Mar 17 (IL) The two-day global Buddhist conference on 'Buddhist humanitarian services in a post-tsunami context', organized by the Asian Buddhist Congress (ABC), and the Buddhist Resources Centre (BRC), Sri Lanka, will be held at the BMICH on March 19 and 20.
Delegates from 16 countries, including from the west, will meet in Sri Lanka, with a view to forming the first international Buddhist relief organisation, similar to the Red Cross and the Red Crescent. The idea to hold such a conference has been canvassed by the coordinator of the BRC, Sri Lanka, and former senior advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia, Dr. Hema Goonatilake. The delegates will discuss the structure of the organisation based on Buddhist principles.
ABC president Olcott Gunasekera told Lankapuvath that the aim of establishing a Buddhist humanitarian service organisation said the recent tsunami disaster created the need for such an organisation.
The tsunami disaster turned the temples into centres providing relief and virtually became camps for the displaced. "We have seen for ourselves how the Buddhist monks treated all who came to them, disregarding their race, religion or colour. They did really put into practice the teaching of the Buddha, to serve all out of compassion for their good and their welfare," he said.
