THE 11TH
SAKYADHITA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BUDDIST WOMEN - HO CHI MINH CITY,
VIETNAM
28 DEC
2009 – 03 JAN 2010
PART I:
AN OVERVIEW OF THE
11TH
SAKYADHITA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BUDDHIST WOMEN
I.
BACKGROUND AND
EVENTS
1.
Background:
Sakyadhita (“Daughters of the Buddha”) is an
international alliance committed to transforming the lives of women in
Buddhist societies. This international alliance was founded at the
conclusion of the 1st International Conference on Buddhist
Women, held in Bodhgaya, India, in 1987. Sakyadhita seeks to unite
Buddhist women of various countries and traditions to promote their
welfare and to facilitate their work for the benefits of humanity.
At present, Sakyadhita has representatives from 47
countries, including Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma,
Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, France, U.K., Italy, Germany, U.S.A., Sweden,
India, Japan, Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Mexico, Malaysia, Nepal, Russia,
Sri Lanka, Singapore, Taiwan, Tibet, and so on.
2. Events:
In January 2009, Most Venerable Karma Lekse Tsomo,
President of Sakyadhita International Buddhist Women arrived in Vietnam
to request for permission of Venerable Masters on the Vietnam Buddhist
Sangha’s Administrative Board to organize the 11th Sakyadhita
International Conference in Vietnam. Venerable Leaders has kindly
granted their consent and proceeded to submit a proposal for the
official permission of the Vietnamese government.
On April 8, 2009, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha
received Notice No. 289/TGCP-PG of the Government Religious Committee
informing that the Prime Minister of Vietnam has granted the permission
to hold the 11th Sakyadhita International Buddhist Women
Conference in Vietnam as proposed by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
II.
OBJECTIVES
Sakyadhita International Buddhist Women Association
includes all those who are concerned about the development of Buddhism
in general and Buddhist women in particular. Sakyadhita members are
engaged in a wide variety of projects to achieve gender equity in
Buddhism and equal opportunities for education and training for Buddhist
women around the world. They cooperate to help potential women as
scholars, practitioners, teachers, counselors, artists, community
organizers, and compassionate social activists to develop their
abilities. Sakyadhita’s chief objectives are:
-
To establish an
international alliance of Buddhist women;
-
To advance the
spiritual and secular welfare of the world’s women;
-
To work for gender
equity in Buddhist education, training, institutional structures,
and ordination;
-
To promote harmony
and exchange the Buddhist traditions and other religions;
-
To encourage
research and publications on topics of interest to Buddhist women;
-
To foster
compassionate social actions for the benefits of humanity;
-
To promote world peace through the practice of
the Buddha’s teachings.
In order to achieve the above objectives, every two
years, Sakyadhita holds international conferences on Buddhist women in
different countries. So far, Sakyadhita International Conferences have
been held in Bodhgaya, India (1987), Bangkok, Thailand (1991), Colombo,
Sri Lanka (1993), Ladakh, India (1995), Phnom Penh, Cambodia (1998),
Lumbini, Nepal (2000), Taipei, Taiwan (2002), Seoul, Korea (2004), Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia (2006), and Ullanbator, Mongolia (2008)
III.
PLAN:
The conference plan was
made by the 11th Sakyadhita Conference Organising Committee
(include Sakyadhita International Organizing Committee and Vietnamese
Organizing Committee). Conference Organising Committee will be
responsible for international and national publicity and promotion,
registration of international participants, and the conference plan in
general as well as location of the conference, accommodations and
transportations (including different tours), food and beverages with all
meals being vegetarian.
Sakyadhita’s
conference is expected to welcome approx 2500 delegates and guests, in
which are about 380 international delegates from 37 countries, and 2120
domestic delegates and guests.
IV. CONFERENCE THEME
The conference theme is “Eminent Buddhist Women”.
Until recently, Buddhist women were largely absent from Buddhist
histories. Since 1987, Sakyadhita members have made conscientious
efforts to encourage research on the lives and achievements of both
laywomen and nuns in Buddhist societies. The 11th Sakyadhita
Conference will encourage further efforts.
·
Main Theme:
Eminent Buddhist
Women
·
Sub-themes:
a.
Panel topics:
1.
Buddhist Women of Vietnam
2.
Buddhist Women of the World
3. Buddhist Women and Leadership
4. Eminent Women in
Early Buddhist History
5. Eminent Buddhist Women
in Text and Reality
6. Women Writing Buddhism:
Poetry and Oral History 7. Buddhist Women’s Communities
8. Living Simply,
Protecting the Environment
9.
Eminent Buddhist Women of the 20th Century
10. Socially Engaged Buddhist
Women
11. Buddhist Education across Cultures
12. Diverse Dharma
Paths
13. Exceptional Role Models
b.
Workshops
1.
The Healing
Power of Bowing in Gratitude
Paula Arai
2.
Deep Conscious
Capitalism: A Mindful Experiment in System Change
Susmita
Barua
3.
Mindful Asian
Dance: Cultural Impact along the Buddhist Path
Hyunmi Cho
4.
The Known and
the Unknown: Demystifying Buddhist Organizational Management
Roseanne
Freese
5.
The Art of
Dialogue
Patricia
Galaczy
6.
Buddhist Women
and the Environment
Savinder
Kaur Gill (with Sonam Wangmo)
7.
Deep Listening
Skills
Tova Green
and Anna Thorn
8.
Compassionate
Communications
Claralynn
Nunamaker
9.
Conflict
Resolution
Claralynn
Nunamaker
10.
Dharma in
Motion, Mindfulness in Action: Creating Ecological Awareness and
Sustainable Practices
Ashley
Pryor
11.
Mindfulness
Yoga: Stillness in Movement
Shirley
(Jayanta) Johannesen
12.
Global Peace
Through Interfaith Peace Building
Marylynn
SmithKenefick
13.
Meditation
through Singing and Tea
Shen-chon
Lai
14.
Buddhist Women
and Animal Welfare
Sonam
Wangmo (with
Savinder Kaur Gill)
15.
Mindfulness
and Stress Reduction
Barbara
Wright
16.
Walking
Together in Diversity on the Buddha´s Path
Rotraut
(Jampa) Wurst
17.
Working with
Survivors of Domestic Violence
Barbara
Yen and Yuk Suat Lee
18.
Empowerment
and Assertiveness Training For the New Millennium
Barbara
Yen and Yuk Suat Lee
V.
DATES AND LOCATIONS:
·
Date:
From 28 December 2009 through 03 January 2010
·
LOCATION:
The Ho Chi Minh City Municipal Buddhist Sangha’s Cultural Hall, Pho
Quang Monastery, Tan Binh Dist., Ho Chi Minh City is the place where
will be taken place all activities of the conference, such as: Opening
ceremony, closing ceremony, conference panels and workshops, cultural
and fine art activities.
VI.
PARTICIPANTS AND GUESTS
·
Number of
participating nations:
Approx. 37 nations
·
Total
number of national and international participants:
2500 participants are
estimated to attend the conference. (Full estimated list shall be
submitted in a separate document)
·
International participants:
An estimation of 20 Buddhist women associations which include the
Bhikkhuni Presidents and the Most Venerables representing the nun
communities in different Buddhist countries, and lecturers, speakers,
scholars, and post graduate students from universities the world over.
·
National
participants: The
Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Board of Acknowledgment, Administrative Board,
Municipal Buddhist Sanghas’ Administrative Committees, Most Venerables
on the Central and Provincial Bhikkhuni Sangha’s Executive Committees,
and representatives of Buddhist women in Vietnam.
·
Guests of
honour: Officials
from different governmental offices
|
ESTIMATED PARTICIPANTS |
Number |
Notes |
|
International participants |
380 |
|
|
-
Representatives from different Embassies and international
organizations
|
20 |
|
|
-
Representatives from international Buddhist associations and
Buddhist scholars the world over |
360 |
|
|
Domestic participants |
1493 |
|
|
-
Representatives from Vietnamese governmental offices and
authorities |
150 |
|
|
-
Venerable Masters of the
Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Board of Acknowledgment,
Administrative Board, Municipal Buddhist Sanghas’ Administrative
Committees |
115 |
|
|
-
Representatives of the Bhikkhuni Sangha and Buddhist followers
nation-wide. |
750 |
|
|
- The
Organising Committee of the 11th Sakyadhita
Conference (Vietnam)
-Members
of sub-committee |
450
358 |
Please
see the attached list. |
|
-
International and Vietnamese media |
30 |
|
|
Ven.
Nuns from cities, provirnves, 3 Buddhist Universities in
Vietnam, Buddhist High and Junior College in Ho Chi Minh City
and lay Buddhist nationwide |
816 |
|
|
Total |
2413 |
|
PART
II: PROGRAMME
27 Dec
2009: Participants arrive in Ho Chi
Minh City
28 Dec 2009: Opening Ceremony
29 Dec 2009 –
2 Jan 2010: Conference sessions: Talks, Group
Discussions, Q&A Sessions and Workshops
3 Jan
2010: Closing Ceremony
4 – 5 Jan 2010:
Temple Tour in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai &
Ba Ria Vung Tau Province
6-10 Jan
2010: Optional tour to Hue and Hanoi
DAILY SCHEDULE
|
Date |
Time |
Activities/Events |
Location /
Personnel |
|
Dec 28th 2009 |
6:00 am |
Wake up
|
Hotel and other
Accommodations. |
|
|
6:30am |
Breakfast
|
Hotels and other accommodations
|
|
|
7:30 am |
Welcome
Venerable Monks, Venerable Nuns,
delegates and guests to Conference venue |
Mail Hall |
|
|
8:15 am |
Welcome
Venerable Masters the Vietnam
Buddhist Sangha’s Board of Acknowledgment, Administrative Board,
Municipal Buddhist Sanghas’ Administrative Committees,
distinguished guests to Conference venue
- Traditional
Buddhist Chanting by Vietnamese Buddhist nuns and
Representatives of International Sakyadhita members.
|
Reception Hall to
Main Hall, Organising Committee
|
|
|
8:30 am |
- Opening Ceremony
1. Recite the Buddha
name
2. Salute the flags
(National and Buddhist flags)
3. State the Reason
of Opening Ceremony
4. Introduce the
participants and distinguished guests |
MC |
|
|
9:30 am |
- Words
of Opening Ceremony by Chair
Organising
Committee of the 11th
Sakyadhita Conference in Ho Chi Minh City
- Words
of Opening Ceremony by Sakyadhita’s Founder President
- Flower
Offering
-
Greeting Conference Flowers from Organizations and associations
-
The Congratulation
letter of Mr. Nguyen Minh Triet – Presidents of Vietnam.
-
Remarks by–
the Chair of Vietnamese Women Union of Socialist Republic of
Vietnam
- Remarks by the
Head of the Executive Council of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha
- Vote of thanks to
distinguished guests and delegates by the Presentative of
Organising Committee.
- Photography
session |
- Most Ven Bhikkhuni
Thich Nu Huyen Hue – President of 11th Sakyadhita
Organizing Committee
- Dr. Karma Lekse
Tsomo
- Vietnamese
Children
- Mrs Nguyen Thi
Doan
- Mrs. Nguyen Thi
Thanh Hoa
- His Holiniess
Thích Trí Quảng
- Most Ven.
Bhikkhuni Tịnh Nguyện
- Outside |
|
|
11:30 am |
Lunch |
|
|
Afternoon |
1:00 pm |
Vietnamese Keynote
speech |
Main Hall
|
|
|
3:00 pm |
Break |
Main Hall
|
|
|
3:15 pm |
International
Sakyadhita member’s Keynote speech |
Main Hall |
|
|
5:00 pm |
Dinner |
|
|
|
6:00 pm |
Cultural performance |
Main Hall |
|
|
8:00 pm |
Participants
transferred to hotel and accommodation |
|
|
Dec 29th –Jan 2nd 2010 |
6:00 am |
Wake up
|
Hotel and other
Accommodations. |
|
|
6:30 am |
Breakfast |
Hotel and other
Accommodations. |
|
|
7:30 am |
Participant arrival |
Main Hall |
|
|
8:00am |
Meditation |
Buddha Main Hall |
|
|
8:30am
|
Morning session with
Q&A |
Main Hall
|
|
|
10:15am |
Tea break |
|
|
|
10:30am |
Small group
discussions |
Main Hall |
|
Afternoon |
11:30am |
Lunch |
|
|
|
1:00 pm |
Afternoon session
with Q&A |
Main Hall/ |
|
|
3:00 pm |
Tea break |
|
|
|
3:15pm |
Discussion groups
and workshops |
Main Hall |
|
|
5:00 pm |
Dinner |
Main Hall |
|
|
6:00 pm |
Cultural
performances and Dharma discourses
|
Main
Hall/Performances to be announce |
|
-
NOTE: Three nights of Dharma discourses (12/29, 12/31,
01/02) by Ven. Lekshe Tsomo, Ven. Thich nu Tinh Thuong and
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo
Three nights
of Cultural performances (12/30, 01/01, 01/03)
|
|
|
8:00pm |
Participants
transferred to hotel and accommodation |
|
|
Jan 3rd 2010 |
6:00 am |
Wake up
|
Hotel and other
Accommodations. |
|
|
6:30 am |
Breakfast |
Hotel and other
Accommodations. |
|
|
7:30 am |
Welcome
Venerable Monks, Venerable Nuns,
delegates and guests to Conference venue |
|
|
|
8:15 am |
Welcome
Venerable Masters the Vietnam
Buddhist Sangha’s Board of Acknowledgment, Administrative Board,
Municipal Buddhist Sanghas’ Administrative Committees,
distinguished guests to Conference venue |
Main Hall/
International Delegates |
|
|
8:30 am |
- Closing Ceremony
1. Recite the Buddha
name
2. Introduce the
participants and distinguished guests |
Main Hall
|
|
|
9:00 am |
Conference Report
|
Most Ven. Bhikkhuni
Nhut Khuong |
|
|
9:10 am |
- Remarks by the
Head of the Executive Council of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha
- Presentation
- Joint Declaration
- Announce the next
host country of 12th Sakyadhita and transfering the Sakyadhita
flag
- Vote of thanks to
distinguished guests and delegates and sponsors by the
Presentative of Organising Committee.
- Dedication |
- His Holiness
Thích Thanh Tứ
- Most Ven.
Bhikkhuni Tịnh Nguyện
- Dr. Karma Lekse
Tsomo
- Most Ven.
Bhikkhuni Huệ Hương |
|
|
11:30 am |
Lunch |
Buffet outside Main
Hall |
|
|
1:00 pm |
Meeting of
Sakyadhita Organizing Committee |
Main Hall |
|
Jan 4th 2010 |
6:30 am |
Breakfast |
Hotel
|
|
Jan 4th 2010 |
8:00 am |
Visiting and
expressing gratitude to:
-
Leaders of the Vietnam Buddhist
Sangha’s Board of Acknowledgment in National Office 2 of Vietnam
Buddhist Sangha
- Municipal
Buddhist Sangha’ s Administrative Committee in Ho Chi Minh City
- Leaders of
Municipal People Committee in Ho Chi Minh City
- Internal Relation
Office/ Government Religious Committee
|
- Representatives of
11th
Sakyadhita Organizing Committtee
|
|
|
8:00am |
- Visiting Vinh
Phuong Nunnery, Duoc Su Nunnery |
International
Delegates |
|
|
11:00 am |
- Visiting and
Having Lunch at Ngoc Phuong Vihara |
International
Delegates |
|
|
1:00 pm-
|
Visiting:
- Hue Lam Nunner
-Tu Nghiem Nunnery
- Buddhist High and
Junior College in Ho Chi Minh City
- Dieu Giac Nunnery
|
in Ho Chi Minh City |
|
Jan 5th 2010 |
6:00 am |
Wake up & Breakfast |
|
|
|
7:00 am |
Temple Tour:
- Vien Chieu Zen
Nunnery |
Dong Nai Provine |
|
|
10:30 am |
- Van Phat Monastery |
Dai Tong Lam Region |
|
|
11:30 am |
- Visiting and
Having Lunch at Thien Hoa Nunnery |
Dai Tong Lam Region |
|
|
1:00 pm |
Visiting Hai Van
Nunnery, Quan Am Nam Hai Nunnery, Thich Ca Phat Dai Temple and
Van Phuoc Nunnery |
Ba Ria Vung Tau
Province |
|
|
5:00 pm |
Departure back Ho
Chi Minh City with Takeaway Dinner |
|
Jan 6th - 10th 2010 |
|
Optional tour:
Visiting Hue, Ha Noi, Sangha’s Board of Acknowledgment in
National Office 1 of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Internal Relation
Office/ Government Religious Committee |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE,
THE 11TH SAKYADHITA
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, 2009
PRESIDENT OF ORGANISING
COMMITTEE