Hope for world peace beyond religion: Interfaith prayer offered by representatives from Buttsuji branch of Buddhist Rinzai sect, Catholic Diocese of Hiroshima for timely end to Ukraine war
Nov. 21, 2022
by Yu Yamada, Staff Writer
Amid increased world chaos with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Buttsuji, head temple of the autonomous Buttsuji branch of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, located in Mihara City in Hiroshima Prefecture, joined with the Catholic Diocese of Hiroshima, located in the city’s Naka Ward, to offer a prayer for world peace. The Chugoku Shimbun asked the representatives of the religious groups about the other’s teachings with which they could sympathize as principles underpinning their interfaith efforts to transcend religious boundaries.
The prayer service took place on November 6 at the main abbey of the Buttsuji temple. Keishu Kanda, 58, chief priest of the Buttsuji branch of the Rinzai sect, and Mitsuru Shirahama, 60, bishop of the Catholic Hiroshima Diocese, met face-to-face at the venue.
To open, a Buttsuji branch Buddhist ceremony was held, with Mr. Kanda serving as ceremony leader, reciting Buddhist sutras including the Hannya-shingyo (in English, the ‘Heart Sutra’). After that, an image of Jesus Christ was placed on a stand in front of a Buddhist statue. Mr. Shirahama then read a passage from the New Testament of the Bible.
To close the ceremony, Mr. Kanda and Mr. Shirahama stood side by side and read words of prayer. The two expressed their wishes for a timely end to the war in Ukraine, declaring in unison, “We once again stress the need for elimination of nuclear weapons from this world and reconfirm our determination to work to transcend religious differences.” Visitors to the temple joined in unity with the priest and bishop in the prayer service, bring the total number of participants to about 50 people.
Thirty-three years ago, when Mr. Kanda had a chance to attend a meeting of religious leaders taking place in Poland, he interacted with someone involved in the Hiroshima Diocese. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic last year, Mr. Kanda invited people from the diocese and held for the first time a joint prayer to protect against the pandemic and to attain world peace. That was the same kind of service being held again in conjunction with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Chief priest Kanda says Catholic spirit of philanthropy is rooted in daily lives of followers
When I think of Christianity, Catholicism in particular, the first word that comes to mind is “philanthropy.” Catholics actively undertake a broad range of societal activities, ranging from social welfare and education to agriculture. There are many chances to feel familiar with the church’s teachings in daily life, a situation that leads to a deepening of faith.
Buddhism has a tendency to excessively value physical or spiritual forms, such as traditions and cultural properties, causing a detachment from real life. In that sense, there are many things we Buddhists can learn from Christianity.
The conflict arising from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine persists. Even with our limited power, it is important for us to cooperate with each other and continue calling for peace.
When the Berlin Wall collapsed in 1989, I had a real feeling that our prayers might just save the world. Despite such a major change in the structure of a state, no blood was shed. One of the key factors driving that result was the wish of religious people for nonviolence.
My hope is that the wave generated by our exchange with Catholic adherents will expand globally and result in an end to all conflicts in the world.
Bishop Shirahama relates how Buddhism is rooted and united with local environment
The teachings of Buddhism, Zen Buddhism above all, values the Buddha nature that exists in each person’s heart. I believe followers will be able to recognize their own Buddha nature through seated meditation as well as training and, in that way, grow as human beings. In Catholicism, which teaches that every human being is created in “the image of God,” we communicate with God in our hearts through contemplation.
Who we pray to may be different, but Christianity and Buddhism have one thing in common, and that is our belief in a being who serves humanity beyond worldly power.
The strength of Buddhism in Japan is that it has been rooted and united with the local environment. In many mountainous areas and elsewhere, Buddhist temples and grave sites mix naturally with their surroundings. Catholic teachings also ask us to treasure the nature provided to us by our God. I have the impression that Buddhist teachings have thoroughly permeated the daily lives of Japanese people.
This joint prayer service will significantly help us at the Hiroshima Diocese. I believe our working together hand-in-hand toward the common goal of realizing a peaceful world must be what both Jesus Christ and Buddha would want us to do.
(Originally published on November 21, 2022)
Amid increased world chaos with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Buttsuji, head temple of the autonomous Buttsuji branch of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, located in Mihara City in Hiroshima Prefecture, joined with the Catholic Diocese of Hiroshima, located in the city’s Naka Ward, to offer a prayer for world peace. The Chugoku Shimbun asked the representatives of the religious groups about the other’s teachings with which they could sympathize as principles underpinning their interfaith efforts to transcend religious boundaries.
The prayer service took place on November 6 at the main abbey of the Buttsuji temple. Keishu Kanda, 58, chief priest of the Buttsuji branch of the Rinzai sect, and Mitsuru Shirahama, 60, bishop of the Catholic Hiroshima Diocese, met face-to-face at the venue.
To open, a Buttsuji branch Buddhist ceremony was held, with Mr. Kanda serving as ceremony leader, reciting Buddhist sutras including the Hannya-shingyo (in English, the ‘Heart Sutra’). After that, an image of Jesus Christ was placed on a stand in front of a Buddhist statue. Mr. Shirahama then read a passage from the New Testament of the Bible.
To close the ceremony, Mr. Kanda and Mr. Shirahama stood side by side and read words of prayer. The two expressed their wishes for a timely end to the war in Ukraine, declaring in unison, “We once again stress the need for elimination of nuclear weapons from this world and reconfirm our determination to work to transcend religious differences.” Visitors to the temple joined in unity with the priest and bishop in the prayer service, bring the total number of participants to about 50 people.
Thirty-three years ago, when Mr. Kanda had a chance to attend a meeting of religious leaders taking place in Poland, he interacted with someone involved in the Hiroshima Diocese. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic last year, Mr. Kanda invited people from the diocese and held for the first time a joint prayer to protect against the pandemic and to attain world peace. That was the same kind of service being held again in conjunction with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Teachings with which representatives feel sympathy
Chief priest Kanda says Catholic spirit of philanthropy is rooted in daily lives of followers
When I think of Christianity, Catholicism in particular, the first word that comes to mind is “philanthropy.” Catholics actively undertake a broad range of societal activities, ranging from social welfare and education to agriculture. There are many chances to feel familiar with the church’s teachings in daily life, a situation that leads to a deepening of faith.
Buddhism has a tendency to excessively value physical or spiritual forms, such as traditions and cultural properties, causing a detachment from real life. In that sense, there are many things we Buddhists can learn from Christianity.
The conflict arising from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine persists. Even with our limited power, it is important for us to cooperate with each other and continue calling for peace.
When the Berlin Wall collapsed in 1989, I had a real feeling that our prayers might just save the world. Despite such a major change in the structure of a state, no blood was shed. One of the key factors driving that result was the wish of religious people for nonviolence.
My hope is that the wave generated by our exchange with Catholic adherents will expand globally and result in an end to all conflicts in the world.
Bishop Shirahama relates how Buddhism is rooted and united with local environment
The teachings of Buddhism, Zen Buddhism above all, values the Buddha nature that exists in each person’s heart. I believe followers will be able to recognize their own Buddha nature through seated meditation as well as training and, in that way, grow as human beings. In Catholicism, which teaches that every human being is created in “the image of God,” we communicate with God in our hearts through contemplation.
Who we pray to may be different, but Christianity and Buddhism have one thing in common, and that is our belief in a being who serves humanity beyond worldly power.
The strength of Buddhism in Japan is that it has been rooted and united with the local environment. In many mountainous areas and elsewhere, Buddhist temples and grave sites mix naturally with their surroundings. Catholic teachings also ask us to treasure the nature provided to us by our God. I have the impression that Buddhist teachings have thoroughly permeated the daily lives of Japanese people.
This joint prayer service will significantly help us at the Hiroshima Diocese. I believe our working together hand-in-hand toward the common goal of realizing a peaceful world must be what both Jesus Christ and Buddha would want us to do.
(Originally published on November 21, 2022)
