President Ramnath Kovind stresses on the need to spread Buddha’s teachings

President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday said that Lord Buddha’s teachings of non-violence and compassion have become important today.

President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday said that Lord Buddha’s teachings of non-violence and compassion have become important today.

President Ramnath Kovind and chief minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis at the Global Vipassana Pagoda, Gorai in Mumbai on Sunday. (Pramod Thakur/HT)

The President, who was on a two-day visit to Mumbai, was speaking at the ‘Gratitude Day’ function at the Global Vipassana Pagoda at Gorai. “The need for humanity to move from violence to compassion has become ever so important today. Therefore, it is important to spread the teachings of Lord Buddha in the society,” said President Kovind, while addressing the gathering.

He also laid the foundation stone for the Vipassana Meditation Centre, ‘Dhammalaya 2’. The centre will come up next to the Pagoda in Borivli. This would be Maharashtra’s second Dhammalaya. The first one is in Kolhapur.

President Kovind said that Vipassana – a meditation technique taught by Lord Buddha--purifies the mind and increases concentration. Kovind said, “Students can get better marks in exams. Government officials and sportsmen can also perform it as Vipassana has a great impact on the mind, the body and at the spiritual level.”

He added that he was pleased to note that the Vipassana Kendra in Igatpuri, the Dragon Palace in Nagpur and the Global Vipassana Pagoda in Mumbai – that has the largest stone dome in the world, are popularising the practice and attracting people from all over the world. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was also present at the event, praised the Global Vipasanna Foundation’s efforts in reviving Vipassana in India.

.