Buddhism

Dalai Lama lays foundation for Chowkhang Vihara rebuild in Ladakh

The Dalai Lama on Sunday here laid the foundation of the Chowkhang Vihara for reconstruction. The event drew a large gathering of religious leaders, local dignitaries, and community members. At the Chowkhang Vihara, the 14th Dalai Lama was received by Ladakh Buddhist Association president Chering Dorjay Lakruk. The reception featured traditional Ladakhi music and ceremonial offerings of khattaks. "Let this not be a place for only ritual prayers and idle chatter but a centre for deep study and debate on Buddhist philosophy, a wellspring of wisdom for generations," the the Tibetan spiritual leader said after laying the foundation. Lakruk called the event a historic moment for the region. He said a request had been made to his holiness to come for the event some three months back. "This is perhaps the greatest blessing we could receive. The whole of Ladakh is touched by auspicious winds today," he said. The temple, constructed in 1957, is up for reconstruction after developing crack

Dalai Lama turns 90: Monk, exile, Nobel laureate and symbol of hope

From a shepherd boy in Amdo to a global peace icon, the Dalai Lama's life spans resistance to Chinese rule, spiritual leadership, and a Nobel Prize for non-violence

Dalai Lama turns 90, urges compassion and peace in birthday message

Calling himself "just a simple Buddhist monk", the Dalai Lama thanked well-wishers for global celebrations and reaffirmed his commitment to peace, compassion, and harmony

India backs Dalai Lama's sole authority in choosing his next successor

Dalai Lama said the 600-year-old institution will continue and only his office can decide his successor; China insisted the process must follow its Chinese regulations

Dalai Lama says Trust will decide his reincarnation, rules out China's role

The institution of the Dalai Lama will continue following the traditional procedures carried out by the Gaden Phodrang Trust

China insists on final say over next Dalai Lama, rejects Trust role

Beijing passed a law in 2007 to claim authority over Dalai Lama's reincarnation process, stating all such appointments require government approval

Dalai Lama nears 90th birthday: Who will choose the next Buddhist leader?

Tibetan reincarnation traditions face political challenge from China; Dalai Lama expected to clarify on matters of succession on 90th birthday

SC denies plea challenging Bodh Gaya Temple Act; asks petitioner to move HC

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea challenging the vires of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949, and asked the petitioner to approach the concerned high court. The Mahabodhi temple complex in Bihar's Bodh Gaya, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the four holy areas related to the life of Lord Gautam Buddha. Bodh Gaya is a place where Lord Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment. A plea challenging the vires of the 1949 Act came up for hearing before a bench of Justices M M Sundresh and K Vinod Chandran. The bench asked the petitioner's counsel about the prayer sought in the plea. "I (petitioner) have prayed that the Bodh Gaya Temple Act should be annulled as ultra vires," the counsel said. The bench said the petitioner should approach the concerned high court. "Why don't you do it before the high court?" the bench asked. "We are not inclined to entertain the petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India. However, liberty is given to the ..

Bangladesh drops Sheikh Mujib from currency, adds temples, landmarks

Bangladesh unveils new currency notes without Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's image, featuring Hindu and Buddhist temples, landmarks, and artwork instead, amid major political and leadership changes

Diplomat and poet Abhay K reimagines Nalanda's legacy for future learning

The book has eight chapters, the number that holds significance in Buddhist lore. The Dharmacakra, the wheel of Dharma, has eight spikes

'Casting the Buddha': How Buddhism's ties to power shaped its survival

The chronological approach-from the time of the historical Buddha to the present moment with a Bharatiya Janata Party-run government at the Centre-makes the book easy to follow

Congress promises free 'tirth yatra' to Buddhist sites if wins Delhi polls

Congress on Saturday announced free 'tirth yatra' for Buddhist places if the party is elected in Delhi in the upcoming assembly polls. During a press conference, former Delhi MP Udit Raj said there were no schemes for Buddhist pilgrimages, which the Congress would change if it formed the government. The Delhi government organises pilgrimage for Tirupati, Ayodhya, Vaishno Devi, Balaji for senior citizens at its own expense, Raj said. "So why are there no pilgrimage schemes for the Buddhist places like Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, Lumbini, Deekshaboomi, Mhow etc.," he asked. If our government comes, we will not discriminate and will provide free pilgrimage for them also, Raj stated. The 'Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana' was launched by the AAP government in 2019 to aid the elderly in visiting pilgrimage sites across the country. Under the scheme, the Delhi government organises free pilgrimage travel for the elderly to 15 places of various religious faiths, including Ayodhya, Dwarkadheesh,

Siripanyo gives up $5 bn empire, India has history of riches-to-monks

After adopting the ascetic life, such people relinquish all material possessions, even cut ties with family

Bhutan plans mindfulness city to attract investment and tackle unemployment

GMC will be spread over an area of more than 2,500 sq km (965 sq miles) on the border with giant neighbour India and offer space to businesses in finance, tourism, green energy, technology, healthcare

Asian Buddhist Summit in New Delhi on Nov 5,6; President to be chief guest

Summit is also a manifestation of India's Act East Policy, which is principled on collective, inclusive and spiritual development of Asia with Dhamma as the guiding light

Indian culture showcased through revival of Lord Buddha's legacy: PM Modi

PM Modi further said that all the places related to Lord Buddha in India and Nepal are being developed as a Buddhist circuit, including the International Airport at Kushinagar

Happy Buddha Purnima 2024: Best Wishes, Greetings, SMS, Quotes & Status

Buddha Purnima marks the birth anniversary of the Gautama Buddha who founded Buddhism. It is marked on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Vaisakha which falls in April or May

Ladakh united on statehood despite division on polls, says Buddhist leader

Even as the Lok Sabha elections for the Ladakh appear to be divided on regional basis, it will not affect the unity over the demands for statehood and safeguards under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, said Chering Dorjay Lakruk, president of Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA). A three-cornered election in Ladakh, with the BJP and the Congress candidates from Leh and an Independent nominee from Kargil, gives an edge to the Kargil candidate. In an interview with PTI, Lakruk stressed the need for safeguards to protect the land and culture of Ladakh, and also raised concerns over the pasture lands, used for grazing by the local nomadic tribes, being taken over by China. LBA, a prominent social and religious organisation of Ladakh, has had a key role in developing a consensus on the need for the Sixth Schedule. The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution deals with provisions for the administration of the tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. Founded in

Gujarat businessman, wife donate Rs 200 cr wealth to become Jain monks

Bhavesh Bhandari and his wife have taken a vow of renunciation (diksha) to commit to "Saiyam Jeevan" or the way of Jain ascetics

Hindus must seek permission to convert to Buddhism, says Gujarat govt

The Gujarat government said that Buddhism is an independent religion and conversions from Hinduism to Buddhism, Jainism, or Sikhism must receive prior approval from district magistrates