语言是弘法的助道因缘
尊敬的国家宗教事务局领导、上海市宗教事务局领导、各位法师、各位居士、各位来宾：
由中国佛教协会与中华宗教文化交流协会共同主办的2008佛教外语交流会，今天在东方明珠——上海隆重举行。我谨代表中国佛教协会向出席外语交流会的各位领导、各位评委、各位法师和居士表示由衷的谢意和美好的祝愿。向来自港台的法师、居士表示热烈的欢迎和诚挚慰问。
当今世界，各国的经济文化交流日益频繁，不同形态文化间的互动与融合，已成为极其引人注目的社会现象。语言作为交流工具，在文化的传承与发展中发挥了至关重要的作用，为人类文明的辉煌与进步做出了重大贡献。语言是弘法的助道因缘，经典的不断翻译和传诵催化提升了中国佛教的成熟与兴盛。掌握多种语言，有利于我们开展对外友好工作，拓展弘法利生的层面，促进与世界各国佛教界的互动交流，推动全球佛教事业的进一步和谐发展。
作为今年第二届世界佛教论坛系列准备活动之一，2008佛教外语交流会以选拔和培养佛教外语人才，促进佛教对外友好交流为宗旨；为顺利有效地完成论坛的翻译和对外接待工作，保证论坛的圆满成功而奠定基础、凝聚力量。感恩众缘和合，促成了中国佛教界四众外语人才的大聚会，构建出机缘难得的互动交流平台。希望大家在会议期间，以饱满的热情，积极开展学习交流，共同探讨会议相关主题，展现新一代中国佛教徒的综合素质与骄人风采。
中国佛教界应以此次外语交流会为契机，在教内掀起弘传圣教、研究语言的学习高潮，深化对外友好交流，让慈悲平等的世尊教法利益更多的族群，让如来的甘露法雨滋润人类的心灵，充分彰显佛陀慈悲济世的本怀，普愿有情众生共沐法喜、悉证菩提。
外语交流会的筹办工作，倍受国家宗教事务局领导的高度重视，上海市宗教事务局、上海市佛教协会也为活动的顺利召开，倾注了大量的努力和协调工作，作为承办方的玉佛寺，积极配合、大力支持，精心组织,实施各项准备工作。在此，对有关各方给予的关心和帮助表示衷心感谢。
预祝2008佛教外语交流会圆满成功，预祝与会演讲者取得良好成绩，在上海度过一段难忘的美好时光。
谢谢各位！
英文讲话稿：
pening Ceremony of Seminar on Buddhist studies in Foreign Languages, 2008
Speech by Venerable Yi Cheng, President of the Buddhist Association of China
(Morning, 9 July, 2008)
Respected Senior Officials, State Administration for Religious Affairs of China,
Senior Officials, Shanghai Administration for Religious Affairs,
Venerables, Members of the Buddhist laity, and guests
The Seminar on Buddhist studies in Foreign Languages, 2008 organized by the Buddhist Association of China and the China Religious and Cultural Exchange Association is solemnly opened at the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai today. On behalf of the Buddhist Association of China I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude and good wishes to all senior officials, Assessment Committee members, venerables, and members of the Buddhist laity who are attending the Seminar on Buddhist studies in Foreign Languages. I also wish to extend a very warm welcome and send my sincere regards to the venerables and members of the Buddhist laity who have come from Hong Kong and Taiwan.
In today’s world, the economic and cultural exchanges among nations are increasingly frequent. The interaction and integration of different styles of culture has become a most noticeable social phenomenon. Language as a communication tool has played a very vital role in passing down the legacy of culture and in its continuing development. It has made important contributions to the magnificence and progress of mankind’s civilization. Language is an Aid in the propagation of the Dharma. The incessant translation and propagation of the canons has prompted and stepped up the maturation and prosperity of Buddhism in China. Mastery of foreign languages is beneficial to our work in the initiation of friendly external relations, the expansion of the horizon in the propagation of the Dharma to benefit mankind, the promotion of interaction and exchange among Buddhists in different nations on earth, and the instigation of further harmonious development of global Buddhist enterprises.
The objective of the Seminar on Buddhist studies in Foreign Languages, as one of the serial preparatory events of the Second World Buddhist Forum, is to select and cultivate Buddhist foreign language personnel for the promotion of friendly external relations. Through smooth and effective completion of the Forum’s work in translation and external liaison, it aims to set a foundation for ensuring the full success of the Forum and the consolidation of strength. In grateful acknowledgment of the law of the simultaneity of cause and effect, which motivates the great gathering of foreign language personnel in the Buddhist circle, the platform for interaction and exchange is established, an opportunity hardly easy to come by. I hope, during the Seminar session, we should jointly investigate Seminar-related subjects with full enthusiasm and a quest for developing study and exchange, thus reflecting the comprehensive personal qualities and glamorous appeal of the new generation of Chinese Buddhists.
Buddhists in China should take opportunity of the current Seminar to bring about a climax in learning in the fields of spreading the holy religion and language research. We should intensify friendly exchanges in external relations work, letting the Buddha's teachings in compassion and equality benefit more ethnic communities, and facilitating the Dharma in showering and soothing human mind. This will vividly demonstrate the Buddha’s fundamental spirits of compassion and caring towards mankind, in the hope of bathing all sentient beings in Dharma rain on the road to full Enlightenment.
The preparatory work of Seminar on Buddhist studies in Foreign Languages, 20008 has received especially important attention from the senior officials of State Administration for Religious Affairs of China. Shanghai Administration for Religious Affairs and Shanghai Buddhist Association have put in a lot of efforts and coordination work for the smooth inauguration of the event. The Jade Buddha Temple, as the host organizer, has positively accommodated, strongly supported, meticulously organized and carried out all kinds of preparatory work. In this regard, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to those involved for their help and concern.
I extend my best wishes to the Buddhist Foreign Language Forum for a fully successful completion, to the participating Forum speakers for creditable results and to all of you for a memorable nice time in Shanghai.
Thank you.
