Many turn to Buddhism because they are ignorant of the richness of Christian spirituality,” “admits a Buddhist master” “
If Buddhism exerts so much “fascination” in Europe it’s because people are ignorant of the spiritual heritage of Christianity. That’s why the churches “need to help Europeans to rediscover the spiritual richness of the Christian message”. The suggestion is made by a Buddhist master, of Swiss nationality, linked ever since his adolescence with the Japanese Shinshu movement. His name is Jérôme Ducor . After taking a course of Buddhist studies at the University of Lausanne and a doctorate in Japanese culture at Geneva, he specialized at Ryukoku University (Kyoto) and, again in Japan, was ordained master of the Buddhist Jodo-Shinshu school. He is now vice-president of the “Shingyoji Temple” in Geneva. Intervening in the recent Consultation on Buddhism in Europe in Strasbourg, Ducor downplayed the statistics that speak of a million Buddhists in Europe. “They are sympathizers rather that practising Buddhists he suggested and the same may be said of the declarations of famous actors like Sophie Marceau and Isabelle Adjani who call themselves Buddhists but not militants, without understanding what exactly they are trying to say. So there’s a good deal of confusion. But one thing is certain: Buddhism exerts so much appeal in Europe because it presents itself as a liberating faith, as a complete spirituality”. We interviewed him. What prompted you to get involved in Buddhism? “I was an adolescent and was searching for something that would give a profound sense to my life. it was in that period that I was intrigued by a documentary transmitted by French television on Tibetan monks in exile. At this point I began to read widely on the question. So my approach to Buddhism began through reading books and when I then discovered that the view of the world propounded by Buddhism was in some way congenial to me, I tried a practice that would help me to progress along this road. I want to stress that this choice did not arise from a spiritual crisis nor from a reaction. I would call it rather the outcome of a wholly natural process. I still remain responsive to the spiritual dimension of Christianity and when I happen to visit a cathedral I am always struck by the faith that was able to build it”. What are people who espouse Buddhism seeking? “I think there’s a profound religious quest within people. And the deepest question that people pose today is that relating to suffering and death”. But why seek for answers in a Far Eastern culture? “We need in the first place to draw a distinction between the religious basis of the Buddhist message and Asian culture. Buddhism is a religion of universal vocation. But I always warn Westerners that to gain access to Buddhism you first need to undergo an important cultural preparation, though that does not mean that we need to ditch our Western, European and I would add – Christian culture. With Buddhism we acquire a supplementary cultural heritage that does not run counter to the culture we already have but enters into it”. Why do you think Europeans turn to Buddhism and not Christianity? “With all honesty, I have to say that most of these people are ignorant of the Christian heritage. And it’s surprising to ascertain this not only among the young, but also in adults. They are familiar with the main Christian festivities, they participate in marriages. But they don’t have any extensive knowledge of Christian spirituality. If the Christian message is deprived of its cultural foundation, it’s clear that people will look elsewhere”. What would you suggest to the Christian Churches? “The Churches should familiarize people with the spiritual treasure of Christianity and ensure that this message gets through. People have a need for spiritual life or, rather, they ask for an experience of spirituality they can share in their daily life. Christianity is rich in this treasure: I think of the fathers of the Church and their magnificent texts. I think of Christian prayer and the monastic tradition. This heritage exists: all that’s needed is to enable people to experience it”. M.C.B.
