+:""9 ) A- 2)DK &+8D Ċ - United Nations Day of Vesak 2013

International Association of Buddhist Universities (IABU)
10 May 2012
ICUNDV: A Global Buddhist Forum no like others
Namo Buddhaya – Homage to the Fully Awakened One. And, Happy 2600 th Vesak to all!
The International Conference on the United Nations Day of Vesak, originated from
the United Nations General Assembly’s recognition of Vesak in December 1999, is bringing
Buddhist leaders, scholars and practitioners from all schools of Buddhism for the ninth
successive year in the Kingdom of Thailand. As in the previous years, this is made possible by
the blessings of the Supreme Sangha Council of Thailand and the generosity of the Royal
Thai Government and the whole Thai nation.
I personally rejoice and have been very encouraged by facts that just over a decade
there have been a few international Buddhist forums such as the World Buddhist Forum, the
World Buddhist Summit and International Conference on the United Nations Day of Vesak
(ICUNDV). In the globalised world, those forums help bring us closer for understanding,
education, peace and awakening. I feel rather humbled for having had the opportunity to be
part of those movements in one way or another, more so with the ICUNDV than the others.
The ICUNDV, under the leadership of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University
(MCU), has been able to bring among others, Buddhist colleges and universities together, and
create another forum, International Association of Buddhist Universities (IABU).
This ninth celebration of the ICUNDV coincides with the second IABU conference
whose members meet under the theme of Buddhist Philosophy and Praxis. For the last five
years since its inauguration, the IABU has either given birth or strengthened regional
Buddhist academic groupings, from India and Sri Lanka to Europe, from Indonesia to Korea
and from Mongolia to Myanmar. IABU members often meet in member countries for
academic exchanges and developments.
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