From May 11 to 14, 2011 (B.E. 2554), the 8th United Nations Day of Vesak celebration was held at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University in Ayutthaya Province, the ESCAP Hall at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, and Buddhamonthon in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. The celebration was hosted by Mahachulalongkorn- rajavidyalaya University, overseen by the International Council for the Day of Vesak, with support from the Thai Government and blessings from the Supreme Sangha Council. Participants from 86 countries attended the celebration.

The event honored the 84^th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX. On the second day, participants from all 86 countries visited Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram (Wat Phra Kaew or Temple of the Emerald Buddha) for a special chanting ceremony offering blessings to His Majesty King Rama IX. The ceremony was presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali Krom Muen Suddhanarinatha.

The celebration centred on the theme with Prof. Lewis R. Lancaster, Emeritus Professor of the Department of East Asian Languages at the University of California, USA, delivering the keynote address.

Three distinguished guest speakers also contributed: Additionally, a closed-door workshop on the Common Buddhist Text (CBT) was conducted, which involved distinguished scholars, including:

• Ven. Prof. Dr. Thich Nhat Tu, Vietnam
• Ven. Bhante Chao Chu, USA
• Ven Prof. Dr Yuan Ci, China
• Prof. Dr. Phil Stanley, USA
• Mr. Egil Lothe, Norway
• Prof. Dr. G Somaratne, Sri Lanka
• Prof. Em. P Premasiri, Sri Lanka
• Ven. Prof. Dr. Khammai Dhammasami, Myanmar
• Prof. Dr. Baidyanath Labh, India
• Mr. Jules Levinson, USA
• Mr. Scott Wellenbach, Canada

At the conclusion of the celebration, participants unanimously resolved on declarations in the Bangkok Declaration as follows: 

• In order to mark the 2600th anniversary of Gautama the Buddha’s Full Enlightenment, establishing a world religion serving humanity: we resolve to facilitate and promote academic, cultural and religious activities in a year long Sambuddha Jayanti at both national and international levels;
• In honour of the 84th Birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej: we promote awareness of His Majesty’s exemplary leadership, vision and love for the people as evidenced, in some four thousand royal development projects and we encourage people of all walks of life to follow His example;
• Further, in commemorating His Majesty the King’s auspicious 84th Birthday; we support theconvening of the Second International Association of Buddhist Universities (IABU) conference in December 2011/2554;
• To encourage among both the monastics and the laity application of the Buddha’s message on social, economic, political and religious leadership, and to educate corporate leadership in the successful Buddhist economic strategies such as the Sufficiency Economic Philosophy of His Majesty the King of Thailand; we urge the business world to give priority to produce essential goods and services over non-essential consumer goods;
• Acknowledging the interconnectedness of this Planet in that the social and economic problems of one nation are no longer limited to its boundaries but instead affect many nations; we promote a global spirituality that can guide humanity in this critical moment by cultivating Buddhist ethical, meditative and wisdom practices in daily life;
• Mindful of the urgent need for mankind to preserve sustainable social, economic and natural environments: we reaffirm an urgent need for a balance, based on the Middle Path, between scientific, technological and material progress on the one hand and, on the other, cultural, moral and spiritual advancement;
• In appreciation of the social, family, economic, religious and political problems confronting our planet and species, and with the belief in humanity’s potentials to overcome those challenges: we reaffirm the values of compassion, kindness, love, generosity, tolerance, understanding and trust; for the promotion of mindful speech and reconciliation which build harmony and peace;
• Observing the dimensions of a harmonious society and calling on the great resources of the Buddha’s teachings on mental health, meta-psychological view as well as sociology to improve the society: we pledge to foster friendliness, a culture of mutual respect and cooperation, based on an understanding of interdependence, incorporating the Buddhist virtues of mindfulness in production and consumption;
• Offering our utmost sympathy to the recent victims of natural disasters such as the Tsunami in Japan, the earth quake in New Zealand and floods and cyclones in many other parts of the World, in consideration of the shared environment of this Planet; being unintentionally damaged placing civilization at risk: we direct that the global Buddhist community institute a sufficient effort to help humanity be aware of pollution, acid rain, the greenhouse effect, the ozone hole, and other environmental challenges, so to turn back from endangering life on Earth; we pledge to work with governments, NGOs and mass media in developing educational initiatives for environmental preservation;
• Urging the international community and its governments to work towards the elimination of poverty and economic injustices, promoting human solidarity; and, sharing fundamental human values taught by the Lord Buddha; we seek to establish an awakening world where all people are afforded basic human rights and enjoy life and happiness;
• In order to commemorate the 2600th Anniversary of the Buddha’s Full Enlightenment we seek the completion, publication and free and wide distribution of a body of Common Buddhist Texts (CBT) from Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions fostering understanding of Buddhist principles and practices; to include the completion of linking over thirty electronic resources for all the major Buddhist canons into a single online electronic Union Catalogue of Buddhist Texts (UCBT) allowing users to identify all translations available;
• Further, marking the 2600^th Anniversary of the Buddha’s Full Enlightenment and acknowledging the important and positive roles they have played: we appeal to relevant governments as well as the UNESCO to put more effort into excavating new Buddhist sites, preserving those already opened, providing proper protections; and, enhancing support services at pilgrimage locations;
• In order to protect the cultural and environmental integrity of two of the World Heritage sites, Lumbini, the birth place of the Buddha, and Bodh Gaya, where he attained Full Enlightenment: we emphasize the serious concerns of the Buddhist communities worldwide and implore the authorities concerned to prevent further harmful effects of air pollution around those sacred places for the future of humanity.