Kathmandu /  SAARC Journalists Forum President Raju Lama will participate in the 2nd Global Buddhist Summit to be held from January 24-25.

The International Buddhist Federation, in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Culture, will bring together global Buddhist leaders, scholars and policymakers to discuss contemporary global challenges from the perspective of Buddhism.  The summit to be held at the Bharat Mandapam will be organized under the theme “Collective Wisdom, United Voice and Mutual Coexistence”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the two-day event as the chief guest, continuing the tradition established at the first Global Buddhist Summit held in New Delhi in 2023.

SAARC Journalists Forum International President Lama will participate in the event as a representative of the summit. The SJF President Lama said, “The theme of the summit is ‘Collective Wisdom, United Voice and Mutual Coexistence’, which is also the main objective of our organization to build peace, freedom and stability in the region so that it will be fruitful for us to participate in the summit and learn from contemporary global challenges through the lens of Buddhism.”

In a time marked by rapid social, political and environmental change, the summit will explore how the timeless principles of Buddhism – compassion, wisdom, harmony and coexistence – can provide meaningful responses to conflict, alienation and uncertainty in the modern world.

The discussions will focus on ethical leadership, social harmony and sustainable living in an era shaped by technological advancement, consumerism and environmental stress. Around 200 delegates, including Supreme Patriarchs, heads of national Buddhist associations, renowned monks, scholars and senior dignitaries from around the world, are expected to participate, with the overall attendance estimated at over 800 participants.

Keynote speakers and panelists will include former Foreign Minister Maris Sanggiampongsa of Thailand; His Holiness Thich Duc Thien of Vietnam; Gyaltrul Jigme Rinpoche of India; Jongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche of Bhutan; His Holiness Ashin Kumara of Myanmar; Prof. Dr. Subarnalal Bajracharya of Nepal; Rev. Kosho Tomioka of Japan; Master Shih Jian-yin of Taiwan; Ven. Ananda Bhante of India; and renowned Buddhist scholar Prof. Robert Thurman of the United States, among others.

The summit’s discussions will be structured around five thematic sessions: Collective Knowledge and a Unified Voice for Social Harmony; Entrepreneurship in the Buddhist Dhamma and Right Livelihood; Scientific Research, Healthcare, Medicine and Sustainable Living; Learning in the Light of the Buddhist Dhamma; and Sangha Dynamics, Roles, Rituals and Practices.

In addition to the discussions, the summit will feature exhibitions on sacred relics and cultural engagement in contemporary India and Virat Se Vishwa: India’s Buddha Dhamma Outreach. A major attraction will be a live demonstration of Licdyag (Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding), a language learning model based on the Rijabatanyat algorithm and trained on Buddhist texts.

Adopted by the Kshydyag as its global patron and named “Kalyan Mitra” (Spiritual Friend), Licdyag aims to connect tech-savvy youth with Buddhist teachings in multiple languages. The first Global Buddhist Summit, held in New Delhi in April 2023, brought together over 170 delegates from 31 countries under the theme “Responding to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy for Practice” and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi.

Headquartered in New Delhi under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, the International Buddhist Federation was established in 2011 and has a global membership of over 300 monks and lay institutions. Guided by its motto “Collective Wisdom, United Voice,” Kshydyra works to integrate Buddhist values ​​into global discourse, promoting inclusivity and balanced representation across global traditions and communities.