Ven. Xing Yun Interview on the 2nd World Buddhist Conference

Chinese Source

在第二届世界佛教论坛举办之际，佛教在线的记者就相关问题采访了作为主办方之一的国际佛光世界总会会长星云大师。

At the height of the 2nd World Buddhist Conference, a Buddhism-Online reporter interviewed Ven. Xing Yun, the Chairman of the Buddha Light Realm General Assembly, who was the foremost of the major facilitators, about some inter-related questions.

记者：从涉及的国家及影响等方面，有人说“世界佛教论坛”是佛教界的“奥运会”，是一个“全世界的佛教界盛会”，您是怎么看待这次的活动的？

Reporter: from such aspects as the countries it touched, and its overall influence, there are those who say, “The ‘World Buddhist Conference’ is the Buddhist World’s Olympic Games; it’s a ‘Whole Earth Buddhist Pageant.’” How do you regard this event on this occasion?

星云大师：以平等心看待。

Ven. Xing Yun: I regard it with a mind of equanimity.

记者：这么大的一个世界性盛会，筹备工作是非常繁琐而繁重的。在这些筹备工作中感到最困难的是什么？最大的感受是什么？

Reporter: In this kind of world-class pageant, the preparatory work is important and complicated in that it is multi-dimensionally troublesome. What do you feel was the most difficult about this preparatory work? And what was the greatest experience in it?

星云大师：这次活动，国际佛光会是主办方之一，很乐于共成其事，共襄盛举。至于是否有遇到什么困难，我认为大家只要同心协力，就不会有困难出现。

Ven. Xing Yun: In this event, Buddha’s Light International Committee was the first among the facilitators, and it really delights in collectively conducting its affairs, and collectively assisting in offering up a pageant. It was to the point that no matter what difficulty was encountered, I feel that everyone cooperated together with one mind, so no difficulty could come to the fore.

((Although this might look like so much sectarian happy talk, I have had the same experience with this group. Yes, there are things that they don’t do so well, and I’ve criticized them freely, but this is not one of them. -xp))

记者：与第一届世界佛教论坛相比，您觉得这届有什么变化？有没有达到你们预期的效果？有哪些成绩与不足？

Reporter: How do you feel this conference differs from the First World Buddhist Conference? Did it accomplish the results that you expected? What achievements and insufficiencies were there?

星云大师：一期一期的扩大，一次一次的进步，让世界佛教论坛愈办愈好，就是成就。

Ven. Xing Yun: It has expanded from one occurrence to the next, and progressed each time, which means the World Buddhist Conference has been better managed as it goes along, and this is exactly what has been achieved in it.

记者：这次活动在江苏无锡和台湾台北这两个城市举办，请您说说这次活动对两岸四地 ((i.e. 中國大陸、香港、澳門、台灣 -xp)) 交流的增进有何意义？您觉得应该如何进一步发挥佛教界人士和信教群众促进两岸统一的积极作用？

Reporter: This conference was conducted in the two cities of Wuxi, (in mainland China’s) Jiangsu Province, and Taibei in Taiwan. Please say a few words about the significance of this event for the enhancement of relations between the four places of the two banks (i.e., the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Makao, and Taiwan). Do you think it should have any vigorous utility in advancing the bringing of Buddhism’s personnel and believing masses into play, in unifying the two banks?

星云大师：宗教不分国家，尤其世界佛教论坛就是世界一家，有很好的主题，很好的联谊，很好的功用，意义很大。

Ven. Xing Yun: Religion has no nationality, and the World Buddhist Conference in particular is a worldwide family. It has an excellent subject matter, excellent affinities, and an excellent application. Its significance is huge.

记者：在刚刚过去的一年中，国际佛光世界总会开展了各项法务、文化、慈善、社会公益活动，请问在新的一年里你们将有哪些活动安排？

Reporter: In the last year, Buddha’s Light International General Committee has produced all kinds of dharmic, cultural, philanthropic, and social activities. May I ask what kinds of activities you have prepared for the next year?

星云大师：没有预设立场，希望国际佛光会一年比一年进步，各项弘法工作能有新的发展。

Ven. Xing Yun: There’s no premeditated scenario. I hope that Buddha’s Light International Committee will progress from year to year, and that each project of Dharma-magnifying work has new developments.

记者：国际佛光世界总会已经在100多个国家、地区相继成立了国际佛光会的分会和协会，这种组织模式对于全世界佛教界的沟通和交流有哪些积极作用？对于本次世界佛教论坛的举行又起到什么作用？

Reporter: The International Buddha’s Light General Committee already includes over 100 countries, and the local areas have successively set up International Buddha’s Light sub-committees and associations. Does this mode of organization have any positive utility with respect to the communication and interchange in Buddhism’s global sphere of influence?

星云大师：促进沟通、联谊与了解。

Ven: Xing Yun: It promotes communication, friendly relations, and understanding.

记者：现在正值金融危机，甚至有很多人走向自杀的绝路。您觉得应该如何进一步发挥佛教界人士和信教群众促进经济社会发展的积极作用？

Reporter: We’re now in a full-blown financial crisis, to the point that many people are tending towards the final step of suicide. How do you think we should take a step forward in involving the personnel and believing masses of Buddhism in pro-active roles with respect to the promotion of the development of society and the economy?

星云大师：佛教的六度，生耕六度，就能解决问题。生，指的是生命、生活、生存；耕，指的是勤劳努力。每个人在生活、生命、生存当中，皆能勤劳努力，广行六度，就能解决金融危机问题。

Ven. Xing Yun: the web of Buddhist interconnectivity, and the interconnectivity of “life cultivation,” are just what can solve the problem. “Life” refers to life’s destiny, the process of living, and survival. “Cultivation” refers to laboring diligently. Every person, in the midst of living, surviving, and pursuing his destiny, can work diligently to broadly traverse the network of interconnectivity, and this is just what can solve the financial crisis.

((Put simply, we can network our way out of this. –xp))

编辑：华慧

Edited by Hua Hui