Dahung (West Kameng): Arunachal Pradesh governor Brig. B.D. Mishra (Retd) on Monday said "Buddhist education" is very important to establish peace in society.
Opening a three-day National Conference on Buddhist Education at the Central Institute of Himalayan Culture Studies (CIHCS) in Dahung, West Kameng district, he said: "I am delighted to discuss Buddhist education with the delegates and students of the centre here. It is time to develop Buddhist education for creating happy individuals which is essential for a peaceful society.
In her keynote address on the inaugural day, Madhumita Chattopadhyay of the department of philosophy, Jadavpur University, said: "Buddhist education is unique and its curriculum is mainly spiritual in nature. The principal aim of education being attainment of nirvana, study of religious books is essential. Hence suta, vinaya and dhamma were the main subjects prescribed for studies. This type of curriculum was chiefly for the monks."
While explaining Buddhist system of education, she emphasised freedom of analysis and said the religion is not against dissent, interpretation and re-interpretation. According to her, such a system of education develops the spirit of tolerance, thereby making this system modern and relevant even in the 21st century.
Participants from across the country assembled here for the three-day conference.
While addressing the opening session as the guest of honour, Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Tenzing Norbu Thongdok said policy makers at the national and state levels in the country must compose songs on peace based on Buddhist philosophy in all languages.
He said: "Desire is the root cause of evil. Detachment is a precondition to attachment with the Lord which will be possible only when there is an assiduous attempt to attain enlightenment."
Director of the CIHCS, G.N. Tashi Bapu, in his welcome speech, said such a conference is for highly-specialised professionals.
"Without Buddha's teachings, the century would not have been ours," he added.