Hungarian-Thai Interfaith Dialogue at Dharma Gate

The first Christian-Buddhist interfaith dialogue between Hungary and Thailand was hosted by the Dharma Gate Buddhist College in Budapest on November 7, 2024. It covered a wide range of topics, including humanitarian aid, human dignity, peace and security, environmental sustainability, and the compatibility of civilizations. Particular emphasis was placed on cooperation and mutual respect between different religious and cultural identities.
Participants included government officials (Azbej Tristan, State Secretary for Programs to Assist Persecuted Christians at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Márk Érszegi, Senior Advisor for Religious and Diplomatic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and H.E. Phrommes Bhaholpolbhayuhasena, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to Hungary), as well as religious leaders and professors (Venerable Dr. Phra Medhivajarapundit, Director of the International Buddhist Studies College at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University in Thailand; Dr. Tamás Kodácsy, Associate Professor at the Institute of Systematic Theology at the Reformed Theological University in Sárospatak; Dr. Máté Botos, associate professor and head of the Department of Political Science at Pázmány Péter Catholic University, and Gábor Karsai, rector of the Tan Kapuja Buddhist College) from Hungary and Thailand.

The dialogue touched upon Hungary’s humanitarian initiatives supporting persecuted religious groups around the world, highlighting the Hungary Helps program and its role in promoting peaceful coexistence and religious freedom. The meeting emphasized the importance of interfaith dialogue in promoting mutual understanding and contributing to peace and cultural enrichment. Detailed discussions took place on how religious values influence humanitarian efforts and development cooperation, emphasizing the need for sustainable models that integrate spiritual and ethical dimensions. Participants examined Buddhist and Christian perspectives on human dignity, love and compassion, mindfulness, and simplicity in relation to broader global issues such as climate change and economic development. The discussion concluded with reflections on the compatibility of civilizations, suggesting that mutual recognition of metaphysical truths and sacred values can bridge cultural divides. The event highlighted that interfaith initiatives can contribute significantly to global peace and environmental protection.

Gallery of the event /photos: Attila Bán-Horváth.

  I. DIALOGUE (at Dharma Gate Buddhist College)

1. Introduction

• welcome by host (Gábor Karsai)
• remarks by HUN (H.E. Tristan Azbej)
• remarks by TH (Most Venerable Prof. Dr. Phra Medhivajarapundit)

 

2. Humanitarian Aid –HUN TO LEAD (H.E. Tristan Azbej), TH RESPONSE (H.E. Mr. Phrommes Bhaholpolbhayuhasena)

 

3. Respect for Life, Interpretation of the Right to Human Dignity– TH TO LEAD (Most Venerable Prof. Dr. Phra Medhivajarapundit), HUN RESPONSE (Dr Tamás Kodácsy)

 

4. Religious Dimensions of Development Cooperation – HUN TO LEAD(Márk Érszegi), TH RESPONSE (Most Venerable Prof. Dr. Phra Medhivajarapundit)

 

5. Promoting Peace and Security– TH TO LEAD (H.E. Mr. Phrommes Bhaholpolbhayuhasena), HUN RESPONSE (H.E. Tristan Azbej)

 

6. Environmental and Creation Protection– HUN TO LEAD (Dr Tamás Kodácsy), TH RESPONSE (Gábor Karsai)

 

7. Sustainability from a Religious Perspective– TH TO LEAD (Gábor Karsai), HUN RESPONSE (Márk Érszegi)

 

8. Compatibility of Civilizations – HUN TO LEAD (Dr Máté Botos), TH RESPONSE (Most Venerable Prof. Dr. Phra Medhivajarapundit)

 

II. WORKING LUNCH

9. Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy in the light of bilateral meeting on Economic Cooperation

mic Cooperation

 

About the event (in English):

 

First Christian–Buddhist Interfaith Dialogue

between Hungary and the Kingdom of Thailand

 

November 7th, 2024

 

Dharma Gate Buddhist College, Budapest, Hungary

1098 Budapest, Börzsöny u. 11.

Hungarian/Christian side (HUN)

1. H.E. Tristan Azbej (Head of Delegation, State Secretary responsible for the assistance programmes to aid persecuted Christians at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
2. Márk Érszegi (Special Advisor for Religion and Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
3. Dr Tamás Kodácsy (Associate Professor, Institute for Systematic Theology, Sárospatak Reformed Theological University)
4. Dr. Máté Botos (Head of Department, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Pázmány Péter Catholic University)

Thai/Buddhist side (TH)

1. Most Venerable Prof. Dr. Phra Medhivajarapundit (Head of Delegation, Director of International Buddhist Studies College, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Thailand)
2. H.E. Mr. Phrommes Bhaholpolbhayuhasena (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand to Hungary)
3. Gábor Karsai (Rector of Dharma Gate Buddhist College)

SUMMARY

 

The First Christian–Buddhist Interfaith Dialogue between Hungary and the Kingdom of Thailand was hosted on November 7, 2024 by Dharma Gate Buddhist College in Budapest, Hungary and spanned a broad range of topics including humanitarian aid, human dignity, peace and security, environmental sustainability, and the compatibility of civilizations. There was a notable emphasis on cooperation and mutual respect among different religious and cultural identities.

 

Key participants included government officials (H.E. Tristan Azbej, State Secretary responsible for the assistance programmes to aid persecuted Christians at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Márk Érszegi, Special Advisor for Religion and Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and H.E. Mr. Phrommes Bhaholpolbhayuhasena, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand to Hungary), and religious leaders and professors (Most Venerable Prof. Dr. Phra Medhivajarapundit, Director of International Buddhist Studies College, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Thailand, Dr Tamás Kodácsy, Associate Professor, Institute for Systematic Theology, Sárospatak Reformed Theological University; Dr. Máté Botos, Head of Department, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, and Gábor Karsai, Rector of Dharma Gate Buddhist College) from both Hungary and Thailand.

 

The dialogue reflected on Hungary’s humanitarian initiatives aimed at persecuted faith groups globally, highlighting the Hungary Helps programme and its role in promoting peaceful coexistence and religious freedom. The discussions emphasised the importance of interfaith dialogue in fostering mutual understanding and contributing to peace and cultural enrichment. There were detailed discussions on how religious values inform humanitarian efforts and development cooperation, underscoring the need for sustainable models that integrate spiritual and ethical dimensions. Both Buddhist and Christian perspectives on human dignity, love and compassion, mindfulness, and simplicity were examined in relation to broader global issues such as climate change and economic development. The conversation concluded with reflections on the compatibility of civilizations, suggesting that a shared recognition of metaphysical truths and sacred values can bridge cultural divides. The event highlighted the potential for interfaith initiatives to contribute meaningfully to global peace and environmental stewardship.