Malaysia: Buddhists to look at meaning of happiness

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Kuala Lumpur, 16 Nov. (AKI) - Buddhists from around the world are to meet in Malaysia on Sunday to consider the meaning of happiness.

The 5th Global Conference on Buddhism, opens in Petaling Jaya and is entitled, Transforming the Mind – To Create Happiness in our Lives.

Buddhist teachers and practitioners from the United States, Australia, Canada, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia were expected to attend the conference.

The event has been promoted as “a unique opportunity to explore the different perspectives of mind-training,” with the goal of “achieving lasting happiness”.

Organisers argue that leading scientists in the fields of psychology, psychiatry and neuroscience agree with the main Buddhist teachings that humans have two basic motivations in life - the desire for happiness and the desire to avoid suffering and death.

They also believe that scientists are starting to accept the possibility of transforming the mind in order to create happiness.

This year’s conference is organised by three Malaysian Buddhist groups: The Buddhist Gem Fellowship, the Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia and the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia.

It is also supported and co-sponsored by 11 other Buddhist organisations in Malaysia.

About 20 percent of Malaysia’s 26 million-strong population is thought to be Buddhist, while more than half is Muslim. Islam is the official state religion, and the country’s Muslims live under Sharia, or Islamic law.