Virtual conference on “The Spread of Buddhist Thought” by JNU, ICCR and IBC. Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi thanked the organisor for this noble endeavour

• 

An International Buddhist conference was held on the theme “The Spread of Buddhist Thought” on virtual mode, in Jawaharlal Nehru University in collaboration with Indian Council for Cultural Relations and IBC on 27-28 October 2021.
​Prof. Chowdhuri Upender Rao, the conference director and the Professor of Sanskrit and Pali in School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University said, the Buddhist thought originated in India, spread throughout the world. Having grown in distinct streams and practices, the Buddhist thought had entered the Southeast Asia, East Asia, Tibet, and China. He said that it was originated in India and slowly waned in its land for several reasons.

• 

​The Chief Guest of this ocassion state minister of external affairs and culture Meenakshi Lekhi while admiring the efforts of Prof. C. Upendra Rao said : Bhagavan Buddha lived in Kapilavasthu in his early life. He understood the four noble truths, propagated the Middle path, and many other teachings. She added that Siddhārtha Gautama attained the Bodhi sitting under the Bodhi tree, and later traveled in several parts of Northern India giving instructions for around 45 years. ​This is how the Buddhist thought, originated in India, that further spread throughout the world. It has grown in distinct streams and practices—the Theravāda in South and Southeast Asia, Mahāyāna in East Asia, and the Vajrayāna in Tibet said union state minister if external affairs Minakshi Lekhi. Having originated in India, the Buddhist thought had disseminated throughout the entire globe added Meenakshi Lekhi. Feeling happy to know that several well-known foreign and Indian Buddhist scholars participate in such virtual conferences minister of external affairs said that this is indeed inspiring that an e-book of abstracts was brought well before the commencement of the International Buddhist Conference.​

• 

Meenakshi Lekhi wished all success for this International Buddhist Conference and welcomed all delegates to present their extraordinary presentations. She also congratulated Prof. Rao and his team for participating in this noble endeavour.
​After the Buddhist prayer Dr. Dhammappiya, Secretary-General, IBC, stated that the pertinent need is of understanding Buddhist thought and our heritage. Today some so-called Buddhist scholars are trying to establish theories that the Buddha was not born in India, and thus they try to diminish the importance of India in the field of Buddhist studies but this is not true as we have to understand the enormous contributions of ancient Indian teachers.
Attending as a Guest of Honour Chinmoy Naik, (DDG, Culture), ICCR, New Delhi, said the conference’s Central Theme is “The spread of Buddhist thought.” This conference will focus on the reflections of Indian Buddhist traditions spread worldwide said Cinmoy Naik.

• 

Throwing light of Budhism and it’s eruption during the ancient period he said that the Buddhist way of life had reached many parts of the world, continuing even today.

Therefore the ICCR is today has decided on some new awards in the field of Buddhist Studies. Lauding the efforts of Prof. C. Upendra Rao he thanked him for this noble endeavour.
​Among the renowned Buddhist scholars from abroad, who’ve presented the papers, are Prof. Dr. Audrius Beinorius, Institute of Asian and Transcultural Studies, Vilnius University, Lithuania; Prof. Agita Baltgalve, University of Latvia, Department of Asian Studies, Riga, Latvia, Dr. Sri Putripurnamawati, Faculty of Brahmavidya Sugriwa Hindu University Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, Ven. Dr. Tejawaro Thero, Visiting Lecturer at NSYS University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Prof. Lyudmila Klasanova, Ph.D. (Indian and Tibetan Culture), Sofia, University, Bulgaria, Bulgaria, Dr. Suvin Ruksat, President of Administrative Members, Buddhist Studies Department, Graduate School, Mahamakut Buddhist, Prof. Raffaele Torella, Chair of Sanskrit, Sapienza University of Rome, Dr. Olena Kalantarova, Skovoroda Institute of Philosophy NAS, Kyiv, Ukraine, Dr. Phramaha Chakrapol Acharashubho Thepa, Ph.D., Faculty of ​Religion and Philosophy, Mahamakut Buddhist University, Thailand, and Mr. Le Chi Luc, from Vietnam.

• 

The valedictory session of the conference was held on 28th evening. Consolidating the two-day international conference, Chowduri Upendra Rao expressed his gratitude to all viz Chief Guest, Prof. Battu Satyanarayana, Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Karnataka, Karnataka, India, Prof. Santosh Kumar Shukla, Dean, School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies, JNU, New Delhi, India, Guest of Honour, Prof. Amarjiva Lochan, Dy. Dean, International Relations, University of Delhi, India, and Ven. Dr. Tejawaro Thero, Vice President at Golden Mountain Monastery, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, has expressed their views and applauded the success of the two-day international Buddhist conference. The conference ended with the Buddhist prayer.