World Buddhist Scout Brotherhood

Country

International

Founder

Professor Yongyudh Vajaradul

Chairman

The World Buddhist Scout Brotherhood (WBSB) is an autonomous, international body committed to promoting and supporting Buddhism within Scouting. The WBSB began as a means to facilitate religious activities among Buddhist Scouts. The WBSB was declared active with the election of its chairman on July 21, 2004, and received consultative status with the World Scout Committee at the WSC meeting on March 9, 2009. The World Scout Committee's guidelines indicate that at least three years is required to fulfill the requirements before consultative status may be granted.

The official objectives of WBSB are:

Members of the WBSB include Bhutan, Hong Kong, Japan, Mongolia, Republic of China (Taiwan), Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

At the 21st World Scout Jamboree at Hylands Park in the UK, the WBSB ran the Buddhist Tent in the Faith and Belief Zone (FAB). A large statue of the Buddha, a gift from the National Scout Organization of Thailand to celebrate the Centenary of Scouting and the 80th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. The statue is named Prabuddha Prathanporn Loka-satawassa-nusorn and now sits in the Buddha Sala at Gilwell Park in London and replaces the statue given to the Scout Association in 1967.

The activities included making an origami Lotus, making prayer flags, sewing Buddhist neckerchiefs and meditating. On Sunrise Day, a Buddhist celebration on one of the subcamp stages was attended by over 1000 Scouts. As well as Lama Gankhuyag Magsarjav representing Vajrayana Buddhism, Ven. Ming Kuang from Taiwan represented Mahayana Buddhism and Ven. Chao Khun Bhavanaviteht (Luangpor Khemadhammo) OBE represented Theravada Buddhism. The Heart Sutra was read in Chinese and Tibetan and talks on Buddhism were given and translated into French.

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Wikipedia