Happy together

Methodism and Buddhism are happy together!

As President of the Methodist Church, Revd Zaw has promoted inter-faith relations, and led joint work in many areas, including HIV, disaster relief and environmental concerns. Last Christmas he even arranged a joint Christmas lunch in Mandalay, no small feat given the religious significance here of eating together.

He is seen with Badan Tacsain Tida, founder and leader of the Buddhist community of Asia Ahlinn Yaung in Pyin Oo Lwin; we left the 40 degree temperatures of Mandalay to join him in the fresher climate at his community’s home in the hills. We coincidentally met a group of teachers from monastery primary and secondary schools who had left their classes for a 70-day course to help them bring their teaching in touch with the environment and with society, the course leader told me, ‘The monastery schools tend to focus on religion and not understand social engagement.’

In conversation we, Buddhist and Christian, homed in on the need for peace-building – hoping that a resource person (from Britain perhaps?) could lead an inter-faith exercise in this Buddhist centre to learn about the techniques of peace-building and make the most of this unique moment in the history of Myanmar.

Exciting times.

Steve