National Seminar on “Nalanda Buddhism in 21st Century” under NIOS held at Darjeeling, West Bengal
Darjeeling: On Sunday, Darjeeling, West Bengal, hosted a nationwide symposium on “Nalanda Buddhism in the 21st Century” and the acceptance of monastic education under the nationwide Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).
Prominent individuals attended the event, including His Eminence Khenchen Lha Tsering Rinpoche, the Abbot of Tashiding Monastery, Sikkim, as the Guest of Honor, and Darjeeling MLA Neeraj Tamang Zimba as the Chief Guest.
According to an official press release, the Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition (IHCNBT) organized the conference with the intention of advancing and acknowledging Monastic Studies as a component of the national curriculum.
Along with members from other Buddhist groups and the general public, the event brought together Buddhist monk delegates from 25 monasteries located in the Dooars area, Kalimpong, Salugara, Jaigaon, and Darjeeling.
The event, which focused on the significance of merging monastic education with contemporary educational systems, drew 125 attendees.
Maling Gombu, the secretary of the IHCNBT, stressed in his keynote speech the significance of the conference in promoting Nalanda Buddhism as a philosophy and a mental science. Through the NIOS curriculum, which will now enable monks and nuns to get certification up to Class XII in both traditional and contemporary education areas, he emphasized the groundbreaking efforts undertaken to mainstream Buddhist monastic education.
The Chief Guest, Darjeeling MLA Neeraj Tamang Zimba, discussed the importance of Buddhist education outside of religious contexts, characterizing it as a useful secular ethics system that benefits all people.
With a large Buddhist population and many monastic institutions, Zimba emphasized the significance of such activities for the North Bengal area. He also thanked the IHCNBT for working with the Ministry of Education and NIOS to guarantee that the Bhoti language and Boudh Darshan, which will now be accredited as a component of the national curriculum, are recognized.
His eminence Khenchen Lha Tsering Rinpoche also spoke at the event, applauding the Central government’s move to acknowledge monastic education alongside contemporary education, spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to Tsering, this action will increase possibilities for monks and nuns while also preserving and advancing traditional Buddhist teachings. Along with highlighting PM Modi’s designation of Pali as a classical language, which would help to further preserve and advance Buddhist studies, he also discussed the evolution of Buddhist education in South India, namely in the Sera, Gaden, and Namdroling monasteries.
Partha Sarthi, an academic officer at NIOS, also gave a special speech in which she discussed the institution’s purpose and function in providing monks and nuns with formal education.
Sarthi emphasized that the partnership between NIOS and IHCNBT would guarantee the recognition and certification of monastic education, greatly improving educational prospects for individuals living in monastic facilities. He also emphasized the beneficial effects of Buddhist education on the growth of moral people and the advancement of international harmony.
As the session came to a close, all of the presenters expressed the hope that more Buddhist philosophy and education will be incorporated into the larger Indian educational system as a result of monastic education becoming recognized under the NIOS curriculum.
In order to preserve the Nalanda Buddhist legacy and advance humankind, attempts to mainstream Buddhist education have been acknowledged as a crucial first step.
The preservation, advancement, and growth of Nalanda Buddhist teachings and customs are the goals of the Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition (IHCNBT). In order to close the gap between traditional Buddhist education and contemporary academic curriculum, it works with a number of governmental and educational organizations.
