I first read about the Sakyadhita when I read a book about your very first conference in Bodhigaya. You have made tremendous progress in the past 20 years. Over the years, some of the earlier issues had become lesser issues or non issues. In our tradition, the ancient Chinese Enlightened Masters call this "seeing the mountain again as mountain".

I am sure you will achieve even more in the next 20 years. Buddhist women will play more important role in the years to come. Our Malaysian Minister told you that 65% of university students in Malaysia are female during the opening of the Sakyadhita Conference. Imagine what the female can do with greater life span for the country.

We do not need male chauvinism in this age, but please do not counter this with female chauvinism. There should be mutual respect and appreciation. We are children of the Buddha and it is ridiculous for sisters and brothers to quarrel. Just imagine how much we can do together to spread the noble teaching of the Buddha. After we are united, we can then work effectively with sisters and brothers of other religious faith.

I would like to emphasize on the importance of promoting Buddhist education. Buddhism will not have good future if we do not care to promote higher Buddhist education. While we were preparing to start IBC in Thailand, a Buddhist asked me why we wanted to start another Buddhist college or university in Thailand when the Thai government already supported 2 Buddhist Universities in Thailand. Do you know how many private Christian universities or colleges there are in Thailand, a Buddhist country? SEVEN! Are there six more people here who would like to start six more Buddhist universities in Thailand? Then IBC will not be lonely!