ENGAGED BUDDHIST FESTIVAL OF PEACE AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION
The Festival to cerebrate our 20th Anniversary - New Schedule
INEB is the network of Buddhist monks, nuns, thinkers, social activists and community leaders. Our aim is to integrate the Buddha’s messages on wisdom and compassion for social transformation to achieve a healthy, just and peaceful world. INEB would reach our 20th Anniversary in 2009. It is a good time for us to share our experiences with the likeminded peace workers worldwide, and to inspire one another along the path.
Activities:
10-12 Nov 2009
Meditation retreat
13-15 Nov 2009
INEB conference on accomplishment, challenges and strategies for engaged Buddhist movements.
15 Nov 2009
Cultural event for peace and social transformation
16 Nov 2009
International alms round
16 Nov 2009
Walking tour to cherish “Ancient temples and ancient trees amid the urbanizing Chiangmai city”
16 Nov 2009
Public lecture
17 Nov 2009
Public discussion, seminar and workshops on socially engaged Buddhism
17 Nov 2009
Peace walk
Venue: Suan Dok Temple and Meditation Center of MCU, Chiangmai, Thailand (Siam) For more information: please contact
For more information on INEB Conference, please click Download program information and registration form, please click
Petition to Thai government for our patron
INEB needs you help to invite H.H. the Dalai Lama to Thailand
International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) is very fortunate to be under the patronage of great Buddhist leaders who devote their lives for happiness and benefit of all sentient beings. They are His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (Vajrayana), Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh (Mahayana), Venerable Phra Rajapanyamedhi (Theravada) and Venerable Bhikshuni Chao-Hwei (Mahayana Bhikshuni). In the past INEB was under the patronage of the late Bikkhu Buddhadasa and the late Venerable Maha Ghosananda. The 20th Anniversary of INEB is the right time to welcome our patrons and to receive their blessing in the INEB Conference 2009 and Festival of Peace, the special event to celebrate our anniversary.
As for H.H. the Dalai Lama, he visited Siam thrice. In 1967, His Holiness was granted an audience with H.M. the King Bhumipol and met with the Prime Minister. His Holiness came again in 1972 to visit Suan Mokkh where he discussed Buddhist teachings with Bhikkhu Buddhadasa. Unfortunately, since the Sino-Thai diplomatic relations began in 1975, Thai government had not been in favor of His Holiness' visit. Only in 1993, thanks to H.M. the King's intervention, His Holiness could come to Bangkok to join the other Nobel Peace Laureates in an international campaign for human rights for Burma. It was a 27-hour visit during which His Holiness was accommodated in the same temple where his "spiritual brother", the Siam's Supreme Patriarch stayed.
INEB and its sister organizations in Siam have made several attempts in vain to invite His Holiness to Siam again. Despite the Thai government's response that His Holiness's visit will not harm the Sino-Thai relations, the government could not process the visa claiming political reasons in Siam at the time of our request (the coup d'etat in February 1991 and the dissolution of the House of Parliament in November 2000). M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, who was then Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Democrat Party-led coalition insisted in 2000 that Thai Government from the Chatchai Choonhavan's onward has not expressed disapproval of His Holiness's visit to Siam, the country that claims itself a Buddhist land. M.R. Sukhumbhand himself met Mr. Tashi Wangdi, Tibetan Minister of Religion, and ascertained him of His Holiness' visit to Bangkok.
It is fortunate that the Democrat Party is now a government. We would like to see the Democrat government, under leadership of Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, fulfill the promise of its deputy foreign minister in the year 2000 regarding the visit of His Holiness. We hope that Mr. Abhisit and the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kasit Piromya, make a bold step and support the invitation of His Holiness to preside over our celebration of the INEB's 20th Anniversary which is the gathering of the Buddhists from many countries and sects in Chiangmai in November 2009.
As for Mr. Sulak Sivaraksa, the co-founder of INEB, he now has to face lèse majesté charges again despite his sincerity to the Thai monarch. We are hopeful that the new Prime Minister would be committed to the H.M. the King Bhumibol's opinion given several years ago on the royal birthday that such an allegation do harm to him more harm than good.
We are seeking help from INEB friends and the Buddhists worldwide. If you share our vision that His Holiness the Dalai Lama should chair the conferences and events to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) in Siam, please write to our new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kasit Piromya (E-mail: , and fax +662 643 5320, +662 643 5314) to encourage him to approve an entry visa for His Holiness.
Besides, you may like to write to Mr. Kasit to inform him that lèse majesté legal provisions in Siam should no longer be used for political motives as they have been. This charge shall affect the Thai monarchy as well as human rights protection, political justice and democratization process in Siam in a long run.
INEB is hopeful that with your petition to the Thai government via Minister of Foreign Affairs, we would be able to welcome His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Mr. Sulak Sivaraksa in our Conference in November 2009. Please accept our sincere thanks.
Yours in the Dhamma, Anne Lapapan Supamanta Executive Secretary
Articles
Annoucement
Call for Workshop Presentation
The International Network of Engaged Buddhists will hold its 20th anniversary celebration from November 15-21, 2009 in Chiangmai, Thailand. Public symposia, workshops and seminars will be held for any interested persons or groups during the first three days of the Festival. This announcement is a call for submission of workshop presentations. Key information about the workshops: * Workshops are scheduled for November 15, 16, and 17, 2009, between 1:30 and 5:30 p.m.. Each workshop can be from 45 minutes to 4 hours long. * The workshops are to be interactive, experiential or skill-building and NOT a lecture or a reading of paper. * The topic of the workshop should fall under one (or more) of the following INEB areas of concern and engagement: Peace and Reconciliation, Environment, Gender, Alternative Education, Human Rights and Social Justice, Alternative Development and Economics, Community Development, Reform and Revival of Buddhist Institutions, Youth and Spiritual Leadership Development.
* Proposals for workshops with themes that fall outside of the above areas are welcome and will be considered by the committee for their relevance and appropriateness.
* The submission deadline is May 31, 2009. The review committee will inform people who submit the proposals of the selection outcome by the end of June, 2009.
Any interested persons are invited to send a 1-2 pages outline of the workshop along with the application form to Ms. Anchalee Kurutach at
. A copy can also be sent to INEB secretariat Ms. Anne Lapapan at
. If e-mailing is not possible, the application can be mailed or faxed to INEB office at 666 Charoen Nakorn Rd., Banglmphu Lang, Klongsan, Bangkok 10600, THAILAND Tel: 662 860 2194, Fax 662 860 1277
INEB 2009 WORKSHOP PRESENTATION – Application Form Submission Deadline – May 31, 2009
Length of time (how long will the workshop be):______________ Time preferred (from 1:30-5:30 p.m.):_______________________ Date preferred: ____Nov.15 ____Nov.16 ____Nov.17 Number of participants (how many people per workshop):________ Special request:
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