REPORTS ON THE GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING
Bangkok, Thailand, 4 November 2509/1966 and
THE EIGHTH GENERAL CONFERENCE
Chiengmai, Thailand, 6—11 November 2509/1966 of
THE WORLD FELLOWSHIP OF BUDDHISTS
FOREWORD
The Eighth General Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists at Chiengmai is one of the unforgettable events for Buddhists. Words fail me when I attempt to express my gratitude to all those who through their generosity and selflessness have made it a happy memory for all concerned.
My humble thanks are due to His Majesty the King, His Holiness the Patriarch and His Excellency the Prime Minister, who graciously honoured the Conference with their messages and presence. Also entitled to my thankfulness are various government government officials too numerous to be mentioned individually. The people of Chiengmai organisations. both Sangha and laymen, however, had played their part in a way never to be forgotten and unsurpassed in their history.
Just as a building owes its existence to various types of skilled people such as the carpenters, the bricklayers, the masons and various other mechanics, so the completion of this report is the outcome of the generosity and sacrifice of various people, each shouldering his or her own responsibility but all working together towards the same end. A contribution of one person or group may seem relatively small or less significant when set against another, but each is an indispensable brick of the whole structure and thus goes equally to make possible the completion of the whole edifice. In this respect I have to say that although my expression of thanks may fail to include some individuals or groups, yet my impression of them never exclude any. It is here that 1 beg to be forgiven in case of an involuntary omission. But whatever success has been achieved and whatever merit has been acquired are sure to accrue to all of US without fail.
And this undoubtedly results from the spirit of Unity, which has spurred US all to be of one mind, to speak with one voice and work with one aim: the development of Buddhism.
SUKHÃ SANGHASSA SÃMAGGĨ
Happiness is the outcome OỈ the Unity OỈ the group
Princess Poon Pismai Diskul
President
World Fellowship of Buddhists
THE WORLD FELLOWSHIP OF BUDDHISTS
AIMS AND OBJECTS
The Aims and Objects of the World Fellowship of Buddhists shall be
(Article 3 of the W.F.B. Constitution)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Foreword
Aims and Objects of the W.F.B
Report on the General Council Meeting
The General Conference:
Programme of the Inauguration Ceremony and First Plenary Session
Order of the Day
Inauguration Ceremony
Reading of the Royal Message by H.E. the Prime Minister of Thailand
Address by His Holiness the Sangharaja of Thailand
Welcome Address by H.S.H. Princess Poon Pismai Diskul………………………. 15
Inaugural Address by H.E. the Prime Minister ………………………………………. 15
Vote of Thanks by Dr. G.P. Malalasekera……………………………………………… 17
Plenary Session 1
Presidential Address by H.S.H. Princess Poon Pismai Diskul………………….. 20
Reading of Messages from :
The President of the Republic of China ………………………………………………… 24
The president of India ……………………………………………………………………….. 24
The President of the Republic of Korea………………………………………………… 25
The Chogyal of Sikkim ……………………………………………………………………… 26
The President of the United States of America ………………………………………. 27
His Holiness the Dalai Lama……………………………………………………………….. 28
The Prime Minister of Ceylon …………………………………………………………….. 29
The Prime Minister of India ……………………………………………………………….. 30
The Prime Minister of Japan ………………………………………………………………. 30
The Prime Minister of Malaysia ………………………………………………………….. 30
The minister for Culture and Social Affairs, Singapore ………………………….. 31
Reading of Messages from Regional Centres…………………………………………. 31
Plenary Session II
Report on General Council Meeting, Resolution on revised Constitution……. 34
Reading of reports from Regional Centres…………………………………………….. 36
Plenary Session III
Reading of reports from Regional Centres (continued)……………………………. 40
Plenary Session IV Reports by Committees:
Steering Committee ………………………………………………………………………….. . 49
Finance Committee …………………………………………………………………………… 49
Publications, Publicity, Education, Culture and Arts Committee ……………… 50
Dhammaduta Activities Committee ……………………………………………………… 51
Humanitarian Services Committee ………………………………………………………. 51
Unity and Solidarity Committee…………………………………………………………… 51
Youth Committee ……………………………………………………………………………… 51
Raising of funds for the WFB Foundation…………………………………………….. 51
Plenary Session V
Addresses of thanks…………………………………………………………………………… 52
Presentation of gifts and charters to Regional Ceutres and of gifts by them .. 52
Closing Address by WFB President …………………………………………………….. 53
Annexes to the General Council Meeting
Appendices to the General Conference Report
Finance Committee …………………………………………………………………… 75
Publication, Publicity, Education, Culture and Arts Committee ………. 76
Dhammaduta Activities Committee
Humanitarian Services Committee
Unity and Solidarity Committee
Committee on Youth