By Aishwarya Nair
Kalmykia [Russia], September 28 (ANI): The Third International Buddhist Forum in Elista, Republic of Kalmykia, concluded on a resonant be aware, weaving collectively multifaceted views that illuminated the enduring relevance of Buddha Dhamma in right this moment’s world.
The 2023 version of the Forum launched initiatives on Buddhist training and heritage, whereas in 2024 the Forum expanded worldwide participation, added themes like ecology and tourism, and marked the 260th anniversary of the Pandito Khambo Lama Institute.
This 12 months’s convention, which opened with a robust message by President Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, concerned a various array of thematic discussions that highlighted Buddhist Culture, Literature, Art and Architecture, Transcultural views of Buddhism in Asia, Traditional Medicine observe and its prospects in Buddhist international locations, Philosophical features of Buddhism, affect of Buddhism on Tourism and Preservation of Monasticism.
Approximately 53% of Kalmykia’s inhabitants identifies as Buddhists, making it the one Buddhist-majority area in Europe. Kalmykia, a area alongside the Silk Route, exemplifies the enduring Buddhist affect in Russian tradition.
Buddhism was launched in Kalmykia via its roots in India. India finds point out in Russia’s oldest chronicle, ‘The Tale of Bygone Years’ (often known as the Primary Chronicle/ Povest’ Vremennykh Let), the place it seems as ‘Indiya’. This historic reference underscores the long-standing consciousness and cultural connections between the areas. India and Kalmykia share a deep-rooted connection via their shared Buddhist heritage, with Kalmykia’s Vajrayana Buddhism tracing its origins again to historical Indian facilities like Nalanda.
Indian cultural presence can also be evident via the institution of an ‘Indian Corner’ at Kalmyk State University and the participation of Indian students and college students, symbolising a vibrant and ongoing partnership grounded in Buddhist traditions.
India’s central function in shaping the non secular foundations of Buddhist heritage was emphasised, with students pointing to its affect throughout Asia. Underscoring the function of Buddhist structure in India, Ekaterina Akimushkina, Department of Indian Philology on the Lomonosov Moscow State University, referred to the restoration of a dilapidated Buddhist temple in Brahmanabad (traditionally within the Indian subcontinent), emphasising the respect and preservation of Buddhist websites amid political adjustments.
She additionally referenced an Indian Historical Source ‘Chachnama’ which is linked with India and comprises materials on the penetration of Islam into India. It reveals the coexistence of Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims within the Seventh-Eighth centuries. The textual content additionally mentions parts of Buddhist teachings, together with a model of the Four Noble Truths.
Highlighting how India served as the basis of dissemination, Ranjana Mukhopadhyaya, University of Delhi, used Japanese Buddhism for instance of how Buddhist philosophy enriched itself via the inventive and cultural contributions of the societies it reached.
She remarked that many Indian Buddhist deities, such because the goddesses as soon as broadly worshipped in India, at the moment are extra honored in Japan, such because the Japanese God of wealth, longevity, and happiness. Artistic exchanges between India and Japan have been deeply mutual – from Japanese frescoes at Sarnath, impressed by Indian types, and the Ajanta frescoes that influenced artists throughout cultures, to the works of Abanindranath Tagore and Japanese painters looking for alternate options to Western artwork.
Addressing the rising international enchantment of Buddhist heritage tourism, with classes drawn from India’s long-established pilgrimage routes, Chandan Kumar, International Buddhist Confederation, talked about that the Government of India’s initiatives, such because the Swadesh Darshan Scheme and PRASHAD, are bettering connectivity and amenities. He identified that tens of millions of holiday makers yearly have interaction with India’s Buddhist websites, reflecting the immense financial and cultural worth these locations maintain.
The viewers was mesmerized by a novel presentation by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) on ‘Buddha Dhamma and AI Technology’ the place Portia Conrad, Head of the International Relations Division of IBC demonstrated the operability of the in-house AI bot ‘NORBU’ named Kalyan Mitra (Spiritual Friend) which is the Dhamma Solution to queries of the brand new millennium for generations to return. Significantly, the algorithms pertaining to the chatbot had been ready by a technically expert Russian monk, Reverend Khemanando, whereas the mind behind the idea is Brother Lim Kooi Fong from Malaysia.
The skill of the chatbot to function within the Russian language was overwhelming for the Russian viewers. Brother Fong acquired the thought of growing the chatbot whereas attending the Global Buddhist Summit held by IBC in 2023, the place students and monks delved into discovering methods and technique of maintaining the fashionable era abreast with the teachings of the Buddha. Along the strains of this theme, Ven. Rupan Barua Karunananda Thero, Abbot, Atisha Dipankar Memorial Complex, Bangladesh, identified that social media can be utilized skillfully or unskillfully, thereby producing corresponding karmic penalties. He urged the conscious utilization to domesticate consciousness and optimistic karma.
The Republic of Buryatia has about 30-35% Buddhists, who play a big cultural and non secular function. Underscoring Traditional Medicine Practices and Prospects in Buddhist Countries, Ms Evgenia Ludupova, Deputy Chairperson of the Government, Minister of Health of the Republic of Buryatia, talked about that within the Republic of Buryatia, Tibetan influences have formed conventional medicinal practices because the nineteenth century. Today, Buryatia preserves an enormous written heritage with over 100,000 manuscripts and continues the research of medicinal crops, the event of natural preparations, and scientific trials.
Buddhism is practised in Tuva by almost 65% of the inhabitants. The Tuvans are the third largest ethnic group in Russia. Expressing gratitude to the organisers of the third International Buddhist Forum, Ms Olga Khomushku, Tuvan State University, emphasised the significance of making a united scientific and academic Buddhist area.
With assist from the Forum for the Promotion of Buddhist Education and Research, new tutorial packages in Buddhist philosophy and tradition have been launched, involving each clergy and lay college students.
The collective final result of this Conference charts a promising path ahead for increasing Buddhist scholarship, observe, and international dialogue rooted in compassion, knowledge, and cooperation. The discussions reaffirmed Buddhism’s enduring relevance as a dynamic drive bridging historical knowledge and up to date challenges.
The spirit of Kalmykia -India relations was evident throughout right this moment’s occasion as one noticed plenty of academicians and students from numerous Indian universities attend the times’ actions, with the Indian members actively interacting with their Kalmyk and Russian counterparts, in addition to different overseas members.
As the Indian flag stood proudly displayed exterior the convention venue, monks and consultants from the IBC had been additionally seen contributing their bit at right this moment’s session. The president of IBC, Dr. Dhammapiya, in addition to plenty of distinguished monks representing IBC from totally different international locations, had been seen partaking native monks and officers.
These embody – Most Venerable Ashin Nyanissara from Myanmar, Most Venerable Ugen Namgyal from Bhutan, Most Venerable Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche from India, Geshe Yonten from Russia, Ven. Pannasekara from Tanzania and Ven Buddhapala from South Korea, amongst others.
India and Kalmykia have had historically outdated relations over time, and the Embassy of India, Moscow, has been partaking the Kalmyk administration in a variety of actions prior to now. In September 2025, the Indian Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, visited Kalmykia to work together with Kalmyk officers and lay the groundwork for the go to of the Holy Relics of the Buddha to Kalmykia quickly.
Earlier, in July 2019, the then Indian Ambassador to Russia, Bal Venkatesh Varma, visited Kalmykia and held conferences with the Kalmykia enterprise group and Heads of Executive authorities of Kalmykia.
Memoranda of intentions had been signed then within the area of socio-cultural, commerce and financial cooperation. Given the immense recognition of Indian arts and handicrafts, an Indian Bazaar was held in May 2014, within the Kalmyk capital, Elista, by the Indian Embassy, Moscow.
Moscow-based Indian Embassy officers have additionally been partaking the Buddhists in Buryatia, and in August 2023, the then Indian Ambassador to Russia, Pavan Kapoor, attended the First International Buddhist Forum at Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryatia.
Delivering an inspiring handle underscoring India’s unwavering dedication to upholding and spreading the ideas of Buddhism internationally, he emphasised the traditional non secular ties between India and Russia that stretch again over millennia.
The longstanding, pleasant, and non secular bonds shared between India and Russia via Buddhism will likely be additional strengthened with the exposition of the Holy Buddha Relics scheduled to happen in Kalmykia within the close to future. This bond is strengthened by Russian Lamas finding out in India, the revival of Buddhist traditions in Russia and cultural diplomacy just like the International Buddhist Forum and the go to of the Holy relics from India.
Disclaimer: Aishwarya Nair is a Research Assistant within the IR Division on the International Buddhist Confederation. The views expressed on this article are her personal. (ANI)