On March 4th, local time in New Zealand, the 11th General Conference of the World Buddhist Sangha Council (referred to as the "WBSC") was successfully convened in Auckland. Venerable Huixiong was elected as the new President, while Ven. Dayi Shi, President of the Buddhist Association of Canada, and Abbot of Wutai Shan in Canada, was appointed as Vice President of the World Buddhist Sangha Council. Ven. Dayi is the first monastic from the Canadian Buddhist community to hold the position of Vice President in this global Buddhist organization.

The World Buddhist Sangha Council serves as a platform for mutual assistance and cooperation among Buddhists worldwide, establishing itself as a prominent global Buddhist institution. On that day, more than 500 distinguished venerables from various Buddhist traditions worldwide participated in the conference, marking it as a truly significant summit within the contemporary global Buddhist community.

The conference reviewed the reports from the 10th Executive Committee of the World Buddhist Sangha Council and elected a new Executive Committee. Ven. Huixiong, who served as the Chief Vice President and Secretary-General of the 10th Executive Committee, was appointed as the President of the newly elected Executive Committee. Ven. Dayi Shi was elected as Vice President of the Executive Committee, entrusted with overseeing the affairs of the Executive Committee in Canada. Additionally, the conference elected twenty-six other Vice Presidents, each tasked with managing the affairs of the Executive Committee in their respective countries and regions.

In 1966, the World Buddhist Sangha Council held its inaugural conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and has since been in operation for fifty-eight years. The WBSC aims to "unify Buddhist sanghas worldwide, promote the compassionate teachings of the Buddha, pursue global peace, and foster equality and harmony in society." Over the past fifty-eight years, it has remained committed to its founding principles, leading Buddhist sanghas globally, disseminating the Dharma, serving sentient beings, and striving for human happiness and societal purification.

The Buddhist Association of Canada represents the Canadian Buddhist community as a collective member of this global Buddhist organization. Canadian monastics interested in joining the Sangha Council can apply for membership through the Buddhist Association of Canada to be presented at the conference.

In the realm of renowned global Buddhist organizations, the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) encompasses both ordained Sangha members and lay practitioners, while the World Buddhist Sangha Council is constituted solely of ordained monks.

In October 2022, Ven. Dayi Shi's election as Vice President of the WFB marked a milestone, establishing a new record for Canadian monks holding such a prestigious position in this global Buddhist organization. His subsequent appointment as Vice President of the World Buddhist Sangha Council further distinguishes Ven. Dayi Shi as one of the select few eminent monks concurrently occupying high-ranking roles in both global Buddhist organizations, thus enhancing the prestige of the Canadian Buddhist community on the international stage.

Reflecting on his recent elevation to the position of Vice President of the World Buddhist Sangha Council, Ven. Dayi Shi expressed that it symbolizes the profound recognition of the Buddhist Association of Canada's propagation efforts in North America over the past fifty years. Moreover, it underscores the international Buddhist community's appreciation of Canadian Buddhist organizations. This dual achievement not only underscores greater unity and collaboration within the global Buddhist community, fostering efforts towards world peace and spiritual enlightenment, but also underscores the substantial recognition Canadian Buddhist organizations have garnered from the international Buddhist community, a source of profound satisfaction.

The conference highlighted the theme of "Buddhism and Ecological Conservation," aiming to leverage Buddhism's influence to advocate for the protection of the environment and the promotion of global peace. Distinguished venerables in attendance delivered numerous speeches exploring the intersection of Buddhism with the development of digital technology in the modern era within this context.

Ven. Dayi Shi presented a speech titled "Buddhist Wisdom and Ecological Conservation: Environmental Practices of the Buddhist Association of Canada" to the conference. Through this speech, Ven. Dayi Shi offered profound insights aligning Buddhist principles, notably the doctrine of "Dependent Origination," with ecological principles. He delved deeply into the ecological concepts inherent in the Mahayana Buddhist philosophy of "Madhyamaka" (Middle Way).

Ven. Dayi Shi emphasized that Buddhist teachings on ecological conservation originate from the enlightenment of Gautama Buddha, rooted in the doctrine of "Dependent Origination." A fundamental tenet of Buddhism is "Emptiness and Dependent Origination," highlighting the interconnectedness of all phenomena without the notion of a permanent "self." These Buddhist principles resonate with ecological principles, underscoring the interconnectedness of all life forms and the natural world, rejecting isolationist perspectives.

Expanding on the engagement of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, particularly the Tiantai School, in ecological conservation and the pursuit of an ideal earthly realm, Ven. Dayi Shi elaborated on the concept of the "Middle Way." This doctrine advocates for a harmonious environment and transcends the illusion of environmental degradation. It promotes the coexistence of humanity and the environment, echoing the Tiantai School's Middle Way philosophy: "A single form or fragrance is but an expression of the Middle Way." This doctrine encourages actively addressing adverse ecological conditions by transcending the transient nature of phenomena into the Middle Way.

Ven. Dayi Shi further highlighted the Buddhist Association of Canada's emphasis on spiritual conservation alongside ecological efforts. Through practices such as chanting, meditation, and animal release, the association seeks to cleanse individuals from the three poisons of greed, hatred, and ignorance, guiding them towards inner purification and spiritual preservation.

Throughout the conference, delegates participated in thorough discussions on the theme, ultimately reaching a consensus. The conference concluded on the afternoon of March 4th with success, as it adopted the New Zealand Declaration of the World Buddhist Sangha Council. This declaration urges Buddhists worldwide to unite, collaborate, and work together to construct a better world. May all beings discover happiness and peace and reside in serenity and fulfillment.