AMN
The President Pranab Mukherjee has said that no part of the world today is free from the scourage of violence. Addressing the closing ceremony of an International Conference on Buddhism in the 21st century at Rajgir in Nalanda district of Bihar, President Mukherjee said this crisis is all pervasive. He said, the basic question being raised today is how to stop this wanton destruction and come back to sanity.
President said that the philosophy of Buddhism is as relevant today as ever-especially as the world grapples with complex problems that seem intractable that seem intractable. He said Buddhism has had a deep influence on human civilization.
The President exhorted delegates and scholars of different countries to redouble their efforts to promote the simple Truths and the Path of the Buddha that show we can be better citizens and contribute to making our land a better place to live in.
The President said that Nalanda reflects our ancient educational system which attracted mighty minds in the form of students and teachers in ancient India.
He said that education means the development of mind and requires an atmosphere which is conducive to free exchange of ideas.
President Mukherjee quoted Gandhiji who had said of the Buddha “he was saturated with the best which was in Hinduism and he gave life to some of the teachings that were in the Vedas but which had been overgrown with weeds. His great Hindu spirit cuts its way through the forest of meaningless words which had overlaid the golden truth which was in the Vedas.”
