The 11th general conference of the World Buddhist Sangha Council in Auckland, New Zealand (3-5/3/2024)

Concluding Report of the 11^th General Conference of

 the World Buddhist Sangha Council

Foreword

The 11^th general conference of the World Buddhist Sangha Council was held in Auckland, New Zealand from the 2^nd to 5^th March 2014. Organized by Quan Am Monastery and co-organized by Ci Ming Temple, Puxian Vihāra and Oneness Buddhist Temple, the Conference was attended by 497 participants from 28 countries (including 239 monastic members, 115 monastic observers, and 143 lay observers). With the theme of "Return to Nature for Harmonious Co-existence", the conference aimed to explore the relationship between Buddhism and environmental conservation, and to call upon Buddhist monastics from all over the world to join hands in addressing global challenges such as climate change and ecological damage, and to contribute to the building of a beautiful home where people and the nature can co-exist in harmony.

Firstly, overview of the conference

The opening ceremony of the conference was held on the 3rd March at the Quan Am Monastery, Auckland with speeches from the organizer, the chief vice-president cum Chinese secretary-general of the World Buddhist Sangha Council, and the Thai ambassador’s representative. In the opening ceremony, there were also blessing prayers from three traditions of Buddhism (Theravada, Mahāyāna & Vajrayāna) for the world peace and the happiness of all beings.

During the conference, keynote speeches, thematic discussions, study tours and other activities were held.

In the keynote speech, Buddhist scholars and sangha representatives from all over the world delivered brilliant speeches, elaborating on the importance of environmental conservation from Buddhist perspective and exploring the wisdom and contribution of Buddhism to address the environmental crises.

During the thematic discussion, participants had in-depth discussion on the theme of the conference, exchanged experiences and practices, and put forward suggestions and measures.

During the study tour, participants visited local Buddhist monasteries and environmental conservation institutions to learn about the practices and experiences of Buddhist monasteries in environmental conservation.

Secondly, the fruits of the general conference

1. The general conference approved the amendment of the Constitution of the World Buddhist Sangha Council to make it more responsive to the development and changes of the times.
2. All participants of the general conference unanimously elected the new sangha leadership team with Venerable Hui Hiong as the president.
3. The general conference also announced the New Zealand Declaration. The Declaration emphasized the Buddhist ideal of the harmonious co-existence between human beings and the nature, and called on the Buddhist sangha around the world to work together to address environmental crises.

Through this conference, it has raised the awareness of the Buddhist sangha around the world on environmental conservation, strengthened the sense of responsibility and mission of the Buddhist sangha to participate in environmental conservation, promoted exchange and co-operation among the Buddhist sangha around the world on environmental conservation, laid foundation for a joint response to the environmental crises, and formed a series of consensus and suggestions which provide guidance for the Buddhist sangha to participate in and lead the environmental conservation activities.

Thirdly, the outlook of the general conference

After this conference, the World Buddhist Sangha Council will continue to promote the participation of the Buddhist sangha in environmental conservation, and contribute to the building of a better home where people and nature can live in harmony.

We will also do the followings:

1. Strengthen publicity and education, raise the environmental conservation awareness of all Buddhist disciples, and actively advocate and participate in the practice of promoting the harmonious co-existence of mankind and the nature, so as to contribute to the construction of the common destiny of mankind.
2. Strengthen exchange and co-operation, share research fruits on Buddhism and harmonious co-existence, develop various forms of activities, and actively participate in joint enhancing the knowledge and understanding of the promotion of harmonious co-existence between human beings and nature.
3. To make use of the influence of Buddhism to strengthen co-operation with governments, international organizations and all sectors of society, and to motivate governments and the international community to take effective measures to jointly address environmental crises and global challenges.

Fourthly, Conclusion

"Returning to nature for harmonious co-existence" is a common topic for all human beings, and "building a common destiny for humanity" is the common responsibility of all human beings. As a member of the human race, we believe that through the advocacy and guidance of Buddhist sangha around the world, we will be able to create an earthly Pure Land suitable for human beings to live and work in peace and contentment.

世界僧伽會第十一屆大會總結報告

前言

世界僧伽會地十一屆大會於2014年3月2日至5日在紐西蘭盛大召開。大會由紐西蘭觀音山道場主辦，慈明寺、普賢寺、法聚寺等單位協辦，有來自28個國家共計497人參與（其中出家僧伽會員239人，僧伽觀察員115人，在家居士觀察員143人）。本屆大會以「回歸自然，和諧共生」為主題，旨在探討佛教與環境保護的關係，呼籲世界各地佛教僧伽攜手合作，共同應對氣候變化、生態破壞等全球性挑戰，為建設人與自然和諧共生的美好家園做出貢獻。

第一、大會概況

大會開幕式於3月3日在奧克蘭觀音山道場舉行，主辦單位、成辦單位負責人，以及第十屆僧伽會首席副會長兼中文秘書長分別致詞。同時，在開幕典禮之始，舉行了三大語系僧伽分別誦經為世界和平、人民安樂祈福！

大會期間，舉行了主題演講、專題討論、參觀考察等活動。

在主題演講中，來自世界各地的佛教學者和僧伽代表發表了精彩演講，從佛教的角度闡述了環境保護的重要性，探討了佛教對應對環境危機的智慧和貢獻。

在專題討論中，與會者圍繞大會主題進行了深入的討論，交流了經驗和做法，提出了建議和措施。

在參觀考察中，與會者參觀了當地的佛教寺院和環保機構，了解了佛教寺院在環保方面的做法和經驗。

第二、大會成果

①大會通過了《世界佛教僧伽會章程》的修改，令章程更為適應時代的發展與變化。

②大會全體會員共同推選了以慧雄長老為會長的新一屆僧伽會領導班子。

③大會還通過了《世界佛教僧伽會第十一屆大會紐西蘭會議宣言》。宣言強調了佛教重視人與自然的和諧共生，呼籲世界各地佛教僧伽攜手合作，共同應對環境危機。

通過本次會議，提昇了世界各地佛教僧伽對環境保護的認識，增強了佛教僧伽參與環保活動的責任感和使命感；促進了世界各地佛教僧伽在環保方面的交流與合作，為共同應對環境危機奠定了基礎；並且形成了一系列共識和建議，為佛教僧伽參與和領導環保活動提供了指導。

第三、大會展望

本次大會後，世界佛教僧伽會將繼續推動佛教僧伽參與環保活動，為建設人與自然和諧共生的美好家園做出貢獻。

同時做好以下工作：

①加強宣傳教育，提高所有佛弟子的環保意識，積極倡導和參與促進人與自然和諧共生的實踐，為構建人類命運共同體做出貢獻。

②加強交流與合作，分享佛教與和諧共生方面的研究成果，開展形式多樣的活動，積極參與，共同提高對促進人與自然和諧共生的認識和理解。

③利用佛教的影響力，加強與各國政府、國際組織和社會各界的合作，推動各國政府和國際社會採取有效措施，共同應對環境危機與全球性挑戰。

第四，結語

「回歸自然，和諧共生」是全人類的共同話題，「構建人類命運共同體」是全人類的共同責任。作為人類的一分子，我們相信，通過世界各地佛教僧伽的倡導與引導，適合人類安居樂業的淨土家園一定能夠創建成功。

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