18 Oct
Conferences

11th General Conference

Date:
20 – 25 February B.E. 2519 (1976)
Venue:
Bangkok, Thailand
Theme:
Role of Buddhists in Present Day Society
The conference was to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the WFB. Princess Poon, the WFB President mentioned of the significant fact on the recognition given by the United Nations (UN) which was glad to cooperate with religions for the sake of peace desired by all. The letter of this recognition was given to the WFB President on 25 October B.E. 2518 (1975) at the UN Headquarters in New York.

18 Oct
Conferences

10th General Conference

Date:
22 – 27 May B.E. 2515 (1972)
Venue:
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Theme:
World Peace Through Buddhism
At this conference, it may be added that Dharmacakra had been accepted universally as the common seal of Buddhism by all the Buddhists of the world. Remarkably, it was also informed at the conference that UNESCO had recognized WFB as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), having Category B Consultative Status with the Agency. Moreover, the WFB as the parent organization, had held an inauguration ceremony of the World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth (W.F.B.Y.) which was marked to be born in Sri Lanka and the 1st Buddhist Youth Conference was also convened. From then on the W.F.B.Y. is an organization of youth wing under the WFB’s auspices.

18 Oct
Conferences

9th General Conference

Date:
13 – 20 April B.E. 2512 (1969)
Venue:
Kuala Lumpur and Penang, Malaysia
Theme:
Buddha Dhamma : A Way of Life
Noticeable feature of this conference was the resolution to have the permanent headquarters of the WFB in Thailand adopted at the General Council on 4 November B.E. 2509 (1966) that permanent headquarters of the WFB be located in Thailand for the more efficient working of the World Fellowship of Buddhists and the greater control and safety of its assets and records.

18 Oct
Conferences

8th General Conference

Date: 6 – 12 November B.E. 2509 (1966)
Venue: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Theme: Buddhism Promotes Peace and Harmony Among Men
This was the first time that the WFB General Conference had a theme and this practice was followed by all of the WFB General Conferences from that time on. At this conference, a Committee on Youth was added to the General Conference which made the WFB germinate the establishment of the World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth (W.F.B.Y.) as a permanent auxiliary institution to the W.F.B.

18 Oct
Conferences

7th General Conference

Date: 29 November – 4 December B.E. 2507 (1964)
Venue: Sarnath and Varanasi, India
Sarnath, Varanasi in India was chosen as the venue of the conference because it is where Śākyamuni delivered his first sermon which came to be known as the turning of the Wheel of the Law, the Dharmacakra. It was also as a tribute to the Centenary of the birth of the late Venerable Anāgārika Dharmapāla who was the pioneer of the Buddhist revival in India and the first Buddhist missionary to visit Europe and America that spread Buddhism beyond Asia.

18 Oct
Conferences

5th General Conference

Date: 24 – 30 November B.E. 2501 (1958)
Venue: Bangkok Thailand
Decision worth mentioning was made at this conference was that in order to strengthen the President’s authority, who would be assisted by 11 Vice Presidents, Ex-Presidents would automatically become Honorary Presidents on relinquishing their positions. The conference also called for the promotion of new methods and the improvement of existing standards of teaching of Buddhism in all Buddhist countries at all educational levels, especially concerning children.

18 Oct
Conferences

1st General Conference

Date: 25 May – 6 June B.E. 2493 (1950)

Venue: Colombo, Sri Lanka

The First Conference was held at the Holy Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, Sri Lanka on 25 May which is the Buddhist Vesak Day to make the event worldwide importance.  There were 129 delegates representing 29 countries excluding those from Sri Lanka, the host country gathering at the conference.