Buddhist
To see a map of Buddhist sites in Wales please click here
Inter-faith Council representative: Brian Pearce, Chair of the Buddhist Council of Wales, www.buddhistcouncilofwales.org.uk
Buddhism and and inter-faith in Wales
Buddhism is essentially a religion of peace and compassion. The Buddhist view is that true peace comes from a deep inner understanding as to the true nature of things. Therefore anything which fosters understanding, an understanding which arises out of insight, and a genuine respect and appreciation for and between the different faith and cultural communities is of paramount importance.
This is especially true considering the chequered history mankind has experienced as a consequence of the interface between the different religions and cultures, and the misunderstandings that arose due to a lack of knowledge and insight. In the light of this, the role of the Inter-faith Council and Forum is of inestimable value, and potential, to being a real instrument of peace in a troubled world.
Two examples of the Buddhist communities’ commitment to inter-faith work can be seen in the Angulimala Prison Chaplaincy Service. Angulimala has currently 3 Buddhist Chaplains covering the 5 prisons in Wales. Chaplains of all faiths are invited to area meetings which are held 4 times a year. All chaplains are encouraged to participate in discussions. The other example was an inter-faith talk hosted in St John’s Church in Cardiff, given by the Venerable Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche, an eminent Tibetan Buddhist Abbot, in October 2007.
For more details about Buddhism in Wales see the Inter-faith Wales Report. or www.buddhistcouncilofwales.org.uk
About Buddhism
A Buddha is someone who has awakened from ignorance to perfect enlightenment. Buddhists follow the example of Prince Siddhartha Gautama who attained enlightenment while sitting under a Bodhi tree in India 2,500 years ago. His teaching became known as the Dharma, and is founded on The Four Noble Truths, namely that life is suffering; that the root of suffering is craving and desire; that it is possible to find an end to suffering, and that following the Noble Eightfold Path is the way to find an end to suffering.
Buddhists believe that changing and purifying one’s mind is possible and can be the key to an ultimate liberation: meditation, mindfulness and developing compassion are central to their daily practice.
Buddhists also believe in the Eightfold Path:
- Right Understanding
- Right Thought
- Right Speech
- Right Action
- Right Livelihood
- Right Effort
- Right Mindfulness
- Right Meditation
For more information see the Inter-faith Wales Report.
