“Bhagwan Buddha’s virtue of compassion can help create a caring society”: Maharashtra Governor

Publish Date: December 6, 2018

2 – day International Conference on Buddhism begins

The Governor of Maharashtra CH. Vidyasagar Rao today said that adopting Bhagwan Buddha’s virtue of compassion by people can help in reducing the rich-poor divide and creating a caring society.

Mentioning that disparities in society are increasing causing conflicts, he said invoking and imbibing the spirit of compassion will reduce the suffering of the poor and create an egalitarian society.

The Governor was speaking at the inauguration of an International Conference on Buddhism organized by the K.J. Somaiya Centre for Buddhist Studies at Somaiya Vidyavihar in Mumbai on Thursday (6th Dec.)

The two day Conferenece on the theme ‘Embodying Compassion: Avalokiteswara In Buddhist Art’ is being attended by Buddhist scholars from China, Japan, Thailand, Poland and many other countries.

The Governor said, Buddhism – the religion of peace and compassion – is India’s greatest spiritual tradition. He said the journey of Buddhism to China and other Asian countries has been most fascinating. Noting that Chinese canons have preserved several texts that are no longer available in Sanskrit, he called for efforts to preserve and translate such rare texts.

Stating that India is home to a large number of Buddhist sites, caves and temples, the Governor expressed the need for preserving, protecting and promoting these places.

President of Somaiya Vidyavihar Samir Somaiya, Rector of the Hangzhou Buddhist Academy Prof. Huang Zheng, Provost of Somaiya Vidyavihar V N Rajasekharan Pillai, Director of the Centre for Buddhist Studies Dr Supriya Rai, delegates and students were present.