Download About CRS International Center for Buddhist

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International Center for Buddhist-Muslim Understanding
Rationale:
The CRS International Center for Buddhist-Muslim Understanding, College of Religious Studies
(CRS), Mahidol University aims to build understanding between Buddhism and Islam for the
coming formation of the ASEAN community in 2015 made up of Southeast Asian nations. The
Center seeks to advance Buddhist-Muslim relations from the current state of mere co-existence
to the state of understanding through educational and social exchange. This will contribute
towards building the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) which represents the human
dimension of ASEAN cooperation and upholding ASEAN commitment to address the region's
aspiration to lift the quality of life of its peoples.
Islam and Buddhism first came into contact in Central Asia, South Asia, today they mainly
coexist in Southeast Asia. Islam and Buddhism are the two largest religions of ASEAN
community comprising of 42and 40 per cent respectively along with the Christians and others.
In Buddhist majority Thailand, Thai Muslims make up 7% of the total population, 44% of whom
reside in the 3 deep southern provinces while the rest 56% of comprising of different ethnic
groups in the rest of the country. Muslim minorities have also been historically present in the
other 9 predominantly Buddhist countries. Similarly there are significant Buddhist minority
populations in Muslim majority countries of the ASEAN community.
As ASEAN region gains global economic and political importance, Buddhist-Muslim relations
will become an increasingly significant issue for building harmonious socio-cultural relations in
Southeast Asia amidst new challenges, tensions and conflicts in the region which should not
jeopardize peace in the future of the ASEAN community.
Objectives:
In view of contemporary realities such as the Taliban’s destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha
statues in March, 2001and ongoing ethno-religious conflict in southern Thailand, expulsion of
Rohingaya Muslims from Myanmar; the fears of exclusion and discrimination among the
Buddhist minorities of Malaysia, Indonesia, etc. there is an urgent need to initiate academic
research and social outreach for building constructive Buddhist-Muslim relations. This will
contribute towards the promotion of understanding, removing misinformation and building
promotion of hospitable relations between the two communities.
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The International Center for Buddhist-Muslim Understanding located in Thailand and the
ASEAN region, the hub of global economic development seeks to play an significant role in the
promotion of Buddhist-Muslim understanding in Thailand, the region and global levels. It aims
to help regain compassion to the heart of religious, ethical and spiritual traditions as a dynamic
force to heal the polarized world; counter the voices of extremism, intolerance and hatred
(denigrating others), sometimes, in the name of religion; encourage religious adherents
(Buddhists and Muslims) on the ground of their common humanity to work together for a better
world, despite their significant differences.
Center’s Activities
The Center will seek to achieve the above by undertaking following projects at two levels
1) Conducting academic study and research about Buddhism and Islam.
2) Undertaking projects for social outreach projects to develop Buddhist-Muslim understanding
in Thailand and ASEAN.
The aim will be to:
- Promote academic research about the history and contemporary state of Buddhism-Islam
relations in Thailand and the ASEAN region.
- Organize conferences, seminars and workshops directed towards building common ground for
understanding between Buddhism and Islam at national and international levels and search for
method for building relations between both the religion in academic and cultural ways.
- Undertake outreach programs for fostering openness and equality between Buddhists and Thai
Muslims at the national level and the region through training of high school and university
teachers, organizing educational and social workshops, seminars, exhibitions and cultural tours
about Buddhism and Islam to promote and build better understanding between the followers of
the two religions for peaceful coexistence.
- Publish books, preparation of teaching materials also produce an international journal on
Buddhism and Islam for educational use from high school to the tertiary education levels.
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Steering Committee
Committee Chair
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wathinee Boonchalaksi
Dean, College Religious Studies
Mahidol University
Steering Committee Members
Phra Thepvisuttikavi
Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Planning
Mahamakut Buddhist University
Phra Metheedammajara
Vice-Rector for Public Relations and Propagation
Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University
Phra Methavinairos
Graduate School, Mahamakut Buddhist University
Mr. Aziz Pitakkumphol
Chularajamontri/Shaikh al-Islam of Thailand
State Counselor for Islamic Affairs of Thailand
Dr. Preecha Gunteeya
Director General, Department of Religious Affairs
Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
Mr. Nopparat Benjawatananun
Director General
Office of National Buddhism, Thailand.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pinit Ratanakul
Senior Advisor
College Religious Studies, Mahidol University
Prof. Dr. Jirachoke Virasaya
Acting Director
Doctor of Philosophy Program in Social Sciences
Ramkhamhaeng University
Asst. Prof. Dr. Imtiyaz Yusuf
Director, CRS International Center for Buddhist-Muslim Understanding
and Lecturer, College of Religious Studies, Mahidol University
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Mr. Boonmee Poungpet
Assistant Secretary, CRS International Center for Buddhist-Muslim Understanding
and Lecturer, College of Religious Studies, Mahidol University
Dr. Piyadee Prasertsom
Assistant Secretary, CRS International Center for Buddhist-Muslim Understanding
and Lecturer, College of Religious Studies, Mahidol University
International Advisory Board:
Prof. Alexander Berzin, Berzin Archives, Berlin, Germany.
Prof. Johan Elverskog, Professor and Chair, Religious Studies, Southern Methodist University,
Dallas, Texas, USA.
Prof. Datuk, Osman Bakar, Director, Sultan Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Centre for Islamic Studies,
Universiti Brunei, Brunei Darrusalam.
Prof. Yong-pyo Kim, Professor, Department of Buddhist Studies, Dongguk University, Seoul,
Korea.
Prof. John Esposito, Director, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian
Understanding (ACMCU), Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA.
Prof. John Voll, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding
(ACMCU), Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA.
Contact Address:
CRS International Center for Buddhist-Muslim Understanding
College of Religious Studies, Mahidol University
999 Salaya, Phutthamonthol 4
Nakhorn Pathom, 73170
Thailand
Tel. +662-800-2630-39 ext. 311
Fax. +662-800-2659
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.crs.mahidol.ac.th/eng/index.htm