Leh, May 05: Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju Tuesday inaugurated the H. E. Bakula Rinpoche Memorial Lecture Series at the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) at Choglamsar in Leh. The lecture series is being conducted as part of the 2569th Vesak Buddha Purnima Celebrations currently going on in the UT of Ladakh.
Rijiju started the proceedings by lighting the traditional lamp and offering a traditional Khatak to the portrait H. E. Kushok Bakula Rinpoche (KBR).
Addressing the gathering at CIBS Rijiju, as per a PIB statement, said that there could not have been a better time for him to come to Ladakh as the Holy Relics of Tathagata are on display and the entire region is immersed in the hues of devotion and spirituality. He expressed his gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for listening to the long lasting wishes of the people of Ladakh and allowing the relics to be displayed at this land after a gap of more than 70 years.
Talking about the life of H. E. Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, Rijiju said that KBR has made contributions not only for Ladakh and India but also the whole of Buddhism. He expressed an urgent need for his life and contributions to be studied in depth so that the future generations can be made aware of the exemplary work done by him for his region and also his religion.
Rijiju asserted that KBR became the voice of Ladakh and Ladakhis wherever he went as the cause of the upliftment of his people was very close to his heart and he did not miss any opportunity to work towards the fulfilment of this cause in whatever capacity he could. The Minister credited KBR for bringing modern education to Ladakh and said that all future generations will continue to bear the fruits of the efforts that he had put in during his lifetime.
The Minister also made a special mention of KBR’s efforts at reviving Buddhism in Mongolia, where he served as Ambassador of India, and said that it is because of his efforts that people of Mongolia look up to Indians and hold them in high regard.
Rijiju talked at length about KBR’s philosophy of not letting go of one’s roots irrespective of where one ends up in life. He said that this is in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha and should be adhered to by all.
Senior dignitaries from UT administration including Chief Secretary Ladakh Ashish Kundra, DGP Ladakh Mukesh Singh, CEC Kargil Mohammad Jaffar Akhoon and Administrative Secretaries Sanjit Rodrigues and Bhanu Prabha were also present on the occasion.
After concluding his talk at the venue, Rijiju also visited the site of the display of the Holy Relics of the Tathagata at Jivetsal and paid obeisance to the Relics on display.
