The Dalai Lama at the Buddhist meet in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Rajesh Kumar)

New Delhi, Nov. 30: Buddhism is set to get more organised with its various traditions resolving to form an international confederation, an umbrella body that would represent Buddhist values.

The Global Buddhist Congregation, a four-day event that ended here today, promulgated a declaration creating the International Buddhist Confederation, which would be based in India.

The meet saw delegates from 46 countries — from the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions — discuss Buddhism’s relevance in dealing with contemporary issues, including women’s rights.

A 40-member working committee will be formed, including a sub-committee that would draft a constitution for the new body. Australia-based Vietnamese Buddhist leader Thich Quang Ba said it would take about a year to draft the constitution, after which a leader would be elected.

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama asked the gathering to bridge the gap between the different traditions. “There are many traditions — Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana. People get the impression these are different. That is totally a mistake,” he said.

The meet, to mark the 2600th anniversary of Buddha’s enlightenment, also had a subtle political subtext.

Ganden Tripa Rimpoche, head of the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and chairperson of the meet’s organising panel, praised the Dalai Lama “for establishing a democratic form of government for Tibet”. The meet concluded with India’s national anthem.