Italian Priests Make Documentaries, Marvel at Taiwan’s Religious Freedom and Interfaith Harmony
Fr. Pietro Rossini and Fr. Arroyo Salcido Hector Gabriel, from the Roman headquarters of the Society of St. Francis Xavier, were in Taiwan to make religious documentaries. They were deeply impressed by Taiwan’s status quo of religious freedom and the harmonious diversity of the many faiths co-existing side by side, and expressed their admiration for Taiwan as a paradigm of interfaith harmony.
On April 8th and 9th, the documentary filmmakers embarked on a two-day, one-night itinerary, filming at Ling Jiou Mountain’s (LJM) Museum of World Religions (MWR) in Yongho, New Taipei City, and the LJM monastery in Gongliao. They also stayed overnight at LJM’s Shengshan Temple to experience life in a Buddhist monastery first-hand. They were accompanied throughout by Fr. Edi Foschuatto, who has served in Taiwan for over 30 years, and an employee from the MWR Foundation's International Affairs Department, who facilitated their fieldwork. The documentary aims to showcase Taiwan’s remarkable achievements in fostering interfaith exchange and its contribution to world peace.
An International Filming Project Themed on Interfaith Exchange
Fr. Rossini, who heads the multimedia division at the Roman headquarters of the Society of St. Francis Xavier, pointed out that the documentary series has already covered Thailand for Buddhism, Morocco for Muslims, with Taiwan’s religious diversity as a featured episode. The series will air in four languages: English, French, Italian, and Spanish, and will reach 25 countries through the mission’s over 300 locations worldwide.
Fr. Rossini observed, “We had heard many positive things about Taiwan’s religious diversity and harmony. This visit has allowed us to truly understand how deeply religion is rooted in people’s hearts and how naturally faith integrates into their daily lives.” He further commented that Taiwanese people are both deeply devout in their own beliefs and remarkably open-minded towards other religious traditions. He noted that regardless of their religious background, people can freely express their religious ideas without constraints, stress, or prejudice, making Taiwan truly remarkable on a global scale.
The Museum of World Religions Deeply Moved the Reverends
The priests used their filming at the Museum of World Religions to showcase Taiwan’s unique advantage in promoting interfaith exchange. Fr. Rossini commented that he knew little of Taiwan before the visit and was amazed to find the MWR a treasure trove exceeding his imagination and expectations. He was deeply moved by the wall filled with handprints of donors whose collective generosity made the MWR possible. His visit to the LJM Monastery in the mountains further impressed him with the beauty and goodness he felt were intrinsically linked to the MWR. Consequently, Fr. Rossini expressed his hope that more such spiritual establishments would exist worldwide to inspire peace and respect, ultimately leading to a more harmonious world.
Fr. Foschuatto remarked that while museum visitors typically expect to see beautiful artifacts, the MWR offers a distinctly different experience. It’s a vibrant and engaging venue that allows for enjoyment, participation, and immersion through its thoughtful spatial design and displays, such as the water screen along the pilgrimage pathway, the Blessing Wall with Handprints at the entrance to the Grand Exhibition Hall, and the Hall of Life’s Journey, which illustrates life’s milestones on Earth. He added that these elements are integral to the MWR and possess a spiritual power that guides visitors to internal reflection, offering the potential for enlightenment.
The Journey of Pilgrimage to LJM: Experiencing Inner Peace
Deeply moved by the MWR’s diverse religious culture, its exploration of life’s journey, and its thought-provoking exhibitions within a profound philosophical atmosphere, the visiting priests from Italy became curious about the museum’s founder. This curiosity led them to request more information about the museum’s founding principles and history, inspiring their visit to Ling Jiou Mountain. Their visit to Ling Jiou Mountain to meet LJM’s Founding Abbot, Dharma Master Hsin Tao, coincided with a visit from another Catholic delegation: a group of five philosophy seminarians from the Taiwan Catholic Regional Seminary, led by Fr. Lin Chih-ting. This local group also videotaped the international interfaith exchange to document the harmonious encounter.
According to Fr. Gabriel, his visit to Ling Jiou Mountain made him realize the immense effort required to build such an impressive monastery from the ground up. Through introductory films, personal interviews, and exploring the monastery grounds, he gained a deeper understanding of Dharma Master Hsin Tao’s life. He learned about the Master’s childhood experiences of war and hardship, and how the Master attained wisdom through solitary retreats and prolonged fasting to discipline his body and mind. Fr. Gabriel also understood the Master’s dedication to helping others find ways to alleviate suffering, face life’s challenges, and ultimately achieve inner peace. He deeply admired Dharma Master Hsin Tao’s unwavering commitment to promoting world peace over the long term. This reminded him of the profound questions he had seen along the pilgrimage pathway at the MWR, such as, “Who was I before birth?” and “Why do we fear death?”, which resonated with his own theological reflections.
There is no ‘Us vs Them’ in Religion as Evidenced by the Production of the Interfaith Documentary
The Italian priests deeply appreciated the warmth of the Taiwanese people. They were also very fond of Ling Jiou Mountain’s serene and inspiring atmosphere, nestled in the mountains with a breathtaking view of the sea. One young priest even joked that if he had the chance to serve in Taiwan, he would love an opportunity for a spiritual retreat on the mountain.
For the visiting priests, this trip to Taiwan was more than just a filming assignment; it was a profound interfaith and cross-cultural dialogue of the heart. Through their documentary, they hope to convey to the world that the essence of religion is connection, peace, and the manifestation of love. Taiwan, with its inclusivity and wisdom, truly embodies this truth.
On April 8th and 9th, the documentary filmmakers embarked on a two-day, one-night itinerary, filming at Ling Jiou Mountain’s (LJM) Museum of World Religions (MWR) in Yongho, New Taipei City, and the LJM monastery in Gongliao. They also stayed overnight at LJM’s Shengshan Temple to experience life in a Buddhist monastery first-hand. They were accompanied throughout by Fr. Edi Foschuatto, who has served in Taiwan for over 30 years, and an employee from the MWR Foundation's International Affairs Department, who facilitated their fieldwork. The documentary aims to showcase Taiwan’s remarkable achievements in fostering interfaith exchange and its contribution to world peace.
An International Filming Project Themed on Interfaith Exchange
Fr. Rossini, who heads the multimedia division at the Roman headquarters of the Society of St. Francis Xavier, pointed out that the documentary series has already covered Thailand for Buddhism, Morocco for Muslims, with Taiwan’s religious diversity as a featured episode. The series will air in four languages: English, French, Italian, and Spanish, and will reach 25 countries through the mission’s over 300 locations worldwide.
Fr. Rossini observed, “We had heard many positive things about Taiwan’s religious diversity and harmony. This visit has allowed us to truly understand how deeply religion is rooted in people’s hearts and how naturally faith integrates into their daily lives.” He further commented that Taiwanese people are both deeply devout in their own beliefs and remarkably open-minded towards other religious traditions. He noted that regardless of their religious background, people can freely express their religious ideas without constraints, stress, or prejudice, making Taiwan truly remarkable on a global scale.
The Museum of World Religions Deeply Moved the Reverends
The priests used their filming at the Museum of World Religions to showcase Taiwan’s unique advantage in promoting interfaith exchange. Fr. Rossini commented that he knew little of Taiwan before the visit and was amazed to find the MWR a treasure trove exceeding his imagination and expectations. He was deeply moved by the wall filled with handprints of donors whose collective generosity made the MWR possible. His visit to the LJM Monastery in the mountains further impressed him with the beauty and goodness he felt were intrinsically linked to the MWR. Consequently, Fr. Rossini expressed his hope that more such spiritual establishments would exist worldwide to inspire peace and respect, ultimately leading to a more harmonious world.
Fr. Foschuatto remarked that while museum visitors typically expect to see beautiful artifacts, the MWR offers a distinctly different experience. It’s a vibrant and engaging venue that allows for enjoyment, participation, and immersion through its thoughtful spatial design and displays, such as the water screen along the pilgrimage pathway, the Blessing Wall with Handprints at the entrance to the Grand Exhibition Hall, and the Hall of Life’s Journey, which illustrates life’s milestones on Earth. He added that these elements are integral to the MWR and possess a spiritual power that guides visitors to internal reflection, offering the potential for enlightenment.
The Journey of Pilgrimage to LJM: Experiencing Inner Peace
Deeply moved by the MWR’s diverse religious culture, its exploration of life’s journey, and its thought-provoking exhibitions within a profound philosophical atmosphere, the visiting priests from Italy became curious about the museum’s founder. This curiosity led them to request more information about the museum’s founding principles and history, inspiring their visit to Ling Jiou Mountain. Their visit to Ling Jiou Mountain to meet LJM’s Founding Abbot, Dharma Master Hsin Tao, coincided with a visit from another Catholic delegation: a group of five philosophy seminarians from the Taiwan Catholic Regional Seminary, led by Fr. Lin Chih-ting. This local group also videotaped the international interfaith exchange to document the harmonious encounter.
According to Fr. Gabriel, his visit to Ling Jiou Mountain made him realize the immense effort required to build such an impressive monastery from the ground up. Through introductory films, personal interviews, and exploring the monastery grounds, he gained a deeper understanding of Dharma Master Hsin Tao’s life. He learned about the Master’s childhood experiences of war and hardship, and how the Master attained wisdom through solitary retreats and prolonged fasting to discipline his body and mind. Fr. Gabriel also understood the Master’s dedication to helping others find ways to alleviate suffering, face life’s challenges, and ultimately achieve inner peace. He deeply admired Dharma Master Hsin Tao’s unwavering commitment to promoting world peace over the long term. This reminded him of the profound questions he had seen along the pilgrimage pathway at the MWR, such as, “Who was I before birth?” and “Why do we fear death?”, which resonated with his own theological reflections.
There is no ‘Us vs Them’ in Religion as Evidenced by the Production of the Interfaith Documentary
The Italian priests deeply appreciated the warmth of the Taiwanese people. They were also very fond of Ling Jiou Mountain’s serene and inspiring atmosphere, nestled in the mountains with a breathtaking view of the sea. One young priest even joked that if he had the chance to serve in Taiwan, he would love an opportunity for a spiritual retreat on the mountain.
For the visiting priests, this trip to Taiwan was more than just a filming assignment; it was a profound interfaith and cross-cultural dialogue of the heart. Through their documentary, they hope to convey to the world that the essence of religion is connection, peace, and the manifestation of love. Taiwan, with its inclusivity and wisdom, truly embodies this truth.