• TOURISM & CULTURE
  • ADVERTISEMENT

Latest News

  • A national-treasure pagoda at Yakushiji, a Buddhist temple listed as a World Heritage site opened in Nara
  • State Vesak festival to be held in Jaffna this year
  • Imran Khan invites Sri Lankan Buddhists to visit Pakistan
  • The annual Quan The Am (Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) Buddhist Festival in Hanoi
  • Patanjali’s ‘Coronil’ medicine for Covid-19 in Presence of Union Minister Harsh Vardhan
  • Home
  • ABOUT US
  • BUDDHIST HISTORY
    • BUDDHISM MESSAGES
    • Message by PM Narendra Modi
  • BUDDHIST CIRCUIT
  • BUDDHIST MONKS
  • MONASTRIES
  • BODH GAYA
  • MCLEOD GANJ

Bhutan Hosts Third International Vajrayana Buddhism Conference

Apr 22, 2019 developer3.matrixwebstudio BREAKING NEWS, TOP NEWS Comments Off on Bhutan Hosts Third International Vajrayana Buddhism Conference


By  Shyamal Sinha

Dignitaries, delegates, guests, and participants of the Third International Vajrayana Conference in Thimphu. Photo by Craig Lewis

Vajrayāna (वज्रयान), Mantrayāna, Tantrayāna, Tantric Buddhism and Esoteric Buddhism are terms referring to the various Buddhist traditions of Tantra and “Secret Mantra”, which developed in medieval India and spread to Tibet, Bhutan, and East Asia. In Tibet, Buddhist Tantra is termed Vajrayāna, while in China it is generally known as Tángmì Hanmi ,

Vajrayāna is usually translated as Diamond Vehicle or Thunderbolt Vehicle, referring to the Vajra, a mythical weapon which is also used as a ritual implement.

The Third International Conference inaugurated on 18 th April ,Vajrayana Buddhism in the capital Thimphu, presided over by the prime minister of Bhutan, Lotay Tshering. Titled “Techniques in Vajrayana Buddhism” and running until 20 April, the forum brings together more than 30 speakers from Bhutan and around the world, along with a similarly global lineup of dignitaries, guests, and attendees to present, examine, and discuss traditional and contemporary approaches to practicing Vajrayana Buddhism in the 21st century.

Compared with the broader scope of the two previous forums in this series, this year’s conference, organized by the Center for Bhutan & GNH Studies (CBS) and the kingdom’s Central Monastic Body, presented a much more focused and in-depth collection of talks and discussions by lay and monastic experts, who examined Vajrayana practices and the philosophies and sciences behind them in the contemporary context.

Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayan mountain range, and sandwiched between two political and economic heavy hitters India and China, Bhutan is the world’s last remaining Vajrayana Buddhist country. The ancient spiritual tradition is embedded in the very consciousness and culture of this remote land, where it has flourished with an unbroken history that dates back to its introduction from Tibet by Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, in the eighth century.

Center for Bhutan & GNH Studies president Dasho Karma Ura during the
conference opening ceremony. Photo by Craig Lewis

This year’s auspicious gathering is specifically aimed at identifying some of the unique characteristics of Vajrayana Buddhist forms of self-cultivation—spiritual, mental, and physical—that are intended to activate dormant capacities of the mind and body to manifest a transformation to more altruistic modes of awareness and well-being. The conference also provides a platform for exploring ways in which tantric techniques and approaches can be adapted to better benefit modern society, and to meet the numerous challenges facing an increasingly globalized and multicultural world.

Opening the proceedings, Dasho Karma Ura, president of the forum’s organizer, CBS—a social science research institute that conducts inter-disciplinary studies for advancing Bhutan’s social, cultural, economic, and political well-being—underscored the intent and objectives behind the conference, which is also one of the first pre-consecration events to be held in the country’s new Library of Mind, Body, and Sound, established to fill the needs of those searching for spiritual and intellectual sustenance.

“As you all know very well, the human body is the very foundation of our experience, and it can be potentialized through various mind-body practices. Both transformation and liberation occur only through mind-body practices in Vajrayana Buddhism,” Karma Ura noted in his opening remarks. “In terms of the mind as the gateway of experience, the vision, as you all know, is to experience some kind of Dharmakaya or Buddha-nature, which is a state of thoughtlessness—of course I don’t use the word ‘thoughtlessness’ in the English sense; I use it in the Buddhist sense. And we hope that at a deeper level, this building will help all of us follow through the vision of Vajrayana to strengthen human potential through the three dimensions of human experience.”

Bhutanese prime minister Lotay Tshering offers a
keynote speech during the conference opening.
Photo by Craig Lewis

CBS is also tasked by the government with conducting and coordinating research and other activities related to Bhutan’s development concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH). Remote and landlocked, perched in the rarified air of the eastern Himalayas, Bhutan is regularly ranked among the happiest countries in the world. With a population of just 736,000, according to government data for 2017, it is also one of the world’s smallest and least industrialized countries, yet it has significant experience in maintaining the delicate balance of managing economic growth in a sustainable manner, famously encapsulated in its conservative GNH approach to economic development.

“As his majesty the king always reiterates in his public speeches, Bhutan has been a hidden land blessed by Guru Rinpoche,” Karma Ura explained. “And that is why Bhutan could be a place to facilitate the cultivation of many things, such as Dharma practice, Buddhist economics, Gross National Happiness, well-being, and so forth.”

The philosophy of GNH was introduced in the late 1970s by the country’s fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, drawing inspiration from the kingdom’s traditional Buddhist culture. An alternative to traditional metrics for measuring national development, such as gross national product (GNP) or gross domestic product (GDP), GNH is founded on four underlying principles or “pillars:” good governance, sustainable socio-economic development, the preservation and promotion of culture, and environmental conservation.

A Jipai Pawo dancer performs during the opening ceremony.
Photo by Craig Lewis

“I’m so happy to be addressing this gathering here because I know there is one common denominator that can draw all of us together in this room today. That is: compassion. If we don’t have compassion, I don’t think one would even feel the need to participate in this conference because this is not an ordinary conference,” Prime Minister Lotay Tshering said in his keynote address. “So I take a lot of pride in being here today and I thank Dasho Karma Ura for taking this initiative to bring together all these like-minded people today.

“We need this—we need such activities, we need such facilities, because with modern technologies eroding our age-old traditions very fast, we have no guarantee that the younger generation will follow the footsteps. So like-minded people must gather together . . . and make such traditional practices relevant for the newer minds that are coming so that we can all be on board for generations to come.”

Almost 75 per cent of Bhutan’s population identify as Buddhists, according to data for 2010 from the Washington, DC-based Pew Research Center, with Hinduism accounting for the majority of the remainder. Most of Bhutan’s Buddhists follow either the Drukpa Kagyu or the Nyingma schools of Vajrayana Buddhism.

A mandala is constructed for the occasion of the conference. Photo by Craig Lewis

source – Buddhistdoor global

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Email this to someone
email
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

  • tweet
Motorcycle rally for Panchen Lama on his 30th birthday Nitish Kumar echoes Gopalkrishna Gandhi’s call for conferment of Bharat Ratna upon Dalai Lama

Related articles
  • A national-treasure pagoda at Yakushiji, a Buddhist temple listed as a World Heritage site opened in Nara
    A national-treasure pagoda at...

    Mar 02, 2021 Comments Off on A national-treasure pagoda at Yakushiji, a Buddhist temple listed as a World Heritage site opened in Nara

  • State Vesak festival to be held in Jaffna this year
    State Vesak festival to be held in...

    Feb 27, 2021 Comments Off on State Vesak festival to be held in Jaffna this year

  • Imran Khan invites Sri Lankan Buddhists to visit Pakistan
    Imran Khan invites Sri Lankan Buddhists...

    Feb 25, 2021 Comments Off on Imran Khan invites Sri Lankan Buddhists to visit Pakistan

  • The annual Quan The Am (Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) Buddhist Festival in Hanoi
    The annual Quan The Am (Avalokitesvara...

    Feb 23, 2021 Comments Off on The annual Quan The Am (Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) Buddhist Festival in Hanoi

More in this category
  • A national-treasure pagoda at Yakushiji, a Buddhist temple listed as a World Heritage site opened in Nara
    A national-treasure pagoda at...

    Mar 02, 2021 Comments Off on A national-treasure pagoda at Yakushiji, a Buddhist temple listed as a World Heritage site opened in Nara

  • State Vesak festival to be held in Jaffna this year
    State Vesak festival to be held in...

    Feb 27, 2021 Comments Off on State Vesak festival to be held in Jaffna this year

  • Imran Khan invites Sri Lankan Buddhists to visit Pakistan
    Imran Khan invites Sri Lankan Buddhists...

    Feb 25, 2021 Comments Off on Imran Khan invites Sri Lankan Buddhists to visit Pakistan

  • The annual Quan The Am (Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) Buddhist Festival in Hanoi
    The annual Quan The Am (Avalokitesvara...

    Feb 23, 2021 Comments Off on The annual Quan The Am (Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) Buddhist Festival in Hanoi


VIDEO NEWS

WEEK IN VIDEO

BUDDHIST CUISINE

  • Buddhist Cuisine-5

    Buddhist Cuisine-5

    Aug 01, 2019
  • Buddhist Cuisine-4

    Buddhist Cuisine-4

    Aug 01, 2019
  • Buddhist Cuisine-3

    Buddhist Cuisine-3

    Aug 01, 2019
  • Buddhist Cuisine-2

    Buddhist Cuisine-2

    Aug 01, 2019
  • Buddhist Cuisine-1

    Buddhist Cuisine-1

    Aug 01, 2019

Mantra Om Mani Padme Hum

Intl Chanting Ceremony Bodhgaya 2019

gallery img (60)
gallery img (47)
gallery img (35)
gallery img (15)
gallery img (38)
gallery img (49)
gallery img (41)
gallery img (27)
gallery img (58)
gallery img (55)
gallery img (53)
gallery img (51)
gallery img (50)
gallery img (46)
gallery img (44)
gallery img (43)
gallery img (42)
gallery img (40)
gallery img (37)
gallery img (33)
gallery img (32)
gallery img (31)
gallery img (30)
gallery img (29)
gallery img (26)
gallery img (24)
gallery img (23)
gallery img (22)
gallery img (21)
gallery img (20)
gallery img (19)
gallery img (18)
gallery img (17)
gallery img (16)
gallery img (14)
gallery img (13)
gallery img (12)
gallery img (11)
gallery img (8)
gallery img (6)
gallery img (5)
gallery img (4)
gallery img (2)
gallery img (1)
gallery img (62)
gallery img (28)
DSC_0180
DSCF7503
DSCF7483
DSCF7475
DSC_0077
DSC_0130

GALLERY

  • Ven. Lama Lobzang -15 January 2016

    Ven. Lama Lobzang -15 January 2016

    Jan 16, 2016
  • Launch buddhisttimes.news at Greater Noida

    Launch buddhisttimes.news at Greater Noida

    Jan 16, 2016
  • Buddhism in Japan

    Buddhism in Japan

    Jan 15, 2016
  • Jan 09, 2016
  • Jan 09, 2016
  • Jan 09, 2016
  • Jan 09, 2016
  • Jan 09, 2016
  • Jan 09, 2016
  • Jan 09, 2016
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015
  • Dec 30, 2015

Weather

+39
°
C

+39°
+27°

Bodh Gaya
Saturday, 30

See 7-Day Forecast

NOTICE

  • Dr. Yeshi Dhonden, Former Personal Physician to the Dalai Lama, Dies
    Dr. Yeshi Dhonden, Former Personal Physician to the Dalai...

    Nov 27, 2019 Comments Off on Dr. Yeshi Dhonden, Former Personal Physician to the Dalai Lama, Dies

    By  Staff writer Dr. Yeshi Dhonden, 1927–2019....
  • Former Rigpa Head Sogyal Rinpoche Passes Away in Thailand
    Former Rigpa Head Sogyal Rinpoche Passes Away in Thailand

    Aug 29, 2019 Comments Off on Former Rigpa Head Sogyal Rinpoche Passes Away in Thailand

    By Staff Writer On behalf of all members of the...
  • Passing of World-renowned Scholar Jao Tsung-I Mourned
    Passing of World-renowned Scholar Jao Tsung-I Mourned

    Feb 07, 2018 Comments Off on Passing of World-renowned Scholar Jao Tsung-I Mourned

    By Staff Writer On behalf of all members of the...
  • Respected Tibetan Teacher Kyabje Gelek Rinpoche Dies
    Respected Tibetan Teacher Kyabje Gelek Rinpoche Dies

    Feb 17, 2017 Comments Off on Respected Tibetan Teacher Kyabje Gelek Rinpoche Dies

    Respected Tibetan Teacher Kyabje Gelek Rinpoche On behalf...
  • Condolence message on the demise of Ven. Anamaduwe Sri Dhammadassi NayakeThero
    Condolence message on the demise of Ven. Anamaduwe Sri...

    Jun 27, 2016 Comments Off on Condolence message on the demise of Ven. Anamaduwe Sri Dhammadassi NayakeThero

    Ven. Anamaduwe Sri Dhammadassi NayakeThero General...

Inauguration

  • Inauguration 7

    Inauguration 7

    Aug 01, 2019
  • Inauguration 6

    Inauguration 6

    Aug 01, 2019
  • Inauguration 5

    Inauguration 5

    Aug 01, 2019
  • Inauguration 4

    Inauguration 4

    Aug 01, 2019
  • Inauguration 3

    Inauguration 3

    Aug 01, 2019
  • Inauguration 2

    Inauguration 2

    Aug 01, 2019
Copyright budhisttimes.news 2019-20 | All Rights Reserved
Developed & Maintained By Shyamal Sinha Web Design Delhi Web Design Agency in Delhi Web Desinging Services in India Best Website Portfolio Creative Website Desinging Agency in Delhi Web Desinging Comapny India Custom Web Application Development Comapny Wordpress Website Designing Logo Desinging in Delhi Internet Marketing Company Mobile Application Development
  • TECH & SCIENCE
  • BUDDHIST ART/MUSIC
  • UPCOMING PROGRAM