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Conference Announcement
Theme: On Love and Compassion
Subtitle: Chan/Zen Buddhism and Carmelite Spirituality
Type: 2nd World Encounter Teresian Mysticism and Interreligious
Dialogue
Institution: International Centre of Teresian and Sanjuanist Studies
(CITeS), University of Mysticism
Centre of Buddhist Studies, University of Hong Kong
Location: Ávila (Spain)
Date: 22.–26.7.2020
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In times of divisions amongst cultures, interreligious dialogue has
become an urgent need. In light of this, the International Centre of
Teresian and Sanjuanist Studies (CITeS) in Ávila, Spain, announced in
2016 its intention to conduct a series of interreligious encounters,
placing Carmelite spirituality in dialogue with other religious
traditions. The first of these events, “1st. World Encounter Teresian
Mysticism and Interreligious Dialogue Theravāda Buddhism and Teresian
Mysticism: Meditation and Contemplation Pathways to Peace”, took
place in Ávila from the 27th to the 30th of July 2017 and was
organized by CITeS in collaboration with the Centre of Buddhist
Studies (CBS) of The University of Hong Kong (HKU). Following the
success of this event, CITeS decided on a second congress, the “2nd
World Encounter Teresian Mysticism and Interreligious Dialogue.
Chan/Zen Buddhism and Carmelite Spirituality: on Love and
Compassion”, which will take place in Ávila, from 22nd to 26th of
July 2020, and will also be jointly organized by CITeS and CBS.
CITeS would like to extend a most cordial invitation to our brothers
and sisters of the Chan/Zen school of Buddhism to participate in the
event. It is the earnest wish of CITeS to deepen the mutual
understanding of both traditions’ beliefs and practices. It must be
emphasized that there is absolutely no wish to deny the differences
between the two traditions or attempt to reduce them to a common
denominator. Instead, the dialogue will be conducted in the spirit of
equality, deep respect, openness and wish for cooperation. The aim is
to foster genuine engagement, enhance mutual growth, and explore ways
of cooperation to approach the pressing social and environmental
concerns of today and help improve the welfare of mankind.
Programme
Wednesday, July 22
17:30
Opening of the conference
17:45
The Importance of the Christian-Buddhist Interreligious Dialogue and
Goals for the Encounter
- Carmelite Perspective
Francisco Javier Sancho Fermín, Director and Professor, CITeS.
“University of Mysticism”, Ávila, Spain
- Buddhist Perspective
Guang Xing Asanga, Asociate Professor and Director of the Centre of
Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong, China
18:15
The Importance of the Carmelite Mysticism for the Catholic Church
Luis Aróstegui Gamboa, ex-Superior General of the Discalced Carmelite
Order and current Provincial Superior of Navarra, Spain
19:00
Presentation of the Chan/Zen School of Buddhism
Guang Xing Asanga, Associate Professor and Director at the Centre of
Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong, China
19:45
Break
20:00
Dialogue between Catholicism and the Chan/Zen Buddhist Tradition:
Past, Present, Future
María Jesús Hernando García, expert in Buddhism, Delegate of
Ecumenism in the Diocese of Getafe, Spain
Thursday, July 23
08:00
Mass
08:30
Buddhist ceremony: recitation of sutras
10:00
Vision of the Human Being from the Perspective of Catholicism
Jerzy Nawojowski, Professor and Secretary of CITeS “University of
Mysticism”, Ávila, Spain
10:45
Human Nature and the Human Condition in Buddhism. The Perspective of
Chan/Zen Buddhism
Yao Zhihua, Associate Professor, Buddhist Philosophy, Chinese
University of Hong Kong, China
11:30
Break
12:00
The Nature of the Human Being and the Human Condition. Comparative
Perspective
Francisco Díez de Velasco Abellán, Professor of History of Religions,
University of La Laguna, Spain
12:30 – 13:15
Panel discussion
14:00
Lunch
17:00
Love in the Christian Tradition. Perspective from the Gospels
Pedro Fralie Yecora. Professor of the Regional Center for Theological
Studies of Aragón, Spain
17:45
Loving-kindness and Compassion in Buddhism. The Chan/Zen Buddhist
Tradition
Wei Shan, Associate Professor, Institute for the Study of Buddhism
and Religious Theory, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
18:30
Break
19:00
Love in the Christian Tradition and Compassion in Chan/Zen Buddhism.
Comparative Perspectives
Francesc Torradeflot Freixes, Director of the UNESCO Association for
Interreligious Dialogue (Unescocat), Barcelona, Spain
19:30–20:15
Panel discussion
Friday, July 24
08:00
Mass
08:30
Buddhist ceremony: recitation of sutras
10:00
The Exercise of Charity: The Heart of Christian Ethics. Carmelite
Perspective
Secundino Castro, Professor CITeS, Theologian and Biblicist,
specialist in the books of Teresa of Jesús and John of the Cross,
Spain
10:45
On Wisdom, Compassion, and Ethics in Chan/Zen Buddhism
Robert Sharf,
