Jonang Gyaltsab Rinpoche addressing the daylong conference on 4 December 2021.

Taipei: A daylong conference on Root Philosophy and Logic of Tibetan Buddhism was held on 4 December at Hsuan Chuang University in Taiwan. The conference was jointly organised by Hsuan Chuang University’s Religious and Cultural Department and the Office of Tibet, Taipei.

The inaugural address of the daylong conference was delivered by Venerable Jian Shaoqi, Principal of the Buddhist University. After the inaugural address, the University felicitated Representative Bawa Kelsang Gyaltsen for his efforts in organising the conference. The University announced the establishment of a new Tibetan Buddhist research center at the University and introduced the center’s new Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary.

In his address, Representative Bawa Kelsang Gyaltsen talked about the objectives of organising the conference and offered ceremonial Tibetan scarves Khatag to the University’s Principal and the new Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary of the University’s new Tibetan Buddhist Research center.

Khenpo Tsewang Rigzin from Global Tibetan Buddhist Research Center, along with Gonpo Rinpoche from Non-Sectarian initiative for world peace, and Gelongma Tuo Ho from Hsuan Chuang University also spoke at the inaugural session of the conference.

Jonang Gyaltsab Rinpoche who was the special guest at the inaugural session of the conference also addressed the conference. Hashen Rinpoche and Khenpo Ngodup Gyatso spoke in Tibetan about the threefold Buddhist concept of subject, object and action.

As the conference began, Lobsang Jamchen, a Taiwanese monk studying at Gaden Jangtse monastery, spoke about the dissemination of Buddhism from India to China and Tibet, and how Buddhism slowly diminished in prominence from China and gained strength in Tibet.

Gelongma Tuo Ho, the chair of the Tibetan Buddhist Research Center of Hsuan Chuang University, spoke on the topic of Tibetan Buddhism’s root scriptures and significance for the Chinese public. Geshe Jamphel Choezin, the resident religious teacher based at Office of Tibet, Taiwan spoke on the topic ‘modes of studying the root philosophies of Tibetan Buddhism and its benefits’.

Jamyang Rinchen, the official Chinese translator of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, spoke on the topic ‘methods of reasoning and how to overcome suffering’.

In the third session of the conference, Lotsawa Lobsang Jamchen presented a video on the use of terminologies in Buddhist dialectics and gave a brief talk on his experience of studying at Gaden Monastery in South India.

Although the conference was held at Hsuang Chuang University which is located at a remote and not easily accessible area, the conference was attended by a large number of participants totalling over 300 people. The conference was welcomed with great appreciation and was also broadcast live across Mainland China, as well as Malaysia, and Australia. The books related to the conference was printed by the Office of Tibet, Taiwan, and distributed free of cost.

Report filed in Tibetan by Office of Tibet, Taiwan

Representative Kelsang Gyaltsen addressing the daylong conference, 4 December 2021.

Guests at the conference, 4 December 2021.

Participants of the daylong conference of Root philosophy and logic at Hsuan Chuang University.

Group photo of the participants and speakers of the conference, 4 December 2021.