Braving The Present: Towards An Inter-Religious Spirituality In The Context Of The COVID-19 Pandemic Based On A Christian-Buddhist Perspective

Abstract: Suffering is a part and parcel of every individual, irrespective of caste, color, creed, nationality or any other imaginable condition of humanity. Buddhism views desire as the cause of suffering, which can be overcome psychologically by following the Eight-Fold Path. On the other hand, Christianity looks at Jesus as ‘Emmanuel’ or ‘God-with-us’, the one who walks with the entire universe and humanity to lead them to salvation or the Omega point. COVID-19 as a pandemic has taught us humans to look at creation with compassion and mercy by giving up our selfish motives. In this way, the earth becomes a place where everyone realizes enlightenment and achieves salvation.

About the Speaker: Fr. Antony Rodrigues is an ordained priest working in the Diocese of Varanasi. Varanasi is situated in North India and is the place where Buddha, the enlightened one, preached his first sermon to five of his disciples. As a priest in Varanasi, Fr. Antony has worked in various corners of the diocese, being involved in the ministry of education and evangelization. He is currently studying as a research scholar in the field of spirituality at Jnana Deepa Institute of Philosophy and Theology, Pune, India.