India

Arunachal Chief Minister Urges Global Adoption of Buddha’s Middle Path for Peace

By PTI

Chief Minister Pema Khandu of Arunachal Pradesh urged the world to embrace Buddha’s teachings of compassion, wisdom and the Middle Path as a route to peace amid conflict, intolerance and growing divisions. Speaking at the opening session of the International Conference on “Buddhism: Dissemination in the Himalayan Region and Beyond” held at Kalawangpo Hall in Itanagar on Monday, Khandu said the Buddha’s teachings offer a guiding path toward peace, harmony and collective well-being, according to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office released on Tuesday. The conference is jointly organised by the Arunachal Pradesh government and the International Buddhist Confederation, with support from the Union Ministry of Culture. Khandu highlighted Tawang district as a spiritually vibrant area and home to the Tawang Monastery, a centre of Buddhist wisdom and learning, noting the presence of sacred relics of Lord Buddha in the town. He described Buddhism as more than a religion, calling it a way of life founded on compassion, wisdom and the Middle Path, and said Arunachal Pradesh has long served as a living bridge of Buddhist philosophy, culture and spiritual exchange. The monasteries, nunneries, temples and hermitages of Tawang and surrounding areas are not only places of worship but also repositories of knowledge, centres of learning and living institutions that preserve an invaluable spiritual and cultural legacy. Khandu reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to safeguarding this heritage, insisting that development and modernisation must proceed in harmony with the region’s cultural and ecological values. He said Arunachal’s Buddhist heritage is a source of spiritual strength and an important bridge connecting communities, nations and civilizations. Expressing confidence that the presence of eminent scholars and spiritual thinkers would generate valuable insights into carrying the Buddha’s message to future generations, Khandu thanked the International Buddhist Confederation for partnering with the state government. Secretary General of the IBC, Shartse Khensur Rinpoche Jangchup Choeden, Abbot of the Tawang Gaden Namgyal Lhatse Monastery, Rev Dramed Sungrab Tulku la, also spoke. The programme was followed by a panel discussion featuring speakers from Arunachal Pradesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Delhi. Subsequent panels brought together scholars from Germany, Indonesia, Nepal, Malaysia and across India.