Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the Mahaparinirvana Temple on the occasion of the Abhidhamma Day at Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh on October 20, 2021. (PIB)
Kushinagar: Buddha’s message is for the whole world; Buddha’s Dhamma is for humanity, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 20, 2021.
He expressed these views while participating in an event marking Abhidhamma Day at the Mahaparinirvana Temple in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
UP Governor Anandiben Patel, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia, G Kishan Reddy, Kiren Rijiju, Cabinet Minister in Sri Lankan Government Namal Rajapaksa, Buddhist delegation from Sri Lanka, diplomats from Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Lao PDR, Bhutan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Japan, Singapore, Nepal, among others, were present on the occasion.
Welcoming the delegation of Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister recalled the connections between India and Sri Lanka and talked about emperor Ashoka’s son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra taking the message of Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
He also remarked that it is believed that on this day, ‘Arhat Mahinda’ came back and told his father that Sri Lanka had accepted the Buddha’s message with so much energy.
“This news had increased the belief that Buddha’s message is for the whole world, Buddha’s Dhamma is for humanity, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said: “Buddha is universal because Buddha said to start from within. Buddha’s Buddhatva is a sense of ultimate responsibility.”
“Today when the world talks about environmental protection, expresses its concern about climate change, then many questions arise with it. But, if we adopt the message of Buddha, then instead of ‘who will do’, ‘what is to be done’ starts showing path itself.”
The Prime Minister said that Buddha resides in the soul of humanity and is connecting different cultures and countries.
“India has made this aspect of his teaching part of the journey of its growth. India never believed in restricting the knowledge, great messages, or the thoughts of great souls. Whatever was ours was shared with the entire humanity. That is why human values like non-violence and compassion are settled in the heart of India so naturally,” said Prime Minister Modi.
He said even today Buddha is the inspiration of the Constitution of India, Buddha’s Dhamma Chakra is sitting on the tricolour of India and giving us momentum.
“Even today, if someone goes to the Parliament of India, then this mantra is definitely seen – ‘Dharma Chakra Pravartanaya,”
Quoting Lord Buddha ‘Appa Deepo Bhava’ meaning ‘be your own lamp’, the Prime Minister said when a person is self-illuminated, then he gives light to the world as well. He added that this is the motivation for India to become self-reliant, and inspiration that gives us the strength to participate in the progress of every country in the world. (Press Release)
