In a declaration that’s unlikely to go down well with China as it strives hard to emerge as a “soft power” in the Buddhist world, the international Buddhist congregation which concluded here Wednesday has decided to set up an International Buddhist Confederation headquartered in India.
The announcement came in the presence of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who spoke at the valedictory function. The Dalai Lama limited his speech to religion and refused comment on the cancelled talks, saying it was a political question. He also did not address a press conference as scheduled, possibly owing to the heat and dust the conference has raised in Beijing.
A resolution passed at the end of the conference decided that among IBC’s tasks will be to protect, preserve and promote Buddhist heritage worldwide, and in particular in India and Nepal. This again will raise Beijing’s hackles as it is believed it has been backing a Hong Kong-based NGO, the Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooperation Foundation which was trying to usurp the development of Lumbini, Buddha’s birthplace in Nepal. However, the Nepalese government stepped in and decided to reject any such moves without its involvement.
On paper, the resolution was also careful to mention that the IBC “will complement and not compete with the work of existing Buddhist organisations”. However, for all intents and purposes, the IBC is expected to serve as a countervailing force to the Chinese-backed World Buddhist Forum which has met twice in the last five years. It’s third meeting is to be held in 2012.
The preamble to the resolution says Buddhists the world over “feel the need to develop a common platform that will project a united voice and develop a common response based on the collective wisdom of all Buddhist traditions”.