The World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) is an international Buddhist organization. It was founded in 1950 in Colombo, Sri Lanka by representatives from 27 nations. Although Theravada Buddhists are most influential in the organization, (its headquarters are in Thailand and all of its presidents have been from Sri Lanka or southeast Asia), members of all Buddhist schools are active in the WFB. It now has regional centers in 35 countries, including India, the United States, Australia, and several nations of Africa and Europe, in addition to traditional Buddhist countries.
The aims and objectives of the World Fellowship of Buddhists are:
- To promote among the members strict observance and practice of the teachings of the Buddha
- To secure unity, solidarity, and brotherhood amongst Buddhists
- To propagate the sublime doctrine of the Buddha
- To organize and carry on activities in the field of social, educational, cultural and other humanitarian services
- To work for happiness, harmony and peace on earth and to collaborate with other organizations working for the same ends.
The current president is Phan Wannamethee of Thailand serving since 1999, while Venerable Hsing Yun of the Republic of China serves as honorary president.
Famous quotes containing the words world and/or fellowship:
“Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay,
Might stop a hole to keep the wind away.
O that that earth which kept the world in awe
Should patch a wall t’expel the winter’s flaw!”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“Have no fellowship with one that is mightier and richer than thyself: for how agree the kettle and the earthen pot together? For if the one be smitten against the other, it shall be broken.”
—Apocrypha. Ecclesiasticus 13:2.