International Association of Buddhist Universities

(15-16 January 2011) - IABU Secretariat: The International Council for the United Nations Day of Vesak (IABU) met from 15-16 January 2011, and expressed their commitment for the upcoming 11-16 May 2011 United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations, to be held with Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, at Wangnoi, Ayutthaya Province, Thailand. This will be the 8th UNDV, and the academic portion of the conference is once being overseen by the International Association of Buddhist Universities (IABU). Again, the themes for the conference are as follows:

Main Theme: Buddhist Virtues in Social and Economic Development

Discussing the sub-themes:
--Buddhist Leadership and Socio-Economic Development
--Building a Harmonious Society
--Environmental Preservation and Restoration
--Wisdom for Awakening Society

Further discussed were the Union Catalog of Buddhist Texts - a project were all of the Buddhist canons will be available on-line in a searchable format; and the Common Buddhist Text project which aims to have their draft version of the text ready for the 2nd IABU Symposium in December 2011. The themes for the December conference again, are:

2nd International Association of Buddhist Universities Academic Conference
Dates: 15-19 December 2011
Location: Bangkok, Thailand (Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University)

Main Theme: Buddhist Philosophy and Praxis
Discussing advanced-topics within the sub-themes:
---Buddhist Philosophy and Meditation Practices
---Unifying Buddhist Philosophical Views Teaching
---Dhamma in New Lands
---Buddhist Psychotherapy
---Buddhist Texts and Commentaries

Please contact the Secretariat Manager for any questions.