The Centre for Study of Religion and Society (CSRS), India Foundation, New Delhi in collaboration with Sanchi University of Buddhist-Indic Studies, Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh had organised a 3 day conference at Bhopal between 28th February to 2nd March, 2014. The aim of the Conference was to undertake intra and inter cultural study of the different Buddhist traditions and their textual sources vis-à-vis the Vedic traditions by way of revisiting them, focusing on their basic framework and the superstructures erected on them. Both the Vedic and the Buddhist traditions are dharma/dhamma-centric aiming at cultivation of dharmic individual, state and society. The central theme of this Conference was “Nature, Source and Relevance of Dharma-Dhamma Traditions.”
The organising committee for the Conference was, inter alia, comprised of:
- Ven. Samdhong Rinpoche, Chancellor, Sanchi University of Buddhist – Indic Studies, Sanchi,
- Bangala Upatissa Nayaka Thero, President, Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka,
- Lama Lobzang, President Ashok Mission, New Delhi,
- Geshe Ngawang Samten, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Tibetan Studies, Samath, Uttar Pradesh,
Some of the people who attended the conference felt that there was no scope for true Buddhist Intellectuals and the conference was dominated by Hindu fundamentalists. During the First Conference held in September 2012, Ex-Minister, Mr Arun Shourie, had addressed the conference. It is needless to say that the person who took special efforts to write a book against Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, how much he has respect for Buddhism.
More details are available at http://www.indiafoundation.in/conference/
Published in Issue V, April 2014