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Message

Mr. Tsunekiyo Tanaka

Director of Japanese Association of Religious Organizations

As head of the Japanese Association of Religious Organizations (JAORO), I offer my
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congratulations on the occasion of the 29 General Conference of The World Fellowship of
Buddhists (The WFB), the 20 General Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth
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(WFBY) and the 11 Meeting of the World Buddhist University (WBU) Council.
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Adherents from all over the world have gathered for the 29 General Conference of The
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WFB and related conferences to take part in animated discussion of “Compassion in Action:
Creating Hope and Life in Death”. I sincerely pray that the outcome of these discussions will
show the way for “Compassion in Action” going forward.

The Japan Buddhist Federation (JBF), a member of The WFB, marked its 60 anniversary in
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B.E. 2560 (2017) with a commemorative ceremony and a conference in Fukushima prefecture,
where members renewed their determination to continue carrying out disaster relief work and
humanitarian activities both in Japan and abroad. I have the utmost respect for the everyone
from the officers of JBF to members of its member organizations and Buddhists in Japan and
all over the world who work together to tackle difficult issues in the international community.
Members of all faiths have increasingly come to recognize the importance of dialogue and
cooperative activity as they work to achieve world peace.

But despite everyone’s prayers and earnest desire for peace, there is never-ending conflict,
for a variety of reasons, all over the world, and a multitude of issues-nuclear weapons, energy,
the environment, food, violence and poverty-to resolve. Even today, there are still places in the
world where people are unjustly persecuted because of their faith International organizations are
also doing their best to help, but complex relations and conflicts of interest between countries
or ethnic groups make solutions elusive.

While respecting each other’s religious traditions, we faith leaders must work for human
happiness by recognizing our mission and also working to expand and strengthen the circle of
interfaith cooperation.
I pray for the success of the 29 General Conference of The WFB and related conferences
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and hope that the activities of all gathered for these events will bear fruit.

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RECORD OF PROCEEDING | THE 29 GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE WFB
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