Int'l Buddhist Conference very successful- Nayake Thera
Nimal Wijesinghe, Anuradhapura Additional District
group correspondent
"The International Buddhist Conference - 2012 on the theme of "New
millennium challenges for Buddhism" held at the Anuradhapura
Buddhasravaka Bikshu University from February 17 to 19 has been a highly
successful summit, said the Vice Chancellor of the Bikshu University Ven
Prof Thumbulle Seelakkhandha Nayake Thera delivering an anusasana at the
closing ceremony of the three day conference.
The International Buddhist Conference attended by 150 Buddhist
clergy, lay scholars and intellectuals representing universities and
international Buddhist organizations from 15 countries, such as the UK,
USA, India, China, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, Austria,Nepal etc was
inaugurated by Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne on February 17.
The Nayake Thera said the Buddhasravaka Bikshu University organized
the conference to create an awareness among the national level scholars,
Buddhist and non-Buddhist that Buddhism in every cultural context has
many challenges. "Conferences which are exclusively aimed at
understanding the challenges of Buddhism are not common. The
BBC-IBC-2012 was also conducted commemorating the 2600th Sambuddhatva
Jayanthi, Nayake Thera emphasized.
Professor Asanga Tilakaratne of the University of Colombo said that
the monastic and lay young scholars are a great strength for the
promotion of Buddhism at a important juncture as today concerning the
millennium challenges for Buddhism.
He pointed out that in this context though the Anuradhapura
Buddhasravaka Bikshu university was small in its physical resources,
academic and non-academic staff and the number of Bikkhu students, the
service rendering to the Buddhist world was immense and priceless. Dr (Mrs)
Saswati Mutsuddy of the University of Calcutta, India also addressed the
audience. A large number of members of the Maha Sangha including
Atamasthanadhipathi Dr Pallegama Siriniwasa Nayaka Thera and
Anuradhapura District Secretary Mahinda Seneviratne were also present at
the closing up ceremony.
During the three day conference 21 sessions were conducted on
subjects, such as, Buddhism and global issues, contemporary monastic
issues, Buddhist Heritage, controversial issues of Buddhism, Buddhist
Iconography Technology for Buddhism, woman and Buddhism, war, peace and
Buddhism etc. |
