27 February 2024, Silpakorn University, Bangkok
The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) along with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Embassy of India in Bangkok, Thailand and Silpakorn University jointly organised a One-Day International Symposium on the “Significance of Vipassana Meditation for Wellbeing & Global Peace” on Tuesday, 27 February 2024 at the Main Auditorium of the Silpakorn University campus in Bangkok.
The symposium took place at an auspicious occasion when a high-level delegation from India led by Honourable Governor of Bihar H.E. Shri Rajendra Arlekarand Honourable Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Virendra Kumar visited Bangkok with the Holy Relics of Tathagatha Buddha and his two chief disciples Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Maha Moggallana.The emotions about the holy relics were well connected with the local people as well as the participants of the Vipassana symposium since they have been experiencing the right perspective and the significance of the event.
The inaugural sessionof the symposium commenced with a replay of Honourable Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi’s video on Vipassana, followed by welcome addresses by Dr. Prasopchai Patrojanasophon, Vice President of Silpakorn University, Ms. Poulomi Tripathi, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India in Thailand and Ven. Dr. Pornchai Pinyapong, Dhamma Secretary of IBC from Thailand.
During the keynote address, Mr. Abhijit Halder, Director General, IBC highlighted the significance of the vipassana in today’s perspective related with well-being and global peace.The day long symposium witnessed Vipassana experts from India including Mr. Piyush Kulshreshtha and Dr. Melvin Chagas Silva (practising psychiatrist and psycho-therapist) from the Vipassana Research Institute, Mumbai, Ms. Roli Bajpai, Dhamma Bodhi Vipassana Centre, Bodhgaya and Prof. Ravindra Panth, Director, IBC and former Vice-Chancellor of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara Deemed University, Nalanda.One of the technical sessions was chaired by Dr. Nitinant Wisaweisuan, Member, Board of Directors, Institute of East Asian Studies, and Lecturer of Economics, Thammasat University. The Sanskrit Studies Centre of Silpakorn University led by Padmashri Prof. Chirapat Prabandavidyaalso added great value to the objective of the event.
While Vipassana has been an ancient form of meditation that originated in India many thousands of years agotaught by the Buddha, its relevance remains more apt in today’s time and age with complex contemporary challenges that all of us are dealing with on a daily basis across the world. This is a thought that the Honourable Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi reminded us earlier this month in his address celebrating centenary birth year of Acharya S. N. Goenka. Quoting Guruji Goenka, Prime Minister Modi had emphasized on the concept of self-transformation which is imperative for self-realisation.
The symposium had significant participation from monks, academicians, vipassana practitioners besides students and faculty members, who very actively interacted during the question-answer session clarifying fundamental ideas like difference between yoga and vipassana, connecting with spirituality and understanding faith etc.
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