Lord Buddha’s teachings are the basis for solutions to the greatest challenges confronting the world, including war, economic instability, terrorism and climate change, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday after inaugurating the two-day Global Buddhist Summit here which is being attended by delegates from 30 countries.
Taking a swipe at rich nations, the Prime Minister said that the world is facing a climate change crisis now because in the last century “some countries stopped thinking about others and the coming generations. For decades they kept thinking that meddling with nature will not impact them. They kept putting it on others”.
“Inspired by the teachings of Lord Buddha, India is taking new initiatives for global welfare,” Modi said.
“Had the world followed His teachings, it would not have faced the climate change crisis,” Modi said emphasising that the path shown by Lord Buddha is the “path of the future and sustainability”.
Addressing a gathering of eminent Buddhist monks, scholars, ambassadors and diplomats, Modi quoted ancient texts on Lord Buddha’s teachings and said the need of the hour is that people and nations prioritise global interests along with that of their own by drawing inspiration from the Buddha’s philosophy.
“This is the road to a happy and stable world. This is necessary to move from self to the wider world, from narrowness to integral (approach), the Prime Minister said, adding that the world will have to think about the poor and countries lacking resources.
Modi asserted that India has been following the path shown by the Buddha and cited the country extending help to others, including Turkiye after it was hit by an earthquake, to say that it has treated every human being’s pain as its own.
“Challenges to solutions is the journey of the Buddha (‘samasya se samadhan’). The Buddha didn’t leave his palace because He was in discomfort, He left because he saw and felt the pain of others,” he said at the summit being organised by the Union Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC).
Modi recalled his speech at the United Nations a few years ago where he said, “India didn’t give war to the world, it gave the Buddha,” and said the summit will provide an “effective platform” for putting together efforts of all countries in the direction of achieving a peaceful and prosperous world while fostering sustainability.
Platforms like IBC are giving the opportunity to “like-minded and like-hearted countries” to spread Buddha Dhamma and peace,” Modi said.
He said the summit was taking place at a time when India had completed 75 years of Independence and was celebrating “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”. The world is watching this country of 140 crore people, understanding it and also accepting it, Modi said.
Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy said, “This Global Buddhist Summit will also help in strengthening cultural and diplomatic ties with other countries.”
During the course of the summit, discussions will be held on peace, environment, morality, health, and sustainability, among others, said Reddy while Law Minister Kiren Rijiju was of the opinion that “India is the birthplace of Buddhism. By hosting this summit, India is not only doing its duty, but it is also showing the way forward”.
