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Buddhist monk hails PM Modi, says India can help resolve world conflicts

India has seen a great revival of Buddhism under Prime Minister Modi, who gave hope to many people, said Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, a Buddhist monk from South Korea. Pomnyun, who came here to take part in Global Buddhist Summit, told ETV Bharat that the world is in conflict now and India can play an active role in resolving it.

South Korean Buddhist monk hails PM Modi for revival of Buddhism in India
South Korean Buddhist monk hails PM Modi for revival of Buddhism in India
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Published : Apr 22, 2023, 7:12 AM IST

Updated : Apr 22, 2023, 6:36 PM IST

Buddhist monk hails PM Modi, says India can help resolve world conflicts

New Delhi: A top Buddhist monk from South Korea on Friday told ETV Bharat that India has seen a great revival of Buddhism in the country under the leadership of PM Modi while adding that “the country will actively play a role in resolving the global conflict peacefully and that it is growing rapidly and is forging ahead to becoming one of the world’s three largest economies in the coming future.

When asked about his take on the importance of Buddhism in India’s foreign policy, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, chairman of Jungto Society and founder of Guiding Dharma Master, South Korea, hailed PM Narendra Modi’s words on Buddhism and said, “Prime Minister Modi gave hope to many people. India has seen a great revival of Buddhism in the country under him. Buddhism reached Korea from India by sea route 2000 years ago. If we live according to the Buddha’s teachings, we can solve global environmental problems and conflicts can also be resolved soon”.

Pomnyun was among the top Buddhist scholars participating at the two-day Global Buddhist Summit from April 20-21, hosted by India’s Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), under the theme ‘Responses to Contemporary challenges: Philosophy to Praxis’.

He further said, “Currently, India is growing rapidly, and I think it will become one of the world’s three largest economies shortly. However, in India’s great human history, I think it is not an economic problem but a cultural problem. The whole world is in conflict right now. I hope that India will actively play a role in resolving the conflict peacefully. India can do that”.

Also Read : Buddha has given answers to modern world problems: PM Modi inaugurates Global Buddhist Summit

Over the years, the idea of soft power has gained a grip on India’s foreign policy and Buddhist diplomacy has been of the tactics to achieve these initiatives. India’s historical associations with the Buddhist faith in diplomacy and foreign policy have been significant and are highly appreciated in the global community.

The two-day summit that concluded on Friday in the national capital, witnessed the participation of eminent scholars, Sangha leaders, and Dharma practitioners from all over the world including Mexico, Vietnam, Cambodia, South Korea, the US, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia to name a few, who discussed pressing global issues and look for answers in the Buddha Dhamma based on universal values.

Ven. Bhiku Nandisensa Ji, Director of the International Buddhist Confederation, Mexico said, “Buddha’s teaching is universal and Buddha’s teaching took a long time to reach the Western world. I have been in Mexico for 25 years and I see Buddha’s teachings are important for all humanity in the context of time or space. One important thing in Buddhism is ethical values and each country should adopt these values”.

He said that India is the land of the Buddha and that Buddha is born here while adding that 'Buddhist diplomacy has a greater role to play when it comes to the geopolitical scenario'. “The Buddha’s teaching should be used to stop all the problems like wars and the environmental crisis. People should be made aware of Buddha’s teachings in today’s world”, he added.

The summit with India as the host country was an effort towards engaging the global Buddhist Dhamma leadership and scholars on matters of Buddhist and universal concerns, and to come up with policy inputs to address them collectively. The discussion at the summit explored how the Buddha Dhamma’s fundamental values can provide inspiration and guidance in contemporary settings. The Global Buddhist Summit was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi, where he reiterated that the path of Buddha is the path of the future.

Buddhist monk hails PM Modi, says India can help resolve world conflicts

New Delhi: A top Buddhist monk from South Korea on Friday told ETV Bharat that India has seen a great revival of Buddhism in the country under the leadership of PM Modi while adding that “the country will actively play a role in resolving the global conflict peacefully and that it is growing rapidly and is forging ahead to becoming one of the world’s three largest economies in the coming future.

When asked about his take on the importance of Buddhism in India’s foreign policy, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, chairman of Jungto Society and founder of Guiding Dharma Master, South Korea, hailed PM Narendra Modi’s words on Buddhism and said, “Prime Minister Modi gave hope to many people. India has seen a great revival of Buddhism in the country under him. Buddhism reached Korea from India by sea route 2000 years ago. If we live according to the Buddha’s teachings, we can solve global environmental problems and conflicts can also be resolved soon”.

Pomnyun was among the top Buddhist scholars participating at the two-day Global Buddhist Summit from April 20-21, hosted by India’s Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), under the theme ‘Responses to Contemporary challenges: Philosophy to Praxis’.

He further said, “Currently, India is growing rapidly, and I think it will become one of the world’s three largest economies shortly. However, in India’s great human history, I think it is not an economic problem but a cultural problem. The whole world is in conflict right now. I hope that India will actively play a role in resolving the conflict peacefully. India can do that”.

Also Read : Buddha has given answers to modern world problems: PM Modi inaugurates Global Buddhist Summit

Over the years, the idea of soft power has gained a grip on India’s foreign policy and Buddhist diplomacy has been of the tactics to achieve these initiatives. India’s historical associations with the Buddhist faith in diplomacy and foreign policy have been significant and are highly appreciated in the global community.

The two-day summit that concluded on Friday in the national capital, witnessed the participation of eminent scholars, Sangha leaders, and Dharma practitioners from all over the world including Mexico, Vietnam, Cambodia, South Korea, the US, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia to name a few, who discussed pressing global issues and look for answers in the Buddha Dhamma based on universal values.

Ven. Bhiku Nandisensa Ji, Director of the International Buddhist Confederation, Mexico said, “Buddha’s teaching is universal and Buddha’s teaching took a long time to reach the Western world. I have been in Mexico for 25 years and I see Buddha’s teachings are important for all humanity in the context of time or space. One important thing in Buddhism is ethical values and each country should adopt these values”.

He said that India is the land of the Buddha and that Buddha is born here while adding that 'Buddhist diplomacy has a greater role to play when it comes to the geopolitical scenario'. “The Buddha’s teaching should be used to stop all the problems like wars and the environmental crisis. People should be made aware of Buddha’s teachings in today’s world”, he added.

The summit with India as the host country was an effort towards engaging the global Buddhist Dhamma leadership and scholars on matters of Buddhist and universal concerns, and to come up with policy inputs to address them collectively. The discussion at the summit explored how the Buddha Dhamma’s fundamental values can provide inspiration and guidance in contemporary settings. The Global Buddhist Summit was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi, where he reiterated that the path of Buddha is the path of the future.

Last Updated : Apr 22, 2023, 6:36 PM IST
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