Buddhist monks from India, Sri Lanka hold dialogue on spiritual traditions

Buddhist monks from India and Sri Lanka started a two-day dialogue in New Delhi beginning on Wednesday to discuss their respective spiritual traditions, values. The monks held detailed discussion on several topics ranging from the numbers of standardised offences in the code of conduct of the ordained Buddhist monk, known as 'Bhikkhu', and his lifestyle. Approximately, 50 monks from the two countries participated in the first day of the dialogue. "It is really important that India is the most important nation to the Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka also is very important neighbour of India and if we have this kind of engagement that will definitely help us greatly to bring two different nations much closer and have a better respect based on mutual understanding," said abbot of the Gaden Shartse Monastery, Venerable Gashar Khen Rinpoche Jangchup Choeden. The monks also discussed about the parallel body of literature for reference in Buddhism, regular and annual activities of the Buddhist monastic communities were also discussed. "We need to have closer relation with different countries so Buddhism is the main chain to have that relation with India because this is the greatest gift that India has given to the world," said president of the Mahabodhi Society Sri Lanka, Venerable Banagala Upathissa Thero. Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is scheduled to attend the meet on its final day. The event has been organised by the International Buddhist Confederation which is the biggest religious Buddhist confession, based in New Delhi. (ANI)