Tản mạn: UNARMED AND DISARMING PEACE

"Unarmed and disarming peace" is a special message from the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue to Buddhists for Vesak 2026, the anniversary of the birth of Buddha. At its core, this message invites Buddhists and Christians to walk together in building true peace for all humanity.

I was especially grateful for the opportunity to participate in the conference organized by Trinity College (Toronto, Canada), titled "Navigating Conflict: Humanistic Buddhism and Comparative Theology in a Divided World." This conference brought together scholars from around the world to share academic research on Christian and Buddhist perspectives in serving the common good of humanity.

From the outset, the spirit of this meeting was not to compare Christianity and Buddhism, but rather to foster understanding and dialogue. The three days of peaceful conversation helped me appreciate humanistic Buddhism more deeply and respect the efforts of Buddhists in building a better world through their beliefs and practices. As a theological scholastic, I engaged in conference according to a comparative method focused on investment and transformation—seeking to understand particularities, clarify misunderstandings, and honor differences. The conference encouraged all participants to embrace universalism and a commitment to the common good, which requires respecting the unique distinctions of others. Both Buddhism and Christianity share a concern for humanity; therefore, the question arises: how can each tradition commit to this shared mission of serving multicultural societies and a globalized world? Issues such as ecology, human dignity, humanistic education, and the concept of a "common house" for all people were explored through academic research. By promoting practical engagement, deeper relationships, and ongoing transformation, these shared concerns can foster stronger connections not only between Buddhism and Christianity but also with other religions.

The Dicastery's message clearly highlights the context of today's world—marked by ongoing wars, rising ethno-religious nationalism, and what it calls "a dangerous cycle of suspicion and hostility." In this climate, the mission to become "authentic partners in dialogue and true agents of reconciliation" is a common purpose for all religious leaders. All the faithful are called to be "artisans of peace," both through inner perspectives - such as Buddhist contemplative practice and the Christian tradition of prayer - and through outward witness to this unarmed and disarming peace.

Through the Dicastery's message and the conference, I have gained a deeper understanding of how both Buddhism and Christianity strive to serve humanity. As Pope Leo XIV stated in his Message for the 2026 World Day of Peace: "Peace exists; it wants to dwell within us. It has the gentle power to enlighten and expand our understanding; it resists and overcomes violence."

Author: Little Stream

Photos: Trinity College Facebook (Toronto, Canada)

Reference Sources:

1. Vatican's Vesak message calls on Buddhists and Christians to become "artisans of peace",  

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2026-05/vesak-greeting-peace-exists-it-wants-to-dwell-within-us.html

2. Navigating Conflict: Humanistic Buddhism and Comparative Theology in a Divided World,

https://www.trinity.utoronto.ca/buddhism/conference/