The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
NEW DELHI, JULY 03, 2023
The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, on Monday called upon the youth to learn from the teaching of the Buddha, to enrich themselves and immensely contribute to building a peaceful society, a nation, and a world.
The President in a recorded message on Ashadha Purnima, said that following the three teachings of Lord Buddha- Sheel, Sadhachar and Prajna – the younger generation could empower themselves and bring a positive impact to society.
“On Ashadha Purnima we got acquainted with the Dhamma of Lord Buddha which is not only a part of our ancient cultural heritage but is also an essential feature of our daily life,” the President said, adding that to know about Buddha Dhamma we should learn and understand the first sermon given by Shakyamuni on the sacred land of Sarnath.
The President addressing the celebrations, organized by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), under the aegis of the Union Culture Ministry, recalled that on Ashadha Purnima Lord Buddha through his first sermon planted the seeds of the middle path of the Dhamma. It is important that on this auspicious day we absorb the teachings of Lord Buddha into our behaviour and thought.
Union Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs, Meenakashi Lekhi, in her special address described a lay person’s journey to attain the level of a Bodhisattva. “Though we are all connected in our values, yet we are responsible for our own actions. Right actions can change our destiny.” She went on to explain that living simply and in sustainable manner, in our daily life, following the principles of consciousness and with mindfulness in action, speech, conduct and pursuing the right livelihood, we are already on the right path of Dhamma.
It was Covid that showed us the worth of our life, a sense of detachment to material and physical existence. In a sense, this was the path to attaining higher levels of consciousness, she added. As we have very little time on this planet, the Minister noted, every individual should do the right thing according to his consciousness which will in return make the community stronger.
Members of the diplomatic community, dignitaries, patriarchs of Buddhist Sanghas, eminent Masters, Scholars, monks, and nuns based in New Delhi participated in the event organised at the National Museum in New Delhi today.
