On Friday 2^nd October, B.E. 2552 (2009), the World Buddhist University (WBU) in conjunction with the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB), WFBY, Mahamakut Buddhist University of Thailand and the Thailand Office of Nation Buddhism held an International Conference on the topic, “Buddhism and the World Economic Crisis”, at the World Fellowship of Buddhist headquarters in Bangkok.

Joining the conference were delegates from WBU affiliated institutions and Buddhist organizations in Thailand, the United States, South Korea, Nepal, India, Lao, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Malaysia.

H.E. Phan Wannamethee, the WFB president and a WBU Council member, gave the opening address and welcoming speech to delegates and honorable guests in the Sanya Dhammasakdi Auditorium. This was followed by a report on the objectives of the Conference by Rector of the WBU Assoc. Prof. Noranit Setabutr.

Dr. Richard Gombrich, a renown Buddhist Scholar from Oxford University, England, gave a keynote lecture with the title, “Buddhism Towards the New Century”.

Another keynote speaker, Dr. Apichai Puntasen a Buddhist Scholar from Ubon Ratchathani University, Thailand, gives a lecture on the topic of the Conference, “Buddhism and the World Economic Crisis”.

In the afternoon the delegates and participants were divided into four groups for group discussion. The subjects for discussion of the four groups were as follows:

Group 1 – Topic : Buddhism and the Financial Crisis.
Group 2 – Topic : Buddhism and Unemployment.
Group 3 – Topic : Buddhism and Consumerism.
Group 4 – Topic : Buddhism and the Sufficiency Economy.

 Among the delegates and honorable guests who participated in the conference (which number close to a hundred people) were Dr. Ananda W.P. Guruge, The President of  WBU council, Dr. Somboon Duangsamosorn, Rector of the International Buddhist College, and Prof. J.B. Disanayaka. the Ambassador of Sri Lanka.