|


On
September 19 and 20, 2022, the 3rd Non-Sectarian Conference on Sutra and Tantra
Philosophy was held at Palpung Sherabling Monastic College. The conference was
organized by the Indian branch of the International Association of
Non-Sectarian Tibetan Religious Traditions in collaboration with Palpung
Sherabling Monastic Seat.
At the
association's request, Guru Vajradhara His Holiness the 12th Chamgon
Kenting Tai Situpa graced the opening ceremony, at which he gave a teaching on
the essentiality of non-sectarianism in Buddhism. He stressed the importance of
knowing that all the eighteen lineages of teaching and practice in Tibet, which
comprise the eight chariots of meditation practice and the ten great pillars of
teaching transmission, derive from a single teacher—the Buddha, just like different rivers
originate from a single snow mountain. Guru Vajradhara also pointed out that
both Tibetan religious traditions, Buddhism and Bön, are equal in benefitting beings. He continued
with an explanation how Situ Panchen founded Palpung Monastic Seat and
initiated the custom of studying, contemplating, and practicing the treatises,
commentaries, and pith instructions from all traditions of sutra, tantra, and
Buddhist science, as well as how in accordance with Situ Pema Nyinje's vision,
Jamyang Khyentse, Jamgön Kongtrul, and Chokgyur Lingpa arranged together the teachings and pith
instructions of all Tibetan Buddhist lineages including the Bön tradition,
compiled them into the Five Great Treasuries, and created the non-sectarian
philosophy. After the teaching, Guru Vajradhara bestowed certificates to the
speakers at the conference.
Thereafter, scholars of several non-sectarian Tibetan religious
traditions (Bön,
Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu, Gelug, and Jonang) presented research papers on special
traits of their individual traditions. At the conclusion of this exceptional
conference that provided participants with a great opportunity to deepen their
understanding of the profound meaning, the presenters answered the monastic
seat’s philosophy students' questions about various doubts and difficult
points, resolved their uncertainties, presented in depth analyses, and engaged
in discussions.
Photos
|