Follow Buddha’s Teachings

In the present-day world, where wars, crimes, hate, and racial tensions, among many other anomalies, have threatened human beings. Lord Buddha's message of peace, kindness and compassion, besides his teaching of four noble truths and the eightfold path, are the mantras to make the world a better place to live. Since his philosophy is based on peace and ending suffering from the world, Buddhism has indeed shown the right way toward achieving a lasting peace through non-violence. Owing to its global appeal, the teachings of Buddha, which form the backbone of Buddhism philosophy, have spread all over the world. At present, the world has around 470 million followers of Buddhism. 

Born some 2500 years ago in the garden of Lumbini in Nepal, Lord Buddha taught the world about the virtues of kindness, wisdom, patience, generosity and compassion.  Siddhartha Gautam, the founder of Buddhism, who later became known as "the Buddha, or the enlightened one" was born into a wealthy family as a prince in the present-day Nepal.  Although he had an easy life, Gautama was pained by suffering in the world and gave up his princely lifestyle. After receiving enlightenment while meditating under a Bodhi tree, he spent the rest of his life teaching others about how to achieve this spiritual state. When Gautam passed away, his followers organised a religious movement. Ashoka the Great, the Maurya emperor, made Buddhism the state religion of his empire in the 3rd Century BC helping Buddhism to spread far and wider places.

With Buddha's teaching holding great importance for every individual to attain spiritual inner bliss and to make the present-day society a peaceful place, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba urged students attending the second Convocation of Lumbini University, to adhere to the Buddha’s teachings and stressed the Enlightened (Gyanmaya) Journey of Shakyamuni for 45 years was relevant in today's world. Highlighting the importance of the Buddhist way of life, PM Deuba emphasised that the Buddhist tradition and culture, which has been in practice for a long period, has always been an important heritage of interest for anthropologists and Buddhist scholars. He also asked the concerned bodies to turn the birthplace of Lord Buddha into a centre of excellence so that the followers of Buddhism across the world would flock to Lumbini and explore many heritage sites and historical places related to Siddhartha Gautam.

It is a truth many would acknowledge that the Buddhist philosophy and the Buddha himself have aroused curiosity among the largest section of the world population. Lumbini University and major monasteries in Nepal can effectively spread Buddha's message throughout the world, which would indeed be an added advantage for Nepal, a place known for important Buddhist sites, traditions, culture, monks and a large number of people following Buddhism. These traditions, sites and cultures keep attracting people across the world. Our authorities now need to add some more teeth to Lumbini University, Buddhist institutions such as monasteries and Buddhist teaching places. It should also promote Buddha sites by building a Buddhist circuit within the country. In this way, the people and visitors could become further aware of the philosophy propounded by Shakyamuni that aims at making society wiser, kinder and more compassionate about the suffering of others.