The second phase of the Pali and Sanskrit International Bhikku Exchange Program commenced in 2022, following the vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and was held at the Wat Pa Thai temple in Bodh Gaya. The program ran from December 25, 2023, to January 20, 2024. Monks from Tibet, India, Thailand, Bhutan, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Burma participated in this initiative. Representing Sri Lanka, twelve monks from the Tibetan Brotherhood joined the program, with the aim of fostering unity among all Buddhist traditions worldwide.
The main organizers of the event were the Tibetan Buddhist Center in Singapore and Malaysia, the International Buddhist Confederation, and the Gaden Tri-Thok-Khang in India. The Sri Lanka Buddhist Brotherhood handled the organizing duties. During the program, participating monks stayed in Bodh Gaya and had the opportunity to interact with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Subsequently, these monks, along with their counterparts from Tibet, Thailand, and Vietnam, traveled to Bangalore.
From January 3 to January 20, they stayed at the Sera Ja Ashram, working towards minimizing differences between Buddhist traditions worldwide. They then returned to their homeland, bringing back the knowledge and experiences gained during the exchange program. This initiative addresses the timely need for inter-tradition dialogue, bringing together Theravada and Mahayana traditions for better mutual understanding. Ultimately, this exchange program contributes to the unity of the global Buddhist community
©satipatthana magazine
