SSIF Presents Paper at International Conference on the Preservation of Sacred Sites

Sacred Sites International Foundation was among a select group of invited guests who came together at an International Conference of the Preservation of Sacred Sites which was held in conjuntion with the opening of the Museum of World Religions in Taipei, Taiwan, last November (2001). Over one hundred religious, cultural, and political leaders discussed how they could prevent the destruction of sacred sites like the Bamiyan Buddhas which were recently destroyed by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

SSIF Board Member, Frederick Hertz, presented a paper, Creating New Partnerships: The Role of the Secular Neutral which explored the invterventions of secular community community based non-profit organizations, like Sacred Sites International, and advocacy groups working to preserve sacred sites. His paper used case studies to illustrate how secular groups with neutral values-based perspectives can make successful interventions in sacred sitesı disputes.

The driving force behind the museum and the conference is the Venerable Dharma Master Hsin Tao who conceived the plans for the museum and the conference. The Zen Master was born in Burma/Myanmar where he was orphaned at an early age. He escaped to Taiwan where he pursued the life of a Buddhist Monk. Over a period of ten years, he undertook several periods of fasting in seclusion. The need to find a place conducive to his asectic practice led him to a cave on Ling-Jiou Mountain where he founded a Monastery in 1983. It now houses ninety nuns and monks.

His latest project, the Museum of World Religions, seeks to promote understanding of the worldıs five major religions, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism, and thereby break the cycle of hatred and religious violence that threatens world peace.

The Conference on the Preservation of Sacred Sites resulted in a declaration to take action in identifying sacred sites already destroyed or in danger of destruction; condeming actions that threaten to destroy sacred and religious sites; supporting a Commission for the Preservation of Sacred Sites; identifying a site to rebuild. Sacred Sites International plans to participate in these activities in fulfilling our mission to preserve sacred sites.

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