泰国世界佛教徒友谊会赠送金佛给日本灵云院 以示感谢

据《京都时报》报道，近日，总部设在泰国的世界佛教徒友谊会（WFB）赠送一座金佛给日本京都妙心寺灵云院，肯定了灵云院及其信众对亚洲受灾地区救援工作的贡献，并感谢其与泰国佛教徒之间的国际交流。据悉，该佛像是于2007年为泰国国王普密蓬阿杜德庆祝80岁生日时打造的19座佛像中的一座。现在所有的佛像都被送往亚欧19个国家和地区的寺院和历史遗址。

该金佛像高为1.2米（含底座），重63公斤，被认为具有消灾辟邪的功用。灵云院住持则竹秀南长老表示收到泰国这座佛像的喜悦是无法形容的，并希望可以通过禅宗来不断加深双方友谊，安抚人类灵魂。

据悉，灵云院的国际禅宗友谊交流会（International Zen Exchange Friendship Association）由则竹秀南长老和其信众建立，一直通过禅宗来促进交流。该协会不仅到印度尼西亚、中国台湾、四川的地震灾区探望受灾群众还委托世界佛教徒友谊会把捐赠的救济品送给灾民。（编译：子规）

Reiun-in Temple, a sub-temple of Myoshinji Temple, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, has just received a golden statue of Buddha from the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) based in Thailand. The figure is one of 19 Buddhist statutes built to celebrate the 80th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. It is to acknowledge the contributions of Reiun-in Temple and its followers in their relief efforts in disaster-struck areas of Asia, as well as in appreciation of its international exchanges with monks and priests in Thailand.

The WFB made the statues to commemorate the birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej when he turned 80 years old in December, 2007, and sent them to Buddhist temples and historic sites in 19 countries across Asia and Europe.

The International Zen Exchange Friendship Association at Reiun-in Temple, formed by Chief Priest Shunan Noritake and lay followers, has been promoting interchanges through Zen. The association not only visited temples devastated by earthquakes in regions including Indonesia, Taiwan and China's Sichuan Province, but also aided the victims with relief donations entrusted to the WFB.

The golden statue of Buddha is about 1.2 meters tall including the pedestal and weighs 63 kilograms. It is believed to embody Buddha quelling evil spirits. "We are delighted beyond words to have received the statue of Buddha from Thailand," said Chief Priest Noritake. "We hope to see our friendship grow continuously through Zen, and give solace to people's souls while wearing these priestly vestments."