Malaysia to host International Buddhist Conference

Three leading Buddhist organizations, Buddhist Gem Fellowship, Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia and Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia, supported by eight other Buddhist organizations, will be organizing the World Buddhist Conference (WBC) from September 25-26, 2010 at the Istana Hotel, Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur.

The theme of the conference is “Living in Harmony: When Things Fall Apart”. The message of the conference is that we should see life in its proper perspective. Even if misfortunes or calamities were to affect us - be it in our business, career, or private relationships - we should not lose hope or adopt a pessimistic and fatalistic view of life. The Buddha had taught us that we can indeed remain happy in the midst of misfortunes or “when things fall apart” if we understand how our mind works and apply techniques to calm it.

This Conference will be graced by the presence of the world-renown Vietnamese Buddhist monk, author, poet, and peace activist Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh. Considered as one of the most influential Buddhist teachers in the world today, Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh was nominated for the Noble Peace Prize and subsequently led the Buddhist delegation to the Paris Peace Talks during the height of the Vietnam War during the 1960s. In September 2003 he addressed members of the United States Congress, leading them through a two-day retreat. Now based in France where he established the Plum Village Buddhist community, Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh has written well over 85 titles of accessible poems, prose, and prayers, with more than 40 in English. He will speak on the theme of the Conference which is “Living in Harmony: When Things Fall Apart”.

The Conference is aimed at the ordinary Buddhists – the man in the street – who wish to seek practical advice on what they need to do in order to live in harmony - to be able to lead peaceful and stress-free lives.

Being an international conference, WBC is expected to attract more than 1,000 participants from both Malaysia and overseas.

The line-up of speakers at the conference includes Malaysia’s own Venerable Wei Wu from Than Hsiang Temple, Penang, who is best known for setting up Malaysia’s first International Buddhist College, and many welfare projects such as kindergartens and orphanages throughout the country.

Other speakers include Venerable Tenzin Zopa from Nepal who is a resident teacher at Losang Dragpa Center, Petaling Jaya. He is the subject of the highly acclaimed documentary “The Unmistaken Child” about his search for his reincarnated teacher Lama Konchog.

Speakers from the West include Dr Joan Halifaz, an internationally-acclaimed medical anthropologist and Zen master, Venerable Tejadhamma, a pioneer in hospice work in Sydney, Australia, Dr David Loy, scholar practitioner from the US and co-founder of Buddhist Global Relief, Venerable Thubten Chodron,a well-known author and teacher from Washington, Dr Tan Eng Kong, a Malaysian-born practicing psychiatrist and psychotherapist, and Anchalee Kurutach who has been involved in refugee work and survivors of torture for over twenty years in her native Thailand as well as in the US.

Registration to attend the Conference is now open. Early Bird fee (before June 30, 2010) is RM 300 and RM 180 (Full-time students), and Normal Fee (July 1, 2010 onwards) is RM 360 and RM 250 (Full-time students). Participation for Sangha members is free but prior registration is required. Meals and refreshments are included in the registration fee.

For details, please access our website at http://www.wbc.my. You may also email us at ybam@streamyx.com or call 603-78049154/603-78049157 for further details.