ITANAGAR, Nov 3: Chief Minister Pema Khandu has called for renewed global emphasis on the Buddha’s teachings of compassion, wisdom and the Middle Path to promote peace and harmony amid growing conflicts, intolerance and divisions.
Addressing the inaugural session of the international conference on “Buddhism: Dissemination in the Himalayan Region and Beyond” at Kalawangpo Hall in Tawang on Monday, Khandu said the Buddha’s teachings offer “a guiding path towards peace, harmony and collective well-being”.
The conference is being jointly organised by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), with the support of the Union Ministry of Culture.
Welcoming the delegates on behalf of the people of the State, particularly those of Tawang, the Chief Minister described the district as a spiritually vibrant region and home to the historic Tawang Monastery, a major centre of Buddhist wisdom and learning. He said the conference held special significance in Tawang, especially with the Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha currently in the town.
Describing Buddhism as more than a religion, Khandu said it represents a way of life rooted in compassion, wisdom and the Middle Path.
He said Arunachal Pradesh has been an integral part of the larger Buddhist heritage for centuries, serving as a living bridge for the exchange of Buddhist philosophy, culture and spirituality. The monasteries, nunneries, temples and hermitages in Tawang and adjoining areas, he said, are not merely places of worship but repositories of knowledge and living institutions that have preserved the region’s spiritual and cultural legacy.
Reaffirming the State Government’s commitment to protecting this heritage, Khandu said development and modernisation must remain in harmony with the region’s cultural and ecological values. He added that Arunachal’s Buddhist heritage was not only a source of spiritual strength but also a bridge connecting communities, nations and civilisations.
Expressing confidence that the participation of eminent scholars and spiritual leaders would generate meaningful insights into taking the Buddha’s message to future generations, Khandu thanked the IBC for partnering with the State Government in organising the conference.
The inaugural session began with a Mangalacharan by members of the Sangha. IBC Secretary General Shartse Khensur Rinpoche Jangchup Choeden delivered the welcome address, followed by addresses from the Abbot of Gaden Namgyal Lhatse, Tawang Monastery, Rev Dramed Sungrab Tulku la, and the president of the ABC.
The conference then proceeded with its first panel discussion, moderated by Prof Moji Riba of Rajiv Gandhi University, with speakers from Arunachal Pradesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Delhi. Subsequent sessions brought together scholars from Germany, Indonesia, Nepal, Malaysia and different parts of India.