A Soulful Encounter on A Pilgrimage Leading to A Blueprint of Future Religious Exchange
ITA Deputy Director Praises Grand Master Hsin Tao's Vision During MWR Visit
Religion knows no boundaries! Deputy Director Aparna Ganesan of the India-Taipei Association (ITA) visited the Museum of World Religions (MWR) on February 19, 2025, by invitation. She was deeply impressed by the vision and lofty aspiration of Venerable Master Hsin Tao, the founder of MWR, who made it possible for all faiths to be fairly presented under one roof, while addressing current social issues and showcasing the concern of various religions for the natural environment. Ms. Ganesan aspires to more exchange activities with the MWR for concrete cooperation.
In her 2nd year of duty in Taiwan, Ms. Ganesan visited the MWR located in Yonghe District of New Taipei City on the afternoon of February 19th, in the company of her secretary. Museum executive in charge of visitor services, section chief Wang Jen-Huan, gave a guided tour through the Children’s Pavilion, the Hall of Life’s Journey, the Grand Hall of World Religions on Display, and the Special Theme Exhibition on the ecology: ‘Nature in Me’. The Deputy Director of the ITA found herself deeply impressed with the Museum’s ideology that ‘respects all religions, includes/embraces all communities, and is compassionate with all lives’.
MWR Development Foundation CEO, Master Xian Yue, was there to officially welcome Ms. Ganesan and they conducted in-depth discussions in the Museum’s reception area ‘Nature in Me’. Exchange of tokens of their respective publications took place, while it was expressed that the visitor was hopeful of paying a personal tribute to Venerable Master Hsin Tao at the LJM Monastery at Fulong.
Master Xian Yue gave a detailed account of the Venerable Master’s relentless efforts in building up the MWR from scratches. To embody the Funder’s quintessential outlook on faith and life, the LJM Buddhist Society’s core indoctrines developed from ‘Loving Peace & Loving the Earth’ to propel interfaith dialogues as one of LJM’s major dedications to the current main thrust of spiritual ecology that will find its most eloquent representation in the future University of Life & Peace (ULP) under construction in Myanmar. Venerable Master Hsin Tao holds the view that the ecology is being battered and damaged primarily due to mankind’s greed and other attachments. The Master is hopeful that the MWR can function as an interface to link up the pan-religion spirituality that plays the role of a standing guardian for the ecology.
Master Xian Yue cordially invited Ms. Ganesan to visit ULP’s online course offering accessible from March 9 onwards. The ITA also received a sincere invite to jointly promote the MWR’s 2nd year-half 2025 calendar features ranging from a special exhibition series entitled ‘Artsy Window’, alongside the ‘Store-Keeper’s Lectures’ series. Together, the two parties shall co-draw a blueprint of interfaith cooperation, with the MWR as the preferred site of spiritual dialogues.
Ms. Ganesan commented that the India-Taipei Association had been working closely with both LJM and the MWR respectively, until things got halted by the pandemic. For example, International Yoga Day was co-organized at the Lower Monastery of LJM (the Sheng-hsan Monastery), Exhibition of Photography at the MWR, as well as a ‘Charity Kitchen’ as a Sikh Langar mission that enjoyed the participation of LJM. Furthermore, education projects for Myanmar by the Indian authorities were unfortunately disrupted of late due to geopolitics. It is, therefore, highly desirable that cooperations in the space of interfaith exchange, education in Myanmar, and spiritual ecology can take up more definite shape in the future.
In her 2nd year of duty in Taiwan, Ms. Ganesan visited the MWR located in Yonghe District of New Taipei City on the afternoon of February 19th, in the company of her secretary. Museum executive in charge of visitor services, section chief Wang Jen-Huan, gave a guided tour through the Children’s Pavilion, the Hall of Life’s Journey, the Grand Hall of World Religions on Display, and the Special Theme Exhibition on the ecology: ‘Nature in Me’. The Deputy Director of the ITA found herself deeply impressed with the Museum’s ideology that ‘respects all religions, includes/embraces all communities, and is compassionate with all lives’.
MWR Development Foundation CEO, Master Xian Yue, was there to officially welcome Ms. Ganesan and they conducted in-depth discussions in the Museum’s reception area ‘Nature in Me’. Exchange of tokens of their respective publications took place, while it was expressed that the visitor was hopeful of paying a personal tribute to Venerable Master Hsin Tao at the LJM Monastery at Fulong.
Master Xian Yue gave a detailed account of the Venerable Master’s relentless efforts in building up the MWR from scratches. To embody the Funder’s quintessential outlook on faith and life, the LJM Buddhist Society’s core indoctrines developed from ‘Loving Peace & Loving the Earth’ to propel interfaith dialogues as one of LJM’s major dedications to the current main thrust of spiritual ecology that will find its most eloquent representation in the future University of Life & Peace (ULP) under construction in Myanmar. Venerable Master Hsin Tao holds the view that the ecology is being battered and damaged primarily due to mankind’s greed and other attachments. The Master is hopeful that the MWR can function as an interface to link up the pan-religion spirituality that plays the role of a standing guardian for the ecology.
Master Xian Yue cordially invited Ms. Ganesan to visit ULP’s online course offering accessible from March 9 onwards. The ITA also received a sincere invite to jointly promote the MWR’s 2nd year-half 2025 calendar features ranging from a special exhibition series entitled ‘Artsy Window’, alongside the ‘Store-Keeper’s Lectures’ series. Together, the two parties shall co-draw a blueprint of interfaith cooperation, with the MWR as the preferred site of spiritual dialogues.
Ms. Ganesan commented that the India-Taipei Association had been working closely with both LJM and the MWR respectively, until things got halted by the pandemic. For example, International Yoga Day was co-organized at the Lower Monastery of LJM (the Sheng-hsan Monastery), Exhibition of Photography at the MWR, as well as a ‘Charity Kitchen’ as a Sikh Langar mission that enjoyed the participation of LJM. Furthermore, education projects for Myanmar by the Indian authorities were unfortunately disrupted of late due to geopolitics. It is, therefore, highly desirable that cooperations in the space of interfaith exchange, education in Myanmar, and spiritual ecology can take up more definite shape in the future.