An Interfaith Embrace of Compassion: Dharma Master Hsin Tao and Father Paulin Kubuya in Dialogue on Peace and Ecology
When white smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican on May 9 (Taiwan time), it signaled the joyful election of a new Pope. That same spirit of goodwill from the Holy See once again reached the mountains of Taiwan, as Father Paulin Kubuya, Undersecretary of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, made a special visit to Ling Jiou Mountain. Accompanied by Father Edi Foschiatto of the Franciscan Xavierian Society, Fr. Kubuya was warmly received by the founding abbot of Ling Jiou Mountain, Dharma Master Hsin Tao. This reunion of longtime friends not only reflected the deep bonds cultivated through years of interfaith dialogue but also brought renewed hope for world peace and spiritual ecology.
Reflecting on Years of Shared Efforts to Begin a New Chapter Together
Father Kubuya, who once taught at Fu-Jen Catholic University and served as a missionary in Taiwan for 17 years, has known Master Hsin Tao for many years. Together, they have joined hands in religious dialogue and peace initiatives. Father Kubuya has repeatedly mentioned Master Hsin Tao’s contributions at international conferences, participated in activities held at LJM and the Museum of World Religions, and played a pivotal role in the successful conclusion of the "Sixth International Symposium on Dialogue between Buddhists and Christians," endorsed by the Vatican and hosted by LJM and Buddhist organizations in Taiwan and held at Shengshan Monastery.
During his visit to Taiwan, Father Kubuya made a special trip to the mountain to reaffirm the enduring friendship and deepening cooperation between religions. As a gesture of goodwill from the Vatican, he presented postcards of the late Pope Francis along with Italian cheese. In return, Dharma Master Hsin Tao offered a gourd symbolizing harmony and unity, a booklet titled Spiritual Awakening: Embracing Ecology, and a magnet gift set featuring floor totem designs of ten major world religions from the Museum of World Religions. The meeting concluded with a heartfelt embrace, sealing their spiritual bond.
Dialogue Begins from the Heart and Leads to Concrete Actions
During their meeting, Dharma Master Hsin Tao expressed deep admiration for the late Pope Francis’s commitment to interfaith harmony and environmental stewardship. He also recalled being invited to the 2021 “Faith and Science: Towards COP26” conference, which he believed made a positive impact on global advocacy efforts. Master Hsin Tao emphasized that religion should play a vital role in fostering social harmony and inner peace.
Father Kubuya shared insights into the process of electing a new Pope and spoke about the Vatican’s ongoing engagement with ecological concerns—especially the concept of ecological theology championed in the Laudato Si’ encyclical. He emphasized that environmental protection is not merely a set of actions but a natural extension of faith.
In response, Dharma Master Hsin Tao introduced Ling Jiou Mountain’s efforts in environmental preservation and conservation. He also expressed appreciation for the recent visit by Catholic brothers earlier in April and described the exchange as meaningful. “Every new priest or monastic is a brother to us,” he said, underscoring the hope that interfaith dialogue can further the cause of spiritual ecology and empower religion as a stabilizing force that nurtures both society and the human heart.
This mountain meeting, marked by a mutual exchange of tokens, and a heartfelt embrace, embodied the deep understanding and sincere goodwill shared between different faiths. More than just a meeting of minds, it was a dialogue in action—one that transcended language and culture to plant seeds of peace.
Reflecting on Years of Shared Efforts to Begin a New Chapter Together
Father Kubuya, who once taught at Fu-Jen Catholic University and served as a missionary in Taiwan for 17 years, has known Master Hsin Tao for many years. Together, they have joined hands in religious dialogue and peace initiatives. Father Kubuya has repeatedly mentioned Master Hsin Tao’s contributions at international conferences, participated in activities held at LJM and the Museum of World Religions, and played a pivotal role in the successful conclusion of the "Sixth International Symposium on Dialogue between Buddhists and Christians," endorsed by the Vatican and hosted by LJM and Buddhist organizations in Taiwan and held at Shengshan Monastery.
During his visit to Taiwan, Father Kubuya made a special trip to the mountain to reaffirm the enduring friendship and deepening cooperation between religions. As a gesture of goodwill from the Vatican, he presented postcards of the late Pope Francis along with Italian cheese. In return, Dharma Master Hsin Tao offered a gourd symbolizing harmony and unity, a booklet titled Spiritual Awakening: Embracing Ecology, and a magnet gift set featuring floor totem designs of ten major world religions from the Museum of World Religions. The meeting concluded with a heartfelt embrace, sealing their spiritual bond.
Dialogue Begins from the Heart and Leads to Concrete Actions
During their meeting, Dharma Master Hsin Tao expressed deep admiration for the late Pope Francis’s commitment to interfaith harmony and environmental stewardship. He also recalled being invited to the 2021 “Faith and Science: Towards COP26” conference, which he believed made a positive impact on global advocacy efforts. Master Hsin Tao emphasized that religion should play a vital role in fostering social harmony and inner peace.
Father Kubuya shared insights into the process of electing a new Pope and spoke about the Vatican’s ongoing engagement with ecological concerns—especially the concept of ecological theology championed in the Laudato Si’ encyclical. He emphasized that environmental protection is not merely a set of actions but a natural extension of faith.
In response, Dharma Master Hsin Tao introduced Ling Jiou Mountain’s efforts in environmental preservation and conservation. He also expressed appreciation for the recent visit by Catholic brothers earlier in April and described the exchange as meaningful. “Every new priest or monastic is a brother to us,” he said, underscoring the hope that interfaith dialogue can further the cause of spiritual ecology and empower religion as a stabilizing force that nurtures both society and the human heart.
This mountain meeting, marked by a mutual exchange of tokens, and a heartfelt embrace, embodied the deep understanding and sincere goodwill shared between different faiths. More than just a meeting of minds, it was a dialogue in action—one that transcended language and culture to plant seeds of peace.