PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA, February 13, 2009: Greater spiritual freedom for women and a renewed dedication to world peace were the messages preached Thursday at a mixed-faith Buddhism and Hindu forum at Svay Pope pagoda in Phnom Penh.
In a pledge at the three-day conference, titled “Giving Global Voice to Eastern Wisdom”, nearly 100 Hindu and Buddhist leaders from India, Sri Lanka, Japan and Cambodia vowed to cooperate to promote international peace in a world of “greed and self-ignorance” and where Eastern ideals were seen to be “marginalized” by the West.
While Cambodia is 95 percent Buddhist, organizers said Cambodia was the chosen location for its historical mix of Buddhism and Hinduism, which was the dominant religion in the Khmer empire until the 13th century.
“Buddhism is the national religion of Cambodia, but Hinduism is the traditional culture of Cambodian,” said Bour Kry, the Supreme Patriarch of the Dharma Yuttikanikaya Order, one of the two biggest sects in Cambodia.
Phon Phalla, a secretary of state for the Ministry of Cults and Religions, said the conference was important to stop religious discrimination in the countries represented.