Buddhism and the Financial Crisis, Oct 2nd

Friday October 2nd the WBU will be holding a conference on the global financial crisis and Buddhism. It’s an all day event, and you need to reserve a spot efore 20th September if you wich to attend. Received information is as follows:

 

THE WORLD BUDDHIST UNIVERSITY

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BUDDHISM and the WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS To be organized in Conjunction with the Nationwide Celebration of the 96^th Birthday Anniversary of the Benevolent Sangharaja, Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, the Supreme Patriarch of the Kingdom of Thailand

2 October 2552/2009

At the Headquarters of the Fellowship of Buddhists

in Benjasiri Park, Sukumvit 24, Klongteoy, Bangkok, Thailand.

 

Hosts : 

               Key Host   :       The World Buddhist University

               Co – Host  :       Wat Bowonniwet Vihara

                                          Office of National Buddhism

                                          The World Fellowship of Buddhists

                                          Mahamakutr Buddhist University

                                          Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University

Background 

              An economic and financial crisis has engulfed the world. Banks have collapsed,  stock prices have slumped and there has been an unprecedented decline in economic activity. The crisis began in 2007, in the wake of widespread financial and real estate failures in the United States of America (U.S.A.). These failures affected financial institutions and markets world wide and led to international financial instability, trade imbalances, unstable exchange rates, and several local and regional economic crises. By late 2551/2008 the crisis spread throughout the world. Many governments responded with massive financial support measures, but the crisis continued to spread. Consequently, large numbers of workers have been laid off all over the world. 

              As the crisis has become a major world problem that needs to be solved, several world and regional summit conferences have been called to discuss solutions and find ways out of the crisis. Many see this crisis as an opportunity for reviewing financial regulations and re-structuring the global economy. But solutions are complicated by the depth of the crisis, the lack of strong global institutions and by overlapping crisis in the environment, natural resources and global trade. 

            From the point of view of Buddhist Philosophy, all things arise by their own volition, even the economic crisis is no exception, and the extinction of their condition is the extinction of them all. Therefore, a ‘causation’ based view and knowledge is needed to guide the way out of the problems. Mindful of this concept, The World Buddhist University will organize an international conference on Buddhism and the world economic crisis with the objective as follow. 

Objectives of the Conference 

               ► To promote Buddha Dhamma as a guide for living a peaceful life as individuals and as societies, in the face of the world economic crisis.

            ► To discuss and identify Buddhist knowledge, experiences, techniques and methods to be used as a guideline for determining solutions to universal problems, including those caused by the world economic crisis.

               ► To provide opportunities to Buddhist scholars, Buddha Dhamma devotees and learners, to exchange their views, knowledge and experiences of Buddhism and an economic crisis, as well as to find alternate measures for enhancement of the crisis. 

Methodology 

               This conference will be conducted using a framework designed as follow

 

               ·    Opening ceremony will presided over by an honorary invited guest

 

               ·    Keynote lecture will be presented by the well-known Buddhist scholar

                     who has an in-depth insight of Buddhism and economics.

                   

               ·    Group discussion will be conducted, dividing into small groups to

                     discuss various topics as scheduled.

 

   ·    Conclusion will be drawn, from the outputs of each group, to be compiled    

         into a summary report of the conference

                                       Schedule and Programmes

Thursday 1st  October 2552/2009
Arrival of Participants, for the Whole Day
Friday  2nd  October 2552/2009
07.30 – 08.30 hours	Breakfast
08.45 hours	All participants to take seats in the conference room
08.50 hours	Buddha Puja & Pay homage to the Triple Gem
09.00 – 09.10 hours	Opening Addressby  H.E. Phan  Wannamethee, President of the World Fellowship of Buddhists.
09.10 – 09.20 hours	Welcome speech delivery by Dr. Ananda W.P. Guruge, chairman of the World Buddhist University Council
09.20 – 10.15 hours	Keynote Lecture on “Buddhism Toward New Century”  by Prof. Richard  Gombrich  from Oxford University
10.15 – 10.30 hours	Coffee / Tea Break
10.30 – 11.15 hours	Keynote address on Benevolent Sangharaja, SomdetPhra Nyanasamvara, the Supreme Patriarch of the Kingdom of Thailand by Ven. Dr. Phra Anil Man Sakya
11.15 – 12.00 hours	Keynote Lecture : “Buddhism and World Economic Crisis” by Prof. Dr. Apichai  Puntasen
12.00 – 13.00 hours	Lunch Break
13.00 – 14.30 hours	Presentation and Group Discussion       Group 1 – Buddhism and Financial Crisis        Group 2 – Buddhism and Unemployment        Group 3 – Buddhism and Consumerism        Group 4 – Buddhism and Sufficient Economy
14.30  – 14.45 hours	Coffee / Tea Break
14.45 –  16.30 hours	Presentation , Discussion and Conclusion
18.00 – 19.00 hours	Dinner
Rapportuer   :  Dr. Chris  A  StanfordMC. through out the whole day   :  Assist. Prof. Dr. Tavivat   Puntarigvivat

 

Location :
Meeting Room, the World Buddhist University, 3rd floor, WFB Headquarters Bldg., in Benjasiri Park, Sukhumvit 24, Bangkok, Time : 12.00-13.30 pm. All are welcome to join the programme free of charge. For more information, please call 02-258-0369 to -0373, fax 02-258-0372, or see www.wb-university.org.

The WBU shares the same building with the WFB (World Fellowship of Buddhists), and can be found by our maps below. It is on the third floor. The WBU is open most office hours, and the building can be entered from the rear of the building from the Soi. The front gate that faces the park is generally locked, but there is access to walk through to the rear.

click maps for larger view