2nd International Buddhist Media Conclave Focuses on Mindful Communication

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2nd International Buddhist Media Conclave Focuses on Mindful Communication

By Justin Whitaker
September 12, 2024

The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) and the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) launched the 2nd International Buddhist Media Conclave on 11 September in New Delhi. The event, themed “Mindful Communication for Conflict Avoidance and Sustainable Development,” brought together religious leaders, media professionals, and scholars to discuss the role of Buddhism in fostering peace and ethical communication.

The ceremony began with the traditional lighting of a lamp by the chairman of the VIF, Gurumurthy, and the secretary-general of the IBC, Ven. Shartse Khensur Rinpoche Jangchup Choeden. VIF director Dr. Arvind Gupta and Grammy Award-winning musician Shri Ricky Kej also participated in the event. A former captain of the Indian football team, Shri Baichung Bhutia, attended as guest of honor.

In his opening remarks, Shri Baichung Bhutia emphasized Buddhism as a way of life, noting: “[The] Buddha’s teachings have the message of “peace and sacrifice.” (Ministry of Culture) Bhutia stressed that Buddhism could play a significant role in promoting global peace and brotherhood, and that the media had a crucial role in spreading the message of Buddhism across the world.

Dr. Gupta highlighted the importance of thought and action in restoring civilizational values. He noted that Hindu and Buddhist scholars had long engaged in dialogues on these matters and suggested that the media could benefit from Buddhism’s emphasis on ethical conduct and enlightenment to promote balanced and ethical reporting.

Ven. Jangchup Choeden called for a world guided by truthfulness, compassion, and altruism, which he identified as key attributes of the Buddha’s teachings. He told those gathered: “At a time when greed and conflicts are rising, the guidance of [the] Buddha is crucially needed.” (Ministry of Culture)

Gurumurthy underscored the damage inflicted on the world over the past few centuries, and pointed to India’s role as the birthplace of significant philosophical traditions.

During the event, IBC director general Abhijit Halder noted the enthusiastic response from the media and announced plans for a larger-scale conclave. He noted that it was “high time [that] the teachings of [the] Buddha on conflict avoidance and sustainable development were imbibed by the world.” (Ministry of Culture) Halder also highlighted India’s unique position as the land of the Buddha, making it an important focal point for spreading these teachings.

The event was aimed at fostering dialogue on how Buddhist principles can contribute to contemporary challenges, such as conflict resolution and sustainable development. It also highlighted the role of the media in promoting ethical communication aligned with these values.

The conclave reflected growing global interest in Buddhism’s potential to contribute to peaceful communication and conflict resolution. As the birthplace of Buddhism, India holds a unique position in these discussions. While the majority of the world’s more than 500 million Buddhists reside in Asia, in countries such as China, Japan, and Thailand, the religion’s influence can be found virtually everywhere. In India, Buddhists account for less than 1 per cent of the population today, nonetheless Buddhism continues to influence various aspects of the country’s spiritual and cultural life.

The IBC, founded in 2013, is a global Buddhist umbrella body headquartered in New Delhi. It aims to bring together Buddhist organizations worldwide to promote dialogue, understanding, and cooperation. The Vivekananda International Foundation, established in 2009, is a New Delhi-based think tank focused on international relations and India’s role in the global order.

Justin Whitaker

Dr. Justin Whitaker is a Senior Correspondent for Buddhistdoor Global (BDG). Previously, he was a visiting instructor at Hong Kong University's Centre for Buddhist Studies. He holds a PhD from the University of London, where his work on comparative philosophy focused on early Buddhist ideas and the ethics of Immanuel Kant (1724-1804). He is the author of “Reflecting on Meditation’s Ethics: Ignatian ‘Spiritual Exercises’ and Buddhist ‘Mettā-Bhāvanā’,” (Journal of Inter-Religious Studies, 2014) and co-author with Douglass Smith of "Reading the Buddha as a Philosopher" (Philosophy East and West, 2016) and "Ethics, Meditation, and Wisdom" in the Oxford Handbook of Buddhist Ethics, 2018. He currently lives in Missoula, Montana with his wife, daughter, and their cat after an exciting two years living in Hong Kong. His column, Western Dharma, is published occasionally.

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