METTĀVERSES
METTĀVERSES

Humanistic Buddhism colloquium on compassionate futures

Amidst escalating global crises such as climate change, social inequality, homelessness, population displacement, and widespread mental health issues, Buddhism offers profound insights and practices for cultivating insight, compassion, and interconnectedness. By embracing these teachings, we can foster a more harmonious and resilient world, grounded in collective well-being and ethical action.

As part of the commemorations of the life and achievements of the late Venerable Master Hsing Yun, founder of Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order and advocate of Humanistic Buddhism, this Humanistic Buddhism Colloquium on Compassionate Futures held in November 2024 explored methods for dealing with the crises our world is facing. Below are videos from the colloquium panel sessions.

SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH THE VIDEOS OF THE PANELS.
RESEARCH  CONTACT

opening plenary 
Compassionate Futures

OPENING PLENARY WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKER DR. LEWIS R LANCASTER

Host Organisation: Fo Guang Shan Institute of Humanistic Buddhism

Welcome Remarks (Head Abbot of Fo Guang Shan)
Introduction to the Colloquium
Introduction to Organizers
"The Past, Present, and Future of Humanistic Buddhism (Ven. Master Hsing Yun, Founding Master of Fo Guang Shan)"
Dr. Lewis R Lancaster - Keynote Speech - Compassionate Futures

PANEL 1 
Compassionate Futures

COMPASSIONATE FUTURES POSTGRADUATE PANEL 1

Host Organisations: The Humanistic Buddhism Centre, Nan Tien Institute of Higher Education, The Humanistic Buddhism Centre, University of San Carlos & Humanistic Buddhism Research Centre, University of Malaya

CHAIR: Dr. Elizabeth McDougal (Nan Tien Institute) - WELCOME

Lo-An Nguyen (Nan Tien Institute) - From Inherited Trauma to Personal Healing – A Path to a Compassionate Future

Rhoderick John Abellanosa (Humanistic Buddhism Centre, University San Carlos) - Ecology as the Frontier of Catholic-Buddhist Interfaith Dialogue

Ms. Cheah Shu Xu (Humanistic Buddhism Research Centre, University of Malaya) - Cultivating Compassionate Futures-Online Religious Communities and Offline Participation Among Young Adults

Ian Nicholas Jugo (Humanistic Buddhism Centre, University San Carlos) - Imperatives from Buddhist Environmentalism and Papa Francesco's Laudate Deum

Joseph Frawley (Nan Tien Institute) - Humanistic Buddhism’s non-self: a defining communal morality for a compassionate future.

Ms. Leong Chew Moi (Humanistic Buddhism Research Centre, University of Malaya) - Exploring Compassionate Promotion of Buddhist Activities by Fo Guang Shan Malaysia

CHAIR: Dr. Elizabeth McDougal (Nan Tien Institute) - CLOSING REMARKS

PANEL 2 
Compassionate Futures

TRANSFORMING WHILE BEING TRANSFORMED

Host Organisation: The Humanistic Buddhism Centre, University of San Carlos

CHAIR: Dr. Maria Majorie R. Purino - WELCOME

Ven. Miao Jing – Three Acts of Goodness (TAG) Overview in the Philippines

Dr. Josette Balandra – Influences of the Three Acts of Goodness Program on the Observable and Behavioral Attitudes of Learners in the Division of Sagay City.

Dr. Cecile Manikan – "Transforming While Being Transformed," A Grounded Theory on the Impact of the Three Acts of Goodness in Philippine Education.

CHAIR: Dr. Maria Majorie R. Purino - CLOSING REMARKS

PANEL 3 
Compassionate Futures

COMPASSION AND HARMONY IN HUMANISTIC BUDDHISM

Host Organisation: Humanistic Buddhism Research Centre, University of Malaya

CHAIR: Dr. Janice Lo - WELCOME

Assoc. Prof. Hue Guan Thye - Unconditional Great Compassion, Unity in Great Mercy

Dr. Lai Suat Yan - A Pure Land in the Here and Now The Significance of Silent Compassion and Eternal Compassion in Fo Guang Shan core

Dr. Tan Lee Ooi - Humanistic Buddhism in Multireligious Society: Fostering Interfaith Understanding and Cooperation

PANELS 4 & 5A 
Compassionate Futures

SPIRITUAL CARE AND BUDDHIST CHAPLAINCY & COMPASSIONATE FUTURES GRADUATE PANEL 2A

Host Organisation: Dutch Buddhist Seminary, VU Amsterdam

PANEL 4:

CHAIRS: Bee Scherer & Jens Reinke (VU Amsterdam)

Nathan Jishin Michon (Ryukoku University, Kyoto) - "Resilient Compassion: Buddhist forms of compassion in chaplaincy practice"

Kenneth Holloway (Florida Atlantic University) - “Chanting meditation as a potential tool in chaplaincy work.”

Mary Remington (Upaya Chaplaincy Training) - “The Medicine of Compassion and Presence with Those Suffering Substance Mis-Use.”

Alie Rozendal (Head Buddhist Chaplaincy, Dutch Armed Forces) - “Buddhist chaplaincy in the armed forces: experience and perspectives from the Netherlands”

Ulli Fischer (Buddhist Seminary VU Amsterdam) - “Teaching Buddhist Chaplaincy as an interfaith practice”

Riët Aarsse (Buddhist Seminary VU Amsterdam) - “Embodiment of the Dhamma through Insight Dialogue: how relational meditation practice can support presence during client contact.”

PANEL 5A:
CHAIR: Ulli Fischer

Anya Wiersma - “Buddhist grief work in prison”

Yvon Mattaar - “Working with Pāli narratives as a Buddhist chaplain”

Matthieu Vaessen - “Buddhist Chaplaincy as dharma practice: learning from what’s difficult”

PANEL 7 
Compassionate Futures

PATHWAYS TO COMPASSIONATE FUTURES

Host Organisation: The Humanistic Buddhism Centre, Nan Tien Institute of Higher Education

CHAIR: Assoc. Prof. Pema Düddul - WELCOME AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

Dr. Juewei Shi (Humanistic Buddhism Centre, Nan Tien Institute) - MettāVerses: Building Communities of Kindness

Assoc. Prof. Tam Ha - Our Students, Our Future

Bernard Kelly Edwards - Keeping the Fire Burning

Rev. Dr. John Capper – Joy and Friendship: An oblique Christian hope for compassionate futures

Bhante Dhammika – Compassion – What is it?

Venerable Thubten Chokyi - Building Compassionate Communities

ROUND TABLE DISCUISSION

CHAIR: Assoc. Prof. Pema Düddul - CLOSING REMARKS

PANEL 8 
Compassionate Futures

CULTIVATING COMPASSION: A BOOK DISCUSSION

Host Organisation: The Humanistic Buddhism Centre, Nan Tien Institute of Higher Education

CHAIR: Dr Ekaterina Todarello

Venerable Juewei (PhD)

Prof. Stephen Hill

Prof. Suzanne Franzway