Bylakuppe, South India National Conference

Report

National Conference on Nalanda Buddhism in 21st Century - Re-tracing the source in the Footsteps of Acharyas: From Nalanda to the Himalayas at

Serajey Monastery, Bylakuppe District Mysore, Karnataka

on 17th Oct. 2024

Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition (IHCNBT) organized a National Conference on Nalanda Buddhism in 21st Century - Re-tracing the source in the Footsteps of Acharyas: From Nalanda to the Himalayas at Serajey Monastery, Bylakuppe District Mysore, Karnataka on 17th Oct. 2024.

The Chief Guest for the Conference His Eminence Khen Rinpoche of Serajey Monastery Tashi Tsedar inaugurated the Conference and spoke on the Nalanda Buddhsim- the teachings of Buddha after his realization of the universal truth, the teachings latter propagated further by Nalanda University and the great Nalanda master like Acharya Shantarakshita, Nagarjuna, Guru Padmasambhava and others. He spoke on the importance and relevance of Nalanda Buddhism teachings in today’s challenging times of the Russia-Ukrain and the Israel and Gaza war tensions in today 21st century times and how Nalanda Buddhist teachings can be solace to the troubled times of the humanity. He appreciated the efforts of IHCNBT for working for preservation and in developing the Nalanda Buddhist teachings and the development of Monastic education course under NIOS education board, Govt. of India.

The Guest of Honor Tulku Choddar from Namdroling Monastery spoke on the traditional system of monastic education and the changes with time and the appreciated the work done by IHCNBT for the modernization and recognition of Buddha teachings with the NIOS education board which will help in getting certificate and protection of the Buddha teachings as humanistic principles.

Maling Gombu, General Secretary, IHCNBT, in his welcome note briefly explained the objective of the conference the importance of the Nalanda Buddhism in the Trans Himalayan region and the need to develop the teachings of Buddha. He briefly spoke on the formation of IHCNBT and its objective and the programs and activities carried out by IHCNBT in the Indo-Himalayan region from Arunachal Pradesh to Ladakh UT. He spoke on the Monastic education course developed by IHCNBT with NIOS education board and the Notification issued by NIOS recognizing the Bhoti language and Boudh Darshan under NIOS education board. This has been welcomed by the monastic community and will benefit the monk’s future.

The other dignitaries on the dias were the great Buddhist masters of the Abbot of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery Khen Rinpoche Zeekyab Rinpoche, Khen Rinpoche Jamba Soepa, Zhongkar Choede Monastery,

Lama Umjey from Gudmed Tantric Monastery, President, Ladakh Buddhist Association Sh. Cherring Dorjay, Khenchen Lha Tshering from Sikkim, Adv. Maling Gombu, General Secretary, IHCNBT, Geshe Lama Chosphel Zotpa, VP, IHCNBT, and the keynote address was delivered by Khen Rinpoche Dondup Tsering, GRL Monastery, Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh.

The other delegates from the Himalayan region of India included Ven. Tsering Chopshel from Ladakh Gonpa Association, Venerable Shatup Jampa Lama, Venerable Tulku Sangey Yontan, form North Bengal, Sh. Hukum Chand Negi, VP, IHCNBT, Himachal Pradesh.

The deliberations on the theme/topics:

1.Nalanda Buddhism: the History and Development of Nalanda Buddhism, .

2.Gautama Buddha and his seven successors, Arahants,

3.The origination of the eighteen Buddhist sects and the lineage of Vows of Mulasarvastivadin.

The Scholars who presented the papers on the topic of Nalanda Buddhism: the History and Development of Nalanda Buddhism was Venerable Tashi Lhundup Kachen Dorje Gyaltsen from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and hailing from Ladakh. He spoke on the concept of Nalanda Buddhism and its historical development and its influence in the Indian Himalayan region and Tibet.

The second scholar presented a Paper on the topic of Gautama Buddha and his seven successors, Arahants by Venerable Lhundup Samdrup from Seramey Monastery hailing from Zanskar, Ladakh spoke on the seven Arahants as the successors of Gautama Buddha.

The third speaker Venerable Pema Namgyal Bhutia from Serajey Monastery spoke on the topic of The origination of the eighteen Buddhist sects and the lineage of Vows of Mulasarvastivadin.

The presentation of papers were followed by question & Answer session for all the topics wherein the discussion and deliberations took place between the monastic communities.

The Conference also deliberated on the modern approach to study of Buddhist tradition and philosophy with the Monastic education under NIOS Board of education, Ministry of Education, Govt. of India.

The themes deliberated on the beginning of the different forms of Buddhism and the education in monastic institutions, the various divisions of Mahayana philosophy and Nalanda University, the way philosophy of no creator god of Buddhism moving in hand in hand with modern science, Science and mind related to Buddhism, the main philosophical difference between non Buddhist and Buddhist and the chronology of development Buddhist philosophy in Nalanda and the aftermath.

The outcome of the conference was:

1. Around 315 plus Monastic members consisting of Buddhist scholars, Monks and Nuns from the Monastery of Serajey, Seramey, Tashi Lhunpo, Namdroling, Zhongkar Choede and from Namdroling Nunnery from the Himalayan region came together on one platform to deliberate on Nalanda Buddhism narrative as against the common narrative of Tibetan Buddhism or Mahayana Buddhism.
2. The primary objective of the conference to facilitate debate, discussions, research presentations and cultural exchanges related to the Nalanda Buddhist tradition, with a specific focus on its influence, preservation, and evolution to re-tracing the source in the footsteps of Acharyas: from Nalanda to Himalaya and beyond was successful with good participation from the monastic scholars from the Himalayan region.
3. The Monastic education Course of NIOS education board developed by IHCNBT and NIOS was welcomed as a much needed initiative for the recognition of the monastic education for the monks. The Monastic institutions will take Accreditation with NIOS after the meeting with the Monastery authorities.
4. Nalanda Buddhism with cross cultural relations which is one of the powerful factors of cultural mobilization and social stability in the Himalayan region will continue to play key role in national integration and further consolidation of this strategic areas of the country and the Conference on the theme of Nalanda Buddhism tracing to its roots was an important step in the direction.
5. The Monastic community in the different monasteries from the Himalayan region will send 10 t0 12 names of the Members for IHCNBT very soon after the internal meeting of the Associations.
6. The Monastic Community has felt strongly that the Government is concerned of the Monastic education and is contributing to the Monastic education development for the Himalayan monks students who so far are dependent on the Tibetan Monasteries and the Tibetan Govt. in Exile.