Faculty Usul al-Din and Philosophy, UIN News- Every religion has different historical background in its birth. Thus, people of faith should not compare religions from the background of the birth.

"Differences among religions emerge from the different experience of the leaders of the religions, so there is no need to compare between one religion to another," said the former Head of the Monks of Todeiji Temple, Nara, Japan, Monk Kosei Marimoto when giving a public lecture about Islam and Buddhism in the Prof Dr HAR Partosentoso Theater room of the Faculty Usul al-Din and Philosophy.

Marimoto visited UIN Jakarta accompanied by a number of Buddhist leaders. Dean of the Faculty Usul al-Din and Philosophy Zainun Prof. Dr. Kamaluddin Fakih and assistant dean for Academic Affairs Prof Dr Ihsan Tanggok also attended this event in which Dr Ihsan Tanggok acted as moderator.

Marimoto’s speech was delivered in Japanese. This expert in the history social and economics revealed the history of the birth of Islam and Buddhism as well as the characteristics of teachings that were brought by the two religious leaders, i.e., the Prophet Muhammad and the Buddha Gautama.

According to him, theologically Islam as well as Christianity believe in the existence of the one and only God (monotheistic religion); but Buddhism’s belief is not singular to the absolute point. "But in principle and that must be understood is that Islam and Buddhism have always taught kindness and values in human life," he said.

Buddha taught men in performing their worships, for example to restrain themselves from performing five acts such as: killing, stealing, lying, doing immoral acts, and drinking alcohol. "Then learn to meditate or contemplate, explore wisdom in order to overcome the passions that can lead to chaos." He said. (elve/sheli)