Major Buddhist sect plans to open seminaries

JAKARTA (JP): One of Indonesia's main Buddhist sects is planning to open up seminaries in various parts of the country.

The Niciren Sosyu announced yesterday that these seminaries, to be called Buddhist centers, will allow its 1.2 million followers in Indonesia to explore their religion in greater depth.

Kresno Abianto Soekarno, head of the sect's steering committee for tomorrow's Waisak celebration, which marks Buddha's Day of Enlightenment, the centers will be run along the same lines as the nation's Moslem boarding schools (pesantrens) and Catholic seminaries.

"It's high time that we promote our religious activities because so far Niciren Sosyu Buddhists are known only for their social endeavors," Kresno was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.

Niciren Sosyu now runs one such center, the Vihara Sadaparibhuta, in Megamendung, West Java, which will also be the center of the Waisak celebration tomorrow.

The ceremony will be headed by its chairperson K. Senosoenoto and attended by some 2,000 followers from all over the country, Kresno said.

Niciren Sosyu Buddha is one of Buddhists sects recognized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs but lies outside the Indonesian Buddhist Council. The total number of Buddhist followers in Indonesia is estimated at around six million. (11)