Global Buddhist Congregation

To commemorate 2,600 years of Buddha’s Sambodhiprapti and with the aims of preservation and promotion of Dhamma and Buddhist heritage of India, Asoka Mission, under the leadership of Most Venerable Lama Lobzang, convened the Global Buddhist Congregation (GBC) from 27 – 30th November 2011 in New Delhi.

The Congregation was attended by 900 delegates from 46 including the Supreme Holy Patriarchs of Thailand, Sri Lanka, Laos, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia and others, more than a hundred delegates including spiritual masters, recognised scholars and Buddhist lay practitioners from 48 nations.

At the Congregation, it was decided unanimously by the Supreme Patriarchs of Buddhist countries, heads of various traditions, organisations and monasteries, to adopt a Resolution to form the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), an umbrella world Buddhist organisation to be based in India for the protection, preservation and promotion of Buddhist teachings and material heritage. Thus, the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) was registered in New Delhi in November 2012 under the Societies Registration Act 1860.

RESOLUTION
Adopted by the Delegates of Global Buddhist Congregation
30 November 2011, New Delhi

• Whereas heads and representatives from Buddhist Sangha, national Buddhist federations, organisations and institutions from 46 countries gathered in New Delhi from 27-30 November 2011 at the Global Buddhist Congregation (GBC).
• Whereas Buddhists all over the world recognise India as the country where the Buddha Dhamma originated with the Sambodhi Prapti or Enlightenment of Buddha at Bodhgaya and where he taught Dharma for 45 years.
• Whereas there is a need to preserve and conserve sacred sites and holy relics worldwide, particularly those that are historically connected to the life and times of Buddha as well as Buddhist religious and cultural tradition as taught, evolved and practiced over centuries.
• Whereas human civilisation today faces many challenges such as conflict, violence, extremism, discrimination, injustice, inequality, materialisem, environmental degradation, natural disasesters and more, and it is agreed that solutions to these issues of global concern can be found within the principles and values contained in Buddha’s teachings.
• Whereas Buddhists all over the world, represented by the delegates at the GBC, feel the need to develop a common platform that will project a united voice and develop a common response based on the collective wisdom of all Buddhist traditions.
• Therefore the Global Buddhist Congregation 2011 hereby resolves that a new international Buddhist body would be formed that will serve as a platform for Buddhists worldwide, wherein Buddhist traditions are well represented. The body will be called International Buddhist Confederation (IBC). It will operate under the overarching themes of “collective wisdom, united voice” and “universal responsibility.” It will complement the work of existing Buddhist organisations. It will be headquartered in India. A representative working committee has been formed to prepare a draft constitution of the IBC and to convene the first General Conference in order to ratify it.
• The Global Buddhist Congregation further resolves that the responsibilities of the International Buddhist Confederation will include but will not be limited to: – Helping to protect, preserve and promote Buddhist heritage worldwide particularly in India and Nepal.
  –  Providing a common resource of Buddhist knowledge for reference, research, elucidation and education.
  – Presenting a strong and united voice with moral authority to identify, recognise, protect, preserve and revive Buddhist traditions, practices and communities.
  –  Giving priority to reviving, developing and training buddhist communities and Sangha in India.
  –  Emphasising and advancing the role of women in the lay and ordained communities.
  –  Making the Buddha Dhamma more accessible to the younger generation and encouraging them in Dhamma practice, activities and social action.
  – Providing a Buddhist perspective on contemporary issues and presenting Buddhist teachings in a modern context.
  – Providing a forum for dialogue, understanding and cooperation among different Buddhist traditions and schools.
  –  Representing Buddhist values, principles and interests in international forums such as the United Nations.
  –  Assisting and supporting vulnerable and/or under-resourced Buddhist bodies in need of urgent help.
  –  Enhancing the knowledge of new followers of Buddhism by helping them in the study and practice of the Dhamma.
  –  Contributing to peace-building and conflict resolution.
  –  Promoting dialogue, understanding and cooperation among different religions and beliefs.