International Buddhist Confederation

The International Buddhist Confederation was registered in New Delhi in November 2012 under the Societies Registration Act 1860 based on the Resolution adopted by the Global Buddhist Congregation in 2011,

International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) is a global umbrella Buddhist body headquartered in New Delhi, India. Established under the patronage of the supreme Buddhist religious hierarchy, it currently has a membership drawn from 39 countries, of over 320 organisations, both monastic and lay, that include world bodies, national and regional federations, orders, temple bodies and monasteries, international organisations, institutions etc.

United under the motto “Collective Wisdom, United Voice,” IBC aims to make Buddhist values and principles a part of the global discourse by presenting a united Buddhist voice in issues that concern all humankind. IBC has been hailed by the international media as a forward looking, inclusive, credible and action-oriented world Buddhist umbrella body.

IBC works for the preservation, development and promotion of Buddhist heritage worldwide.

MISSION

The International Buddhist Confederation represents the rich diversity of Buddhism, and provides a platform for the global Buddhist community to share its wisdom and meaningfully participate in the global discourse while at the same time preserving and promoting its shared heritage. Its mission is to gather the collective wisdom of Buddhists around the world to speak with a united voice and to make Buddhist values part of global engagement while working to preserve and promote Buddhist heritage, traditions and practices.

AIMS

1. Providing a common platform to all Buddhist traditions and organisations in the spirit of diversity and plurality to serve humanity and the path of the Dhamma.
2. Lending a united voice to all Buddhist organisations towards addressing, engaging and evolving a Buddhist response to issues of Buddhist and global concern and working with national, state and local governments, global and multilateral bodies and organisations on issues of shared concern.
3. Acting united against all forms of violence and propagating compassion and the concept of interdependent nature to foster true peace in the world.
4. Working towards putting the Buddhist principle of welfare of all sentient beings in practice for preservation of the environment and nature conservation.
5. Fostering interfaith understanding through dialogue, exchange and collaboration.
6. Fostering equality of humankind across the world and also working to foster greater social and gender equality in accordance with Buddhist teachings within the Buddhist world.
7. Deepening understanding among different Buddhist traditions by fostering the familial character of Dhamma while preserving its multifaceted ways, diversified concepts and traditions.
8. Ensuring that the path and practice of the Dhamma retains social relevance in a changing society while honoring its traditions and practices.
9. Exploration, identification, conservation, and preservation of Buddhist holy sites, relics, heritage, practices, traditions and Buddhist cultural assets worldwide.
10.  Facilitating constant dialogue between Buddhism and modern sciences.
11.  Working towards inclusion of Buddhist values and principles in international ethics.

STRUCTURE

PROGRAMS

1. Buddhism in the Global Discourse

IBC aims to develop support for Buddhists to realise that with good motivation and intention, they could contribute to public discourse and debate, and play a role in political life, and agree on a strategy for strengthening of Buddhist representation at the national and international levels.

2. Preservation, Development, Promotion of Pilgrimage Sites

For preservation, development and promotion of pilgrimage sites, IBC aims to conduct a survey of Buddhist sites, particularly those in danger, map and catalogue the sites so that interested Buddhists and preservationists can facilitate their conservation through sponsorship and assistance in terms of material or expertise. IBC also plans to collaborate with the government, universities, and other Buddhist organisations for managing Buddhist heritage sites and holy relics.  

3. Interfaith Dialogue

IBC affirms the right of people to choose and follow their religious faith without fear of persecution. IBC aims to practically foster partnerships and discussions between religious leaders, organisations and other bodies to help improve understanding between people of different faiths, be a convener for interfaith projects, encourage Buddhist heads and heads of other faiths to provide leadership in the area of interfaith relations.  

4. Environment Conservation

IBC aims to establish a structure to focus on environmental issues so they can develop a united voice, identify priority issues and develop policies or position statements on each of these priority issues, develop Buddhist ecological leadership training materials in simple language, complement and support ongoing efforts in members countries and assess the environmental impact of modern Buddhist rituals and recommend alternatives for rituals and practices that have a negative environmental impact.

5. Facilitating Women’s Empowerment

IBC aims to facilitate dialogue and exchange of views and information in order to enable women to engage in the positions in the Buddhist world to which they are entitled. IBC aims to provide gender education and training to its members first to practice true gender equality in all aspects of its planning, empowering both genders to bear the responsibility equally. IBC aims to fight against violence towards women and sex trafficking, which are rampant in many Buddhist countries. IBC aims to help women, especially Buddhist women to receive the education, empowerment, moral support and resources to carry out their share of these goals. IBC pledges to uphold the vision of the founder of Buddhism, a Dharma lived and taught by all four assemblies, Bhikkhus, Bhikkhunis, Upasakas and Upasikas in accordance with the needs of the 21st century.

6. Full Ordination to Nuns

IBC aims to endorse or encourage authentic scholarship and review the issue of full ordination of women in all traditions whether discontinued or yet to be introduced. IBC aims to give support, encouragement and education to nuns within the Theravada and Tibetan Buddhism tradition to enable them to see the advantages of taking full ordination.

7. Youth Outreach

IBC encourages an emphasis in training in vowed morality, be these the monastic precepts or the Five Precepts for lay persons. A Buddhist life is a good life. IBC feels strongly that a greater number of young people and particularly young women, both ordained and lay, must join the Buddhist youth group.

FIRST FOUNDING MEMBERS ENCLAVE

The First Conclave of IBC’s Founding Members was held from 9-12 September 2013 in New Delhi. It was attended by 280 members from 34 countries representing more than 320 organisations. The attendees included the Sangharajas, Mahanayakas and Khamba Lama of Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Mongolia and Russia and representatives of the Supreme Patriarch of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.

FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING

The Conclave formed the First General Assembly (Body) of the IBC (11-12 September 2013), which ratified the IBC Charter and Constitution, and elected its Governing Body (Council) and office bearers for the next three years.  

SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING

The 2nd General Assembly Meeting of the IBC was held on 10 December 2017 in New Delhi. The day-long meeting was attended by delegates, both monastic and lay, representing various Sanghas, Monasteries and Buddhist organisations and supreme Dhamma Patriarchs worldwide. They deliberated on all the issues concerning the IBC and its future. As per the provisions of its constitution, the General Assembly elected a new Governing Council and office bearers for the next three years.

FIRST FOUNDING MEMBERS ENCLAVE

2014

1. Participation in UN Day of Vesak Celebration and IBC Meeting
   8-10 May 2014, Ninh Binh, Vietnam
   A team of 6 members from India including Secretary General of IBC, Venerable Lama Lobzang, attended the UN Day of Vesak Celebration at Ninh Binh, Vietnam hosted by the National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (NVBS). On the sidelines of the celebration, 23 members of IBC from 13 countries met and discussed issues related to setting up of regional/national IBC chapters, corpus and the possibility of holding festivals of Buddhist heritage of India in various countries.
   
2. Visit to Sri Lanka and Formation of Sri Lanka Chapter of IBC
   2 July 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka
   Taking forward the IBC mandate for an inclusive and participatory body with representation of all traditions and Buddhists worldwide, the first IBC Chapter was formed in Sri Lanka during the visit of Lama Lobzang, Secretary General of IBC. Mr. Jagath Sumanthipala, President of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress was selected as the President of the Sri Lanka Chapter of IBC.
   
   Lama Lobzang meeting Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa at Colombo.

3. Exhibition and Talk on Buddhist and Islamic Calligraphy
   8-16 August 2014, New Delhi
   Works of master calligraphers Jamyang Dorjee from Sikkim and Anis Siddiqui from Delhi were displayed at an exhibition titled “Divinity in Syllables” which was attended, among others, by His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa. The two artist calligraphers also gave talks on calligraphy.
   
4. Meeting with Department of Karmik and Adhyatmik Affairs, Arunachal Pradesh
   22 September 2014, New Delhi
   Lama Lobzang, Secretary General of IBC met Shri Jambey Wangdi, Chairman of the Dept. of Karmik and Adhyatmik Affairs, Arunachal Pradesh to discuss development of a Buddhist circuit in the Himalayas and cultural exchange.

Lama Lobzang meeting Chairman, Dept. of Karmik and Adhyatmik Affairs, Arunachal Pradesh.

5. Participation in the Grand Buddhist Council, Sri Lanka
   26-29 September 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka
   An IBC delegation comprising His Eminence T.K. Lochen Tulku Rinpoche, Vice President of IBC, Mrs. Ang Dawa Sherpa of Nepal, Deputy General Secretary of IBC and Venerable Konchok Namgyal, President of the Ladakh Gompa Association attended the Grand Buddhist Council convened by the Bodhu Bal Sena (BBS), Sri Lanka. IBC was invited by BBS as part of its endeavour to engage with the emerging Buddhist movements in South Asia.
   
6. Visit to South Korea and Formation of South Korea Chapter of IBC
   4-8 October 2014, Seoul, South Korea
   Venerable Lama Lobzang, Secretary General of IBC made a formal visit to South Korea and called on the Supreme Patriarch of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism (JOKB). It was agreed that JOKB would be the IBC chapter in South Korea and its Department of Social and International Affairs would handle all matters related to IBC.

Lama Lobzang with the Supreme Patriarch of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism at his temple in Daegu, South Korea.

7. Visit to Japan
   9-12 October 2014, Tokyo, Japan
   Venerable Lama Lobzang, Secretary General of IBC visited Tokyo where he met senior functionaries of the Japan Buddhist Federation (JBF) and the Rissho Kosei-Kai sect, besides other high priests of important temples in Japan namely Rev. Eisho Kawahara, Rev. Ryojun Sato, Rev. Ikuko Hibino and Rev. Mizutani Eikan.

Lama Lobzang meeting senior functionaries of the Japan Buddhist Federation (JBF) at Tokyo during his visit to Japan.

8. Preserving Buddhist Heritage of Gujarat
   19-20 October 2014, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
   An IBC delegation comprising President, Venerable Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, Secretary General, Venerable Lama Lobzang, and Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Harsha Kumara Navaratne met the Secretary of Gujarat Tourism, Smt. Sonal Mishra in connection with the proposed construction of a Grand Vihara at Devni Mori to house the Buddha relic discovered there in the early 1960s. The delegation also visited the proposed site at Devni Mori.
   
9. Poetry and Literary Conclave on “Songs of Milarepa”
   27 October 2014, New Delhi
   Approximately 100 prominent poets and scholars from all over India attended a conclave, organised by IBC in collaboration with the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi on the importance of the “One Hundred Thousand Songs of Awakening” by Milarepa. The keynote address was delivered by His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa.
   
10. Visit to Nepal and Formation of Nepal Chapter of IBC
    17-21 November 2014, Kathmandu, Nepal
    Venerable Lama Lobzang, Secretary General of IBC, visited Nepal and witnessed the coming together of the apex bodies of all the three major Buddhist religious traditions in Nepal (Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana) to form the IBC Chapter in Nepal.
    
11. Governing Body Council Meeting
    10-11 December 2014, Rajgir, Bihar
    The first meeting of the Governing Council of IBC since its election at the First Founding Members Conclave in New Delhi in September 2013 was held in Rajgir. Out of 54 members of the Governing Council, 38 were present. One of the highlights of the meeting was the launch of the official IBC newsletter, Sambodh, to be brought out at quarterly intervals.
    
12. Conference on Challenges facing the Himalayan Region
    20-21 December 2014, Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
    IBC organised multiple events in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh including cultural events and a conference on “Challenges facing the Himalayan Region: Education, Health and Culture” in collaboration with the Department of Karmik and Adhyatmik Affairs (DOKA), Government of Arunachal Pradesh. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju and Mr. Richard Gere, Global Envoy of IBC, were the Chief Guests and delivered the keynote addresses.

Lama Lobzang with Shri Kiren Rijiji, Minister of Home Affairs, and Mr. Richard Gere, Global Envoy of IBC.

2015

13. Meeting of Mr. Richard Gere with Shri Narendra Modi
    5 January 2015, New Delhi
    Mr. Richard Gere, Global Envoy of IBC and Chairman of the Gere Foundation was part of a delegation of prominent Indian and global personalities hosted by the IBC to attend a conference in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. While in Delhi, Mr. Richard Gere called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has taken a keen interest in the revival of Buddhist heritage and restoration of ancient Buddhist sites in Gujarat.

Mr. Richard Gere, Global Envoy of IBC meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

14. MoU between IBC and Gujarat Tourism
    11 January 2015, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
    A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was entered between IBC and the Government of Gujarat to forge a Strategic Partnership for setting up a Buddhist Tourism Circuit that would touch upon various Buddhist sites in Gujarat. According to the MoU, the Government of Gujarat would facilitate IBC to obtain necessarypermissions/registrations/approvals/clearances from the concerned departments of the State as per the existing policies/rules and regulations of the State Government.

Signing of MoU between IBC and Gujarat Tourism, Gandhinagar.

15. Dialogue on Vinaya between Theravada and Mahayana Monks
    18-19 March 2015, New Delhi
    A two-day “Dialogue on Vinaya” was organised by IBC in which senior monks of the Nalanda tradition based in India and high-ranking monks of the Theravada tradition from Sri Lanka discussed Vinaya. Vinaya or the guidelines which the Buddha passed on to his disciples evolved in different forms in different schools of Buddhism. In the Vinaya dialogue, scholars from both Theravada and Mahayana traditions explained their respective Vinaya sutras. The purpose of the dialogue was to iron out differences between different schools.
    
16. Conference on Post-Earthquake Heritage Conservation in Nepal
    June-August 2015, Kathmandu, Nepal
    The Nepal Chapter of IBC organised a two-day conference in association with Buddhist organisations in Nepal to discuss the post-earthquake scenario regarding resources, reconstruction, rehabilitation initiatives and the conservation of Buddhist heritage. A committee was constituted in the presence of Lama Lobzang, Secretary General of IBC to appeal to donors in various countries to repair, renovate and if necessary, relocate the Buddhist heritage sites in Nepal that have been damaged due to the earthquake.

Lama Lobzang meeting with the Ambassador of Nepal in India to discuss heritage reconstruction efforts.

17. Meeting with President of Sri Lanka and New Mahanayaka of Asgiriya
    13-14 June 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka
    On an official visit to Sri Lanks, an IBC delegation led by its Secretary General, Venerable Lama Lobzang called on the President of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, and also met the newly appointed Mahanayaka Thero of Asgiriya Chapter, Most Venerable Galagama Aththdassi Mahanayake Thero.
    
18. Buddhist-Hindu Initiative on Conflict Prevention, Environmental Consciousness
    3-4 September 2015, New Delhi
    Over 21 countries represented by leading scholars, teachers of spirituality and religion, venerable monks, political leaders and former heads of state came together for a 2-day Conference titled “Samvad: Global Hindu-Buddhist Initiative on Conflict Avoidance and Environmental Consciousness” organised by IBC in collaboration with Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) and Tokyo Foundation. The Chief Guest at the Conference was Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The first day of the Conference was devoted to the issue of conflict with participants seeking to evolve a new paradigm that speaks about conflict avoidance rather than conflict resolution. The second day witnessed a dialogue on environmental consciousness as the prime paradigm of socio-cultural cooperation and creative global action.

Delegates from over 20 countries participated in the Conference including Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ms. Chandrika Ranatunga.

19. Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change
    September 2015, New Delhi
    Lama Lobzang, Secretary General of IBC, along with other most senior Buddhists from 37 countries issued a landmark statement titled “The Time to Act is Now: A Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change” – a document urging world leaders to generate the political will to effectively address the problem of climate change.
    
20. Conference on History and Development of Buddhism in the Mekong Region
    13-14 November 2015
    More than 100 Vietnamese and 40 international scholars from different countries participated in a two-day conference organised by HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities and Vietnam Buddhism Institute and supported by IBC to discuss the application of Buddha’s teachings in raising social consciousness about environmental protection of the Mekong region. The Chief Guest for the occasion was His Holiness Thich Tri Quang, the Deputy Sangharaja of the National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

Lama Lobzang presenting IBC Brochure to His Holiness Thich Tri Quang, the Deputy Sangharaja of the National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha during the Conference.

21. Conference on Buddhist Heritage of India’s North-East Region
    18-20 December 2015, New Delhi
    The three-day conference held in Agartala brought together South Asian and Southeast Asian countries and North East region of India. The conference was organised by IBC in collaboration with Asian Confluence, Shillong and Dhamma Dipa Foundation, Tripura. The conference acknowledged that Buddhism and Buddhist heritage sites of North East India could be an effective means of promoting better links between India and SouthEast Asia and that the goal of sustainable development could be realised if policymakers based the ideas and solutions on the template of Buddhist teachings.

2016

22. Interfaith Dialogue on Engaging for Holistic Development
    22-28 January 2016, Colombo, Sri Lanka
    An Interfaith Dialogue on the themes of peace and sustainability was organised by the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) in collaboration with Sadahan Sevana, Sevalanka Foundation and IBC. Around 200 participants from 20 countries, mainly Asian, deliberated on the need to solve common problems, end structural violence and build inner peace and sustainability.
    
23. Celebration of Latiya Mahotsav
    2 February 2016, Gazipur, Uttar Pradesh
    The 20th Latiya Mahotsava celebrations were organised near the Asokan Pillar (Latiya) at Gazipur by Samrat Ashok Club with the support of IBC. The Chief Guest for the occasion was Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Nitish Kumar. The Samrat Ashok Club comprises the members of the Sakya and Maurya communities of India who trace their lineage to the clans of Buddha Sakyamuni and Emperor Asoka respectively.
    
24. IBC Governing Council Meeting
    1-4 March 2016, Ayutthaya, Thailand
    The Governing Council of IBC comprising high-ranking Buddhist monks and scholars from around the world along with the special invitees met at the temple town of Ayutthaya to take stock of the progress of IBC’s work.
    
25. Celebration to mark Birth Anniversary of Emperor Asoka
    14 April 2016, New Delhi
    To mark the Birth Anniversary of the Mauryan Emperor Asoka the Great, a memorial celebration titled “Chakravarti Samrat Ashok Mahan Janmahotsav” was organised at Asoka Mission campus by IBC in collaboration with Akhil Bharatiya Shakya Mahasabha, Akhil Bharatiya Maurya Mahasangh, Kushwaha Samaj Delhi, All India Saini Sewa Samaj, Tathagat Shakyamuni Gautam Buddha Sanstha, Apne Log and Samrat Priyadarshi Youth federation of India. Asoka may be credited with ensuring the status of Buddhism as one of the great religions of the world. Asoka is a national icon in India.
    
26. Buddha Poornima Diwas Celebration 
    21 May 2016, New Delhi
    Various Buddhist organisations of India came together to celebrate the auspicious occasion of Buddha Poornima in a grand manner under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with IBC. Buddha Poornima or Vesak is regarded as the thrice-sacred day that celebrates three momentous events in the history of humankind, namely Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death. Considering the enormous significance of the day, in 1999, the United Nations passed a resolution to observe the day internationally as the UN Day of Vesak. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Chief Guest at the Buddha Poornima celebrations announced in 2015 that the day would be commemorated and celebrated in India as an annual event. The predominant message of the event was to practice and spread the teachings of the Buddha to address conflict and violence and conserve nature and resources.

Lighting of the malp at the Buddha Poornima Diwas Celebration. L-R: Union Minister, Rajnath Singh, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Human Resource Development, Upendra Khushwaha and IBC General Secretary Lama Lobzang.

27.  New Vihara in Deokhali
    20 June 2016, Deokhali, Uttar Pradesh
    Lama Lobzang, Secretary General of IBC, laid the foundation stone of Samrat Ashok Buddha Vihar in the small village of Deokhali in Uttar Pradesh to propagate Dhamma in the countryside. The villagers of Deokhali organised a Vishwa Shanti March (March for World Peace) with Buddhist slogans written on the hoardings.