Itanagar, Apr 26: More than 600 representatives from various parts of India gathered in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh to hold a dialogue about Nalanda Buddhism. Nalanda Buddhism has its origins in the Nalanda monastic university.
With its origin in Nalanda monastic university, Nalanda Buddhism has spread across regions like northern India, Bhutan, and regions with Tibetan influence. The conference aimed to celebrate the ties between the people and religions within the region. Pema Khandu said that Arunachal Pradesh is a diverse state with various religions. He called it essential for all faiths to coexist peacefully.
He stressed on the importance of the conference's location and further said that Zemithang is the last Indian border through which the 14th Dalai Lama entered India in 1959. Khandu lauded the principle of reasoning and analysis that forms the core of Nalanda Buddhism. He emphasised that Nalanda Buddhism permits followers to subject even Bhagwan Buddha's teachings to scrutiny, as per the news report.
In his address, Pema Khandu praised the people of Arunachal Pradesh for preserving their culture and traditions with religious zeal. He urged attendees, especially the youth, to be mindful of the challenges Buddhism is anticipated to face in the 21st century. The conference was organised by the Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition (IHCNBT), a body based in New Delhi.
The conference included prayers, speeches from religious and political leaders, teachings about the journeys and ideas of Nalanda masters, discussions on contemporary challenges faced by Nalanda Buddhism, and cultural performances.
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