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Compassion Beyond Boundaries, Solidarity Beyond Beliefs View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by eScholarship@BC Compassion beyond boundaries, solidarity beyond beliefs : responding to the suffering peoples of Asia interreligiously - a comparative study of Christian and Buddhist perspectives Author: Yongho Lee Persistent link: http://hdl.handle.net/2345/2478 This work is posted on eScholarship@BC, Boston College University Libraries. Boston College Electronic Thesis or Dissertation, 2011 Copyright is held by the author, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise noted. COMPASSION BEYOND BOUNDARIES, SOLIDARITY BEYOND BELIEFS: RESPONDING TO THE SUFFERING PEOPLES OF ASIA INTERRELIGIOUSLY – A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CHRISTIAN AND BUDDHIST PERSPECTIVES A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the S.T.L. Degree Boston College School of Theology and Ministry (Weston Jesuit) By: Yongho Lee, OFM Directed by: Prof. Margaret Eletta Guider, OSF Second Reader: Prof. Orfilio Ernesto Valiente August, 2011 CONTENTS Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 1 Chapter One Facing the Historical and Contemporary Challenges of Interreligious Cooperation: The Case Study of Korea .................................................................................................................................................. 7 1.1 Pluralistic Contexts of Religions in Korea ............................................................................. 8 1.2. Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation in Korea ........................................................10 1.3. In Summary ...................................................................................................................................18 Chapter Two Jesus, the Kingdom of God and Recent Catholic Teachings on Suffering, Compassion, Solidarity and Interdependence ....................................................................................................20 2.1. Jesus and the Kingdom of God ................................................................................................21 2.2. Solidarity and Interdependence in Church Documents ...............................................42 Chapter Three The Buddha – the Four Noble Truths, Suffering and Compassion, and Recent Understandings of the Buddha’s Teachings by Engaged Buddhists ................................53 3.1. The Buddha and the Four Noble Truths .............................................................................54 3.2. Engaged Buddhism: Engagement with the Suffering World ......................................71 Chapter Four Solidarity, Compassion, Interdependence and Responsibility: Thinking in Action Interreligiously with Those Who Suffer – Some Noteworthy Contemporary Examples .................................................................................................................................................83 4.1. Johann Baptist Metz: Political Theology and Engaged Christianity .........................84 4.2. Thich Nhat Hahn and Engaged Buddhism (Vietnam - Mahāyāna Buddhism) .....94 4.3. The Dalai Lama and Engaged Buddhism (Tibet – Tibetan Buddhism) ................ 102 4.4. Jon Sobrino and the Crucified People of History .......................................................... 114 4.5. Minjung Theologians and the Minjung of History ....................................................... 126 4.6. In Summary ................................................................................................................................ 136 Chapter Five Realizing the Dream of Interreligious Cooperation: Responding to the Suffering Peoples of Asia Interreligiously .................................................................................................. 138 5.1. The Dialogue between Christians and Buddhists ........................................................ 138 5.2. Compassion as the Heart of Interreligious Cooperation ........................................... 146 5.3. FABC Documents on Diverse Ways of Interreligious Dialogue and Collaboration ....................................................................................................................... 150 5.4. In Summary ................................................................................................................................ 158 iii Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................................... 161 Bibliography ...................................................................................................................................................... 165 iv Introduction Buddhism was introduced into the Eastern part of Asia from India about two millennia ago. Since that time, the teachings of the Buddha have attracted innumerable people who seek after the ultimate truth of human life and the universe; also, the immense compassion of the Buddha has supported and comforted the weary souls of those who suffer. Moreover, Buddhism has shaped the social, philosophical, cultural and religious attitudes of East Asian countries and peoples. Christianity, on the other hand, despite its comparatively shorter history and time of influence, has been a significant force in East Asia, specifically in China, Japan, Viet Nam, and Korea, during the last two centuries. Although the over-identification of Christianity with Western colonial powers led to violent resistance against Christian churches in the 19th and 20th centuries, Christians as individuals and communities as well as Christian institutions have continued to have an increased influence on East Asian society by means of human service and charitable activities dedicated to education, health care and social welfare. By way of a very specific example, Christians in South Korea have made considerable contributions to the advancement of democracy and the improvement of human rights, which in turn has attracted many young adults to Christianity. As varied forms of suffering afflict humanity all over the world, the world looks to world religions for insight, for assistance, and for direction. Within the Korean context, young, highly educated adults, Buddhists and Christians alike, confronting the reality of suffering, are challenged to understand and respond to it – not only economically and politically, but also religiously. Living in a religiously diverse society, they are also 1 challenged to respond to human suffering interreligiously. As a Korean young adult raised in a religiously pluralistic environment, living with the daunting question of how one faces human suffering interreligiously played a significant part in my own personal history. Today, as a Franciscan friar and Roman Catholic priest concerned about those who suffer, this question motivates me to undertake this comparative theological inquiry. Thesis Statement This thesis is informed by the reality of human suffering as it manifests itself globally throughout the world, regionally in Asia, particularly East Asia, and more specifically in the context of Korea. Globally speaking, the complexities of human suffering as well as the qualitative and quantitative magnitude of human suffering are beyond the understanding and control of individuals, groups and nations. Mindful of this reality, the thesis asserts that there exists an urgent need for interreligious cooperation among adherents of all religions of the world so that together they may find ways of responding to those who suffer. It argues that interreligious cooperation directed toward the alleviation and prevention of human suffering is not an option but an obligation to all adherents of all religions. The thesis takes as its particular focus the interreligious cooperation of Christians and Buddhists. It asserts that while Christians and Buddhists have distinctive and differentiated understandings of the nature and meaning of human suffering, both religions share a common concern for and commitment to those who suffer. The thesis further argues that their mutual recognition of a common concern for human suffering can serve as a pathway to interreligious understanding about suffering, compassion, solidarity, 2 interdependence and responsibility. Moreover, this common concern and interreligious understanding can serve as a source of inspiration for young adults, both Christians and Buddhists, by fostering in them the courage and commitment necessary to sustain interreligious cooperation on behalf of those who suffer now and in the future. The thesis illustrates some of the ways in which interreligious cooperation can grow out of a common concern for those who suffer. It also illustrates how such cooperation can foster mutual respect as well as ongoing efforts to understand other religions within the Asian context in general and specifically in Korea. Overview Chapter One provides a historical chronicle of both the failures and successes that have occurred in Korea, a country historically characterized by its religiously pluralistic environment. In their efforts to respond interreligiously to many sorts of human suffering, Koreans have faced many challenges. Using a case study which illustrates some of these challenges, the chapter draws attention to the urgent need for dialogue and mutual understanding. If the people of Korea desire to respond to the present and future challenges
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