Buddha’s teachings is our Sanskriti: UP Minister of Labour and Employment Anil Rajbhar

New Delhi [India], July 22 (ANI): On the occasion of Ashadha Purnima, Uttar Pradesh Minister of Labour and Employment Anil Rajbhar explained Buddha’s teachings as “our Sanskriti, ancient thought and knowledge that should be shared and spread for the betterment of mankind” on Sunday in Sarnath.

Speaking at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Rajbhar went on to explain that Lord Buddha lacked in nothing yet he abandoned all comforts and sacrificed to search for the ultimate truth that would benefit society and eliminate suffering.

He emphasised that the Buddha’s wisdom was India’s heritage, and it will be our greatest offering to Shakyamuni Buddha when we imbibe his teachings and share them widely.

The programme was organised by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), based in New Delhi, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Tourism in UP and the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath.

Presenting the Dhamma talk, Ven Wangchuk Dorjee Negi, Vice Chancellor, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, explained the meaning of the word Dharma and said that it can mean to ‘absorb or hold’. He further said, “All phenomena hold their individual characteristics, we are able to distinguish these as water, wind, fire, trees, and plants, and these become their own uncommon characteristics.”

He went on to add that all phenomena, both mundane and supramundane, come under the general meaning of Dharma. It also means the Universal Law or the Law of Nature, which pervades all phenomena in one way or another.

Therefore, the Universal Law of Nature is known as Dharma, which signifies the qualities of morality, concentration and wisdom, he said.

In conclusion, Ven Dorjee Negi mentioned that all things are impermanent and follow interdependent origination. He advised Budha’s teaching of the Middle Path to be adhered to in life.

The second Dhamma talk, The Significance of Ashadha Purnima, was presented by Ven. Ananda Bhikkhu, General Secretary of the Mahabodhi Society, Bengaluru.

The Secretary General of the IBC, Shartse Khensur Rinpoche Jangchup Cheoden, highlighted the over 2500-year-old teachings of the Buddha that are still relevant in this world of war, enmity and sorrow. Humanity will benefit from the valuable teachings of the Buddha, he said in his welcome address.

The highlight of the event was the launch by IBC of NORBU, an AI-supported “Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding.” NORBU leverages artificial intelligence to engage with readers in real-time, answer questions, provide insightful teachings, and foster meaningful discussions about Buddhism. This pioneering project aims to enhance accessibility, offer personalised wisdom, and promote interactivity on Buddhist websites and apps, empowering Dhamma seekers to embark on their journey of enlightenment directly from their mobile screens.

Named “Kalyan Mitra” (Spiritual Friend) by the IBC, NORBU uses virtual technology to address inquiries on Buddha Dhamma across multiple languages. Originated by Lim Kooi Fong, a Buddhist from Malaysia, NORBU represents a significant advancement in digital Dhamma solutions.

During the event, Ven Khemanando, a Russian monk and technical trainer, shared insights into the development process and challenges encountered in creating this innovative Buddhist AI bot. Designed to provide Dhamma solutions and engage in debates on Buddhist philosophy, NORBU interacts in real-time, delivering teachings and facilitating meaningful discussions.

The concept for this innovative technology took root in Lim Kooi Fong’s mind during the first Global Buddhist Summit 2023, organised by the IBC, with the goal of enhancing accessibility and personalising wisdom for Dharma seekers worldwide. By integrating NORBU into various Buddhist websites and apps, the project empowers users to conveniently embark on their journey of enlightenment through their mobile devices.

Additionally, Fong joined the event remotely from Malaysia, underscoring the global collaboration behind NORBU’s creation and deployment.

As desired by Fong, the AI app was launched at Sarnath, a location that symbolises the passing of the Buddha’s message to humanity. Norbu or `Kalyan Mitra’, would continue to pursue the task of passing on the message of the Buddha to people across the world by closing the language barrier.