The Rector of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, the Most Venerable Professor Phra Dharmakosajarn, said that Buddhism and the United Nations shared the goals for both sustainable development and world peace.

Speaking at the third International Buddhist Conference at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok on 8 May 2006, Phra Dharmakosajarn said that the conference commended His Majesty the King of Thailand as a role model for the success in sustainable development. His Majesty has initiated more than 3,000 development projects to help ease people?s problems and improve their quality of life. Phra Dharmakosajarn, who is also Chairman of the Joint International Organizing Committee of the UN Day of Vesak, pointed out that sustainable development involves not only economic and social conditions, but also the environment. He said that, because of His Majesty?s great contributions to sustainable development, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) would present him with the UNDP Award for Human Development. The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, was scheduled to have an audience with His Majesty on May 26 to present the award.

Concerning world peace, Phra Dharmakosajarn said that the conference discussed a proposal for the formation of a Buddhist Security Council to serve as a central body for various religions to settle global conflicts and help maintain peace and security. Another proposal was that religious diplomacy should be introduced to deal with conflicts relating to religions. It is believed that this kind of diplomacy will help the United Nations in its work to promote peace and better understanding of various cultures.

He also quoted the Most Venerable Phra Raj Sumedhajarn, or Sumedho Bhikkhu, as saying that mindfulness is one of the most important ideas of Buddhism. Phra Raj Sumedhajarn gave a keynote speech at the conference on the topic ?The Buddhist Contribution to World Peace and Sustainable Development.? He said that if a person was mindful, he or she would not blame others, but would, instead, look into himself or herself for inner peace. As a result, that person would not want to hurt others. He said that, aware of the value of mindfulness, psychiatrists in Western countries were starting to treat mental illness through this way of seeking inner peace.

Phra Raj Sumedhajarn said that Thai society is a model for a compassionate, peaceful society, where people live in harmony and help one another. He explained that Buddhist teachings on ?giving? and morality would make people value dedication above all else. Dedicated persons would respect themselves and this would lead to harmonious and peaceful co-existence of all people.

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