New Delhi, Jul 4 (UNI) President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said that as the pandemic of Covid 19 ravages human lives and economies across the globe, Buddha’s message serves like a beacon.
Speaking after inaugurating the Asadha Poornima celebrations, being observed as Dhamma Chakra Day, from Rashtrapati Bhavan, President said that Lord Buddha advised people to shun greed, hatred, violence, jealousy and many other vices to find happiness.
'Contrast this message with the hankering of an unrepentant mankind indulging in the same old violence and degradation of nature. We all know that the moment the virulence of Coronavirus slows down, we have a far more serious challenge of climate change before us,' the President said at the event, in which Prime Minister, Narendra Modi also gave a special address through video.
The President said that India is proud of being the land of the origin of the Dhamma. In India, Lord Buddha’s enlightenment, and the subsequent preaching by him for over four decades, were in line with India’s tradition of respect for intellectual liberalism and spiritual diversity. In modern times, two exceptionally great Indians – Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar – found inspiration in the words of the Buddha and went on to shape the destiny of the nation.
The President said that following in their footsteps, we should strive to hear the call of Buddha, to respond to his invitation to walk the Noble Path.
'The world seems full of suffering, in short term as well as in long term. There are many stories of kings and affluent people suffering from acute depression who took refuge in the Buddha to escape cruelties of life. Indeed, the life of the Buddha challenges earlier convictions as he believed in finding a deliverance from suffering in the midst of this imperfect world,' the President said.
The special message of President of Mongolia, Khaltmaagiin Batulga was also read out by Ambassador of Mongolia to India Gonching Ganboid.
Minister of State for Culture (Independent Charge) Prahlad Singh Patel and Minister of State for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju also addressed the opening ceremony.
In his video address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his greetings on Ashadha Poornima, also known as Guru Purnima, and also paid homage to Lord Buddha.
He expressed happiness that copies of Mongolian Kanjur are being presented to the Government of Mongolia.
Prime Minister talked about the teaching of Lord Buddha and about the eight-fold path which shows the way towards the well-being of many societies and nations.
He noted that Buddhism teaches respect for people, women, poor, for peace and non-violence and these teachings are the means to a sustainable planet.
Prime Minister said that Lord Buddha spoke about hope and purpose and saw a strong link between the two. The Prime Minister spoke about how he is hopeful about the 21st century, and this hope springs from the youth. He underlined that India has one of the largest start-up ecosystems where bright young minds are finding solutions to global problems.
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