On November 18, Trinity College at the University of Toronto hosted an interfaith symposium titled “Sustaining Hope and Seeking Justice in Challenging Times” at the historic Seeley Hall. Nearly 70 participants—including religious leaders, public-sector representatives, and academic scholars—gathered to explore how diverse faith communities understand and respond to the challenges of our time.

Venerable Chueh Fan, Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, offered a Buddhist reflection on the principle of dependent origination—the interwoven “causes and conditions” that shape all phenomena. She emphasized that social injustice does not arise in isolation; rather, it emerges from a constellation of contributory factors. Every person’s speech, intention, and action becomes a seed that shapes future conditions, reminding us that transformation begins with mindful conduct.

Founded in 1851, Trinity College is one of the University of Toronto’s most distinguished academic and theological institutions. Among the notable attendees were Professor Nicholas Terpstra, Provost and Vice-Chancellor; The Rev. Canon Dr. Christopher Brittain, Dean of the Faculty of Divinity; and Dr. Jizhang Yi, Director of the new Institute for Humanistic Buddhist Thought & Practice.

The symposium opened with keynote reflections by The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, former Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church (2015–2024), and The Most Rev. Linda Nicholls, former Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada (2019–2024). Bishop Curry reminded participants that “hope is not born in calm seas, but emerges amid the storm,” calling for resilience and spiritual courage during turbulent times.

Abbess Chueh Fan noted that the forum’s theme touches on a universal human concern: how we understand the conditions that shape our lives, and how we respond with compassion and wisdom. Drawing from Encountering Buddhism by Dr. Lewis R. Lancaster, she emphasized that nothing exists independently—everything arises through conditions—and therefore the pursuit of justice requires the continual cultivation of wholesome causes. She invited the audience to reflect: What conditions are we creating for tomorrow through our actions today?

Highlighting Fo Guang Shan’s longstanding commitment to interfaith friendship, she affirmed that compassion, justice, and healing are shared values across religious traditions. Citing Dr. Lancaster’s insights, she outlined three pathways to cultivate hope: nurturing supportive internal and external conditions, engaging in wholesome actions that generate positive causes, and recognizing the profound interdependence of all beings.

Religious and civic leaders—including Suffragan Bishop Riscylla Shaw (Anglican Diocese ofToronto), Rabbi Yael Splansky (Holy Blossom Temple), Bishop Carla Blakley (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada), former Ontario MPP and Cabinet Minister Dr. John Milloy, and Father John Meehan, S.J.—joined scholars and students in a rich and meaningful dialogue on how various traditions pursue justice and sustain hope in today’s complex world.