Thailand-Japan Cooperates to Host “The International Buddhist Conference on the United Nations Day of Vesak Celebration 2010”, themed “Global Recovery: The Buddhist Perspective”
In December 1999 the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution recognising The Day of Vesak, the Day of the Full Moon in the month of May each year, to be internationally recognized and, in particular at the United Nations Headquarters and other United Nations Offices. The resolution acknowledges that the day is most sacred to Buddhists, who commemorate on that day the birth of the Buddha, his attainment of enlightenment and his passing away, as well as ensuring that appropriate arrangements are made (without costs to the United Nations) to facilitate the celebration at the United Nations Headquarters and Offices. Following the rationale, the Government of Thailand in association with Thai sangha council, and Buddhist communities, have organised annual celebrations at local, national, and international levels.
In 2004, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU) was appointed to organise the International Buddhist Conference on the United Nations Day of Vesak (ICUNDV) at Buddhamonton Conference Hall, Nakorn Pratom, by the Mahathera Council and the Government of Thailand. It was the first time the conference was hosted in Thailand, and in the following June, Ven. Dr. Phra Dharmakosajarn, Rector of MCU and holder of clerical ranking title, “Phra Dhepsopon”, was delegated to chair as the host of Day of Vesak celebration at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, United States of America.
In July, Buddhamonton and United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok oversaw another international Buddhist conference, which gathered delegates from both the Theravāda and Mahāyāna schools. The event was sponsored by the Thai government with support by the Mahathera Council. Attending parties signed an agreement to cooperate with the organisation of the Day of Vesak celebration and conference in Thailand the following year. MCU’s organisational success has made Thailand the anchor organiser for ICUNDV each year.
As for the 6th ICUNDV conference in 2009, the International Organisation Committee (IOC) nominated Thailand as host under the theme, “Buddhist Approach to Economic Crisis”. The conference was held during 4th to 6th May 2009, where an ICUNDV executive body was appointed to execute efficient organisation of the 7th ICUNDV conference in 2010 with Thailand and Japan as co-hosts.
On 23rd January 2010, Ven. Dr. Phra Dharmakosajarn, Rector of MCU, and Mr. Hiroshi Matsumoto, President of Inner Trip Reiyukai International (ITRI), held a press conference to announce the organisation of the 7th International Buddhist Conference on the United Nations Day of Vesak during the 23rd to 25th May, 2010, at the Office of Rector Conference Room, MCU (Wang-Noi Campus), Ayutthaya.
Ven. Dr. Phra Dharmakosajarn announced that the opening ceremony will be held at the 48 Years Old Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn Main Auditorium in MCU (Wang-Noi Campus) on 23rd May, 2010. The academic conference will then proceed in the main auditorium as well as four meeting rooms in the same building and four meeting rooms in the Classroom Building. In light of His Majesty Bhumibhol Adulyadej’s 83rd anniversary this year, the organisers will try to gather powerful Buddhist leaders from 83 countries to participate in the event.
The rector also added that the ICUNDV executive committee has concluded that the annual theme will be, “Global Recovery: The Buddhist Perspective” with sub-themes: Global Recovery through Mental Well-being, Global Recovery through Harmonious Co-existence, Global Recovery through Buddhist Ecology, Global Recovery through Buddhist Education, and Global Recovery through Engaged Buddhism.
In addition, the conference will also organise two workshops on: (1) International Association of Buddhist Universities (IABU) (2) Common Buddhist Texts. The conference will be held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok on the last day, which will be followed by a closing ceremony with candle-lit procession at Buddhamonton in the evening. The delegates will then adjourn back to their respective countries to continue their celebration on The Day of Vesak.
“The rationale for this year’s theme, ‘Global Recovery: The Buddhist Perspective’ was inspired by the ICUNDV member urge to facilitate Experts have claimed that the path to recovery may take a ‘U’ shape path with sluggish pace and impermanence ascension, or a ‘W’ shape path with a probability of cyclical slumps along the way. However, the Buddhist community believes that the road to recovery should take a ‘V’ shape-path where things never fall down again. This recovery should be stable, sufficient, and sustainable, and we believe that the Buddhist ethos and cognitive rationale will help make this vision possible. The themes and workshops in the conference will be a stimulating ground for Buddhist leaders to share ideas and perspectives as well as strategies and visions for handling the recovery. In the last day of the conference, we will also make a Bangkok Declaration” said MCU’s Rector.
As for our Japanese co-host, Mr. Hiroshi Matsumoto has announced that Japan will be fully subsidising and sending 600 delegates from both new and old Buddhist Sects, as well as assisting their Thai co-host in various financial obligations for the conference.
“When we first attended the conference, we were astounded by the sheer size of the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. Even in Japan we do not have such a facility by the United Nations. I think that holding the event in Thailand is most appropriate because of Thailand’s dominant Buddhist culture. On a personal level, I have come to admire MCU’s rector after having met and exchanged discussions with him at many international conferences, his openness and work in ensuring equitable dialogues among different Buddhist groups truly follows the compassionate teachings of the Lord Buddha,” stated the President of Inner Trip Reiyukai International (ITRI).
