1. Buddha Jayanti Celebrations
2. The 2nd International Dialogue on Vinaya
3. Asian Buddhist Media Conclave
Prime Minister NarendraModi on Monday inaugurated the 'Buddha Jayanti 2018' celebrations at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. PM Modi gave away the Sankh to 14 monks from India, Sri Lanka, and Japan, who came to attend the celebrations.Buddha Jayantiwas organised by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC). A conglomerate of Buddhist institutions had come together to showcase the various facets of Buddhist traditions.
Hon’blePrime Minister of India Greeting Monks
The Prime Minister flanked by Minister of State for Culture Mahesh Sharma (left) Chairman of the organizing committee, Minister of State for Home KirenRijiju as Co-chairperson (right), the Secretary Culture Raghvendra Singh (extreme left) and IBC’s Secretary General Dr Ven. Dhammapiya (extreme right), the Convenor of the Organizing Committee.
The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India addressing a packed Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
The Prime Ministeralso offered Sangh Dana. He presented the VaishakhSammaanPrashastiPatra to the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath; and the All India BhikshuSangha, Bodh Gaya.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister asserted that India is home to a unique heritage, where the overriding thought has always been the benefit of mankind. He said that the teachings of Lord Buddha have shaped many nations. He said India has never been an aggressor.
ShriNarendraModi said that the Government is working with compassion to serve people, in line with the path shown by Lord Buddha. He also said the Union Government is working with an elaborate vision, to preserve the cultural heritage of India, which includes the heritage associated with Lord Buddha. He said a sum of Rs. 360 crore has been approved for the Buddhist Circuit.
The Prime Minister exhorted the gathering to make a contribution towards the New India of 2022, when the country will celebrate 75 years of freedom. He asked everyone to identify some tasks, which they could resolve to accomplish by that date.
It was attended by Monks from the Theravada and Mulasarvastivada (Nalanda Tradition) representing Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Vietnam as well as many from India. The List is attached below.
The seminar’s aim was to address similarities among the two schools of Vinaya. By coming together in a dialogue, they were able to see where they complemented each other? These dialogues enable the participants to contribute to solving current problems of extreme materialism, erosion of values and violence etc.? This requires a historical, social and ethical enquiry into respective methodologies. As the topic is vast, the dialogue proposes each time include only a certain aspects of the Vinaya
Vinaya literature and application of it in real life is kept alive by Buddhist monastic community for millenniums by resisting various types of hardships, pressure and suppression in history. Out of all the different schools of Vinaya practices; three are still surviving today and in fact thriving in the present era. These are Theravada, Mulasarvastivada and Dharmaguptika. Theravada tradition is widely followed in South Asian countries while Mulasarvastivada is followed primarily in Central Asian countries and Dharmaguptika is followed in East Asian countries.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been leading the dialogue among followers of difference schools of Vinaya.
The Participants at the Vinaya Meet
His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the inauguration of the Vinaya Meet.
| S.No | Name | Title | Country/State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GesheSonamWangchukBeri | Sera Jey Monastery | Himachal Pradesh |
| 2 | Yangten Rinpoche | Office of HH Dalai Lama | Himachal Pradesh |
| 3 | Dzongsar Khenpo Chhoying Dorje | Dzongsar Khyentse Chokyilodro Institute | Himachal Pradesh |
| 4 | Rinchin Gompo | Representative, Abbot, GadenShartse Monastery | Himachal Pradesh |
| 5 | Ven. Tenzin Labsum | Translator | Himachal Pradesh |
| 6 | Ven. Khensur Rinpoche Dawa | Gaden Jangtse Monastery | Karnataka |
| 7 | Tashi Phuntsok | Assistant to Ven. Khensur Rinpoche Dawa | Karnataka |
| 8 | Tsering Motup | Representative, Abbot, TashiLhunpo Monastery | Karnataka |
| 9 | Tsering Choedhar | Managing Trustee, Namdroling Monastery | Karnataka |
| 10 | Ven. Lobsang Rinchen | Representative, Abbot of Gomang Monastery | Karnataka |
| 11 | Ven. Jamayang Gedun | Scholar, DrepungGomang Monastery | Karnataka |
| 12 | Ven. Jangchup Phuntsok | Scholar, GadenShartse Monastery | Karnataka |
| 13 | Geshe Tenzin Phuntsok | Representative , Abbot, Sera JeyAbboty | Karnataka |
| 14 | Geshe Lobsang Lekshi | Sera Jey Monastery | Karnataka |
| 15 | Ven. Dr. Dhammapiya | Secretary General, IBC | Tripura |
| 16 | Ven Khemachara Bhikkhu | Chairman, Siddhartha Buddha Vihara Trust | Tripur |
| 17 | Khenpo Konchok Rangdol | Drigung Kagyu Institute | Uttarakhand |
| 18 | Ven. Lama Lobzang | President, IBC | India |
| 19 | Most Ven. Sandimar Abhivamsa | Secretary General, State Sangha Committee of Myanmar | Myanmar |
| 20 | Most Ven. SumanaBivisa | Aggha Maha Ganthavacakapandita, Aggha Maha Pandita, Aggha Maha Saddhamajotikadhaja, State Maha Sangha Nayaka Committe | Myanmar |
| 21 | Most Ven. CeintitarLinkara | Aggha Maha Ganthavacakapandita, Aggha Maha Pandita, Aggha Maha Saddhamajotikadhaja, State Maha Sangha Nayaka Committee | Myanmar |
| 22 | Most Ven. Pannatzza Sayadaw | Myanmar | |
| 23 | Most Ven. Gyaneshwar Bhante | Myanmar | |
| 24 | Most Ven. Dr. AshinNandaka | Pro Rector of Dhammaduta Chekinda University | Myanmar |
| 25 | Ven. Dr. Candamukha | Lecturer of International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University. | Myanmar |
| 26 | Ven. Dr. Kevala | Lecturer of Dhammaduta Buddha University | Myanmar |
| 27 | Ven. Dr. Jagara Bhivamsa | Pitakattaya Paragu | Myanmar |
| 28 | Mr. PyoneKhai | Professor . University of Abhidhamma | Myanmar |
| 29 | Dr. HninHnin Aye | Professor - University of Abhidhamma, Vice President - World Alliance of Buddhist (WAB), Vice President - International Buddhist Confederation | Myanmar |
| 30 | Mr. Myat Thu | Assistance of State SanghaMahanayaka Committee | Myanmar |
| 31 | Ven. Thu Wi Ra | Assistance of State SanghaMahanayaka Committee | Myanmar |
| 32 | Most Ven. AshinIndaka | Dhamma Garden Centre | Myanmar |
| 33 | Dr. Indobhasha | Lecturer, Dhammaduta Buddha University | Myanmar |
| 34 | Ven. Ghosaka | M.Phil, Gautam Buddha University (GBU) | Myanmar |
| 35 | Ashin Dhammapiya | MA, Gautam Buddha University | Myanmar |
| 36 | Ven. Tiloka | Gautam Buddha University | Myanmar |
| 37 | Ven. Jagaralankara | Gautam Buddha University | Myanmar |
| 38 | Nun | Myanmar | |
| 39 | Nun | Myanmar | |
| 40 | Upasika | Myanmar | |
| 41 | Upasika | Myanmar | |
| 42 | Upasika | Myanmar | |
| 43 | Upasak | Myanmar | |
| 44 | Most Ven. Kotugoda Dhammawasa Mahanayake Thero | Supreme Patriarch, Sri Amarapura Maha Nikaya | Sri Lanka |
| 45 | Ven. Shestra Saroj Thero | Assistant to the Supreme Patriarch | Sri Lanka |
| 46 | Mr. Salpadoru Tholka Mudalige Thusitha Madhushanka | Assistant to the Supreme Patriarch | Sri Lanka |
| 47 | Ven. Madihe Sugathasiri Thera | Senior Lecturer, University of Colombo | Sri Lanka |
| 48 | Dr. Damenda Porage | Deputy Secretary General of IBC | Sri Lanka |
| 48 | Chandana Chitral Somapala | Singer, Musician | Sri Lanka |
| 49 | Dr.Yo Hsiang Chou | Executive Director, Global Network of Holy Path | Taiwan |
| 50 | Miss Nitinant Wisaweisuan | Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Thammasat University Thailand | Thailand |
| 51 | Ms. Aphinita Chaichana | Thailand | |
| 52 | Ven. Thich NhatTu | Vice Rector, Vietnam Buddhist University & Vice Director of National Department of International Buddhist Affairs | Vietnam |
| 53 | Dr. Arvind Kumar Singh | Assistant Professor & Head, School of Buddhist Studies & Civilization Gautam Buddha University, | Uttar Pradesh |
| 54 | Dr. Atul Krishna Founder | Chairman, VivekanandSubharti University, Meerut | Uttar Pradesh |
| 55 | Dr. Ashok Kumar | Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut | |
| 56 | Dr. HeeroHito | Director, Centre for Buddhist Studies, VivekanandSubharti University, Meerut | Uttar Pradesh |
| 57 | Dr. Rohit Ravindra | Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut | Uttar Pradesh |
| 58 | Dr. Shalya Raj | Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut | Uttar Pradesh |
| 59 | Ravi Awasthy | Ministry of Culture | Delhi |
| 60 | Mrs Awasthy | Delhi |
The Conclave was held at Vivekananda International Foundation by VIF in collaboration with International Buddhist Confederation. The Chief Guest was from Sri Lanka, Dr SarathAmmunugama, the Minister of Science Technology, Research, Skills Development and Vocational Training and Kandyan Heritage. The Keynote Address was presented by Shri S Gurumurthy, Vice Chairman, Vivekananda International Foundation, Senior Columnist and Political &Economic Analyst.
At the Valedictory the Chief Guest was ShriKirenRijiju, Minister of State for Home, Govt of India who also delivered the closing address.
The main emphasis of the Conclave was to discuss contemporary media in the context Buddhist values and a Buddhist Approach. Media had become too much Commercial, adversarial and conflict driven. There was need to decolonise mindset, techniques and processes and syllabus for media training. Media shapes public culture, opinions and views. Therefore need to re visit and reflect on and alternative approach as societal values were being framed by it. Media needs to inculcate a perspective of Development with Values. Buddhism’s Mindful Communication model can play a role to include a Human centric approach.
Minister KirenRijiju is flankedDr.Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF (left), Dr Ven. Dhammapiya Secretary General, IBC and Dr KalingaSeneviratne, the Convenor of the Conclave from Lotus Communication Network, Singapore
The participants at the Conclave
The Conclave was divided into the following sessions: Mindful Communication for Conflict Avoidance and Sustainable Development- an Indic-Buddhist Approach, Mapping the Path 1 - Launching a Mindful Communication for Sustainable Development Training Network, Buddhism in the Media – Country Perspectives and Bringing Buddha Dhamma to Popular Culture.
The Conclave had participants from Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore and India.