Thousands of monks and nuns studying Buddhist philosophy in Himalayan monasteries will now be eligible to receive certification from the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), which is valid globally.
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Shimla: Thousands of monks and nuns studying Buddhist philosophy in Himalayan monasteries will now be eligible to receive certification from the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), which is valid globally.
This development follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between NIOS and the Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Traditions (IHCONBT).
"We have prepared textbooks for Buddhist studies from Class I to XII and developed a curriculum framework, combining subjects like Buddhist philosophy, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, English, and Bhoti, which has been recognized by NIOS," said Maling Gompu, General Secretary of IHCONBT, on Sunday.
Due to the lack of recognition of Buddhist philosophy imparted in monasteries, monks and nuns previously felt insecure, leading to a decline in their numbers.
However, with the new certification, their concerns are alleviated and the fear of Nalanda Buddhism becoming extinct would be over, he added.
Monasteries across the country have started seeking affiliation from NIOS, with four monasteries already recognised and 22 more initiating the process, Gompu said.
In total, 136 monasteries, including those in Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, and other Himalayan states, have been identified for affiliation, said Gompu who was in Shimla on Sunday to attend a seminar on "Retracing the roots of Nalanda Buddhism and presenting it to the world".
He said Buddhism began at Nalanda and spread to Tibet and other countries but now its roots in India will be strengthened.