World Buddhist Scout Brotherhood

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.

Objectives

The official objectives of WBSB are:

To develop and promote the spirit of brotherhood and understanding among Scouts of the Buddhist ::faith.
To develop an education curriculum that should enhance the spiritual dimension in the ::personalities of young Buddhists in accordance with the purpose, principles and method of the ::Scout Movement.
To promote relations between Scouting and local Buddhists.
To introduce Scouting in such states or areas where Buddhism is established.
To co-ordinate the activities of WBSB with non-Scout Organizations having parallel objectives.
To motivate co-operation among WBSB members.
To motivate and promote Scouting among Buddhist boys and girls on a global basis.
To promote contacts, exchanges and interactions with the Scouts of other faiths.

2007

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[clarification needed], 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.

2008

WBSB members from the United Kingdom ran the Buddhist tent in the Faith and Belief Zone at the National Irish Jamboree. Scoutsmade prayer flags, incense sticks, sand mandalas and practiced meditation.[citation needed]

2009

WBSB members from Mongolia and the United Kingdom organised a service project for the UK Scout Network and Mongolian Rover Scouts at the Manzushir Khiid (Манзушир Хийд) temple in the town of Dzuunmod which is 43 km south of Ulaanbaatar. The temple replaces the large monastery of the same name which was destroyed by the Mongolian communist government in 1937. 82 Scouts spent a week repainting the temple and a large sum of money was also donated to the temple to help improve the facilities.[citation needed]