Messages from Netherlands
CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE
From Rev. Tenkei Coppens, Netherlands
In its relatively brief history the international VESAK celebrations have already proven to provide a tremendous opportunity to share Buddhist values across the world, and it is therefore with great pleasure and deep gratitude that I offer my congratulations to everyone who has helped to make these celebrations possible. And of course, I would like to thank in particular this year’s host, the National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
The chosen theme couldn’t be more apt. With the world at a very precarious cross-road that holds great promises for positive change but also great threats, even to its very existence, The UN Millennium Development Goals put forth objectives that can easily be translated into Buddhist language: compassionate action as the most natural human response to our samsaric existence.
Yet for most of us, being natural doesn’t always come so naturally. This means that insight into our true nature, in Buddhism fostered by various forms of meditation, can probably never be dispensed with. In fact, I think that the only sustainable shift that can really make in difference in our world begins with the shift that every human can provoke within his or her own consciousness; the realization that essentially there is no separation between self and others, and that all life is the life of one body.
On the other hand, if this insight doesn’t get a chance to express itself into compassionate action, one could justifiably question its validity. In that light, the projects that are so clearly articulated in the Millennium Goals can be seen as wonderful opportunities to test the depth of our wisdom. And these goals are stated broadly enough to allow all of us to make our own contribution, whether we pursue them as an individual, as a group or as a whole culture.
Rev. Tenkei Coppens
Abbot of Zen River Temple
The Netherlands
CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE
From The Dr. G.T. Maurits Kwee, Netherlands
This Congratulatory Message is sent to celebrate and congratulate posthumously first and foremost The Buddha Gautama who made all of this possible by his great teachings that can be a religion, a philosophy as well as a psychology and a psychotherapy for people suffering from distress.
Having had the privilege to talk for the third time at UNDV to disseminate a secular system which is a full-fledged Buddhist Psychology and Psychotherapy, I am grateful to the Vietnam organizers for accepting and acknowledging my work (download, www.taosinstitute.net/psychotherapy-kwee)
So I will be giving two talks: about a University Curriculum on Buddhist Psychology and Therapy/Coaching and about Karma Assessment for Healthy Living. Both are on Buddhist Psychotherapy by Karma Transformation, a no-nonsense approach to eradicate agony and despair.
My dream and hope is that the Dharma is going to be transformed as a psychotherapy, as the 8-Fold Balancing Practice also applies to what therapists do in their consulting rooms: equilibrating Views, Intentions, Speech, Action, Living, with heartfelt Effort, full Attention and mindful Awareness.
Isn’t that beautiful? After the mindfulness hype in the West the time is ripe to embrace Karma Transformation, an evidence-based therapy which will hopefully contribute widely to serve humanity as was meant by our beloved Buddha Gautama, the first psychologist and therapist ever.
Sending my very best wishes for a well-organized UNDV conference and celebration, let’s together make wonderful buddhaful days with lots of love and light,
Maurits Kwee
