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1 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. 2 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. 3 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 4 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