New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said India has given Buddha and not wars to the world. "Bharat ne duniya ko Yudh nahin Buddha diya hai," he said in his speech in Hindi while inaugurating the first-ever two-day global Buddhist summit here on Thursday.

Modi said, “The tendency of imposing one’s thoughts on others is the biggest cause of problems in today’s world. “One must correct one’s conduct before advising others,” he said.

The first-ever Global Buddhist Summit is being attended by 180 Buddhist dharma gurus, thinkers, and exponents from across 30 countries. 

Leading American thinker and author Robert Thurman and delegates from far-off countries like Mexico and Brazil are participating in the conference.   

Prime Minister Modi said the noble teachings of Gautama Buddha have impacted people over centuries, and India is also taking new initiatives for global welfare based on Buddha’s teachings”.

Modi said that India is moving ahead in 'Amrit Kaal' towards becoming a developed country, and the biggest inspiration behind the same is Lord Buddha.

"In this Amrit Kaal, India has taken new initiatives on many subjects and our biggest inspiration for this is Lord Buddha. India is moving ahead in the 'Amrit Kaal' towards becoming a developed country. India has resolved for the welfare of not only India but also for the whole world," Modi said.

Prime Minister Modi said, "Buddha is an understanding beyond the person, Buddha is a thought beyond the form, Buddha is a consciousness beyond the image, and this consciousness of the Buddha is eternal and constant..."

"This thought is eternal, this understanding is unforgettable," said PM Modi.

The path of Buddha is Pariyakti, Patipatti, and Pativedha. meaning Theory, Practice, and Realization. In the last 9 years, India has progressed rapidly on all these three points," he said.

Modi said, “When many people come together with a vision for a better future, the future will indeed be magnificent".

"India has had its firsts in so many fields, and it has derived great inspiration for the same from Lord Buddha. That's why today people from different countries, and different geographical-cultural environments are present here together," Modi said while adding that this is the extension of Lord Buddha which unites the entire humanity in one thread.

Modi underscored the importance of the path of Buddha and said “His path is of the future, the path of sustainability.”

"The war and unrest that the world is suffering from today, centuries ago Lord Buddha had given a solution. The journey of solving problems is the journey of Buddha. India considers the sorrow of every human being as its sorrow," PM Modi said.

Modi said that the world can embrace happiness only if "we renunciate realizations of Victory, Defeats, Fights, Wars".

"Lord Buddha has taught the path to overcome these. Enmity cannot vanish with enmity but with Love. Actual happiness lies in peace, in living together with peace. If we want to make the world happy, then this Buddha mantra of inclusiveness is the only way by leaving the self, the world, the narrow thinking," PM Modi said.

Referring to the earthquake in Turkey, PM Modi said, "Be it peace missions in different countries of the world or a calamity like an earthquake in Turkey... India stands with humanity in times of every crisis, with 'Sam Bhav', (empathy for all)."

 He also informed how India played a key role in improving the Buddha Circuit.

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"We improved the Buddha Circuit in India and Nepal. Be it Kushinagar International Airport or Lumbini, where India International Centre for Buddhist Culture is being established; India is working holistically in this direction," said PM Modi.