Madam, - While I agree with Rachel Stanley (April 28th) that Cardinal Connell's remarks about Buddhism were undiplomatic and careless, I think her karmic connection between declining church attendances and "morality and religion that are enforced upon people through fear, dominance and control" is a little too reductionist.
In his book Essential Teachings (Souvenir Press, 1995), his Holiness the Dalai Lama observes that Buddhism itself "has prospered during some periods and almost disappeared at other times". He doesn't make a connection between the "periods of weakening" and the way that Buddhist philosophy was taught.
Interestingly, in an interview he gave in Oslo in 1989 when he was there to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, the Dalai Lama commented that "Christianity has a very important and very beautiful sense of service. This service to other beings is essential. Buddhists too often think meditating is enough. Meditation is not enough. We must help others. Compassion must be active; otherwise it is lazy." - Yours, etc,
MARK DALY, Castlefield Woods, Clonsilla, Dublin 15.