In a momentous occasion on December 20, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, inaugurated the First International Sangha Forum in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, where Buddha Shakyamuni attained enlightenment over 2,500 years ago. The forum, themed “Bridging Traditions, Embracing Modernity: A Dialogue on the Buddha’s Teaching in Today’s World,” gathers more than 2,000 Sangha members from 35 countries, including Thailand, Myanmar, Japan, and Mongolia.

The Dalai Lama, who launched a five-year Bhikkhu exchange program in Bodh Gaya last December, emphasized the need for dialogues between different Buddhist traditions. The conference aims to foster collaboration among practitioners of Pali, Sanskrit, and Tibetan Buddhist traditions, promoting understanding and cooperation. Notable figures, including Sangharajas, Abbots, and heads of major Buddhist institutions, addressed the assembly, discussing the role of Buddhism in the 21st century. The Dalai Lama highlighted the essence of both Pali and Sanskrit traditions as altruism, encouraging the cultivation of bodhichitta for global peace and compassion. The conference concludes on December 22, followed by a world peace prayer session led by the Dalai Lama on December 23 at Mahabodhi Mahavihara.