Source Credit: Tibet.net
New Delhi: His Holiness the Dalai Lama was honoured with the Degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), the world’s largest Open University at its 24th Convocation ceremony in New Delhi.
The degree was jointly presented to His Holiness the Dalai Lama by Prof. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice-Chancellor of IGNOU; Mr. E. Ahamed, Minister of State for External Affairs and Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India; and Dr. (Mrs.) D. Purandeswari, Minister of State for Ministry of Human Resources Development.
The citation said IGNOU “deems it a great privilege and honour” to award the Degree of Letters to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibet, “in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the world peace and development and for his devotion in taking forward the charter of non-violence and ahimsa across the globe.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama then inaugurated the Center for Tibetan Studies at IGNOU, calling it a “seed” for future prospects of Tibetan studies. “When you talk about Tibetan Studies, all the important subject matter is taken from the Indian tradition, His Holiness said. He said Tibetan studies which include Buddhist epistemology and philosophy are mainly based on ancient Indian tradition of Nalanda. “So in a way, it is your tradition we have studied, treasured, and practised for thousands of years,” His Holiness told the audience and added, “centuries ago when Nalanda tradition was going through ups and downs in India, we chelas, the Tibetans, kept your ancient thoughts and treasure intact; now time has come to return it to its original source.”
Emphasising the profound influence of Nalanda tradition on Tibetan Buddhism, His Holiness said over 300 volumes of Tibetan Buddhist texts were translated from Indian sources. He said the establishment of the center can show the usefulness of study of inner science and hoped more people could follow the study of inner science, or that part of Buddhist texts that deals with minds, emotions, the very system of human psychology.
Dividing the Buddhist texts into three branches viz. Buddhist science, Buddhist concepts such as Interdependence, and Buddhist religion, His Holiness said Buddhist inner science can be universal unlike Buddhist religion.
In the past decades, there have been a growing number of top western scientists who have begun focusing more of their time and energy on Buddhist science realising that modern science is still at its initial stages as far as exploring mind and emotions are concerned.
Further in his acceptance speech, His Holiness advised the graduating students to have a vision beyond one’s immediate surroundings and to “think global, think about the whole world.” On the importance of moral ethics for a happy and peaceful community, His Holiness said education is like a instrument that can be used constructively or destructively depending on the individual. To use it constructively, His Holiness said one has to cultivate warm heartedness which helps generate a sense of concern for others’ well-being. On the other hand, extreme self-centeredness is a destructive way to use one’s education bringing suspicion, distrust, anxiety, ultimately leading to a community devoid of peace and happiness.
Speaking on non-violence, His Holiness said India has the potential to lead the world based on its ancient traditions of ahimsa and non-violence. “India is one of the most populous, stable, democratic country with a long history, sophisticated cultural history with the tradition of harmony and ahimsa,” he said.
Some 1.2 lakh graduates scattered all over IGNOU’s branches in India and abroad were conferred degrees, diplomas and certificates at today’s ceremony making it also the world’s largest convocation ceremony. Over 3 million students are currently enrolled in the university’s 511 academic programmes. UNESCO had declared IGNOU “a living testimony to social inclusion and democratization of education”.
The convocation ceremony was broadcast live via Gyan Darshan, a 24-hour exclusive national educational channel and Gyan Vani, an educational FM radio channel with 37 stations operational across India.
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