speech at the opening ceremony
of the third world buddhist forum
(april 26 , 2012 / hong kong coliseum )
delivered by the most ven. chuan yin / president of the buddhist association of china
諸位長老、各位嘉賓：
most venerables, venerables, and distinguished guests:
群賢集香江，因緣極殊勝，諸佛生歡喜，龍天降吉祥。今天的香港體育館，佛頂真骨親臨，各國高僧匯聚，三寶慈光護佑，眾善因緣具足，共同成就第三屆世界佛教論壇，可謂希有難得，令人歡喜盈懷！祝福與會嘉賓及大眾，法喜充滿，身心自在！
as buddhist dignitaries from around the world are gathering here in hong kong, the conditions thus converged are extremely distinctive by nature, blessed by all buddhas and with auspicious wishes from heavenly gods at the same time. here in the hong kong coliseum, greeting the arrival of the enshrined sacred skull relic of lord buddha, we see an assembly of eminent monks and dignitaries from various countries. in the compassionate light of triple gem, collaborative efforts arising from magnificent conditions have succeeded in bringing forth the third world buddhist forum. that can be called a rare achievement which delights everybody to the full. i would now like to extend my best wishes to distinguished guests who participate in this forum and the general public. may you all achieve full blissfulness in dharma delight and a carefree body and mind!
和諧世界，同願同行。進入21世紀，人類科學技術、物質文明，成就空前，但內心的執著煩惱，外在的衝突紛爭，卻有增無減。追求內心寧靜，實現世界和諧，逐漸成為全人類的共同願望。自2006年首屆世界佛教論壇開始，我們始終圍繞構建持久和平、共同繁榮的和諧世界這一人類社會的偉大願景，以佛陀的教導為核心，積極探討人類自身、人與人、人與自然的和諧之道。
sharing common vows and aspirations, w e concordantly aspire to, and work for a harmonious world, whilst stepping into the 21st century. the achievements of mankind in science and technology as well as material progress are unprecedented. however, afflictions and attachments in people』s mind and conflicts in the external world are on an unceasing increase. searching for inner peacefulness and achieving world harmony have gradually become the shared aspiration of mankind. ever since the beginning of the first world buddhist forum in 2006, we have preoccupied ourselves with this great mission of the human society to construct a harmonious world of sustainable pea c e and shared prosperity. with the teachings of lord buddha as the nucleus, we strive to explore how humans can attain harmony within t heir own selves, between themselves and other fellow humans, and between humans and the ecosystem.
和諧乃人類共同心願，世界乃眾生共業所感。惟有大眾同生無住清凈之心，同發自覺覺他之願，教內人士同行上求下化之六度萬行，社會大眾同行自利利他之眾善義舉，方能成就清凈和諧之世界。結合當今現實，具體而言：大眾同行感恩，人人自凈其意，方能人心和善；家人同行奉獻，個個敦倫盡份，方能家庭和樂；人我同行惜緣，事事自利利他，方能人際和順；自他同行包容，彼此深信因果，方能社會和睦；相互同行尊重，東西多元共生，方能文明和諧；利益同行分享，心懷慈悲喜舍，方能世界和平。總之，世界大眾同願清凈和諧，同行利他眾善，則和諧世界可成，人間凈土可期。
harmony is the shared aspiration of all humans. the world is influenced by the collective karma of all sentient beings. only when people actualise hand in hand a calm mind of non-attachment and jointly seek to develop the vow of enlightening the self and enlightening others, and only when buddhists practise hand in hand the six paramitas to seek the buddha way above for benefiting all sentient beings below, a calm and harmonious world can then be accomplished with the general public engaging themselves in unison in the universal charitable act of perfecting the self to benefit others. in the context of today』s circumstances, practically speaking, if we all carry with us an attitude of gratitude and cleanse our thoughts hand in hand, we may then find a peaceful and benevolent mind in people. if family members practise offering hand in hand, everybody observing the ethics and discharging his individual responsibilities, family harmony and happiness can be achieved. if we cherish the pre-detestined relationship of walking the way hand in hand with others, while sticking to the principle of benefiting the self to benefit others in every matter, harmony in interpersonal relationships can be achieved. if we are tolerant with each other, concurrently harbouring a common and deep faith in the doctrine of cause and effect, we can then have a peaceful and harmonious society. mutual respect between us and others in tandem with multiple symbiosis between the east and the west can then bring about a harmonious civilisation. equitable sharing of benefits among us with a regard for the four immeasurables of impartial compassion, loving kindness, joyfulness and equanimity can then bring about world peace. in summary, when the world public all aspire to peace and harmony in practising the universal charity of benefiting the self to benefit others, a harmonious world can then come into being in anticipation of a pure land for mankind.
切願教內外諸位長老大德、賢達善士，藉世界佛教論壇之勝緣與平台，對話研討，切磋交流，凝聚智慧，彙集力量，為增進人類福祉，促進世界和諧，為正法久住世間，眾生共成佛道，同願同行，攜手並進！
on the occasion of the world buddhist forum brought about by good karma and the platform it now provides, i very much look forward to fruitful dialogues exchanged and discussions conducted among venerable masters of great virtues as well as eminent and altruistic celebrities through agglomerating wisdom and focusing strengths with a view to enhancing the happiness of mankind, advancing world harmony, ensuring the long existence of proper dharma in the mundane world, and helping all sentient beings to achieve enlightenment together with the same aspiration in advancing the same path hand in hand!
為紀嘉會，謹拈數語，藉抒蕪懷：
for the celebration of this grand assembly i would like to express my heartfelt happiness with a few verses as follows:
香海論壇殊勝緣，良辰嘉會聚高賢。
the forum in hong kong represents the realisation of good karma; the elegant meeting on an auspicious day sees a gathering of eminent personalities.
同心同德同商討，同道同行同願堅。
discussions are conducted on shared intents and shared ethics; the shared mission is strengthened through walking on the same path hand in hand.
淑善覺音播四海，光華慧日麗中天。
sweet voice of the buddha is broadcast around the world; brilliant wisdom-sun adorns the sky at high noon.
佛慈普被三千界，天下太平民永安。
lord buddha's c compassion blankets the three thousand realms; pan-global peace ensures people』s ever-lasting well-being.
謝謝！
thank you !
