New Delhi/Leh, Jan 27: Highlighting India’s responsibility as the birthplace of Buddhism, Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena on Friday said that the Buddha Dhamma remains a living guide for addressing the moral and spiritual concerns of the present age, as he delivered the Valedictory Address at the Second Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi.
Stressing the need for dialogue, non-hatred, and the Middle Way, the Founder President and Spiritual Director of the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre, Leh observed that people across the world continue to look towards the teachings of the Buddha for peace, balance, and moral clarity in an increasingly complex global environment.
Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena, Founder President and Spiritual Director of the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre, Leh, participated in the two-day summit held on January 24 and 25 at Bharat Mandapam. The event was organised by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation.
The summit drew nearly 200 international delegates, including eminent monks, scholars, practitioners, and leaders of Buddhist organisations from different countries. Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju also attended the conference and addressed the gathering, underlining the role of Buddhist values in promoting peace and mutual understanding.
Held under the theme “Collective Wisdom, United Voice, and Mutual Coexistence,” the summit brought together policymakers, members of Buddhist associations, followers of the Dhamma, and scholars on a common platform to deliberate on contemporary and future challenges confronting humanity.
Discussions during the conference focused on present-day global concerns such as conflict, environmental degradation, social fragmentation, and inner unrest, examined through the ethical and philosophical framework of the Buddha Dhamma.
In his address, Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena expressed gratitude to the organisers and participants and acknowledged the growing role of the International Buddhist Confederation in uniting diverse Buddhist traditions worldwide. He noted that collective wisdom arises through humility and attentive listening, while a united voice is achieved through harmony rather than uniformity.
He further underlined the responsibility of the global Sangha to remain united, grounded in the Dhamma, and committed to the service of humanity. He said mutual coexistence can only be sustained through active compassion, ethical conduct, and a sense of shared responsibility.
Concluding his remarks, Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena said the success of the summit would be reflected not merely in its discussions, but in how its insights are carried into daily life, institutions, and societies. Addressing the youth, he urged them to anchor their strength in wisdom, their ambition in service, and their achievements in the upliftment of others, while calling upon all participants to embody the Dhamma with integrity and courage in working for peace and harmony.
