On May 31, 2025, the inaugural assembly of the One Buddha One World Organization (OBOWO)—a momentous event of great historical significance—it takes place in the ancient city of Sigiriya, Sri Lanka. This international gathering of the Buddhist world is jointly initiated by the Most Venerable Anuruddha Maha Nayaka Thero, Secretary General of the Sri Lankan Sangha Council; Venerable Master Miao Tsan of Vairocana Zen Monastery in California, USA; and Venerable Master Da Hui of Taiwan. Together, they establish this important platform to promote dialogue and collaboration among the three major Buddhist traditions: Theravāda, Chinese Mahāyāna, and Tibetan Vajrayāna. The event marks the first time these three lineages join hands to form a global Dharma propagation alliance, ushering in a new milestone in the development of Buddhism worldwide.
The assembly brings together Buddhist elders and representatives from 22 countries, including Japan, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Uganda. Esteemed masters from these nations participate in the six-day event (May 28 to June 3), which features a series of significant activities such as the inaugural ceremony, a grand offering to a thousand Dharma masters, and inter-traditional Buddhist dialogues. This historic gathering opens a new chapter in global Buddhist cooperation and development. The Minister of Education of Sri Lanka also attends in person, demonstrating the government’s strong support for this international Buddhist initiative.
A professional Buddhist translation team from Vairocana Zen Monastery in the United States also joins the delegation for this assembly. The team is composed of over a dozen members with master’s and doctoral degrees, all of whom have undergone years of rigorous training and specialize in the translation of Buddhist scriptures and the interpretation of doctrines across multiple languages. Notably, the work A Direct Explanation of the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, authored by the abbot of Vairocana Zen Monastery, Most Venerable Shih Miao Tsan, has been translated into Sinhala and, in 2024, was officially adopted into the Buddhist studies curriculum at several universities in Sri Lanka. This marks the first time in Theravāda countries that a Chinese Buddhist scripture has been included as an official academic textbook—a groundbreaking precedent in Buddhist education.
At this assembly, the Sinhala translation of The Diamond Sutra: A Chan Interpretation, a newly authored work by Most Venerable Shih Miao Tsan, is also officially published and released. The book has received formal recognition from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Education and will be incorporated into the country’s university-level Buddhist studies curriculum. The Minister of Education of Sri Lanka personally attends the launch ceremony, and Most Venerable Mugunuwela Anuruddha Thero, Secretary General of the Sri Lankan Sangha Council, affirms that the release of the Sinhala edition represents a major milestone in the internationalization of Buddhist education.
The publication of The Diamond Sutra: A Chan Interpretation not only adds new content to the Buddhist education in Sri Lanka but also sets a model for global Buddhist cultural exchange. It is expected to have a profound impact on Buddhist studies throughout the South Asian region.
