Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad   

Nagarjuna's philosophy lauded

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD April 6. The glory of Nagarjuna, a teacher par excellence of the Middle View School advocated by Buddhism and acknowledged as the second Buddha, was recalled by the Dalai Lama, Tibetan spiritual leader, here on Sunday.

The Dalai Lama inaugurated a three-day seminar on `Social and cultural aspects of Nagarjuna's philosophy' organised by Salar Jung Museum at Ravindra Bharathi in the presence of the museum's chairman and Governor, Surjeet Singh Barnala. Heaping praise on Nagarjuna, the spiritual leader said Acharya Nagarjuna was a renowned personality, a meditator, a practitioner of Buddhist philosophy and an educationist whose services were significant to Buddha dharma. Nagarjuna's philosophy had a strong influence on Tibetan life, he noted.

Twenty-first century would see a lot of discussion on the ancient philosophy and modern science, the Dalai Lama said, adding that there were similarities between Buddhist philosophy and modern quantum physics. Nagarjuna's presentation on the Middle View path was extraordinary.

The Governor said the State was the `cradle of Buddhism' and the excavations which brought to light nearly 145 Buddhist sites stood testimony to this fact. Buddhist centres like Amaravati, Jaggaiahpet and Nagarjunakonda presented the fabulous art and architecture of Buddhism from the second century BC to the third century AD, he said.

Communal problems, violence and wars were on the increase and the message of Nagarjuna in such times became all the more relevant, he said.

The director of the museum, A.K.V.S. Reddy, said Nagarjunakonda had become one of the most important centres of Buddhist learning. Later, the Dalai Lama released a special volume on Nagarjuna, while Sangharakshita Mahathera, chairman, Ananda Buddha Vihara Trust, released a volume on Buddhism.

Haripriya Rangarajan, wife of the former Governor, who was present, released the museum bi-annual research volumes.

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