The Impact of Globalization on Religion and Spirituality

Dharma Master Hsin Tao
Abbot: Wu-sheng Monastery, Ling-jiou Mountain, Taiwan
Founder: Museum of World Religions, Taipei
                Global Family for Love and Peace

As engaged religious persons, we have to deeply reflect about the future prospect of globalization and our hopes for a positive globalization if we want to lead society into a wholesome direction. My own longtime mission has been to guide a modern religious community to serve the world through its international connections, and to contribute to an age of peace and love.

When we look at the present development of globalization, we have to ascertain its dangers and challenges. The globalization of the economy is leading to an increasing gap between rich and poor countries, as well as to huge income gaps within societies. Technological development is the crucial motor of the economic development.  And the high speed of the technological development has led to a misuse of technology, such as nuclear arms and the unbridled exploitation of natural resources brought about by, among other things, unbridled consumption.  All of these activities are harming the health and wholesomeness of humankind and destroying our natural environment.

The development of the information technology and modern ways of travel brings people into an age of very close interaction. As we see, this interaction between different peoples, cultures and religions may very easily produces tensions, which can lead to serious conflicts.  If we want to avoid those types of conflicts, we have to learn how to deal and live with those who are close to us.  One-sidedly jumping on the band-wagon of anti-globalization is not a helpful attitude if we want to transform these conflicts and find a solution.

Rather, we should use technological development objectively and wisely. We have to make use of the technological progress in the material civilization to protect the earth, the environment and the life of every single human being. We need to establish a wholesome circle of globalization, so that the whole world can prosper together.

Human beings tend to pursue progress in life to their own advantage, often neglecting the common good and harmony with nature.  This tendency leads to an imbalance between society and the natural surroundings.  Spiritual values will only permeate space and time if we overcome our own inherent selfishness and embrace globalization from a spiritual vantage point.

The whole world is one web of consciousness.  It is a relationship between me and you, between my thought and your thought, between all of us and all of your ways of thinking.  If the consciousness of all of us can be transformed in such a way that we want to devote ourselves to each other and help each other to flourish, then globalization will be a spreading of good seeds. On the other hand, if we just keep revolving around our own selfish ego-consciousness, caught up in the wrong idea of our own advantage, the result for the whole world will be suffering, conflict and pain.

In the past, globalization was often understood as to only mean economic globalization – namely, the globalization of capitalism and consumerism.  I always thought that this was a one-sided way of looking at things.  I think that we also need a spiritual globalization so that our natural environment can recover.  In spiritual globalization, all forms of life can rely on each other and coexist.

If we want to bring about a spiritual globalization, we have to rely on all the religions to promote spiritual values in order to lead our cultures in the right direction.  We should work towards realizing our true spiritual nature, which is free from the three poisons of greed, hate and lust.  This will be the way to overcome our own contamination,  selfish greed, and the pollution of the environment.

What spiritual globalization can bring to the world is one global family of love and peace. Spiritual values are built on the principle of co-existence. With spiritual values, we treasure this earth together, embrace it and recognize it as our one family home.  Spiritual values create a circle of positive relationships between us.  The awakening of our inner spiritual nature will be reflected in a harmonious world around us.  Using globalization well means working for peace.

Among the 6 billion people on this earth, 4.8 billion are considered to have a religion; this means 81% of the entire earth population.  In the wake of globalization, not a few religious problems directly affect international politics, economic development, national safety, social stability, and world peace.  This means that the power of religion has a great influence on all areas of life and society.  It can change the course of history and the fate of humankind. 

Interreligious dialogue is therefore essential to achieve a common recognition of the importance of respect, tolerance and love.  The mission of all the religions as well as the goal of our meeting here today is to guide the world in the direction of peace to benefit the entire earth. Through dialogue and encounter we learn to understand each other better, and we learn from each other how to let our spiritual nature transform ourselves and the world around us.  This is essential if we want to prevent globalization from proceeding with conflict and harm, or if we want it to reach fulfillment in the simplicity and purity of spiritual awakening.