L'Osservatore Romano, the newspaper of the Holy See, dedicated an article to "The Rule and the Vinaya in Convents and Monasteries in the times of Artificial Intelligence (AI)“, the interreligious dialogue between Buddhism and Franciscanism which took place in Assisi on 6 October 2023.
The signature is by Antonino Iorio.
Below we share the full text.
THE VALUE OF “RULES”: FRANCISCANS AND BUDDHISTS IN DIALOGUE IN ASSISI
«In our Christian religious practice we are usually led to distinguish between intelligence and wisdom: the intelligent is the one who uses his own abilities, while the wise one is the one who combines intelligence with his capacity for reasoning, the heart it's love. He is the one who knows how to grasp the depth of things and who goes beyond what is evident or what science or research can identify."
With these words Brother Marco Moroni, custodian of the Sacred Convent of Assisi, spoke at the meeting "Buddhism and Franciscanism in dialogue", which was held yesterday, in the press room of the convent of the Umbrian town, with the interventions of Khen Rinpoche Ghesce Thubten Chony, abbot of the Tibetan Buddhist monastery of Kopan (near Kathmandu), Massimo Stordi, president of the Sangha Onlus Association and Fra Silvestru Bejan, general delegate of the conventual friars minor for ecumenism and interreligious dialogue.
In the year in which the Franciscan family celebrates the eighth centenary of the Regula bullata - approved by Pope Honorius III on 29 November 1223 with the bull Solet nods — two different and apparently distant religious realities discussed the value and meaning of monastic life in a spirit of brotherhood.
The Rule of Francis and the Vinaya, the ethical discipline established by the Buddha more than 2500 years ago, continue, in fact, even today to be a source of inspiration and a path to spiritual perfection.
Yet, in a world increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence and advanced technology, how can these ancient rules still be relevant to laypeople?
This is the question that the participants of the meeting asked themselves, underlining the points in common: the Franciscans are, in fact, called to live in obedience, without anything of their own and in chastity, in a style of service and in harmony with creation, values shared with the tradition of Buddhism.
Furthermore, in the long history of humanity, during periods of cultural and social crisis, convents, monasteries and abbeys have remained places of hope, which have tenaciously illuminated and protected the path of progress and civilization. Not only, therefore, places for preserving values and traditions, but beacons for looking to the future.
«The Rule – explains Brother Moroni – gives the general coordinates, but then everyone is unique before God». «Both the Rule of Francis and the Vinaya are useful for regulating brotherhood and monastic life, despite their differences and nuances – says Manuela Ferro, communication manager of Sangha Onlus -.
Even if the path of internal faith is personal, it is always supported by the experientiality that is achieved within a community."
The "rules", therefore, are also fundamental for those who operate on the web, in a time in which communities are also virtual.
