Disciple of Turkish Islam Leader Visits Taiwan for Grand Master Hsin Tao's Insight into Interfaith Exchange
Disciple of the late Islamic philosopher, Fetullah Gülen of Turkey, and chairman of JICEF (Japanese International Culture and Education Foundation), Aytek Ciftci, in the company of Adjunct Assistant Professor of the Department of Foreign Languages & Culture, National Taiwan University, Dr. Osman Cubuk, paid a visit to the Museum of World Religions (MWR) and a courtesy call on the Founding Abbot of Ling Jiou Mountain, Grand Master Hsin Tao, at the monastery on the 20th to learn about interfaith exchange. The visit exemplified the continuation of Gülen's spirit, while also serving as a convincing expression of the openness to religious harmony in Taiwan and its converging strengths.
A Religious Bonding That Transcends National Borderlines, Stemming from A Dialogue with Gülen's Ideology
Gülen promoted the Islamic revival and reform movement in Turkey, emphasizing deepening faith through knowledge and good deeds, avoiding conflict, and promoting interfaith understanding. He attracted followers worldwide to engage in education, culture, and religious peace work, and was revered as "Great Teacher" by his followers. He passed away on October 20, 2024, in Pennsylvania, USA, at the age of 83.
Grand Master Hsin Tao has long been an international traveler dedicated to interfaith dialogue. His connection with Gülen began in 1996 when he was invited to give a lecture at the girls' school founded by Gülen in Turkey. They met in Pennsylvania, USA, in 2016 and maintained a long-term relationship, becoming close friends over time. In October of this year, on Gülen's posthumous anniversary, the Master sent a representative to pay his respects, demonstrating the deep friendship between the two spiritual leaders.
Visiting the MWR to Witness the Diversified Landscape of Religious Harmony in Taiwan
Aytek Ciftci, currently a Tokyo resident in Japan, was visiting Taiwan for the first time and deeply impressed by the MWR, exclaiming that "It's amazing!" He said that it was the first time he had seen a space that so comprehensively presents the cultural values of multiple faiths, and he deeply felt that peace is not just a term, but a reality where all religions are actively engaging, understanding one another through dialogue, and achieving true peace.
Dr. Osman Cubuk has been involved in MWR's activities for the past 20 years and is very familiar with the museum’s core philosophy of education and understanding. He also introduced to his companion, Aytek Ciftci, how Taiwanese society maintains religious coexistence by respecting differences.
Meeting at the LJM Monastery for A Convergence of Peace Ideas
The two visitors took a ride to reach the Wu Sheng Monastery of LJM. Aytek Ciftci remarked that he deeply respected and admired how Grand Master Hsin Tao once practiced a solitary retreat of two years fasting. He also shared his 'Great Teacher's' thoughts on education and peace. Besides working hard on cultural exchange at the international school in Japan at present, Ciftci plans on promoting interfaith exchange in the future; hence, he looks forward to more intensified cooperation with the MWR. Furthermore, he offered his recent experience of meeting His Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, at the Vatican. Compounding his visits to the Vatican and to Taipei, he realized that religious leaders of different faiths commonly take education and understanding as the basis for peace work.
In response, Grand Master Hsin Tao stressed the notion of spiritual ecology that sustains all forms of existence, while mentioning the creation of the future University for Life & Peace (ULP) in Myanmar for the promotion of ecology in peace and harmony, which will hopefully attract increasingly more supporters of cross-disciplinary backgrounds to share creation, debate, and consensus, so that seeds in pursuit of peace will blossom to fruition everywhere. The Master was pleased that Gülen’s students came to visit for the dialogue to expand on both levels of ideas and deeds.
The MWR has been promoting religious harmony long-term on the basis of culture, education, and good causes. The visit to Taiwan by the torch bearer of Gülen's ideology highlights the island's unique position in international interfaith exchange, for its reputable stance on religion, summed up in 'diversity, openness, and inclusiveness'. This not only shows how different faiths show mutual respect to one another, but conveys the notion that understanding triumphs over confrontation, and that exchange renders peace possible.
A Religious Bonding That Transcends National Borderlines, Stemming from A Dialogue with Gülen's Ideology
Gülen promoted the Islamic revival and reform movement in Turkey, emphasizing deepening faith through knowledge and good deeds, avoiding conflict, and promoting interfaith understanding. He attracted followers worldwide to engage in education, culture, and religious peace work, and was revered as "Great Teacher" by his followers. He passed away on October 20, 2024, in Pennsylvania, USA, at the age of 83.
Grand Master Hsin Tao has long been an international traveler dedicated to interfaith dialogue. His connection with Gülen began in 1996 when he was invited to give a lecture at the girls' school founded by Gülen in Turkey. They met in Pennsylvania, USA, in 2016 and maintained a long-term relationship, becoming close friends over time. In October of this year, on Gülen's posthumous anniversary, the Master sent a representative to pay his respects, demonstrating the deep friendship between the two spiritual leaders.
Visiting the MWR to Witness the Diversified Landscape of Religious Harmony in Taiwan
Aytek Ciftci, currently a Tokyo resident in Japan, was visiting Taiwan for the first time and deeply impressed by the MWR, exclaiming that "It's amazing!" He said that it was the first time he had seen a space that so comprehensively presents the cultural values of multiple faiths, and he deeply felt that peace is not just a term, but a reality where all religions are actively engaging, understanding one another through dialogue, and achieving true peace.
Dr. Osman Cubuk has been involved in MWR's activities for the past 20 years and is very familiar with the museum’s core philosophy of education and understanding. He also introduced to his companion, Aytek Ciftci, how Taiwanese society maintains religious coexistence by respecting differences.
Meeting at the LJM Monastery for A Convergence of Peace Ideas
The two visitors took a ride to reach the Wu Sheng Monastery of LJM. Aytek Ciftci remarked that he deeply respected and admired how Grand Master Hsin Tao once practiced a solitary retreat of two years fasting. He also shared his 'Great Teacher's' thoughts on education and peace. Besides working hard on cultural exchange at the international school in Japan at present, Ciftci plans on promoting interfaith exchange in the future; hence, he looks forward to more intensified cooperation with the MWR. Furthermore, he offered his recent experience of meeting His Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, at the Vatican. Compounding his visits to the Vatican and to Taipei, he realized that religious leaders of different faiths commonly take education and understanding as the basis for peace work.
In response, Grand Master Hsin Tao stressed the notion of spiritual ecology that sustains all forms of existence, while mentioning the creation of the future University for Life & Peace (ULP) in Myanmar for the promotion of ecology in peace and harmony, which will hopefully attract increasingly more supporters of cross-disciplinary backgrounds to share creation, debate, and consensus, so that seeds in pursuit of peace will blossom to fruition everywhere. The Master was pleased that Gülen’s students came to visit for the dialogue to expand on both levels of ideas and deeds.
The MWR has been promoting religious harmony long-term on the basis of culture, education, and good causes. The visit to Taiwan by the torch bearer of Gülen's ideology highlights the island's unique position in international interfaith exchange, for its reputable stance on religion, summed up in 'diversity, openness, and inclusiveness'. This not only shows how different faiths show mutual respect to one another, but conveys the notion that understanding triumphs over confrontation, and that exchange renders peace possible.