Indonesian Jesuit scholastic Advent Novianto reflects on his experience of the East Asian Theological Encounter Programme, a Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific formation programme that provides an opportunity to experience Buddhism in the context of theology in Asia.
We were a group of six Jesuit scholastics and one priest from Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia in the EATEP held in Chiang Mai, Thailand this year. In three weeks, from July 2 to 22, we covered the three important parts of the programme: introduction to Buddhism, a group study on Asian Theology and a Vipassana retreat at the Wat Tam Doi Tone Buddhist monastery.
From the beginning, we were made aware that faith is not just about seeking understanding, but should also be about the capability to transform. Faith needs experience, not just knowledge. In the intensive discussions led by Fr Michael Amaladoss SJ on Asian theology and contextual theology, we learned that if theology does not empower us, then theology is useless. We ended our sessions with presentations where each of us tried to integrate what we learned from Fr Amaladoss with a particular issue of interest from our own country.
EATEP Director Fr John Shea SJ impressed on us that to know Buddhism, we must “do” Buddhism. This means not just learning about Buddhism in the classroom but also trying to experience life as a Buddhist. He brought us around Chiang Mai to visit the various “wat” (Buddhist temple) and showed videos on Buddhism in Southeast Asia.
Our “do” Buddhism experience came in the final week of EATEP when we, together with some Buddhists and two other international participants, spent seven days learning and doing Vipassana meditation at the Wat Tam Doi Tone Buddhist monastery. Altogether, there were 50 of us. We woke up as early as 4 am each day to prepare for the first mediation of the day and spent the rest of the day in silence.
What I found interesting during the retreat were the sessions with Abbot Phra Ajahn Nawee Piyadhassi during which we shared about our meditation and reflected on what we felt. We concluded our retreat with a renovation of life and Phra Ajahn invited us to continue practicing Vipassana.
Another interesting event during our retreat was the “Dhamma” day that commemorates the Buddha’s first teaching to his disciples. We did our meditation at night in a cave. It was a peaceful experience to be able to meditate together as one creature of the same creator, God. The purpose for all of us here on earth is the same, to find God in everything. The Vipassana meditation method also helped us to be focussed and to be sensitive. It helped us to relate with God. We felt the beauty of our diversity.
From the EATEP, we felt that learning from within is the best way to experience and to understand reality. When we experience something, we use all of our senses and knowledge. This helps us to embody our understanding. Peace, love, hope can also be felt through Buddhism and other religions.