International conference on Guru Padmasambhava to explore life and legacy of ‘Second Buddha’

·         Exhibition showing rare artefacts associated with 8^thcentury Himalayan sage will run parallel to the conference

·         The conference is slated to be one of the events celebrating50 years of diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan

New Delhi, Jan 28: Centre for Escalation of Peace (CEP), India International Centre (IIC) and Sahapedia are organising a two-day conference on the rich tradition and legacy associated with Guru Padmasambhava, one of the most revered and iconic figures for Buddhists today.

The conference, titled ‘Life and Legacy of Guru Padmasambhava’, will be held on January 29-30 at IIC in New Delhi. The event will bring together some of the most distinguished scholars from India, Nepal and Bhutan, who will retrace aspects of the Guru’s life and will highlight the contemporary relevance of the Guru’s teachings as well as the rich, diverse tradition associated with the 8^thcentury Rinpoche. The conference is slated to be one of the events celebrating the 50 years of diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan.

Gurudongmar lake (17,800 ft.), North Sikkim, in the shadow
of Mount Kangchengyao (22,700 ft.), commemorates
the visit of Guru Rinpoche on his travel to Tibet.
Photo Credits:  Deb Mukharji

Ambassador Shyam Saran, Life Trustee of the IIC, said, “Guru Padmasambhava is known as the Second Buddha because he played a seminal role in spreading Buddhism and Buddhist teachings across the Himalayan region, including Northeast India, Nepal, Bhutan and, Tibet.” Mr. N.N. Vohra, President of the IIC, will inaugurate the event. The keynote address will be delivered by Dasho Karma Ura, President of Centre for Bhutan Studies, who is also credited with developing the Himalayan country’s Gross National Happiness concept. Other speakers include accomplished Buddhist practitioners such as Mingyur Rinpoche, Neten Chockling Rinpoche and distinguished scholars such as Wangchuk Dorjee Negi, Karma Phuntsho and Ian Baker.

Mr. Arun Kapur, Director of Centre for Escalation of Peace, said, “Guru Padmasambhava undertook many travels across India, Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal. A study into his travels demonstrates his ability to contextualize and localize his message, taking into account the particularities of place and sensibilities of the people. Guru Rinpoche found a way to celebrate our individual differences in our shared commonalities. That is why, in addition to bringing into focus the contemporary relevance of his teachings and the rich and diverse tradition associated with him, this conference is dedicated to the 50 years of diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan.Centre for Escalation of Peace organized the first Padmasambhava Conference in 2016 in Bhutan, in collaboration with Centre for Bhutan Studies, Thimphu,as a joint event to commemorate the Birth Anniversary of Guru Padmasambhavain Paro, Bhutan, on 14-15 June 2016.”

Thangka paintings part of the exhibition on
Guru Padmasambhava, loaned from Palpung Sherabling Monastery,
the Monastic Seat of His Eminence the 12^th Tai Situ Rinpoche.

The conference will be accompanied by an exhibition of rare thangka paintings, sculptures and photographs associated with the sage. Exhibits have been loaned by both individuals and organizations, including from His Majesty’s Secretariat, Bhutan, Tibet House, Delhi, the Palpung Sherabling Monastery, Library of Tibetan Works & Archives and Tsurphu Labrang. The exhibition, to be mounted at the IIC Art Gallery, will be open for public viewing from January 29 until February 3.

Conference sessions will range from the local contexts associated with Guru Padmasambhava, texts and commentaries to the ritual practices, mandalas and iconography that are central to Vajrayana Buddhism.

Dr. Sudha Gopalakrishnan, Executive Director of Sahapedia, stressed: “It is important to organize such exchanges of learning on Buddhism, to make them available for as many people as possible. While the conference is open to all, we realize that the vast majority of those who want to learn about Guru Padmasambhava and Buddhism cannot be present in person during those two days.”