Mary and Buddhism

Buddhism, strictly speaking, does not evoke God, and therefore understandably has no reason to include a figure such as the Blessed Virgin Mary in the picture of salvation.

As goes an ancient Sutra (sacred Buddhist text): “Like a mother loves and protects her beloved son with her very life, you too, Buddhist monks, must cultivate without limit the virtue of kindness and pity toward all living things.”

With time, the concept of Kannon-Bosatsu (in Sanskrit: Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara) as the Mother Buddha - with boundless pity - appeared and expanded in Mahayana Buddhism (most common type of Buddhism in Japan, Korea and China). The devotion to Kannon-Bosatsu quickly spread throughout China, Korea and Japan. The numerous of temples dedicated to this Kannon has become popular destinations for Buddhist pilgrimages.

An interesting detail in Japan’s history:

From the time when Tokuwaga was shogun (governor), Christians were persecuted for three centuries. The persecuted Catholics remained faithful with the help of small statues of Mary-Kannon (Kannon was a goddess of pity worshipped by the Buddhists).

Some of these statues, apparently depicting Kannon, were in actual fact venerated as the Blessed Virgin Mary (often with the Infant Jesus in her arms). This allowed Catholics to escape the scrutiny of the authorities.

Nowadays, many Buddhists – particularly Buddhists from Japan – choose Lourdes as their favorite place of pilgrimage when they come to Europe. The image of Mary, mother and refuge of a wounded and ailing humanity, draws the hearts of many Buddhists to her, as they have not forgotten Kannon. In October 2000, Phra Sommai, the head Buddhist priest of the Kaew Praew temple in northern Thailand, friend of the Catholic Focolari movement, took part in the Pope’s Wednesday Public hearing, after which he visited the Focolari centers of Rocca di Papa and Loppiano.

Mother of Love, serene face, you hold the universe in your arms…

Bearing in mind the Buddhist saying that “being a mother means being a loving presence that welcomes and creates a home”, he wrote the following poem while contemplating the holy image of the Madonna of the Light of Tonadico (this is my translation):

“O Mother of love, you hold the universe in your arms. As you look down, your serene face seems sad, but you are full of tenderness, of kindness, of endless pity. Your hands together in prayer bless us from the heart.

In times of loneliness, turning towards you, I have felt the warmth of your close presence.

For he who errs, you bring real comfort; in anxiety you bring us guidance and light. You give us happiness and rest.

From you we obtain everything, and then with complete detachment you ask for nothing in return.”

(Quote from Mariapoli Nov. 2000)

Cardinal Francis Arinze

Réflexions données lors du Colloque sur "Marie dans les relations œcuméniques et inter-religieuses" Lourdes, 8 juin 2001. Réf. : OMNIS TERRA (Édition française), n. 382, mai 2002, pp. 182-188.