A coalition of Buddhist organisations, which provides victims with tangible aid as well as spiritual remedies, is helping alleviate suffering caused by natural disasters and personal traumas.
In the aftermath of major natural disasters in several countries, one multinational network of Buddhists has come to the assistance of victims and their families, including offering a counselling service to ease their pain.
Based in Thailand, the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) comprises 202 member organisations from 51 countries. The WFB president is Phan Wannamethee from Thailand.
The WFB, founded in Sri Lanka in 1950, has earmarked donations from member organisations to help victims of natural disasters around the globe.
It is a melting pot of preachers and laypeople from the three core Buddhist sects -- Mahayana, Vajrayana and Theravada -- who work together to spread Buddhism. But its mission is also to rescue those in need of long-term emotional rehabilitation.
The WFB held its most recent meeting, the 29th General Conference, in Narita and at the Soji-ji temple in Yokohama, Japan, on Nov 5-9 under the theme of "Compassion in Action".
At the event, the Japan Buddhist Federation (JBF) updated the network's efforts to assist victims and their families. They offered help to people affected by earthquakes and a tsunami on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi in September and in East Japan on March 11, 2011 as well as flooding catastrophes in other countries.
After the disaster in Sendai, Japan, the WFB offers donated goods to tsunami victims through its local network.
Devotees pay their respects before the Lord Buddha statue at the Soji-ji temple in Yokohama.
Japan's Reconstruction Agency said about 150,000 evacuees lost their homes. Of these, around 50,000 were still living in temporary housing in February last year. The World Bank estimated the economic cost may top $235 billion, making the Great Tohoku Earthquake, otherwise known as the Great Sendai Earthquake, which triggered the tsunami, the costliest natural disaster in history, according to Live Science online news.
The conference was told that a more pressing problem has occurred since the disaster struck. Some victims whose loved ones had perished were hit particularly hard. They have exhibited an alarmingly high suicide rate.
The victims have become withdrawn under the weight of stress and suffering.
The WFB says it will coordinate efforts to help ease their pain.
Japan already has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. "This is a pressing problem and a crisis for Japanese society," said Masamichi Shodo Kobayashi, vice-president of the WFB.
He said the local networks associated with the WFB have offered counselling to those at risk of suicide.
The service is centred on the remedial approach using Buddhist principles as a way to soothe mental anguish and rehabilitate people reeling from their ordeals.
"Although it is difficult to wipe out their pain completely, we spare no efforts in dealing with the issue," said Mr Kobayashi.
Phra Shakayavongsvisuddhi, rector of the World Buddhist University, also touched on the issue at the conference, saying the 2011 tsunami was compounding the suicide problem in Japan.
The Japan Times reported that in May, two months after the tsunami, that the suicide rate in Japan was 20% higher than a year before, citing figures from the National Police Agency.
The conference participants agreed that dharma can reduce suicide risk factors. Families and close friends must demonstrate empathy towards those left on their own.
People need to be told that if they take their own lives, those who love them will be plunged into grief, according to the conference.
Taking their mind off their own plight and restarting their capacity to love others can help divert a person's attention away from such extremes.
The Buddhist volunteers approach the victims and inform them the networks are there to help.
The WFB has also done its part to help rebuild disaster-struck areas.
In addition, the WFB receives support from various organisations, including the Rotary Club in Thailand, which donated potable water-making machines to earthquake-hit areas in Japan.
After the quake hit the Japanese city of Sendai, Wat Paknam Japan, a Thai temple, in Chiba prefecture, was turned into a temporary shelter for victims.
The temple provided accommodation and food for the quake victims who were cared for by Thais living in Japan. More than 100 quake and tsunami victims were housed at the facility.
The temple's abbot, Phra Kru Vithet Varothai, said Thai temples in Japan are popular with the Japanese who visit them to make merit.
The conference is marked by a religious ceremony inside the congregation hall.
Younger Japanese are among regular visitors who practise meditation to help them achieve inner peace and emotional calm.
The Soji-ji temple, one of the venues for the WFB conference, is ideal for activities including walking meditation. It also is a "bridge" of religious faith between Thais and Japanese.
King Rama V and King Rama IX bestowed Buddha images on the temple, which King Rama VII and King Rama IX visited, as well as other Thai royal family members.
Also enshrined at the temple is a statue of King Rama V, which was unveiled in 1987 by His Majesty the King Rama X, then the crown prince.
Shinzan Egawa, chairman of the JBF, which organised the conference, said the world still faces critical challenges in terms of prejudice against religious beliefs and races.
"When Buddhists assemble in numbers like this, we should think carefully about what role we should play in dealing with these issues. Importantly, we will not abandon each other," said Mr Egawa.
Phra Shakayavongsvisuddhi, in his concluding speech, said the WFB has amended some sections of the group's charters to streamline its work.
The World Fellowship of Buddhists Youth (WFBY), affiliated with the WFB, picked a new chairman -- Hakuga Murayama, of the All Japan Young Buddhist Association.
The WFBY also amended its governing charter to make the work process flow more smoothly and ensure transparency.
For example, it was made clear that the WFBY is a volunteer body and its members receive no pay, he said.
During a question and answer session, Phra Shakayavongsvisuddhi said a widely held misconception that monks only meditate in forests must be tackled.
"Monks can live as long as the villagers support them. But if villagers are in trouble, the monks must give them a hand. Monks must always be supported to do this," said Phra Shakayavongsvisuddhi.
Leading figures of Buddhist sects attend the conference and receive plaques of honour.
A cloth banner is unveiled to show many coloured patches symbolising the unity of the Buddhist order. Photos by Smarn Sudto AND Nauvarat Suksamran
A panel of leading speakers gets down to work at the conference.