Bangkok, April 4 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to positioning Buddhism at the core of India's foreign policy was prominently displayed on Friday as he visited Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan, commonly referred to as Wat Pho, alongside his Thai counterpart, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

During this visit, Prime Minister Modi paid his respects to the Reclining Buddha and made a Sanghadana offering to senior Buddhist monks. Additionally, he presented a replica of the Ashokan Lion Capital at the shrine of the Reclining Buddha.

He took the opportunity to reflect on the profound and thriving civilizational bonds that exist between the two nations.

In previous statements, PM Modi has expressed how the teachings of Buddha, along with his followers and preachers, have united Asia through a shared perspective on life, spirituality, and societal values.

The Buddha Dhamma is not just a spiritual tenet but has also become a fundamental aspect of India's cultural identity, aiding in the nation's robust foreign policy and successful diplomatic endeavors.

In a meeting with the Thai PM on Thursday, Modi proposed sending Lord Buddha's Relics, discovered in Gujarat, to Thailand, allowing the populace to honor them and further strengthen the close ties between the two nations.

Highlighting the deep cultural and religious links, Prime Minister Modi was gifted a special edition of the Ti-Pitaka Buddhist scriptures in Pali by Prime Minister Shinawatra.

Last year, the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha and two of his disciples traveled from India to Thailand, where over four million individuals paid their respects.

PM Modi praised the principles of Lord Buddha as millions in Thailand honored the sacred relics of Lord Buddha and his disciples, Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Maha Moggallana, in Bangkok from February 23 to March 3, 2024.

In February, during a virtual address at Samvad, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the longstanding cultural connections between India and Thailand, which span over 2000 years, and highlighted the significance of Asian traditions in promoting peace and unity. He stated, "The Ramayan and Ramakien connect us, along with our mutual respect for Bhagwan Buddha. When India sent the holy relics of Bhagwan Buddha to Thailand last year, a great number of devotees came to show their respects."

"Our admiration for Bhagwan Buddha is evident in the policies of the Indian government," he added.

India, known for its rich diversity of cultures and religious practices, has long been a pivotal center for Buddhism.

To honor this rich heritage, India's Ministry of Culture, in partnership with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), organized the First Asian Buddhist Summit (ABS) on November 5-6 in New Delhi last year.

This summit was in line with PM Modi's 'Act East' and 'Neighborhood First' strategies, focusing on collective, inclusive, and spiritual growth in Asia. With this objective, the summit explored essential themes that celebrate Buddhism's rich legacy and its current significance throughout the region.

Even when engaging with leaders from various nations, PM Modi consistently highlights the teachings of peace and harmony espoused by Lord Buddha.

In 2023, reinforcing the deep-seated Buddhist connections between India and Japan, PM Modi and former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited the Bal Bodhi Tree at Buddha Jayanti Park in Delhi.

In 2022, PM Modi visited Lumbini in Nepal during the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima. He and his Nepali counterpart, Sher Bahadur Deuba, visited the Mayadevi temple, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

At the temple, both leaders prayed according to Buddhist customs, lit lamps, and visited the historic Ashoka Pillar, which bears the first epigraphic evidence of Lumbini being the birthplace of Lord Buddha. They also watered the holy Bodhi tree that Prime Minister Modi had gifted during his visit to Nepal in 2014.

In the same year, India sent four Holy Relics of Lord Buddha, known as the Kapilavastu Relics, to Mongolia for an 11-day exhibition coinciding with the Mongolian Buddha Purnima celebrations.

In 2019, PM Modi and Khaltmaagiin Battulga, President of Mongolia, jointly unveiled a statue of Lord Buddha and his two disciples at the historic Gandan Tegchenling Monastery in Ulaanbaatar.

In 2018, PM Modi visited the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Singapore, demonstrating India's respect for Singapore’s Buddhist heritage and strengthening cultural ties.

In 2016, PM Modi visited the Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi, Vietnam, where he offered prayers at the Sanctum Sanctorum and received a warm welcome from the monks.

Noting that the links between India and Vietnam date back 2000 years, the Prime Minister remarked that while some came to impose war, India came to deliver peace—the message of Buddha, which has endured.

He affirmed that the world must pursue the path of peace, which fosters happiness and prosperity. The Prime Minister mentioned that Buddhism traveled from India to Vietnam via maritime routes, ensuring that Vietnam received the purest form of Buddhism. He observed a glow on the faces of the monks who have visited India, and a keen curiosity among those who wish to travel there.

In 2015, during his visit to Sri Lanka, PM Modi prayed at the Sri Maha Bodhi Tree in Anuradhapura, reinforcing the age-old civilizational and cultural bonds.

With Buddhism continuing to serve as a vital link between India and Sri Lanka, PM Modi is set to visit Anuradhapura again on Sunday alongside the Lankan President.