Overview

This auspicious year marks the 2600th anniversary of the Buddha’s enlightenment and the turning of the wheel of dhamma. The Buddhist wisdom has propagated the world over, and is taught up to this day by the three vehicles of Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhism, notably in India, the birthplace of the Buddha, and in the Buddhist Kingdom of Thailand.

During the ‘Thai dhamma sessions’ held in Dharamsala on March 14th-15th of 2011, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama alluded to the collaboration between Buddhist practitioners in order to promote Buddhism to the worldwide public. Besides, discussions on this subject had previously been raised with Buddhadasa Bhikkhu twice, at Wat Benjamabopit, Bangkok in 1967, on “Suññatā, Voidness, Anattā and how to interpret the understanding of the dhamma in a simple way”, and at Suan Mokkhabalarama, Surat Thani in 1972, where His Holiness gave a teaching on “Prajñāpāramitā Sutta – The heart of Buddhism”.

The Buddhadasa Indapanno Archives, envisioning the benefits that humanity will gain from more Buddhist unity and collaboration, has sought to organize the visit of a group of Thai Buddhists to India, for a dialogue session with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The dates have been set for December 15th-16th of 2012, in New Delhi.

The objectives for this dialogue session, based on Buddhadasa Bhikku’s ‘three resolutions’, which are “to help everyone penetrate to the heart of their own religion, to create mutual good understanding among all religions and to work together to drag the world out from materialism”, are the following:

1. To gain a better mutual understanding of Buddhist principles, tings and practices adopted by India and Thailand,
2. To serve the dhamma in a way that is most beneficial to the public, Reaching the Same Goal from Different Paths?
3. To promote future religious cooperation,
4. To inspire discipline and strong faith in the dhamma practice.

Course of Action

1. Coordinate with counterparts in India and the committee of H.H. the Dalai Lama to organize a dialogue session with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, a two-day event, composed of two two-hour sessions each day, led by H.H. the Dalai Lama and other Buddhist masters.
2. Invite approximately three hundred Thai Buddhist devotees and respected Buddhist leaders including:
   
   • main guest speakers: Phra Piyasophon Bhikku, Phra Dr. Anilman Dhammasakiyo, Phra Paisal Visalo, Dr. Krissanapong Kirtikara, Dr. Seksan Prasertkul, Dr. Veerathai Santiprapop.
   • Buddhist monks, Buddhist philosophers and intellectuals, and international disciples of Buddhadasa Bhikku,
   • general participants.
3. Seek sponsorship for events and activities, with participants collaboratively offering financial support in the caring of the Buddhist monks. Remaining funds will be donated to support Buddhist activities in India, including the construction of a small vihara for the Tibetan community.
4. A study tours are organized for participants to visit various pilgrimage sites.

Buddhadasa Indapanno Archives

More information: REACHING THE SAME GOAL FROM DIFFERENCE PATHS (PDF)

News

Reaching the Same Goal from Different Paths – Thai Buddhists in Dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama

New Delhi, India, 15th December 2012 – A significant and inspiring event took place today in New Delhi, capital of India the country where Buddhism originated 2600 years ago, when a group of Thai elders among nearly 50 monks and scholars met to engage in an inter-Buddhist dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Discussants from the Thai side included Phrarajnyanakavi, Phra Dr Anil Sakya, Phra Paisal Visalo, Dr Seksan Presertkul, Dr Krissanapong Kirtikara and Dr Veerathai Santiprabhob, while His Holiness was accompanied by Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, Geshe Ngawang Samten, Geshe Lhakdor and Geshe Dorji Damdul. Nearly 300 lay Buddhists from Thailand listened rapt to their deliberations… Read more or download PDF

Postcards