Buddha`s teachings may help to overcome many challenges

Former Foreign Secretary of India advised the Buddhist community to consider themselves as member of the world community and not associate themselves with particular sects of Buddhism.

Kathmandu: The message of Lord Buddha can help the world to overcome challenges posed by nuclear weapons, climate change and terrorism, a former Indian diplomat said on Friday.

"Earth is facing threats to its existence from nuclear weapons, climate change and terrorism, and Lord Buddha's message may help us to find solution to these problems," Lalit Man Singh, former Foreign Secretary of India said.

He was addressing a closed session on the second day of the International Buddhist Conference in Kathmandu.

He advised the Buddhist community to consider themselves as member of the world community and not associate themselves with particular sects of Buddhism.

"Buddhists should not identify themselves with certain sects of Buddhism, but should only consider themselves as a member of the world Buddhist community. There is no Chinese, Indian or Nepalese Buddhist, but only a Buddhist," Singh said.

The conference is set to bring out the Lumbini Declaration on Saturday which is also the final day of the international meet.

The Declaration would focus on developing Lumbini as a centre for international Buddhist practice and international hub for Buddhism with an aim to develop four important sites of Buddhism- Lumbini of Nepal and Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushinath of India as greater Buddhist circuit.