The International Buddhist Confederation, New Delhi along with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India and Government of Arunachal Pradesh organised a day long international conference titled “BUDDHISM: DISSEMINATION IN THE HIMALAYAN REGION AND BEYOND” at the Kalawangpo Convention Centre, Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh on today on the sidelines of the Sacred Relics Exposition in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.
The conference was attended by monks, scholars, and delegates from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Germany.
The Inaugural session commenced with Mangalacharan (Sacred chanting) by venerable sangha members followed by a welcome address by Secretary General IBC Shartse Khensur Jangchup Choeden Rinpoche. Addressing the gathering, the Secretary General IBC shed light on the theme of this conference which explores how Buddhism was born in the plains of India and spread across the subcontinent and beyond. He conveyed gratitude to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh for gracing the occasion as the Chief Guest. The SG also expressed appreciation to Arunachal Pradesh administration and Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India for all the support rendered by them for convening the Conference.
The Secretary General IBC mentioned that the occasion holds special significance as it also marks the 14th founding day of the IBC during which the IBC has continued to serve the Buddha Dhamma. He mentioned that IBC is committed to unite monastic and lay Buddhist organisations worldwide and expressed hope for future collaborations by IBC with the newly formed Arunachal Buddhist Confederation (ABC) in serving the cause of the Buddha Dhamma.
Addressing the conference, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Pema Khandu, Chief Guest at the occasion, congratulated the IBC on its 14th founding day, calling it a befitting coincidence that the International Conference on Buddhism being held in Tawang coincided with IBC’s glorious 14 years of service. He commended the efforts of IBC’s present and former leaders for their dedication and commitment towards Buddhism.
The Chief Minister commented that the conference, jointly organised by the IBC, the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, holds special relevance in Tawang owing to the presence of the Sacred Relics. He noted the subject matter themes and subthemes of the discussions at the international conference and recalled how Buddhism that originated in India first transmitted due to efforts of King Ashoka in the 3rd century BCEt. He elaborated on how Buddhism, since the 6th and 7th CE, spread from Himalayan region of India, especially from Arunachal Pradesh, and reached Tibet and other regions attributing the same to Guru Padamasambhava and Shantarakshita. He also emphasized the importance of Tawang as the birth place of the 6th Dalai Lama.
Highlighting Arunachal Pradesh's special place in the larger Buddhist heritage, he said its monasteries are not merely places of worship but a spiritual and cultural legacy. He stressed on the need to ensure development and modernity while preserving cultural values, and to reflect on how the Buddha's message can be carried forward.
He concluded his remarks by thanking the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India; National Museum; IBC; and Arunachal Pradesh administration for the Holy Relics Exposition and the International Conference. He also thanked the conference delegates, especially the international speakers from several countries, who have come to Tawang to participate in the conference.
The day-long conference featured three thematic sessions, focusing on various aspects of the dissemination, evolution and contemporary relevance of Buddhism in the Himalayan region and beyond.
During the first session of the conference, on Carrying Forward the Buddha’s Legacy Post His Great Demise (Mahāparinirvāṇa), the panel comprising speakers from Sri Lanka, Myanmar and India explored the Buddha’s enduring legacy following His Mahāparinirvāṇa (the Great Demise) through preservation of material heritage, ritual and institutional renewal. Discussions examined the Four Noble Truths as living heritage and Buddhism’s evolution as a composite cultural tradition shaped by cross-cultural exchange, international collaboration, and the transmission of the Dhamma across generations and societies.
In the second session of the conference, on Historical and Doctrinal Continuity of Buddhism, speakers from Nepal, Germany and India, examined the transmission of Buddhist textual and monastic traditions through successive historical periods, with special emphasis on Arunachal Pradesh. It explored the diversity of Buddhist schools and their shared doctrinal foundations, highlighting the roles of language, interpretation, pedagogy and artistic expression in preserving and communicating Buddhist thought.
In the last and final session of the day on Buddhism and Right Livelihood, the panel of speakers from Indonesia, Malaysia and India, explored the relevance of Buddhist principles of Right Livelihood in contemporary academic, economic and social contexts. Discussions bridged the intellectual heritage of Nalanda with modern academia and examined cultural tourism, pilgrimage, sustainable prosperity, skill development, geographical interconnectedness and the implications of globalisation and consumerism through a Buddhist perspective.
The conference concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Shri Thupten Kalden, Director, Department of Karmik & Adhyatmik Affairs (DoKAA), Government of Arunachal Pradesh. The event culminated with the sacred Lamp Prayer of Atiśa Dīpaṃkara Śrījñāna, performed by the Monpa group, bringing the conference to a solemn and spiritually uplifting close.