Governor Kavinder Gupta said that Lord Buddha's teachings are more relevant than ever as the world faces challenges such as violence, intolerance, war, environmental damage and declining moral values. He said that Buddha's message of compassion, non-violence, wisdom and the middle path offers guidance for building a more peaceful and caring society.
He was addressing at a national seminar titled 'From Nalanda to the Himalayas -The Unbroken Legacy of the Buddhist Knowledge Tradition' in Tashi Jong, Baijnath today. He quoted the message of Dhammapada and said that hatred can never be ended by hatred, but only through love and compassion.
He said that the ancient Nalanda University as a world-renowned centre of learning, known for its excellence in philosophy, medicine, mathematics, astronomy and other subjects. He said that although the university was destroyed centuries ago, its legacy has been preserved by Buddhist monasteries and institutions across the Himalayas, which have safeguarded Indian culture, languages and valuable manuscripts.
The Governor welcomed the Indian Himalayan Nalanda Buddhist Tradition Council's initiative to introduce the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) curriculum in monasteries. He said this would help young monks and nuns receive recognized academic qualifications while continuing their traditional religious education.
He also encouraged young people to follow the values of the Nalanda tradition, including curiosity, critical thinking, discipline, compassion and service to others. He said these principles, together with modern science and technology are essential for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The seminar was organised by the Indian Himalayan Nalanda Buddhist Tradition Council in collaboration with the Khampagar Monastery, Tashi Jong and focused on modernizing monastic education and the role of Buddhist philosophy in addressing today's global challenges.
Minister of Religion and Culture CTA Dharamshala Tsegiyal Chukya Dranyi, Spiritual Head of Khampagar Monastery H.E. Khamtrul Rinpoche, Khenpo Choying Lundup, Khenpo Pema Negi from Palpung Sherabling Monastery, MLA Baijnath Kishori Lal, Director of NIOS Dr. Rajiv Kumar Singh, DC Hemraj Bairwa and SP Kulbhushan Verma were also present on the occasion.