Headquarters

H.M. King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun has appointed Somdej Phra Maha Munivongse, Abbot of Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram Temple in Bangkok, to be the 20th Supreme Patriarch of The Royal Kingdom of Thailand with the title of His Holiness Somdej Phra Ariyawongsakhatayan (Amporn Ampharo).

On 4 February B.E.2560 (2017) The World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB), the World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth (WFBY), and Sirindhornrajavidyalai Foundation under Royal Patronage had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Lord Buddha Musuem of Debsirindrawas Ratchaworavihara Temple, Thailand on dissemination of Buddhism ‘Cultivating Ethics into Humankind’.  This will enable Buddhism be propagated more worldwide.

Venerable Master Khangser Rinpoche, Spiritual Leader of Dipankara Buddhist Organization led the group of 20 organization members from Taiwan and Vietnam visited The WFB Headquarters on 31 January B.E. 2560 (2017) of which Mr. Phallop Thaiarry, Secretary-General of The WFB had welcomed them.  They also discussed about intention to work together for promoting Teaching of the Lord Buddha, peace and happiness of mankind.

Since early December B.E. 2559 (2016) heavy rains and flash floods wreak havoc to thousands families, farmland, roads and cut off communication in most areas.  Floods had expanded in many areas of Nakhorn Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Yala, Trang, Narathiwat and Phatthalung.  The water level in some municipality was about 40-100 cm high making impassable for vehicles.  Although the Royal Government of Thailand and provincial authorities had evacuated people to the safer zone, life necessities are needed.

Rev. Kang Mun Song (center in the picture), Head Master of Dongrea Won Buddhist Temple in Busan, and his family including Rev. Sunmi Choi (far left in the picture) from Won-Buddhism, which is a Regional Center of the WFB in the Republic of Korea, had paid a visit to the WFB Headquarters on 10 October B.E. 2559 (2016) after having paid their respects to King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Grand Palace.  They were welcomed by Rear Admiral Isara Yimpanich, Hon. Assistant Secretary-General of the WFB.  Rev. Kang Mun Song also made his personal donation to the WFB Headquarters.

Mr. Phallop Thaiarry (Secretary-General), Rev. Yoshiharu Tomatsu and some of EXCO Members of The WFB had visited Wonkwang University which is an affiliated academy of Won-Buddhism, Republic of Korea on 29 May B.E.2559 (2016).  On this occasion Wonkwang University had bestowed an Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy to Secretary-General of The WFB.  

Earthquake of magnitude 6.5 and 7.3 tremor hit Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan on 14 and 16 April respectively which followed by series of quakes within 48 hours.  Total 41 people were killed and more than 1,000 people were injured.  Almost 92,000 residents have been evacuated from their homes, with around 100 properties completely destroyed and a further 800 damaged.  After the quake, there were continuous series of aftershocks that triggered a number of landslides as well as the collapse and cracking of major roadways in the mountainous region.  Meanwhile, The WFB Headquarters is considering to provide assistance in this regards.

H.E. Phan Wannamethee, President of the WFB, led a group of Ven. Shakyavongvisudhi Sakya (Assistant Abbot of Wat Bavorn Niwes Vihara), Mr. Phallop Thaiarry, and other representatives to Nepal to observe progress of Nepal Humanitarian Relief Project and the development of Lumbini Project.  On this trip the group also paid respect to Mayadevi Vihara (the birth place of the Lord Buddha) and King Asoka Pillar Thai Temple in Lumbini including participated in the Makhabucha Ceremony at Thai Temple in Lumbini.

H.E. Phan Wannamethee, President of the WFB, assigned Mr. Phallop Thaiarry, Secretary-General, participated in the V Congress of World and Traditional Religious on “Dialogue of Religious Leaders and Politicians for Peace and Development” in Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan.  The conference is held consecutively since B.E. 2546 (2003) under the initiative of H.E. Nursulran Nazarbayev, President of Republic of Kazakhstan with the objective of promoting the dialogue of mutual understanding and cooperation among religious leaders, politicians, and heads of international organizations.

Rev. Yoshiharu Tomatsu, Executive Council Members of The W.F.B.  led the lecturers and students from Department of Human Life and Environment Studies, Faculty of Human Studies,  Taisho University in Tokyo, Japan to a study tour at Sikkha Asia Foundation in Keha Klongtoey, Bangkok.  They are welcomed by Ms. Arunee Promma (Secretary General) and Ms. Akiko Motozawa (volunteer) who showed them activities of the foundation.