Vice-Chancellors, diplomats, Buddhist thinkers, special guests, monks, nuns and academics from universities in India, Nepal and other countries are in Lumbini for a two-day seminar.
What you should know
The Chief Minister of Lumbini Province, Chetnarayan Acharya, has said that it is necessary to convert Buddha's teachings into practical diplomatic practice.
Inaugurating the international seminar on 'Diplomacy and Buddha's Teachings: The Path to World Peace and Sustainable Development' in Lumbini on Sunday, Chief Minister Acharya said that Gautam Buddha's teachings are based on the values of dialogue rather than conflict, cooperation rather than competition and friendship rather than malice. "Buddha's teachings can play an important role in establishing lasting peace, mutual respect and equality in international diplomacy," he said, "Lumbini should be known not only as a religious place but as a symbol of humanity, tolerance and non-violence." Mentioning that Nepal-India relations are historically, culturally and religiously interdependent, he opined that education, study, research and cultural cooperation can be used as strong means to strengthen the relationship between the two countries on the common basis of Buddhism, language, script, tradition and philosophy. He expressed his belief that the 'Lumbini Development Authority' concept put forward by the state government for the overall development of Lumbini will help in the protection, enhancement and promotion of the entire Buddhist heritage spread from Kapilvastu to Ramgram.
Chief Minister Acharya mentioned that the initiative of Lumbini Buddhist University for the educational expansion of Buddhist studies is commendable and drew the attention of related bodies to the possibility of establishing 'Nepal-India Buddhist Cultural Exchange Center', integrated tourism promotion program under 'Buddha Circuit', Buddhist research center, museum and international youth conference in the future. The
seminar has the presence of vice-chancellors of various universities, diplomats, Buddhist thinkers, special guests, monks, nuns and academics from India, Nepal and other countries.
Chairman of the University Grants Commission Prof. Dr. Devaraj Adhikari said that morality is very important in higher education and said that Buddha's teachings are leading everyone towards it. In the
program, Indian scholar Prof. Abhay Kumar Singh gave a speech on 'Diplomacy and the guidance of Buddha's teachings'. Likewise, various scholars explained about Buddhist education and its relevance through greeting messages.
Lumbini Buddhist University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Suvarnlal Brajacharya presided over the seminar and Chief Minister Acharya was the chief guest. On that occasion, an agreement was also signed between the universities of India and Nepal and the Lumbini Buddhist University.
registrar dr. Tilak Acharya welcomed and said that it is necessary to spread Buddhist diplomacy all over the world. He informed that the university is spreading the message of peace to the world through international seminars. In the
program, Vice Chancellor of Kathmandu University Prof. Dr. Achyut Wagle, Vice-Chancellor of Sudurpaschim University, Prof. Dr. Dhruva Kumar Gautam, Vice-Chancellor of Sanskrit University, Prof. Dr. Dhanishwar Nepal, Vice Chancellor of Siddhartha University, India Prof. Kavita Shah, former ambassadors Prof. Dr. Lokraj Baral, Deepkumar Upadhyay, Dean of Lumbini Buddhist University Dr. Manikaratna Shakya and others said that Buddhist diplomatic relations are important for world peace. The
program was facilitated by Rajendra Ghimire, coordinator of International Relations Center. Churamani Pokharel, assistant director of the university, said that a dozen experts from different countries will present working papers in the seminar. A dozen vice-chancellors of universities in Nepal and India are participating in the seminar. The seminar will continue till Monday.
