Until the end of 2026, we have chosen to explore the theme ‘Passing on’. Transmission is a vast and crucial subject, both for individual families and for all the institutions upon which our societies are built.
On Sunday 27 September, at the Espace Barrault in Paris, the theme of the first meeting was: ‘Transmitting Together – It Takes a Village to Raise a Child’.
Some of the participants gathered at the Espace Barrault (Paris)
In any form of transmission, the community plays an essential role. Our spiritual communities are at the forefront of passing on their heritage. But how is this responsibility understood and lived out today?
The meeting was moderated by Mr Dorian Gravrand.
The first speaker, the Venerable Michel Thao Chan, founding president of the Cercle de Réflexion des Nations, began by sharing his experience of Pope Leo XIV’s recent visit to Paris.
He then explained that, in Buddhism, transmission goes beyond mere teaching: it is a living transmission of enlightenment.
To communicate effectively is to overcome three forms of ignorance:
- ordinary ignorance: not knowing and being unaware that one does not know;
- scholarly ignorance: believing one knows when in fact one does not;
- blissful ignorance: recognising the limits of one’s knowledge after a long inner journey.
Human beings naturally progress from the first to the second form of ignorance through the acquisition of knowledge. However, attaining the third requires a profound inner transformation, which leads one to transcend the pride of knowledge and rediscover humility, mindfulness and an awakened consciousness.
Finally, spiritual transmission takes place within the community (Sangha), which enables this experience of awakening to be lived out and shared.
The Venerable Michel Thao Chan
We were then treated to a short musical interlude by the Cameroonian gospel singer Laure Stetchie, who performed her French adaptation of the famous song ‘You Raise Me Up’. Whilst not explicitly religious in nature, this song beautifully evokes those who lift us up and enable us to grow.
Dr Omero Marongiu-Perria (via videoconference)
The third speaker, Dr Laurent Ladouce, a research fellow for the Universal Peace Federation and director of the Culture & Paix website, commented on an extract from The Divine Principle.
According to this teaching, the transmission of God’s will within society is comparable to the functioning of the human body. Just as the brain transmits its instructions to the whole body via the nervous system, God guides society through Christ and through leaders who are faithful to His will. This transmission fosters harmony between the various institutions (legislative, judicial, executive and economic), which cooperate like the organs of a single body in the service of the common good and the well-being of all humanity.
Dr Laurent Ladouce
Following a fruitful question-and-answer session, Mr Jean-François Moulinet, coordinator of our interfaith group Dialogue & Alliance, brought the meeting to a close by announcing that our next meeting, on Sunday 18 October, will continue this discussion on the theme of ‘Transmitting from heart to heart’, exploring a new aspect of this essential responsibility, which is shared by all spiritual traditions and all generations.
A recording of this meeting is available here: https://youtu.be/bNtAu-gXPZM.
Photos © Gilles Kalafate
Dialogue and Alliance CC