Monks In ‘Peace Walk’ In Ladakh, Thank India For Development of Buddhist Places

LADAKH (ANI) – Buddhist monks who took part in the ‘Peace Walk’ in Ladakh lauded India for the development of Buddhist places in the country.

Carrying prayers and peace messages, a large congregation of Buddhist monks from across countries along with other devotees, leaders of other religious communities, and students carried out a peace walk to promote world peace and harmony on July 17 here.

Spreading Lord Buddha’s messages of peace and harmony, they walked from NDS stadium to Shanti Stupa in Leh, Ladakh which is located at an elevation of 11,841 feet above sea level, and culminated the 32-day Padh Yatra, of 150 Buddhist monks and laypersons of Thailand, for world peace.

Bhikkhu Sanghasena, Founder and President of Mahabodhi International Meditation Center said, “The whole world is going through many challenges. It needs a great leader… who can bring peace and harmony and friendship to the whole world. And that is our prime minister Narendra Modi who is a Karmyogi himself.”

He said that America and European countries are great. They have done wonderful work. They invented a lot of physical comforts, but it was not enough. They failed in leading the world harmoniously.

Dr Pornchai Palawadhammo, President of the World Alliance of Buddhists (WAB), based in Thailand, who was part of the Padh Yatra, said that India is the motherland of Buddhism, and it teaches peace.

“After the declaration of Ladakh as a Union Territory, a new phase of development has begun. Ladakh has got a Central University, a college, and many schools. As a result of which the level of education in Ladakh has increased,” said a student.

The Dhamma Padh Yatra which started on June 12 from Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh comprised of Buddhist monks from countries like Thailand, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the US.