Hospitality is not syncretism” “

A vision of the world and a religious practice that arouse a sympathetic reaction: that’s the image of Buddhism in the eyes of Europeans. Present in all the countries of the continent, Buddhism already has a numerous following (the statistics speak of a million sympathizers). Some figures: the most numerous Buddhist communities are found in France (350,000), Germany (170,000) and the UK (180,000). Italy follows with 75,000 Buddhists, then Holland (33,000) and Switzerland (25,000). In actual fact, as the Buddhists themselves are the first to point out, these figures ought to be revised downwards. For they are artificially inflated by sympathizers and by the expressions of support from people in the world of showbusiness and sport. A world conference of Buddhists was held in Graz at the end of October; the participants included the Dalai Lama. Was it a rite that consecrated the old Europe to Buddha? This was how some interpreted the sense of the world Buddhist conference held in Graz (Austria) at the end of October in the presence of the Dalai Lama. In actual fact the rite in question was the celebration of the “Kalachakra”, which Buddhists consider a contribution to world peace. Climax of the rite: the destruction of the circle of the “Mandala” composed of polychrome sand. For the city of Graz – due to become European capital of culture next year – the conference was a contribution to the new image of the Styrian capital as a leading forum for interreligious dialogue. Not least for this reason the municipal and regional authorities celebrated the arrival and stay of the Dalai Lama with all the pomp of a state visit. In a pastoral letter in May, Bishop Egon Kapellari of Graz, vice-president of the Austrian Episcopal conference, had, however, asked Austrians to abstain from participating in the Buddhist rites, but at the same time to extend evangelic hospitality to the delegates from all over the world (the organizers were expecting 15,000 participants, but only about 8,000 arrived). In interreligious dialogue – explained Bishop Kapellari – what’s needed, apart from good intentions, is a deep knowledge of one’s own faith and the ability to bear witness to it before the believers of other faiths. That’s the approach established by Vatican Council II: it invited Christians to respect everything that is “true and holy” in other religions but also urged them unhesitatingly to proclaim Christ as “the way, the truth and the life” for all mankind. The Church’s concern is to avoid any risk of syncretism. The point was also stressed by the bishop of Graz in an interview with a political weekly much read in Austria (“Profil”) in which he said among other things: “The non-participation of Catholics [in the Buddhist congress] does not constitute a hostile act, but is due to the coherence of the Christian faith”.