INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BUDDHISM and the WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS

 

 

THE WORLD BUDDHIST UNIVERSITY
 
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BUDDHISM and the WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS To be organized in Conjunction with the Nationwide Celebration of the 96th Birthday Anniversary of the
 
Benevolent Sangharaja, Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, the Supreme Patriarch of the Kingdom of Thailand
 
2 October 2552/2009
 
At the Headquarters of the Word Fellowship of Buddhists
 
in Benjasiri Park, Sukumvit 24, Klongteoy, Bangkok, Thailand.
 
Hosts : 
            Key Host   :      The World Buddhist University
 
                                  The World Fellowship of Buddhists
 
                                  The World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth
 
                                  Wat Bowonniwet Vihara
 
                                  Office of National Buddhism
 
                                  Mahamakut Buddhist University
 
                                  Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University 
                   
Background 
 
            An economic and financial crisis has engulfed the world. Banks have collapsed,  stock prices have slumped and there has been an unprecedented
 
decline in economic activity. The crisis began in 2007, in the wake of widespread financial and real estate failures in the United States of America (U.S.A.).
 
These failures affected financial institutions and markets world wide and led to international financial instability, trade imbalances, unstable exchange rates,
 
and several local and regional economic crises. By late 2551/2008 the crisis spread throughout the world. Many governments responded with massive financial
 
support measures, but the crisis continued to spread. Consequently, large numbers of workers have been laid off all over the world. 
 
            As the crisis has become a major world problem that needs to be solved, several world and regional summit conferences have been called to discuss
 
solutions and find ways out of the crisis. Many see this crisis as an opportunity for reviewing financial regulations and re-structuring the global economy. But
 
solutions are complicated by the depth of the crisis, the lack of strong global institutions and by overlapping crisis in the environment, natural resources and
 
global trade. 
 
            From the point of view of Buddhist Philosophy, all things arise by their own volition, even the economic crisis is no exception, and the extinction of
 
their condition is the extinction of them all. Therefore, a ‘causation’ based view and knowledge is needed to guide the way out of the problems. Mindful of this
 
concept, The World Buddhist University will organize an international conference on Buddhism and the world economic crisis with the objective as follow. 
 
Objectives of the Conference 
 
            > To promote Buddha Dhamma as a guide for living a peaceful life as individuals and as societies, in the face of the world economic crisis.
 
            > To discuss and identify Buddhist knowledge, experiences, techniques and methods to be used as a guideline for determining solutions to universal problems, including those caused by the world economic crisis.
 
            > To provide opportunities to Buddhist scholars, Buddha Dhamma devotees and learners, to exchange their views, knowledge and experiences of
 
Buddhism and an economic crisis, as well as to find alternate measures for enhancement of the crisis. 
 
Methodology 
           
               This conference will be conducted using a framework designed as follow
 
                *   Opening ceremony will presided over by an honorary invited guest
 
                *   Keynote lecture will be presented by the well-known Buddhist scholar
                   
                     who has an in-depth insight of Buddhism and economics.
           
                *   Group discussion will be conducted, dividing into small groups to
                
                          discuss various topics as scheduled.
 
 ·     *  Conclusion will be drawn, from the outputs of each group, to be compiled    
          
            into a summary report of the conference
 
                                           Schedule and Programmes
 

 
Thursday 1st October 2552/2009
 
 
Arrival of Participants, for the Whole Day
 
 
Friday 2nd October 2552/2009
 
 
07.30 – 08.30 hours
 
 
Breakfast
 
08.45 hours
 
 
All participants to take seats in the conference room
 
08.50 hours
 
Buddha Puja & Pay homage to the Triple Gem
 
 
09.00 – 09.10 hours
 
Opening Address
by H.E. Phan Wannamethee, President of the World Fellowship
of Buddhists.
 
 
09.10 – 09.20 hours
 
Welcome speech delivery by Dr. Ananda W.P. Guruge, chairman of the World Buddhist University Council
 
 
09.20 – 10.20 hours
 
Keynote Lecture on “Buddhism in the New Century” 
by Prof. Richard Gombrich from Oxford University
 
 
10.20 – 10.35 hours
 
Coffee / Tea Break
 
 
10.35 – 11.35 hours
 
Keynote Lecture : “Buddhism and World Economic Crisis”
by Prof. Dr. Apichai Puntasen
 
 
11.35 – 12.03 hours
 
VDO Presentation : Benevolent Sangharaja, Somdet Phra
Nyanasamvara, the SupremePatriarch of the Kingdom of Thailand
 
 
12.03 – 13.00 hours
 
Lunch Break
 
13.00 – 14.30 hours
 
 
 
Presentation and Group Discussion
       Group 1 – Buddhism and Financial Crisis
       Group 2 – Buddhism and Unemployment
       Group 3 – Buddhism and Consumerism
       Group 4 – Buddhism and Sufficient Economy
 
14.30 – 14.45 hours
 
Coffee / Tea Break
 
 
14.45 – 16.30 hours
 
Presentation , Discussion and Conclusion
 
 
18.00 – 19.00 hours
 
Dinner
 
 
Rapportuer   : Dr. Chris A Stanford
 
MC. through out the whole day   :  Assist. Prof. Dr. Tavivat   Puntarigvivat