India’s Commitment to Buddhist Heritage Highlighted at Asian Buddhism Summit 2024
New Delhi Hosts the First Asian Buddhism Summit
On November 5, 2024, Union Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju spoke at the Asian Buddhism Summit in New Delhi, emphasizing India’s dedication to developing Buddhist heritage sites. He noted that Buddhism originated in India and spread to other countries, highlighting the importance of Asia in the 21st century.
Prime Minister Modi’s Vision
Rijiju recalled Prime Minister Modi’s 2014 statement that India has given ‘Buddha, not Yuddha’ (war), stressing that aspiring global powers should follow Buddha’s teachings of love and compassion. He praised the government’s efforts, led by Prime Minister Modi and the Ministry of Culture, in preserving and promoting Buddhist sites.
Significant Attendance
This summit, organized by the International Buddhist Confederation under the Ministry of Culture, marked the first time President Droupadi Murmu attended. The event focused on the theme ‘Role of Buddha Dhamma in Strengthening Asia’.
Doubts Revealed
Kiren Rijiju -: Kiren Rijiju is an Indian politician who is currently serving as the Union Law Minister of India. He is responsible for overseeing legal matters and the justice system in the country.
Buddhist heritage sites -: Buddhist heritage sites are places that are important to the history and practice of Buddhism. These sites often include ancient temples, monasteries, and places where Buddha lived or taught.
Asian Buddhism Summit 2024 -: The Asian Buddhism Summit 2024 is a meeting where people from different countries in Asia come together to discuss Buddhism and its impact. It is a platform to share ideas and promote Buddhist culture and heritage.
Buddhism’s spread from India -: Buddhism is a religion that started in India over 2,500 years ago. It spread to other parts of Asia, like China, Japan, and Sri Lanka, through monks and traders who shared Buddha’s teachings.
Prime Minister Modi’s 2014 statement -: In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India has given the world ‘Buddha, not Yuddha,’ meaning India has shared the peaceful teachings of Buddha instead of war. This statement highlights India’s role in promoting peace.
International Buddhist Confederation -: The International Buddhist Confederation is an organization that connects Buddhist communities around the world. It works to promote and preserve Buddhist teachings and culture.
President Droupadi Murmu -: Droupadi Murmu is the President of India, which means she is the head of the country. She represents India at important events and ceremonies.