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Opening Address

Mr. Phan Wannamethee

President of The World Fellowship of Buddhists

Most Venerables,
Venerables,
Your Excellency,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of The World Fellowship of Buddhists (The WFB), and its sub-organizations –
the World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth (WFBY), and the World Buddhist University (WBU)
- I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Most Venerable Shinzan Egawa, President of
Japan Buddhist Federation (JBF), to the Executives of JBF, and to the Organizing Committee
for hosting the 29 WFB General Conference, the 20 WFBY General Conference, and the
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11 Meeting of WBU Council. I would also like to thank all personnel who assisted in the
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arduous work of organizing the Conference.
I am delighted that we are all meeting here again in Japan since our last gathering in
Seoul. In the past, Japan hosted The WFB’s 2 General Conference, two years right after our
nd
establishment in B.E. 2493 (1950). It has been 10 years since the last time JBF hosted the 24 th
General Conference in B.E. 2551 (2008). At The WFB inception in Sri Lanka, there were 129
Buddhist delegates from 27 countries in addition to the Sri Lankan participants themselves.
Now 68 years later in B.E. 2561 (2018), I am proud to say that there is no less than 200 regional
centres in 51 countries spreading out in every continent of the world. Today, it is our greatest
pleasure to have you with us at the 29 General Conference. This is the fourth time that JBF
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is hosting The WFB’s General Conference, and impeccable balance of cultures, traditions and
high technology can still be seen in all Japanese ways of living.

Since its inception, The WFB has been striving hard to disseminate the sublime doctrine
of the Buddha for peace and happiness of mankind in order to enhance unity and solidarity
among Buddhists as well as to promote the Buddhist practice. Buddhism, originally practiced
predominately in the East especially in Asia, has grown and has now spread to other continents.
As Buddhism was expanding throughout Asia, different schools have arisen over the centuries and
interacted with various cultures of the continent. Differences between these schools often reflect
cultural, social, and historical conditions and influences. An ideal common to Buddhism in all

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RECORD OF PROCEEDING | THE 29 GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE WFB
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