Recognising a model of postmodern pluralism through looking at Islam from the standpoint of far Eastern traditions1: A dialogue between Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism

Abstract

Being a Bosnian pioneer in the field of Eastern and comparative philosophy, the author of this essay on understanding is personally dedicated to the cultivation of a new spirit of philosophy that cuts across classical borders and opens its understanding of "universality " to a multitude of cultural and intellectual histories. Paving the way for establishing a platform for an Islamic-Hinduist-Buddhist-Confucian dialogue in the Balkans, while simultaneously joining hands with what has already been done in the meantime by other researchers in this field, and exploring Buddhist, Chinese and Islamic studies in the context of the persisting challenges that India, China, and the Islamic world face, he believes that the broadening of philosophical horizons in this regard will be an exciting experience and a cross-cultural exchange taking into account that dialogue between them is more than necessary today - especially when dialogue increases the effectiveness of listening as the basis for symbiotic coexistence. Also, this essay underlines the importance of a relation between the contemporary Islamic, Chinese, and Buddhist thought and civilisation, as well as the importance of Islamic works in the language of neo-Confucianism, and the rise of an intellectual current in China called Han Kitab and prominent Chinese-Muslim thinkers such as Liu Zhi, Ma Zhu, Wang Daiyu and others. The interaction between the Islamic, Hinduist and Buddhist thought is also stressed in the paper. Finally, the author summarises what he had learned from Tu Weiming, Sachiko Murata, S. H. Nasr and other prominent scholars about the unique blend of Buddhism and Confucianism in their relation with Islam, which has made up its appearance and development in India and China for over one millennium and especially from the seventeenth century onwards. Those acquainted with Islamic languages will find a wealth of terminology that will help bridge the gap between the included philosophical and theological traditions in their quest for global peace. Finally, intersecting worlds and identities, the author presents a common universe of the included discourses, which is today pushed aside by tunnel vision and short-sightedness, in these miserable times of unprecedented parochialism and narrow-mindedness, instead of keeping the matter in these academic tracks, which will inevitably stimulate true intercultural thinking and dialogue between civilisations in relation to globalisation and cultural pluralisation embodying the wisdom of our predecessors in philosophy and creating a world-wide symbiotic society for the 21st century.