RAJGIR: President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday said peace was a necessity for development as conflict, turmoil and under development supported each other.
Inaugurating a ceremony to commemorate the golden jubilee of the Vishwa Shanti Stupa here, Mr Kovind quoted Lord Buddha as saying, “Natthi santiparam sukham” meaning there was no bliss greater than peace.
The President said peace was a necessary pre-condition to development, adding that the essence of Buddha’s preaching emphasised peace within as precondition to attain peace outside.
“Spirituality, peace and development reinforce each other. Conflict, turmoil and under development feed upon each other,” he remarked.
Mr Kovind said, “The solemn objective of every participant in today’s function should be to promote peace and harmony as potent means to reduce poverty and conflict”.
From Buddha to Gandhi, the ‘Light of Asia’ will continue to brighten our pathways to a future full of peace, harmony and prosperity, he added.
Mr Kovind said the messages and followers of the Buddha spread across much of Asia in ancient times as they paved the way for one of the earliest waves of globalisation. He said the Buddha’s eight-fold-path not only transformed the spiritual landscape worldwide but also encouraged ethical and sustainable social, political and commercial practices.
Later, Buddhism spread to other continents also, the President noted adding that its emphasis on compassion, equality, moderation and non-violence presented in a rational manner attracted the modern mind.
The appeal of Buddha goes far beyond the 500 million followers of Buddhism worldwide.
Taking forward the essential spirit of the Budda’s path, Mahatma Gandhi influenced leaders and people across continents to emerge as a global icon,” he remarked.
He said Lord Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi preached unity of thought, action and spoken word, and showed people their innate potential for goodness as their own lives became their message.
In the timeless teachings of Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi can be found solutions to the fundamental problems facing an individual, a community, a country and the entire world, Mr Kovind added.
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