The International Tipitaka Chanting Council Constitution

THE NAME of the organisation shall be the International Tipitaka Chanting Council, hereafter referred to as ‘the Council’.

1. THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
   • To support, encourage and organize the annual chanting of the sacred texts of the Lord Buddha, known as the Pali Tipitaka, at Bodhgaya where the Lord Buddha was enlightened, or at other holy places.
   • To seek donors and patrons from all lands and to gather the Mahasangha of Theravadin tradition each year at the annual Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony.
   • To spread the original teachings of the Buddha throughout the holy land of Aryadesha and to dedicate the merit to all sentient beings in this world and all the universe.
   • To help achieve peace, harmony and brotherhood of all humanity through the teachings and philosophy of Lord Buddha.
   • To promote co-operation, unity and good will among the Theravadin Sangha of all lands.
   • To promote mutual respect among all beings through worldwide co-operation of men and women of goodwill.
   • To promote social welfare through providing for health, education, and other basic needs.
   • To support and co-operate with other organizations, trusts, study centres, benevolent institutions and monasteries, which are engaged in activities similar to the object of the Pali Tipitaka Chanting International Council.
   • To publish and distribute literature and provide other aids in order to propagate and disseminate Buddhist Principles
2. POWERS
   • To acquire by purchase, lease, exchange or otherwise, land, buildings and hereditaments of any tenure or description situated in India and any estate therein and any rights over or connected with such lands, buildings and hereditaments and to construct and/or maintain improvements thereon.
   • To purchase or otherwise acquire, exchange, surrender, lease, mortgage, charge or otherwise deal with and dispose of property both real and personal of whatsoever nature.
   • To borrow or raise or secure payments of moneys in such manner as thought fit and to secure same for the repayment or performance of any debt, liability, contract, guarantee or other engagement incurred or to be entered into by the Council in any way.
   • To draw, make, accept, endorse, discard, execute and issue promissory notes, bills of exchange and other negotiable or transferable instruments.
   • To enter into any arrangements with any government or authority, local or otherwise, as considered conducive to the aims and objectives of the Council, and to obtain from any such government or authority any such rights, privileges and concessions that are deemed desirable, and to obtain and to carry out, exercise and comply with any such arrangements, rights, and privileges and concessions.
   • To invest and deal with the money of the in such manner as from time to time may be thought fit.
   • To act for or as trustees and to do any act or thing in relation to any matter arising out of any trust and or funds that may be established for the benefit of the Council.
   • To accept the position of beneficiary of any trust and to receive any benefits arising from such position.
   • To enter into contracts with individuals or other legal entities for the promotion of aims and objectives, and do any thing incidental to such aims and objectives.
   • To appoint by contract, any person to any position with appropriate designations, to work for the Council for a salary, wage, commission or fee, or on a voluntary basis, and to delegate powers and responsibilities to such appointees, as necessary.
   • To do any other act as may be necessary or convenient, in order to achieve any of the aims and objectives of the Council, or to achieve any thing incidental thereto or to facilitate the execution of any of the powers of the Council.
   • To function as an autonomous legal entity in all respects.
3. OBLIGATIONS
   The Council shall not be liable for the acts of its members or employees or contractors committed on their own accord, not expressly or impliedly authorised by the Council.
4. QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP AND INITIAL MEMBERSHIP
   Membership of the Council shall be open to the representative of any country within the Theravadin Tradition that maintains a monastery in Bodhgaya, (‘Ordinary Members’), or the representative of any other country where significant numbers of Theravadin monks find residence (‘Special Members’). Ordinary and Special Members are referred to collectively as’ Members’ hereafter in this document.The Council shall also invite as Special Members one representative from Sri Lanka and one representative from the Light of Buddhadharma Foundation International (lbdfi.org).The list of Members that form the initial membership of the Council are signatories to this Constitution.Further candidates for membership of the Council will be admitted to membership only after examination of their application for membership and approval of the credentials of the candidate by the majority of the Council.Each Member shall be allowed to appoint one qualified alternate who has proficiency in English or Hindi to attend meetings and vote in his place.
   A register of Members and their specified alternates shall be kept by the Vice President of the Council, including the name, address, email address, and telephone number of each Member and alternate.
5. VOTING AND QUORUM AND THE CONDUCT OF MEETINGS
   All decisions taken by the Council shall be by ordinary majority vote, as long as the exercise of such rights are in conformity with the tenets of Buddhism, Buddhist traditions and practice.
   Ordinary Members and Special Members shall have the same voting rights as each other.Meetings must be called with at least seven days written notice to all Members provided that the special members be informed through e-mail. It is also agreed that the Organizing Committee meetings can be called with three days notice.The quorum for a meeting shall be at least 50% of the Ordinary Members of the Council.Special members may participate in meetings of the Council through teleconferencing, videoconferencing, or other electronic means, and they shall be regarded as present at the meeting for all purposes, including making up the quorum.
6. REMUNERATION
   No remuneration or other benefit in money or money’s worth shall be given by the Council to any Member except for reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
7. PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
   • Every three years the Council shall elect a President and Vice President by majority from amongst its Members.
   • The President and Vice President shall be Ordinary Members of the Council.
   • The President shall be charged with chairing the meetings of the Council.
   • In the case of an equality of votes, the President is entitled to a second or casting vote.
   • The Vice President shall be charged with calling for meetings of the Council.
   • The Vice President shall
     1. Prepare the agenda for any meeting of the Council.
     2. Ensure that all Members receive copies of such agenda within the appointed time before the meeting.
     3. Ensure that minutes of the present meeting are taken and distributed to all Members.
     4. Keep a minute book of all meetings.
     5. Ask the President to sign the minutes of the previous meeting as an approved record following discussion at the commencement of any new meeting.
   • The Vice- President may appoint a secretarial assistant to assist him in his duties.
   • Any Member may require the Vice- President to call a meeting of the Council within two weeks of making such a request in writing, and request discussion of any specific point on the agenda of such a meeting.
8. MEMBERS’ LIABILITIES
   Members shall not be liable for contribution towards the debts and liabilities of the Council, or the costs, charges, and expenses of dissolving the Council.
9. ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
   Whereas the Annual Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony shall be described as being organized by the Council, the Council shall appoint an Organizing Committee for a maximum of two years to assist it in this task.The majority of the members of the Organizing Committee shall be drawn from each country represented on the Council in rotation. For the avoidance of doubt, members of the Organizing Committee may or may not be members of the Council.The Council may directly appoint a General Co-ordinator to help organize the Chanting Ceremony.
10. POWERS AND DUTIES OF COUNCIL AND THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE WITH REGARD TO THE ANNUAL TIPITAKA CHANTING CEREMONY
    The Council shall be directly responsible for the following elements of the Annual Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony:

1. The choice and version of texts to be chanted at the Ceremony.
2. The approval and co-ordination of sponsors for the Ceremony.
3. The approval of publicity for the Ceremony.
4. The general conduct of the opening and closing Ceremonies.
5. The general atmosphere of the Chanting Ceremony.

The Organizing Committee shall be responsible for the organization of all other elements of the Annual Chanting Ceremony, including, without limitation

1. To make sure food and local accommodations are provided for all monks who attend the Annual Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony and to assist in making necessary travel arrangements for all participants.
2. To publicize the event of Annual Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony with both local and international press.
3. To agree the programme for the Opening Ceremony of the Annual Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony.
4. To organize VIP guests for the opening day of the Annual Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony.
5. To organize and select Dharma talks for ten days for the Annual Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony.
6. To send out invitations to selected participants and distinguished guests well in advance of the Annual Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony.
7. To create registration cards for each participant.
8. To collect data on each registrant based on registration forms.
9. To maintain a record of all participants.

• FUNDS AND APPOINTMENT OF TREASURER
  The funds of the Council shall be derived from charitable donations, interest, benefits from trusts, testaments, deeds of grant, and any other sources the Council and, subject to any resolution passed by the Council in general meeting, such other sources as the Council decides.All moneys received under Clause 11(a) shall be deposited intact at the earliest possible date to the credit of the appropriate Bank Account of the Council. Receipts for moneys received shall be issued promptly.The Council will elect a Treasurer from amongst its Ordinary Members to manage the Funds of the Council. The term of this appointment will run concurrent with the terms of appointment of President and Vice President of the Council.
• MEMBERS TO RECEIVE NO PROFITS
  The income and the property of the Council whence so ever derived shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the aims and objectives of the Council stated in this document, and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred, directly or indirectly, by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise howsoever by way of profit to the members of the Council provided that nothing herein shall prevent the payment in good faith of remuneration to any officer or servant of the Council, or to any member, in return for services actually rendered to the Council or reasonable and proper rent for premises let by any member of the Council.
• DISSOLUTION AND SURPLUS PROPERTY
  The Council may be wound up or dissolved in the event that there are less than four members.If upon the winding up or dissolution of the Council there remains, after the satisfaction of its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, the same shall not be paid to or distributed among members, but shall be transferred to a charitable organisation or organisations having objectives similar to those of the Council.
• AMENDMENT AND INTERPRETATION OF THE CONSTITUTION
  The constitution may be amended by a special resolution passed by no less than three quarters (3/4) of Members present or voting by proxy, or voting by post at any Meeting at which not less than thirty (30) days written notice of the proposed amendment shall have been given.

Signed this 10th day of May 2008 by

Council Members

Council members are drawn from the sangha of Theravadin countries who have a Vihara in Bodhgaya (ordinary members) and those who do not (special members). The current list of council members is below:

COUNCIL

Lord Abbot Venerable Sadanand Mahathera, All India Bhikkhu Sangha (India Representative)

Venerable Pragnadeep Bhante – All India Bhikkhu Sangha (India Alternate Representative)

Venerable Dr Charan Suthi, Wat Thai Magadh Vipassana Center, Bodh Gaya (Thailand Alternate)

Venerable Phra Bhodhinandhamunee (Luangpor Jiew), Wat Pa Bodhgaya, Thailand (Representative)

Venerable Sundara, Holy Land Vihara (Myanmar Alternate)

Venerable Kalyan Priya Mahathera, Bangladesh Buddhist Monastery, Bodhgaya (Bangladesh Council Member)

Venerable Pueuy Metta, Cambodian Temple, Bodhgaya (Cambodian Council Member)

Venerable Onta, Representative for the Sangha of Laos International, Bodhgaya (Laos International Alternate)

Wangmo Dixey, Light of Buddhadharma Foundation International (lbdfi.org) – India (Council Member)

Richard Dixey, Light of Buddhadharma Foundation International (lbdfi.org) (Alternate)

TRUSTEES

Venerable Anuruddha, Royal Wat Thai Bodhgaya

Venerable Ananda Bhante, Bodh Society Bodhgaya

Mr. Rajiv Sharma, Advocate (New Delhi)

Country Representatives

The International Tipitaka Chanting Council has approved the following representatives: