the Bodhisattva professors. Promoting education is the greatest good deed. It is said in a Chinese classic: "Education is crucial in the establishment of a nation: It trains its leaders and its people." The education of peace is the best and most virtuous teaching among all the teachings of the ancient sages and saints.
Lastly, I hope that all virtuous and kind-hearted people will work together to support the great task of saving our world and bringing comfort to all people. We cannot afford to lose such a rare opportunity to invest in future world peace.
Chin Kung
8th March 2002
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Respectable Vice-Chancellor John Hays and professors, I would like to express my appreciation to the university for giving me this opportunity to share and exchange my ideas with you. I have been a Buddhist lecturer for forty-four years. In my understanding, Buddhism is a multi-cultural social education. Today, we would say that Shakyamuni Buddha was the founder of multi-cultural social education, a true social volunteer. His goal was to help sentient beings understand the true reality of life and the universe, to treat everyone equally, to co-exist harmoniously, and to live in mutual cooperation with all others.
In my lectures, I have said that the Buddha taught three principles. The first is to treat everyone equally and to co-exist harmoniously regardless of nationality, race, and religion. The second is to regard nature and all existence with a non-discriminatory mind. The third is to treat all spiritual beings with equal respect and harmony. In Buddhism, peace is the core concept for guiding all sentient beings. Whether or not peace can be achieved depends on "equality." Only with a non-discriminatory mind, will peace be realized. Shakyamuni Buddha was a humble person who respected, helped, and cared for everyone. He showed us, through his example, the only way to attain peace.
When I read the Chinese translation of your report on the Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution, I was impressed and greatly moved. I thought of a gentleman, Mr. Jia-Cheng Li in Hong Kong. He and others deeply understand the importance of education and are very enthusiastic in their support. After sharing the same report with them, they expressed support for the centre. Mr. Lee, whom I have met only once before, would like to see me again. He and I agreed that the curriculum (to eliminate conflict and promote peace) offered at this centre is of the utmost importance and needs to be taught as soon as possible. We should do our best to accomplish this project. We hope this centre will have a strong positive influence on society.
We must resolve conflict with peace, even if all we did was to prevent one war. We need to realize that we can never really calculate the true loss and damage from war. We hope this centre can lead us to peace by resolving all human-made disasters and warfare. This will bring infinite merit to the centre.
Today, it is very important to help the younger generation set new moral standards and to gain proper understanding of life and the universe. Fame and wealth diminish with time. Only by benefiting society will we receive infinite merits and virtues.
Looking back through history, how many of us remember leaders and prestigious people from the past? Consider the founders and leaders of spiritual traditions: Confucius in the Orient and Jesus in the West, Islam's Mohammad and Buddhism's Shakyamuni Buddha. They lived lives of hardship and sacrificed their own interests for the well being of others. After hundreds and thousands of years, they still have the respect of those who learn from their examples. This is the true value of life: Life is only valuable and meaningful when we lay aside our own interests to dedicate ourselves to the interests of others. Only a person who can accomplish this will not have wasted his or her precious life.
Today, the vice-chancellor and professors of the University of Queensland have generated utmost compassion and are working towards the great and proper goal of world peace. This is a ray of bright light for our world. I have told everyone that you are messengers: Bodhisattvas who are here in this world to accomplish this good work to help save this world. We should all work together to support this great mission. I am just following behind you with this small contribution. I sincerely offer my best wishes to the University and hope that the Centre will soon accomplish its goal. I truly believe that all those who endure suffering will be very grateful to the University and to all of you, the Bodhisattva professors. Promoting education is the greatest good deed. It is said in a Chinese classic: "Education is crucial in the establishment of a nation: It trains its leaders and its people." The education of peace is the best and most virtuous teaching among all the teachings of the ancient sages and saints.
Lastly, I hope that all virtuous and kind-hearted people will work together to support the great task of saving our world and bringing comfort to all people. We cannot afford to lose such a rare opportunity to invest in future world peace.
Chin Kung
8th March 2002
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