Include ancient Indian traditions in education, says Dalai Lama

New Delhi: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today called for the revival of the ancient Indian traditions and for integrating them with the modern education system, saying doing so would help fight issues such as war and global warming.

The 82-year-old monk was delivering a lecture on 'Role of Ethics and Culture in Promoting Global Peace and Harmony' in New Delhi. The programme was organised by Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, which aims to preserve the history of the Indian independence movement, and Antar-Rashtriya Sahyog Parishad, a non-political society founded in 1978 with an aim to keep close interaction with people all over the world.

"Serious discussions on how to include the ancient Indian traditions in educational system should begin. India has the capability to combine modern education with its ancient traditions to help solve problems in the world," the Dalai Lama said. The greatness of the Indian civilisation is its spiritual brotherhood and harmony, he said, adding, it has produced the greatest philosophical thinkers and preachers who gave rise to the Nalanda tradition of Buddhism based on reason and logical conclusion.

A vast amount of what came to comprise the Tibetan Buddhism, stems from the teachers and traditions at Nalanda.

Nalanda is known for its Buddhist sites and monuments.

The Nalanda University, which attracted students and teachers from across the Indian subcontinent as well as China, Central Asia, and Tibet, was the most important Buddhist centre of learning in ancient and medieval India.