Lumbini:Buddhist monks, nuns, scholars, and practitioners from various countries have assembled in Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, to participate in the Second International Buddhist Scripture Recitation Programme, which commenced last Sunday.
According to National News Agency RSS, the seven-day event is taking place at Pal Thubten Shedrub Ling Monastery, also known as the Thousand Golden Buddha Temple, and is guided by the renowned Buddhist spiritual master Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche.
Participants from different Buddhist traditions are collectively reciting the teachings of Buddha in multiple languages, including Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese, Vietnamese, and English. The programme aims to unite followers of different Buddhist traditions through shared spiritual practice while promoting the preservation, study, and dissemination of Buddha’s teachings.
The event includes collective prayers for world peace, compassion, and the well-being of all living beings, with recitations based on the Kangyur, a major collection of Buddhist scriptures in the Tibetan tradition. For the English recitation, translated texts from the 84000 Translating the Words of the Buddha, an international non-profit organization, are being used.
The programme coincides with Lhabab Duchen, a sacred festival in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, commemorating Buddha’s return to Earth after teaching in the heavenly realm. Observed on the 22nd day of the ninth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, it is one of the four major sacred occasions in Buddhism, with significant acts such as scripture recitations, meditation, prayers, and charity.
The gathering of Buddhist followers from different countries and traditions emphasizes Lumbini’s role as an international center of Buddhist faith and spirituality. Organizers believe the event will help spread Buddha’s universal messages of peace, compassion, goodwill, and non-violence worldwide.