President Murmu urges citizens to imbibe Buddha's teachings for social harmony, nation-building

New Delhi [India], May 23 : On the auspicious occasion of the 2,568 birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, President Droupadi Murmu urged Indian citizens to imbibe Buddha's message of truth, non-violence, and love for humanity for social harmony and nation-building.
President Murmu extended her greetings in a video-recorded message to commemorate the Vaisakha Buddha Purnima Divas at the National Museum celebrations, organised by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) on Thursday in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the National Museum (where the Holy Buddha Relic is enshrined).
[{c6af48b6-5d74-47d8-b97c-cfae3de39c59:intradmin/ANI-20240523170449.jpeg}]
"The embodiment of compassion, Lord Buddha, has given the message of truth, non-violence, harmony, and, love for humanity and all living beings. Lord Buddha had said, 'Appa Deepo Bhava' i.e., be a light unto yourself. His teachings of tolerance, self-awareness, and good conduct inspire us to serve humanity," President Murmu said.
"His eightfold path paves the way for leading a meaningful life. Let us strengthen social harmony and take the pledge for nation-building by imbibing the ideals of Bhagwan Buddha in our lives," she added.
[{a48b775c-6051-4708-aea8-c15552ed72d3:intradmin/ANI-20240523170433.jpeg}]
Observing the Triple Blessed Day with reverence and piety (Shakyamuni Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana, all three falling on the same day), prayers were offered in the chamber of the Holy Buddha Relic in the National Museum. These were led by Kundeling Taktsak Rinpoche Tenzin Chokyi Gyaltsen in the presence of revered monks and other dignitaries, including diplomats from Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
[{d149ef5e-9bc2-45e6-852f-8b16c2fd00f1:intradmin/ANI-20240523170423.jpeg}]
Presenting a Dhamma talk, Kundeling Taktsak Rinpoche Tenzin Chokyi Gyaltsen reflected on the life and teachings of the Buddha.
"We are reminded of the timeless relevance of his message. In a world often plagued by conflict, polarization, suffering, and misunderstanding, the buddha's teachings of compassion, non-violence, and wisdom serve as a beacon of hope and a path towards harmony. His profound insights into the nature of suffering and the path to liberation provide us with the tools to cultivate inner peace and contribute to a more just and peaceful world," he said.
Rinpoche, stressing the point, said, "Today, India holds a special place in the heart of every Buddhist. It is the land where the Buddha attained enlightenment and shared his profound teachings. It is from this sacred soil that the light of Buddhism spread far and wide, touching the lives of countless individuals. Observing Buddha Purnima here in the capital of India is not only appropriate but also deeply meaningful. It serves as a reminder of the enduring connection between this great land and the path of the Buddha."
For the first time, prayers for unity, harmony and world peace were held at the Five Historical landmarks of Buddha Dhamma in Delhi.
These were the Shanti Stupa or Peace Pagoda, in the Indraprastha Park along the outer Ring Road; the famed Ashokan Rock Edict on the hillside of East of Kailash, which is among the edicts in the country on the teachings of the Buddha created by Ashoka, the Mauryan Emperor; the Ashoka Pillar at the Firoz Shah Kotla grounds, which was first erected by King Ashoka between 273 and 236 BC in the then Topra Kalan, a Yamuna Nagar district in Haryana; the Buddha Jayanti Park along the ridge, which has an 8-feet copper statue of Lord Buddha, installed to mark the 2500th birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha's and finally at the Asoka Mission, in Mehrauli, a Buddhist temple complex.
Around 50 monks from Subharti University, Meerut, Delhi University, and the Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association with representation from Nalanda, Theravada, and Mahayana traditions prayed at these sites to gain merit for everyone and for harmony and peace in the strife-torn world.
This year's celebrations presented a unique opportunity to witness a lively demonstration of the famous Nalanda debate by the nuns from the Jamyang Choling Institute. This debate system originated at the ancient Nalanda monastic university in India.
As Buddhist teachings and practices travelled to Tibet from India, so did the instructions on valid cognition, logic, and reasoning. Nalanda debate was then practiced and preserved since then in ancient Tibet and is still currently practiced in Tibetan Buddhist monastic institutions today. These nuns use debate daily as a primary part of their Buddhist philosophy education. Today, they demonstrated a debate focusing on investigation into the nature and characteristics of Bodhicitta (the mind of enlightenment) and great compassion.
The IBC also travelled overseas to participate in the Vaisakha Buddha Purnima celebrations in Lumbini, Nepal, at the invitation of the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT). The Indian team included 50 monks, academicians, a dance troupe, and prominent musicians of national repute. It is a matter of great honour for IBC that it is also during constructing a State-of-the-Art Buddhist complex--the India International Centre for Buddhist Culture and Heritage in Lumbini.
IBC is a Buddhist umbrella body that serves as a common platform for Buddhists worldwide. It is headquartered in New Delhi, India.