Richard Serra - Literal

wLama Temple in Beijin
before my speech, one minister introduced me and
described me as a good Christian. I don’t know if he
knew that my fundamental belief is that there is no
god, but I’m alright with that. I said OK I’m happy, I feel
a great honor. Muslims consider me a good Muslim.
Theistic religions have their own beauties, very powerful
concepts that facilitate these good qualities. Non
theistic religions also have their respective beauty.
So diversity in 6 billion human beings is natural and
inevitable. Even within twins there are some physical
and behavioral similarities, but if you go further beyond
this observable level of similarities to the genetic
levels you’ll see the level of discrepancies. So having
more than 6 billion humans all living in different locations,
with huge differences between climate, there is
a need for a different way of approaching life to cultivate
the goodness in human beings: love, compassion
forgiveness, tolerance, contentment, self discipline.
That’s more important than each individual approach.
From a wider context we’re human beings and all have
the same potential for the betterment of society. So I
think diversity, if utilized properly, will be an important
factor to develop a common effort. It’s like a good garden.
One garden can be properly planted. One fl ower
may not be so beautiful by itself, but if we see different
fl owers with different sizes and colors, then it looks
very attractive. Within the face there are dissimilarities,
even in the eyes, the more color, the more differences,
the more attractive the eye is. So in humanity as a
whole, I think diversity of culture, of religion of races is
6 4 L ITERAL. LATIN AMERICAN VOICES • FALL, 2007
more beautiful. I think it’s a fact whether we like it or
not. Whether we like it or not there are Buddhists, Hindus,
Christians, Jews, Muslims and so on. Neither one
have the ability to convert to or to eliminate the other.
These religions, I believe, have been in existence for
the last 1000 to 3000 years. In the twenty fi rst century,
even if you try to utilize all the best means to eliminate
all the races, religions, etc, is impossible. Eventually, I
think we’ll use a single language, and I fully support it.
So let’s not worry about the preservation of the Tibetan
language. If 6 billion people prefer it otherwise. Still,
even with this new language, I believe the diversity of
cultures and of religion will remain, and this shouldn’t
be an obstacle to the global family.
One thing I want to share with you is the concept
of one religion and several religions. This is contradictory.
According to one, faith is considered the only
creed. This idea is very common. Generally inherent in
most religions is the belief in the notion of singleness
of truth with respect to one’s own tradition. So that
concept for individual practitioners is relevant and important
in order to have unshakeable faith. One truth
is important. Several religions are already here, and
these, I think, give immense inspiration to the people
of the present past and future. The question is how to
reconcile these differences of truth. In terms of the individual,
the concept of one truth is relevant. In terms
of a group or community, then the concept of several
truths is relevant. So if you are related to these different
perspectives and concepts, one in the contexts of
the individual practitioners and one in the context of
the society and multiplicity of individuals, then there
are not contradictions between the two.
Then there’s the question of what is the “best”
faith and here again, if you look at the question carefully
this question can’t be answered independently
from the individual’s well being in relation to each person.
So, like in medicine, we cannot say which the best
is. “Best” is according to each illness, so to a person
who has a certain mental disposition, this religion is the
perfect one. Now, for example, according to my own
mental disposition the Buddhist approach is the most
suitable and effective, so for me Buddhism is best. That
doesn’t give me the right to tell my Christian, Muslim,
Jewish, Taoist and Hindu brothers that, since Buddhism
suits me, it’s the one for them. Everything will depend
upon individual disposition or taste. Once we accept
differences and the potential greatness of each creed,
religious tolerance will automatically come.
This conference was presented on May 1, 2007 at
Rice. It was organized by The Boniuk Center for Religious
Tolerance and the Offi ce of the President; both at
Rice University www. boniukcenter.org