New Delhi11 hours ago
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached the inaugural session of the Global Buddhist Summit being held in Delhi. The two-day summit is being jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture and the International Buddhist Confederation. During the inauguration, PM Modi said that the teachings of Gautam Buddha have influenced countless people over the centuries. Inspired by them, India is taking new initiatives for the welfare of the world.
The conference to be held on April 20-21 at Ashoka Hotel in the capital has started. It is being attended by delegates from around 30 countries and around 180 delegates from foreign countries and 150 delegates from Indian Buddhist organisations.
Significantly, Buddhist religious leader Dalai Lama had reached Delhi on Wednesday itself to attend the conference.
The conference was started by PM Modi by offering floral tributes to Lord Buddha.
Read what PM Modi said…
- The tradition of this land is – Atithi Devo Bhava means guests are like gods for us, but when so many personalities who live the thoughts of Lord Buddha are in front of us, we feel the presence of Buddha.
- Buddha is an understanding beyond the individual. Beyond form, there is a thought. There is a consciousness beyond depiction and this consciousness of Buddha is eternal, continuous. This thought is eternal, this realization can never be forgotten.
- In Amritkal, India has big goals for its future as well as new resolutions for the welfare of the world. India has taken new initiatives in the world and our biggest inspiration in this is Lord Buddha.
- If we want to make the world happy, then the only way is to get out of the self, leave the world, narrow thinking and Buddha’s mantra of totality. Today, it is the need of the hour that the priority of every person, of every country should be the interest of the country as well as the interest of the world.
Law Minister Kiren Rijiju was also present in the conference.
Contemporary challenges will be discussed
The summit will discuss how to deal with contemporary challenges with the help of Buddhist philosophy and thought. This global summit will underline India’s relevance and importance in Buddhism, as Buddhism originated in India. The theme of the two-day Global Buddhist Summit is ‘Responding to Contemporary Challenges: From Philosophy to Practice’.
During the conference, the Prime Minister also visited the Buddha Exhibition.
Will find solution in Buddhism
The delegates attending the conference will discuss the major global issues of today and find solutions in the Buddha’s Dhamma. Buddha Dhamma and Peace, Buddha Dhamma Environmental Crisis, Health and Sustainability, Conservation of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition and Buddha Dhamma Pilgrimage, Living Heritage and Buddha Relics, and India’s Centuries-old Partnership with Countries in South, South-East and East Asia A strong foundation of cultural relations etc. will be discussed.