Sixteen Jesuits participated in the East Asian Theological Encounter Programme (EATEP) held at the Seven Fountains Spirituality Centre in Chiangmai, Thailand from April 16 to May 13, 2012. A programme of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific, EATEP provides transformational opportunities for Jesuits to deepen their dialogue with people of different faiths and to enrich their perspectives on theology in Asia.
According to programme director Fr John Shea SJ, EATEP examines issues of Asian theology, inculturation of the Catholic faith in Asia, and inter-religious dialogue. It also provides an immersion experience in Buddhism. The programme began in 2006 and in all, 65 scholastics from all provinces and regions of the Conference have participated.
This year’s group consisted of 13 scholastics, two brothers and one priest from six countries of the Conference: Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, South Korea and Vietnam. As in previous years, the month-long programme featured lectures, discussions, tours of sites with religious and historical significance, and a Vipassana Mediation retreat.
The introductory sessions on Buddhism and Buddhist meditation practices were conducted by Fr Petrus Puspobinatmo SJ, one of the resident retreat directors of the Seven Fountains and Dr Apinya Fuengfusakul, Professor of Sociology at Chiang Mai University. These were followed by the 5-day Vipassana meditation retreat under the Venerable Abbot Phra Ajarn Piyassi Bhikku.
The participants also had a 10-day lecture-discussion on Inter-religious Dialogue and Contextual Theology in Asia by Fr Michael Amaladoss SJ, Director of the Di Nobili Institute in Chennai, based on his experiences in India and while working for the Jesuit Curia in Rome. And finally, Dr Imtiyaz Yusuf, Chairman of the Religious Studies programme at Assumption University, Bangkok, joined the group for two days, leading discussions on the Prophet Muhammed, Islam Today and the Challenges of Dialogue.
Scholastic Mark Lopez SJ, one of this year’s group, said that what participants appreciated most were the Vipassana retreat experience and the insights and approach to Asian Theology shared by Fr Amaldoss.
The meditation retreat provided what many of them considered a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They marvelled at the opportunity of being able to live and dialogue with a community of Buddhist monks, following their daily routine and observing their practices, such as getting up at 4 am, doing silent meditation for seven hour-long periods every day, abstaining from eating after noon, and following a strict vegetarian diet. The retreat was held at the Doi Tone Cave Monastery located in a mountainous region a two-hour drive away from central Chiangmai. The monastery complex is set in a remarkably scenic, forested area, and the beauty of the natural environment combined with the architecture of the monastery structures to make the experience of the “noble silence” very special. “After the retreat, many of us agreed that the Vipassana method of meditation is a very powerful complement to Ignatian prayer and psycho-spiritual formation,” said Mark.
The Jesuits also found Fr Amaladoss’ lectures “highly engaging and very enlightening”. It was clear during the participant presentations that the discussions on Asian theology and inter-religious dialogue had had a significant impact on their perception of their personal and corporate mission as Jesuits in the service of the Church in Asia. “It was deeply personal, profoundly enriching and transformational,” said Mark.
The East Asian Theological Encounter Programme is affiliated with the Loyola School of Theology in Manila and participants are eligible to receive 3 credits in theology upon completion of the programme. For more information about EATEP, visit www.freewebs.com/johnjshea.