The Dalai Lama, the Head of a large part of the Thai
Sangha(Sangha Raja) and Venerable Dr. Kyushu Enshinjoh, President of the
World Buddhist Summit, began this historical venture. Dr.
Kyushu Enshinjoh coordinates the interviews of Venerables who are
nominated to represent their countries for these historical Supreme
Council Summits. The underlying goal of the WBC is for
the development of world peace for all peoples through understanding
what the Buddha originally taught.
The confirmed American Representative, Venerable
Bhante Vimalaramsi , along with two other nominees from Finland and New
Zealand, met for a tour of Southern Japan during a preliminary interview
by invitation to Japan in November 2006. He was invited by these three
Venerable Leaders of Buddhism for that visit.
It is the hope of the World Buddhist Summit council to recover the original Buddhist
Teaching and Practice, to then preserve it and pass it along to others
in future generations.
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In 1998 three great leaders of Buddhism came
together for a meeting in Japan to discuss the future of Buddhism in the 21st Century.
The outcome was an agreement to create a World Buddhist
Council that would meet very
two years in this 21st Century. They would meet in one place to discuss the state of Buddhism, cut through cultural differences
and traditions and find their common
ground in order to work together as brothers and sisters for the benefit of
future Buddhist generations.
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Venerable Bhante Vimalaramsi was nominated by other Council members to
represent the United States. Ven. Nandesina of Mexico and other
supporting members put forth his nomination. Venerable was met at the Kansai
International airport by a very
large number of lay people and with flowers on Nov
7th, 2006. He was then introduced to members of the
Nomination Committee and other representatives of the Summit. |
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Lay members dressed in beautiful hand-painted traditional
kimonos met Venerable at the Kansai International airport airport. |
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Ven. Sister Khema accompanied Venerable as first Chair Person for
United International Buddha Dhamma Society (UIBDS). This supporting
non-profit
organization was set up for support of Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center at Jeta's Grove
located near Ironton, Missouri in the U.S. Sister Khema trains and works as
Asst. for Venerable Bhante Vimalaramsi who is the Abbot at Jeta's Grove. |
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Mr. Joseph Stuteville, our Webmaster from Houston,
TX, as a representative from the lay community, also accompanied Venerable on this trip as
his attendant and was a
representative of the lay sangha community. |
Meeting Venerable Hiroshi Fujikura |
The first stop on the tour was to the World Buddhist Council Summit Headquarters to meet
with our formal host and Secretary General of the Buddhist Summit, World
Buddhist Supreme Conference, Venerable Hiroshi Fujikura. |
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An opening tea was offered before adjournment
to an executive meeting room to officially sign in. At this time other
dignitaries were introduced to the
nominees from the U.S., Finland and New Zealand.
Also, the escort team and security support people who would be accompanying us
on the tour of Temples and Shrines in Japan were introduced.
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An itinerary was given out and then all monastics
signed in. |
Venerable U Vimalaramsi Maha Thera |
Venerable U Vimalaramsi signed in for his arrival in the guestbook. |
Sister Khema
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Sister Khema signed in the guestbook.
The environment was very
gracious. There was a beauty, order and calm in the air that followed us
the entire trip.
The support of the lay community of Japan could be felt on this
journey. Their love and respect for the Lord Buddha was evident
everywhere. |
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