PNG has the highest incidence of HIV and AIDS in the Pacific region and is the fourth country in the Asia Pacific region to fit the criteria for a generalised HIV/AIDS epidemic. HIV/AIDS awareness is increasingly raised with the assistance from the Australian government and other non-profit organizations. This has resulted in more people being aware of the disease and assisting in the prevention of further transmission.

With the influences of city life, the population has become materialistic. This has lead to various social problems. The rural societies in the past were much simpler as the people could live off the land. Nowadays, these lands have been developed into buildings, housing, schools and other development projects. The author believes that the root of social issues in PNG is stemmed from the inadequacy of income from employment to support the family,

with Eastern influences. However, Humanistic Buddhism is Buddhism that can be applied into everyday lives. It is not restricted to Eastern or Western cultures. Anything that is the truth, is good and beautiful can be said to be Humanistic Buddhism.

In PNG, local tribal rules, traditions and relationships with spirits are still very much prevalent within the society. As discussed earlier, the society is still coming into grips with the Western ways of the world, understanding materialism, the need for education and coping with a variety of “new” illnesses and diseases. With this in mind, for the local PNG communities to understand Humanistic Buddhism, accept it and to apply it, the propagation of Humanistic Buddhism in PNG was required to be tailored with local needs.

The concept of Humanistic Buddhism was introduced to PNG on 5th October 1996 with the opening of the Manjusri Buddhist Centre in Port Moresby. Although the propagation of Humanistic Buddhism is very much tailored to local needs, it did not stray from the four main objectives of Fo Guang Shan, that is:

1. To propagate Buddhist teachings through cultural activities;

2. To foster talent through education;

3. To benefit society through charitable programs; and

4. To purify human minds through Buddhist practice.

The rest of the paper will discuss the propagation of Humanistic Buddhism with the four objectives in PNG.

3.1 Cultural Exchanges

PNG is a country with many different cultures. As such, it is important to ensure harmonization between the different cultures and religious beliefs. One means of doing so is to promote understanding between the different cultures and religions.

Over the years, Fo Guang Shan has been working together with various community leaders to promote harmonization in diversity. These include dialogues and exchanges at the annual Asia-Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogues co-sponsored by New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The author represented Fo Guang Shan in the various dialogues with the most recent one being the third Asia–Pacific Regional Interfaith dialogue hosted by the New Zealand Government on 29 – 31 May 2008 at Waitangi in Northland. The opening address by the New Zealand Prime Minister, Rt Hon Helen Clark was followed by other speeches including addresses by the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rt Hon Winston Peters, and President of the Philippines H.E. Gloria. Macapagal-Arroyo and various statements by the Foreign Minister of Indonesia, H.E. Dr, Nur Hassan Wirajuda and the Foreign Minister of Australia, H.E. Alexander Downer. This regional process brings together faith and community leaders, experts and other civil society representatives from 15 countries from Southeast Asia and the South Pacific to discuss and promote means of enhancing mutual understanding, tolerance and a peaceful co-existence amongst the each faith,

religion and community - and in so addressing some of the potential causes of religious conflict and extremism in the region.

Since PNG became part of the British Colony, Christian missionaries have been arriving in PNG in hope for integration between people, providing educational systems, raising awareness and bringing God into the everyday lives. The author has been working very closely with these missionaries, such as the St Joseph and St Mary Missionaries and the Mission of Charity.

Education is also one of the main objectives in Fo Guang Shan. Venerable Master Hsing Yun has been advocating education as part of fostering future talentsAs such, PNG Fo Guang Shan has established a kindergarten in the last few years. The kindergarten operates five days a week and teaches about 150 students a day. The main subjects that are taught are English, Mathematics, Science, Hygiene, Art and Music. It has been very popular amongst the locals as the parents can see the improvements that education has made to the self-confidence, motivation and self-esteem for the children.

In addition, it has been recognized that there is a need for motivating and increasing the self-esteem of the local adults. As such, after discussions with the various missionaries, it is believed that the religious groups in PNG can unite to provide holistic/whole educational program, such as self-awareness training with the basic educational systems as a means to develop the people.

On 25 July 1998, the author brought more food, water and medical supplies to visit the victimized villagers and to assist in the distribution of these supplies.  On 30 July 1998, Lee Bo Fu and Shen Yo Chen from the Buddha’s Light International Association (“BLIA”) in Taiwan traveled  to the capital of Papua New Guinea.  They met with PNG Ministry of the Interior to express BLIA's sympathy and to discuss the assistance required by PNG in this unfortunate casualty. 

Under the guidance of Venerable Master Hsing Yun and Venerable Tzu Jung, Secretary General, the urgent relief commissioner, Mr Robert Liao and his wife represented BLIA to travel to Aitape to help with the rescue operations on three separate occasions, July 24, July 25 and August 31.  In addition, BLIA World Headquarters donated $10,000 Australian dollars as emergency aid.