In present times, we could say that Romania is a fortunate country, with many Geshes from Tibet, India and Nepal coming to provide teachings for our local Sanghas. Over the past 10 years, with the exception of the Covid Lockdown, there hasn’t been a month without a honored guest among us.
Romania is a predominantly Christian country, with the majority of its population being followers of Orthodox Christian Confession. However, other religions have their focus groups and followers; we all live in an atmosphere of mutual respect, understanding, and growth. We have had the opportunity to organize many intercultural dialogues, where Buddhist teachers met and discussed with the representatives of the Orthodox Christian church, in formal, academic settings. Ideas where exchanged and discussed, debated and analyzed. Apart from what individualizes each religion, we have often seen and agreed upon the fact that we have many things in common – which are cherished and treasured. All religions have a moral and ethical code of conduct, and the similarities between Buddhism and Christianity are worth being investigated and observed, and – why not? – followed by both parties.
Each religion has three points of focus: the ritual, the corpus of texts and – last, but not least – that which we feel. Each person finds a rightful, appropriate place within those paths. As the Romanian philosopher Mircea Eliade stated, religion is more than a product of culture and history; religion involves “the social man, the economic man, and so forth”, but those elements, “those conditioning factors do not, of themselves, add up to the life of the spirit.”
Just like each person finds a way to live, enrich and valorize their spiritual life and experience, I too have found my place in the field of studies, translations and transcripts. My mind is inclined towards theorizing; this inclination has resulted in a life of study and two doctoral degrees. My path is Buddhist; in my present field of study, I have dedicated my energy to transcribing teachings and making them accessible to the public wanting to be acquainted to the general principles of Buddhist philosophy – especially to the people living in non-Buddhist countries.
The Teachers visiting Romania often choose topics of general interest, which allow the public to take the first steps into the Buddhist philosophy. It is often fascinating to see the amount of questions received at the end, the curiosity of people who get acquainted with such a different way of thinking. The teachings are important and precious – a treasure that I am to transcribe and keep safe, so that those gems of wisdom reach as many people as possible.
A study I have conducted in the past six months among my fellow students have shown me the fact that people at large prefer to have written texts. An oral teaching is a gift; from my point of view, its written expression is no less valuable, as it is able to reach those who, for various reasons (logistical, medical or otherwise) cannot listen.
May you find teachings that speak to your heart.
Veronica ANGHELESCU
The Garden of Maitreya 