Unesco Honours Revered Late Buddhist Monk

UNESCO honours revered late Buddhist monk

TNA, October 22, 2005

BANGKOK (Thailand) The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has commended a late revered Buddhist monk Buddhadasa Bhikkhu as one of the world's most prominent figures and will celebrate the centenary of his birth in May next year.

Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang said on Friday that UNESCO during a meeting on October 20 agreed to declare the late monk a world most important figure and schedule next May 27 for its centenary celebrations for the monk.

The government will form a national-level panel, expected to be headed by a deputy prime minister, to work with a committee representing experts and the late monk's disciples to prepare for the celebrations.

Buddhadasa Bhikkhu is the 18th Thai citizen declared by the UN agency as one of the world's most important figures.

Born on May 27, 1906 as Nguam Panich in the southern district of Chaiya of Surat Thani Province, he entered the monkhood at the age of 20.

He was promoted to become Phra Dhammakosajarn in 1977.

During his lifetime, he wrote 140 books, more than 20 of which were translated into foreign languages such as English, French, German, Chinese and Indonesian.

source: http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=3879