The World Buddhist Sangha Council (WBSC)

The World Buddhist Sangha Council (WBSC)

The World Buddhist Sangha Council (WBSC) is an international non-government organisation (NGO) whose objectives are to develop the exchanges of the Buddhist religious and monastic communities of the different traditions worldwide, and help to carry out activities for the transmission of Buddhism. It was founded in Colombo, Sri Lanka in May 1966.

WBSC's current Honorary President is Ven. Wu Ming of Taiwan; its Honorary Vice-President is Sik Kok Kwong of Hong Kong. Among the members of its Board of Elders are Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda (deceased), Ven. Somdej PhraBuddhacarya, and Ven. Thich Tam-Chau.

The World Buddhist Sangha Council has representatives from Theravada,Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism and from the following regions: Australia,Bangladesh, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia,Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand,Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

During the First Congress, the founder Secretary-General, the late VenerablePandita Pimbure Sorata Thera requested the Ven. Walpola Rahula to present a concise formula for the unification of the different traditions, which was then unanimously approved by the Council. These are the nine "Basic Points Unifying the Theravada and Mahayana".

Text of the Original DocumentEdit

1) The Buddha is our only Master (teacher and guide)
2) We take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha (theThree Jewels)
3) We do not believe that this world is created and ruled by a God.
4) We consider that the purpose of life is to develop compassionfor all living beings without discrimination and to work for their good, happiness, and peace; and to develop wisdom (prajñā) leading to the realization of Ultimate Truth
5) We accept the Four Noble Truths, namely duḥkha, the arising ofduḥkha, the cessation of duḥkha, and the path leading to the cessation of duḥkha; and the law of cause and effect (pratītyasamutpāda)
6) All conditioned things (saṃskāra) are impermanent (anitya) andduḥkha, and that all conditioned and unconditioned things (dharma) are without self (anātma) (see trilaksana).
7) We accept the thirty-seven qualities conducive to enlightenment (bodhipakṣadharma) as different aspects of the Path taught by the Buddha leading to Enlightenment.
8) There are three ways of attaining bodhi or Enlightenment: namely as a disciple (śrāvaka), as a pratyekabuddha and as asamyaksambuddha (perfectly and fully enlightened Buddha). We accept it as the highest, noblest, and most heroic to follow the career of a Bodhisattva and to become a samyaksambuddha in order to save others.
9) We admit that in different countries there are differences regarding Buddhist beliefs and practices. These external forms and expressions should not be confused with the essential teachings of the Buddha.