Peace Envoy Undertaking
When the Hon. Dr. Suchart worked on behalf of Peace Envoy of the World of Divinity, he could give sermons and suggest means for solving important problems with wits and deep opinion as well as straight forward comments on situations of the country and the world by considering fact and public benefit as principles.
Most of his sermons iterated the teaching of each religion for religious people to live together peacefully and happily. He considered that all mankind even though different in religious belief should not separate. The World Wars had broken out twice which had made great catastrophes for mankind. If World War III breaks out, it may be the War that eradicates all races of humanity from earth. The present political world situation inclines to the possible outbreak of World War III. It shows the fact that men are unable to achieve world peace through military-cum-political supremacy nor economic wealth. But it is believed that peace will materialize through religious power of the whole world to prevent the outbreak of World War III by inviting religious, political and peace leaders to attend the World Eternal Peace Conference in the atmosphere of the Religious Land so that they will cooperate to seek ways for solution of the world problems. Dr. Suchart firmly believes that only through religious power can the outbreak of World War III be prevented.
With this opinion, he carried out the work for the inter-religious brotherhood.
Dr. Suchart is a Thai citizen. He has never studied English nor can he speak English. While going to do work which must be in English he must have a personal interpreter. He has adopted the credo:
“This work does not depend on languages but on ideas and action. Everyone can learn several languages but cannot learn ideas.”
Eventhough in the NGO Conference of the United Nations, he was cordially invited to speak and he spoke in the Thai language.
He had firm determination to work for peace and had courage to travel for disseminating his ideas. When some doubted and asked questions he could explain, he gave reasons and answered the questions until they were clear.
He has organized Religious Missions for Peace by travelling to meet with prominent leaders, to propose ideas and principle to perform for the cause of world peace.
From 1966-1976, he travelled to many countries for purposes of promoting inter-religious brotherhood, pilgrimage and bringing holy objects, such as, holy soils, Holy Relics of Lord Buddha of different countries and also in Thailand to be enshrined in the Image of the Would-Be Buddha, Phra Sri Ariya Maitreya, the Peace Pagoda, the Statue of King Rama I, the World Eternal Peace Conference Hall for the cause of true peace in the Suvarnabhumi Peninsula (South East Asia Region) and in the world as follows:
In 1966
In April, 1966, he travelled to Chiang Mai Province in Thailand to bring holy soils from the Nim Pagoda, the Tab-Tao cape, the Chiang-Dao cape and the Rishi cape.
In 1967
In March, 1967, he travelled to Pattani Province to bring holy soils from the Sai Khao Waterfall, Wat Changhai and holy soils from the Buddhabhumi cemetery and the Kuhabhimuk Grottoes in Yala Province.
In August, 1967, he travelled to Phuket Province to bring holy soils and sands from Kaew Pisadarn Island.
In 1968
In April, 1968, he travelled to Laos to bring holy soils from the ancient pagoda and temple at Huay Sai District.
After returning from Laos, he continued to travel to Burma to bring holy soils from an ancient monastery at the Sad town.
In August, 1968, he travelled to Malaysia to bring holy soils from a cave in ancient temple at Ipoh town.
After returning from Malaysia he travelled to Cambodia to bring holy soils from a temple and in a jungle at Poi Pet District.
In 1969
On December 29th-31st, 1969, he travelled to South Vietnam to bring holy soils from the Sunterther Mountain.
In 1970
On March 8th-14th, 1970, he travelled to Indonesia to bring holy soils from five temples in Jakarta.
In 1972
Between October 24th to November 7th, 1972, he travelled to India to bring holy soils from the holy places of Buddhism at Buddha Gaya, Vesali in Patna (Bihar State), at Saranath in Benares and at the Nirvana Stupa in Kusinagara (Uttarapradesa State).
On November 8th-20th, 1972, he traveled to Nepal to bring holy soils from the birth place of Lord Buddha in Lumbini.
In 1976
On September 2nd-6th, 1976, he led Dhamma Mission to Sri Lanka to bring the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha which were presented by His Holiness the Most Venerable Sirimalwatte Ananda Maha Nayake Thero, the Supreme Patriarch of Siam Buddhist Sect. He also met H.E. William Gopalava, President of Sri Lanka for strengthening better under-standing and exchanging view.
From 1977 to 1981, he organized 11 Religious Missions for Peace going around the world as follows:-
In 1977
On May 9th-17th, 1977, the First Religious Mission for Peace went to Italy and Israel to promote inter-religious brotherhood with the leaders of Christianity and Islam.
– Being in audience with H.H. Pope Paul VI at the Vatican City.
– Meeting with His Eminence Sa’Dd-Eddin El-Alami, Mufti of Islam and His Eminence James Joseph Beltritti, Patriarch of Christianity in Jerusalem.
On this occasion, his mission was giving the Christian holy objects to be enshrined in the 9-metre High Standing Statue of Lord Jesus Christ constructed at the Religious Land.
On November 18th-26th, 1977, the Second Religious Mission for Peace was sent to India, the homeland of Buddhism and of other major religions of the world.
The work done was:
– Strengthen inter-religious brotherhood with the leaders of Namdhari Sikhism.
– Be in audience with H.H. Sri Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji Maharaj, the Supreme Spiri-tual Leader of Namdhari Sikhs at Punjab, India, and meeting with H.E. Morarji Desai, Prime Minister of India and Hindu leader.
– Attend the XXIV International Conference of the World Vegetarian Congress in New Delhi.
In 1978
Between November 18th-December 14th, 1978, the Third Religious Mission for Peace went to European countries to do business as follows:-
– It was granted an audience with H.H. Pope John Paul II at the Vatican City.
– It met with the prominent religious and peace leaders of Poland and participated in a peace dialogue.
In 1979
He directed the peace referendum campaign of peace lovers in Thailand on the topic of
“THAIS LOVE PEACE”
which Major General Prasit Chuenboon was the campaign leader.
In January, just 9 days after Cambodia, Thailand’s neighbouring country, having fallen to the stranglehold of Vietnamese backed by Heng Samrin troops, the International Federation of Religions under the direction of the Hon. Dr.Suchart Kosolkitiwong had mounted a nationwide peace referendum campaign to show to the world that all Thai people are peace lovers, do not engage in any form of aggression or violation of another country’s sovereignty but need to remain in friendly relations with all regardless of political differences. The peace referendum was carried out through sampling commencing on January 16th, 1979, ending in August, 1980 lasting 1 year and eight months (with some intervals owing to other work). It was noted with satisfactory result that over one million and seven hundred thousand people supported the plan by giving their peace supporting signatures.
On June 6th-26th, 1979, the Fourth Religious Mission for Peace travelled to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to meet for cooperation with the peace and religious leaders and furthered to attend the Fifth Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace held in Ulan-Bator, the Mongolian People’s Republic.
The work done was:
– Meeting with Mr. Alexey S. Diykov, Chief of the Department of South and Southeast Asia of the Union of Soviet Societies for Friendship and Cultural Relations with foreign countries and to strengthen relations between the people of two countries for better understanding and world peace.
– Meeting with the Most Ven. Bandido Khambo Lama J. Gomboyev, Abbot of Ivolginsky Buddhist Monastery and the President of the Central Buddhist Board of the USSR in Ulan Ude.
– Meeting with the Most Ven. Khambo Lama S. Gomboyev, President of the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace (ABCP), Abbot of Gangdanthekchenling Monastery and meeting with H.E. Bishop Alexij, President of the Metropolitan of Tallin and Estonia, Russian Orthodox Church, USSR to join religious brotherhood and exchange religious ideas.
On October 9th-22nd, 1979, the Fifth Religious Mission for Peace was sent to
the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Hong Kong for a:
– Meeting with H.E. Dr. Han Li-wu, President of Sino-Thai Cultural and Economic Association.
– Meeting with Mr. Lee Shih-Feng, Chairman of World Christian Anti-Communist Association.
– Meeting with H.E.Dr. Ku Cheng-kang, Honorary Chairman of the World Anti-Com-
munist League.
– And at the same occasion, going to pay respect to the Most Rev. Hsing Yun, Abbot of Fo Kuang Shan Monastery who was the Director of the progress of Inter-
national Buddhists Association and Chairman of Religious Committee of Fo Kuang Shan Monastery at Taipei, Taiwan and paying respect to Rt. Rev. Sick Wai-ming, the Abbot of Po Lin Monastery, Lantao Island, Hong Kong, receiving the holy soil to be enshrined in the foundation of the 9-metre High Image of the Would-be Buddha, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (Kuan Yin) constructed at the Religious Land.
In 1980
On June 2nd-22nd, 1980, the Sixth Religious Mission for Peace was sent to the People’s Republic of China (Mainland) for a:
– Meeting with the Abbot of Wannian Temple (The Temple of Ten Thousand Years) on the peak of Emei Shan mountain, receiving sand, incense sticks’ dust and the holy soil to be enshrined in the base of the Holy Image of the Would-Be Buddha, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (Kuan Yin).
– Meeting with Hon. Zhao Puchu, President of Buddhist Association of China.
– Meeting with the Abbots of Wen Shu Yuan Temple, Lingyun Temple, Wu Long Temple, Kwang Ji Temple, Pa Yuan Temple and the Buddha’s Tooth Relic Temple.
– Meeting with Mr. Xiao Xianfa, Director-General of the Religious Bureau of China and Mr. Ziao Lian Shen, Deputy-Director General of the Religious Bureau of China at the Parliament Building.
– Meeting with H.E. Wu Lanfu, Vice-Chairman of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China and Mr. Wan-Fu, Vice President of China Travel Service at the Parliament Building.
– Meeting with the Abbot of Sixia Temple (The Temple of One Thousand Images of Buddha), Nan-jing, receiving incense sticks’ dust to be put together to organize the stone foundation laying ceremony of the Would-be Buddha, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (Kuan Yin) at Hooppha Sawan.
– Meeting with the Abbot of You Fe Temple (Jade Buddha Temple), Shanghai, receiving holy sand.
Between October 31st to November 23rd, 1980, the Seventh Religious Mission for
Peace was sent to the United Nations Headquarters in the U.S.A. to present the result of peace referendum given by peace loving Thai people to the United Nations through H.E. Dr. Rudiger von Wechmar, the then President of the UN General Assembly and H.E. Dr. Kurt Waldheim, the former UN Secretary-General.
On the same occasion, the Mission had also submitted an application to have the IFR registered as an associate member with the UN Department of Public Information.
Later on May 6th, 1981, the IFR was officially accepted by UN as an organization associate with the United Nations Department of Public Information.
The Mission had made further success in meeting for peace cooperation with the prominent peace and religious leaders of the United States in Washington, D.C. and of those in European countries, namely the Federal Republic of Germany, Hungary and France.
In 1981
Between February 1st-11th, 1981, the Eighth Religious Mission for Peace was invited to attend the Asian Delegates Conference held by the Universal Love and Brotherhood Association in Kyoto, Japan on February 5th-7th, 1981, to seek together with Asian peoples the better solution to the more aggravating problems in the region.
– Meeting with Mr. Yasumi Hirose, President and Mr. Ikuo Harada, Director General of International Relation Department of Zinrui Izenkai Association (Universal Love and Brotherhood Association-ULBA)
– Meeting with Mr. Hajyim Morita, a prominent Senator of Free Democracy Party, son-in-law of the former Prime Minister Ohira Masayoshi at the Government House of Japan.
– Meeting with the Lord Mayor of Hiroshima at the Pent House Building
Between 20th-27th February, 1981, the Ninth Religious Mission for Peace was invited
to attend the 4th Annual Conference of the World Constitution and Parliament Association on February 22nd-24th, 1981 in New Delhi, India. In this historic meeting, the Hon. Dr.Suchart Kosolkitiwong was officially named the “World Peace Envoy” by the unanimous resolution approved by the meeting on February 24th, 1981.
On the same occasion, the Mission had also met to strengthen peace cooperation with H.E. Mr. M. Hidayatullah, Vice-President of India and H.E. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India to strengthen peace cooperation.
On September 5th-23rd, 1981, the Tenth Religious Mission for Peace was invited by the United Nations to participate in the Annual Conference of the Department of Public Information for NGOs on “the Energy for Development and Survival” at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA, to which he was invited to give a key speech on “Energy Conservation and New Lifestyles.”
On this occasion, the Mission led by the Hon. Dr. Suchart Kosolkitiwong was given an opportunity to meet with H.E. Dr. Kurt Waldheim, the then UN Secretary-General to discuss with him the preliminary preparation by the IFR to hold the World Eternal Peace Conference. Among those US political leaders with whom the Hon.Dr.Suchart Kosolkitiwong met for peace cooperation included Mr. Morton C. Blackwell, Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan and Mr. Philip Hughs, Special Assistant to Vice-President George Bush at the Old Executive Building, adjacent to the White House, Washington, D.C., USA on September 17th, 1981.
On November 6th-25th, 1981, the Eleventh Religious Mission for Peace was invited to attend the general meeting of the Asian Conference on Religion and Peace II (ACRP) held in New Delhi on November 7th-11th, 1981, and also to participate in the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP) meeting held in New Delhi, India. Besides, the Mission had also met to strengthen peace cooperation with H.E. Giani Zail Singh, Minister of Interior Affairs who was later the President of India from 1986-1989.
On this occasion, the Mission had promoted better understanding and cooperation among the religious and peace leaders who came from around the world to attend the meeting. Among those ACRP and WCRP leaders with whom the Hon. Dr. Suchart Kosolkiti-wong met for peace cooperation included the Most Rev. Nikkyo Niwano, President of the Rissho Kosei-kai and President of ACRP and Dr. Homer A. Jack, Secretary-General of WCRP. This assured the Mission of their concrete cooperation in the World Eternal Peace Conference proposed to be held in 1982 at the Religious Land Hooppha Sawan, the Head-quarters of International Federation of Religions.
“Our work will be comprehended by people by a hundred years ahead...”
