President of India speech
Address at the inauguration of the
International Conclave on Buddhism and Spiritual Tourism Vigyan Bhavan,
New Delhi
URL: http://www.presidentofindia.nic.in/scripts/sllatest1.jsp?id=279
February 17, 2004
Universal Unity and Understanding
I am indeed delighted to participate
in the inauguration of the International Conclave on Buddhism and Spiritual
Tourism. Spiritual tourism is quite different from visiting the places
and seeing various physical dimensions. The spiritual tourism means visiting
the hearts and minds of the intellectuals in different places and places
of enrich civilizational environment. After his enlightenment, Buddha visited
45 places in and around Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Every place is a place
of enlightenment and provides the beautiful message. The message flows
from "The University of Universal Unity and Understanding.
Four noble truths
University of Universal Unity and
Understanding should experience four noble truths. What are the four noble
truths, you are all philosophers, theologists, thinkers, and may be tourism
marketers also, you know what are those truths. However, I felt that I
should narrate these noble truths, which are ringing in my mind in divine
form, where Buddha got enlightenment.
The first truth is Dukkha, which
states that the world is transient and it is in Dukkha. The second truth
is the root cause of Dukkha, desire (Samudaya). If we eliminate desire
dukkha will cease, is the third truth (Nirodha). Fourth is to follow the
Eight-Fold path(Magga).
Nalanda - The university of Enlightenment
Dear revered monks, scholars and
thinkers assembled here, I would like to narrate the incident which took
place in Nalanda, when I was there in May 2003. I have spent hours and
hours in Nalanda. I saw the place, where the hundreds of scholars assembled
and discoursed. I saw, how a university was vibrant in the Nalanda area
in 7th and 8th century with theology-teaching classrooms, discourse rooms
and monks hostels. What attracted the scholars from 90 countries to Nalanda
long ago? This is the place where the thoughts were transmitted, discussed
and integrated towards a good way of life, which people were looking for
from many countries. Friends, at this critical juncture of universal turbulence
and instability, arising out of mutual distrust and hatred leading to violence,
world needs a university of peace, enlightenment and great thoughts.
As I said earlier, after enlightenment
Buddha walked and walked in 45 different places in and around Nalanda,
Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Every place is very important for Spiritual enlightenment.
To commemorate this great event, it is essential to reestablish a university
in Nalanda, dedicated to the philosophy of Buddha to cherish and find new
meaning - a University of Universal Unity and Understanding. I would suggest
this conclave can give a recommendation and the Ministry of HRD, Ministry
of Tourism and Culture can spearhead the establishment of this University
of Universal Unity and Understanding. Now I would like to share with you
some of my personal experiences in search of unity of minds.
Experience at Bodh Gaya
What a great experience? When I
visited Bodh Gaya and sat under the great Bodhi Tree with monks assembled
all around. I said "Buddham Saranam Gachami". It was echoing every where,
this I did after visiting the great Buddhist temple where Buddha was radiating
peace and enlightenment. Under the holy tree a discussion started. One
young monk asked me? Mr. President, President of India you are sitting
in the place of great enlightenment. How do you feel? I told them, that
I felt, as though I am a student, looking for a message for the troubled
world - the message of peace. Another young monk asked me, "Do you think
Mr. President, Is Buddhism a religion or spiritual force or a code of conduct?"
I said, let me share with you my experiences after my extensive travel
in our country and abroad.
Religion transforming into spirituality
A message, I have received is that
most Indians experienced and old, energetic and middle-aged, young and
innocent, they all look to religion for solace and safety. I have also
visited great many religious places and houses of worship throughout the
length and breadth of this great country and I have met many of our religious
leaders. The religions are like exquisite gardens, places full of surpassing
beauty and tranquility, like sacred groves filled with beautiful birds
and their melodious songs. I truly think that religions are beautiful gardens.
They are enchanting islands, veritable oasis for the soul and the spirit.
But they are islands nevertheless. How can we connect them so that the
fragrance engulfs the whole universe? If we can connect all the islands
with love and compassion, in a 'garland', we will have a prosperous India
and prosperous world. With this background, I have come to Bodh Gaya. I
realize in Buddhism spiritual content is very high.
Strength and peace
The third question - a very important
question was asked by the youngest monk. Mr. President you have made a
weapon, which can carry a nuclear warhead and you are in search for peace
now? How they are compatible? I was taken aback. I went back to 2500 years
in history. I saw in front of me the Emperor Asoka conquering all parts
of India and walking with great pride. When he came to Kalinga region,
the great Kalinga war took place, which is now in the present state of
Orissa. With the mighty army of Emperor Asoka fought and fought and the
Kalinga kings were defeated. Emperor Asoka happily proclaimed and annexed
the Kalinga country. In that great full moon night, with the success behind
him, Emperor Asoka walked in the war ravaged battlefield. He stopped suddenly
and saw the blood flowing over hundred thousand people who were killed,
and many souls crying and moaning. That crying was engulfed with gloom.
Suddenly Emperor Asoka stopped and asked himself, "O! Almighty, what have
I done?" This spark of thought entered into the mind and soul of Emperor
Asoka and the great principle of Ahimsa Dharma was born.
He has preached ahimsa, since then.
This has been firmly engraved in the mountains. In the last century Mahatma
Gandhi further gave a new dimension to ahimsa, dharma in the freedom movement
of India. I have given this answer to that young monk. In our case, it
was self- defence for which nuclear weapons were developed and nation had
to become a nuclear weapon country. At no time, we will use them, unless
someone uses against us. If every nation possessing nuclear weapons decides
to dismantle completely, India will be the first to do so. India has always
been advocating a total disarmament in the world.
The fourth question was asked by
another monk, Mr. President, what made you to come to Bodh Gaya? I said,
"I am like Anand in a small way I am in the mission of search, where is
the universal peace and unity of minds".
Experience at RILA Monastery
During my recent visit abroad, I
visited a Christian Monastery in RILA located in the hills of Bulgaria.
It is the biggest Bulgarian revival, spiritual and cultural centre with
a 16,000 volume library including 134 manuscripts from 15th to 19th century.
This holy site played an important role in the spiritual and social life
of medieval Bulgaria. Destroyed by fire due to invasion at the beginning
of the 19th century, the complex was rebuilt later and is now surrounded
by a big fort. While being in that divine environment amidst the Reverent
Fathers aged between 80 and 90, I felt like praying. I went to the altar
and asked permission of the Reverent Bishop John to recite the part of
the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. All the people present in the Monastery
repeated the prayer.
The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of Your
peace;
Where there is hatred let me sow
love;
And where there is injury, pardon;
And where there is doubt, faith;
And where there is despair, hope;
And where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
The silent message in this prayer
was felt by the Reverent Bishop, who blessed me by saying "You work for
world peace". My friends, may this beautiful divine message of love, enlighten
our life to work for universal peace.
Celebrating the beauty of other
religion
On one occasion, as I was leaving
for Bangalore, I spoke to a friend of mine and told him that I would be
talking to young people and whether he had any suggestions. He did not
offer any suggestions as such but offered me these nuggets of wisdom.
"when you speak, speak the truth;
perform when you promise; discharge your trust - withhold your hands from
striking and from taking that which is unlawful and bad..
What actions are most excellent?
To gladden the heart of a human being, to feed the hungry to help the affected,
to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful and to remove the wrongs of the
injured. ...
All God's creatures are his family;
and he is the most beloved of God who tries to do most good to god's creatures.
These are the sayings of Prophet
Mohammad. My friend who told me this is a great grandson of a Deekshidar
of Tamil Nadu and grandson of a Ganapadigal (Vedic Scholar). He is none
other than Shri Y S Rajan.
Righteousness
Recently, I heard a hymn in the
divine campus of Shri Satya Saibaba at Puttaparthi, which I would like
to share with you. The name of the hymn is 'Righteous and Peace in the
World':
Where there is righteousness in
the heart
there is a beauty in the character.
When there is beauty in the character,
there is harmony in the home.
When there is harmony in the home.
there is a order in the nation.
When there is order in the nation,
there is peace in the world.
Friends, we can see a beautiful
connectivity between heart, character, nation and the world. How to inject
righteousness in the human heart? This is indeed the purpose of human creation
- that is divinity. We are going through a complex situation as many of
us are completely at war with ourselves, with society and with nation.
At every instant there is a war in our mind, whether we should go in one
direction or another. Whenever there is a dilemma, we must seek the wisdom
from the Almighty to lead us to the path of righteousness through education
with value system.
All these four events give personally
to all of us a beautiful life with creativity. Above all it gave me a message
to look for the best spiritual component in every religion.
My search
Friends, at this point of time,
I would like to recall that we had witnessed the First World War, the Second
World War; the UN was created to prevent war and bring peace. But what
is happening now? We all very well know that ignoring United Nations many
wars are being launched in this planet. Take our case, in our nation nearly
50 years we have been experiencing cross border terrorism. It has been
causing death and suffering more than a war. This pain is in my mind. Hu
Shih, (1891-1962), Chinese philosopher in Republican China has said, "India
conquered and dominated China culturally for two thousand years without
ever having to send a single soldier across her border." This is what Buddhist
culture can do- bring people together, bring nations together, and bring
peace at no cost. This is religion that had grown in stature to be the
messiah of God and the advocate of the spiritual role of the religion.
When the spiritual role of the religion is compromised, the religion becomes
a weapon of destruction and a divider of people.
Friends with this experience, what
I have gone through I am completely convinced that the religions can come
out of dogmas. There is a possibility of religions graduating into a spiritual
force with the use of compassion and love as a bridge. For sustainable
societal peace and happiness, two more things are essential, one is Education
with value system and the other is bringing economic prosperity. Education
with value system definitely a big mission, it needs a world body, all
the youth in the world, up to the age of 20, has to be taught the education
with value system.
Education with Value System
The best part of a young person
is his or her childhood in school and the best time spent is 0800 Hrs to
1600 Hrs in the school. The prime learning environment is 5th to 16th years
of age. The student spends approximately 25,000 hours in the school campus.
Of course, at home, love and affection are imparted but again most of the
time of the day is spent in preparing school's homework and study, eat,
play and sleep. Hence the school hours for children are the best time for
learning and need best of environment, mission oriented learning with value
system. I still hear the echo from Bestolozzy, a great teacher's saying,
"give me a child for seven years. Afterwards, let the God or devil take
the child. They cannot change the child." That is the great confidence
of the teacher. What a golden mission a school can have. All the more,
the teachers are in the center of the mission. We need hundreds and thousands
and lakhs of committed teachers, who can shape the minds of our youth.
Technology can also play a part to propagate good teaching through tele-education.
The best of dynamic triangle is child, teacher and parents. For parents
and teachers, school campus and home have to have an integrated mission:
education with value system. If the child misses the value-based education
in the school, no government or society can establish a transparent society
or a society with integrity.
The Nations will target development
milestones in a spirited environment instead of spending tremendous energy
and time in problems initiated by small aims. This is the essential environment
need for transforming India into a developed nation.
Developed India: 2020
The most vital component for peace
is the poverty eradication by attaining economic prosperity resulting in
high employment potential. This model will vary from nation-to-nation depending
on the core competence of the particular nation. This will be through the
second vision for the nation. How we can prepare ourselves to this challenge?
To become a developed India, the
essential needs are (a) India has to be economically and commercially powerful,
at least to be one of the four top nations in terms of size of the economy.
Our target should be a sustained GDP growth of 10% annually for a decade
and that the people below poverty line to be reduced to near zero from
260 millions. Technology Vision 2020 is the roadmap to realize this cherished
mission.
The vision identifies five core
areas for an integrated action. They are (1) Agriculture and food processing
- The target of 360 million tons of food from the present 200 million tons
and creation of food processing industries with enhanced productivity.
Other areas of agriculture and agro food processing would bring prosperity
to rural people and speed up the economic growth. (2) Reliable and quality
electric power for all parts of the country. (3) Education and Healthcare
- we have seen, based on one experience, education and healthcare are inter
related. (4) Information Communication Technology - This is one of our
core competencies. We believe, this area can be used to promote education
in remote areas and also to create national wealth. (5) Strategic sectors
- This area, fortunately, witnessed the growth in nuclear technology, space
technology and defence technology and we have further programmes in critical
technologies.
The integrated action on these five
mission areas will lead to economic prosperity for the nation. For ensuring
peace in the world every nation has to have economic prosperity. The value
based education and religion transforming into spirituality are the other
vital ingredients for generating enlightened citizen in a nation. Can we
achieve this blend through this conclave?
Conclusion
The message to the world through
this conclave has to be to create enlightened citizens through the University
of Universal Unity and Understanding. In short the mission of the university
based on the Nalanda experience is to attract many scholars, religious
leaders and scientists from various parts of the world to discourse, discuss
and spread the message of love and compassion through the three principles
of Education with value system, religion transforming into spiritual force
and economic development for freedom from hunger through a three dimensional
approach. India with one billion people representing one sixth of the world
population has the responsibility to initiate this movement of creating
enlightened citizens of the world for ensuring world peace. Friends, it
is the great mission for the International Conclave of Buddhism and Spiritual
tourism.
I wish the conclave a great success.
