6 March 2021
The Foundation and KISS University- Deemed University, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish programs of advanced study in the Nalanda Tradition and Dalai Lama Studies (initially for a period of five years). As part of the understanding, The Visiting Dalai Lama Chair for Nalanda Studies has been established at KISS-DU. This is seen as a precursor to the activation of the Dalai Lama Centre at KISS-DU. The Chair will nurture an academic discourse on the Nalanda Tradition, especially its relevance today. It will seek to facilitate an understanding of:
- The achievements and legacy of ancient Nalanda university;
- The place of Nalanda in the evolution of the contours Indian History, Philosophy and Wisdom Traditions, Buddhism in general and the Mahayana, in particular;
- The aspirations of Nalanda for the education of its students, the structure, methodologies and principles that were used;
- The values and ideas that it sought to cultivate in the community that continue to have value and significance today. These include Ahimsa, Karuna, Gender, Conflict Resolution, Peace Studies, Medicine, environment, the Scientific Method, the celebration of diversity, reaching out to knowledge and traditions other than one’s own; and
- It will explore Didactic studies of the Nalanda and areas such as Meditation and Training the Mind, Logic, Debate and Buddhist Metaphysics.