Indian Minorities Foundation participates in the peace walk in Ladakh

  The message of peace from India’s highest plateau as thousands march for world peace walk in Ladakh

 

Carrying prayers and peace messages, a large congregation of Buddhist monks from across countries along with other devotees, leaders of other religious communities, and students carried out a peace walk to promote world peace and harmony on July 16 (Sunday) at Ladakh, in which the Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) also participated.

 

Spreading Lord Buddha's messages of peace and harmony, they walked from NDS stadium to Shanti Stupa in Leh, Ladakh which is located at an elevation of 11,841 feet above sea level, which culminated the 32-day Padh Yatra, of 150 Buddhist monks and laypersons of Thailand, for world peace. They reached Mahabodhi International Meditation Center (MIMC) Ladakh after they had started the Dhamma Padh Yatra for world peace on June 12, 2023, from Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.

 

On their arrival at MIMC, they were welcomed by Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena Founder and President of Mahabodhi International Meditation Center (MIMC), and the delegation of the Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) led by its convenor Satnam Singh Sandhu who also participated in the peace walk. Comprising of Buddhist monks, leaders of other faiths, religious bodies, community leaders, devotees, and students, a congregation of nearly 2500 participated, which included Monks from countries like Thailand, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the USA, in the peace walk which aimed to propagate the message of peace and harmony. They also held prayers for world peace at Shanti Stupa.

 

 

The other dignitaries who participated in the peace walk included Her Excellency Ms. Pattarat Hongtong, Ambassador of Thailand to India; His Excellency Kyabje Taklung Matul Rinpoche, H.E kyjabje Thuksa Rinpoche, H.E kyjabje Urgain Rinpoche, H.E kyabje Bamtul Rinpoche; Ven Mahayana Monks, Ven Pradhamvachirakawee (lonpo); ven Theravada monks, Ven Tsering Angdus, president of Ladakh Gompa Association; Shri Thupstan Chhewang, president of Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA); Shri Ashraf Ali Barcha, president Anjuman Imamia; Dr. Abdul Qayoom, president of Anjuman Main-ul-Islam; Shri Sonam Pawez, president of the Christian community; Dechan Changa, former president of Christian community and Ven Dr. Ponchai from Thailand.

 

Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena Founder and President of Mahabodhi International Meditation Center (MIMC), Leh, Ladakh, said, “The whole world is going through many challenges. It needs a great leader who can bring peace and harmony and that is our prime minister Narendra Modi who is a Karmyogi himself.”

Ven Bhikkhu Sanghasena, who is an internationally recognized and respected Buddhist leader, said “India is fortunate to have such a great leader who combines spiritual values – like yoga, meditation, and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – to the general development of India and the world.

 

“The whole world is looking at India and PM Modi to lead the world with ancient wisdom. We all should feel fortunate that India is under the leadership of PM Modi who spreads peace and harmony,” said Ven Bhikkhu Sanghasena, adding that PM Modi has emerged as a global peacemaker.

“He has played an active role as a peace-maker during the war between Russia and Ukraine. He has very unbiased concerns about humanity and both the countries – Russia and Ukraine – listened to him and respected his views,” he said.

 

He added that wherever PM Modi goes, he creates history. “If you see his recent historic state visit to the USA. It opened new pathways for both countries. The world is looking at him to lead towards peace and prosperity,” he said Bhikkhu Sanghasena, adding that under PM Modi the global perception of India has changed and it has emerged as a strong nation.  

 

The Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) was also part of the peace walk led by its convenor Satnam Singh Sandhu. He said that PM Modi has elevated all the minorities in the country during the nine years and addressed their protracted issues. “PM Modi took the historic decision of making Ladakh a separate Union Territory (UT), a long-pending demand of the Buddhist community, which opened the doorways for the development to reach this region. The long pending demand was finally fulfilled by PM Modi after 63 years. The demand for separate UT was first raised in the 1950s by the Buddhist community. The welfare of minorities is at the core of the policy-making of PM Modi’s government. He has brought a new ray of hope for these communities who were largely sidelined by the previous governments and only seen as a vote bank,” said Satnam Singh Sandhu.

 

He also said that the minority communities are feeling safe and prospering under the leadership of PM Modi and are now part of India’s holistic development. “The whole world appreciates the initiatives taken by PM Modi for the welfare of minority communities. His contributions to peacemaking and the promotion of a culture of peace are taking the teachings of Lord Buddha to every corner of the world,” he said.

 

 

Ven. Dr. Pornchai Palawadhammo, president of the World Alliance of Buddhists (WAB), based in Thailand, who was part of the Padh Yatra, said that India is the motherland of Buddhism and it teaches peace. “India and Thailand can work together and create peace for the world. Indian PM Narendra Modi is a powerful and popular man and he understands the teachings of Buddha and he practices them,” he said.

Mentioning the positive role played by PM Modi in peacemaking between Russia and Ukraine, he praised PM Modi for spreading the message of peace and acting as a peace-maker to solve the conflicts.

 

Dr. Priya Ranjan Trivedi, Founder of Indira Gandhi Technological & Medical Sciences University and Global Open University Nagaland, President and Speaker of the World Spiritual Parliament, and President of the International Association of Educators for World Peace (IAEWP) said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought Buddha on the world map. Since PM Modi has friendly relations with countries in South Asia where Buddhism is already practiced, it will lead to friendship and brotherhood in the world that will go a long way.”

 

He also mentioned that PM Modi has done wonderful work for the upliftment of the Minorities in India, including the development of a Buddhist Circuit for the Buddhist Community, and the people of Minority Communities are safe. Under his leadership, everyone is given equal opportunities, and everyone needs to work together for sustainable development in the country.

 

 

Abdul Qayoom, president of Anjuman Moin-ul-Islam, said, “PM Modi has one of the tallest leaders in the world and his hard work has taken the country forward. He is taking the country on the global map and India’s elevated stature is now accepted globally.”

“The whole world now recognizes the potential of India by the initiatives taken by PM Modi during the last nine years,” he said.

 

Gyal Wangyal, Former Chairman of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Leh (LAHDC) expressed his gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promoting Buddhism and its teachings and taking important initiatives to preserve its cultural and traditional aspects, including his decision of developing the Buddhist Circuit. He further added that Prime Minister considers all religions equal and has taken important initiatives to ensure equal opportunities and rights for the people of Minority Communities.

 

 

 

Thupstan Chhewang, President of Ladakh Buddhist Association said that it is important to have love, compassion, and brotherhood in heart for creating world peace, which is being promoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. “PM Narendra Modi is taking the whole nation forward through ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas’, and under his leadership, Ladakh has prospered and seen an impressive development.”

 

 

Tenzin Nyima, All Ladakh Gonpa Association Joint Secretary (private), extended a warm welcome and appreciation to all the Buddhist monks and followers who took part in the one-month-long Padayatra to promote and spread love and peace in the world. "The entire world desires to live in peace and harmony. Even Lord Buddha has given the word of beholding love and compassion for each other, hurting no individual, and living together in unity.”

 

He appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in promoting the teachings and ideologies of Lord Buddha in the world and inspiring people to practice them. He said, “PM Modi, who is playing a significant role of peacemaker in the world, is an inspiration for all. While countries like Russia and Ukraine are at war with each other, PM Modi is making consistent efforts for relationship building and peacemaking with all across the world, and inspiring other nations to do the same."

 

 

Rigzin Dorjey, President of Ladakh Buddhist Association Leh- Youth Wing, “India- the land where Buddhism was born and home to traditional and most significant centers of Buddhist learning such as Nalanda - has always been known for propagating the message of unity, peace, and harmony in the world. And, in today’s world- where peace is the key necessity of humankind- the nations are at war with each other, Buddhist monks and followers in India are giving the message of peace.”

 

He further added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embraced the teachings and ideologies of Buddha and has taken several initiatives to take them to the world. He has taken the practice and celebration of Yoga to an international level, which is a major initiative for promoting peace and harmony among all.

 

 

Sonam Wangchuk, the spokesperson of the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), who is also a member of MIMC, said, “PM Modi during the last nine years has taken several initiatives to develop the Buddhist centers in Ladakh and other parts of the country. He has remained focused on the development of the places associated with Lord Buddha, especially the work done for the Buddhist circuit.”

“He visited Ladakh several times and showed his commitment towards the development of Buddhist Centres. The whole Buddhist community is thankful to him for his initiatives for Buddhist centres and for promoting the teachings of Buddhism,” he said.

 

Local students participating in the Peace Walk said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, there has been significant development in the field of education in Ladakh. He said that after the declaration of Ladakh as a Union Territory, a new phase of development has begun. Ladakh has got a Central University, a college, and many schools. As a result of which the level of education in Ladakh has increased.