The President

About the President: Venerable Lama Lobzang

Venerable Lama Lobzang is a Buddhist monk, born in 1931 in Leh town of then Jammu and Kashmir, now Union Territory of Ladakh, the son of Late Norbu Tsering. He belongs to the Boto community classified as Scheduled Tribe (ST) under the Indian constitution. 

Venerable Lama Lobzang has dedicated nearly 60 years of his life for the welfare of the people of Ladakh focusing on providing healthcare to those belonging to economically marginalised families and remotely located communities, and for reviving Buddhism in India and world over, particularly revival of Buddhist heritage sites. His work has taken him to nearly 30 countries around the world meeting political, religious and civil society leaders.

EDUCATION

Venerable Lama Lobzang received monastic training in both Theravada and Mahayana traditions of Buddhism. He received full ordination as a Buddhist monk in Tibet in 1952 at the age of 21. He speaks four languages fluently: English, Hindi, Ladakhi and Tibetan. His mother tongue is Ladakhi.

PUBLIC OFFICES HELD

  1. Member, High Power Panel on Minorities, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Weaker Sections
    Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
    1980-1983
  1. Member (non-statutory), National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
    Ministry of Home Affairs/Welfare, Government of India
    1984-1992
  2. Member, (Constitutional) National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
    Oct. 1995 – 1998, 1998 to 2001
  1. Member, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, Government of India
    Mar. 2004 – 1 Mar. 2007

POSITIONS HELD IN NONPROFIT ORGANISATIONS

  1. Working President
    International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), New Delhi
  2. President
    Asoka Mission, Mehrauli, New Delhi.
  3. Vice-President
    World Fellowship of Buddhist (WFB), Bangkok, Thailand

    The World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) is one of the leading international Buddhist organisations. It was established in 1950 through the efforts of Sri Lankan Pali scholar, Dr. G. P. Malalasekera to promote solidarity and unity among the Buddhists the world over. The mission of the organisation is to propagate the Dhamma, to carry out activities in the fields of social, cultural, educational and humanitarian services, to collaborate with other organisations and governments for working toward harmony and world peace. The present headquarters is in Bangkok (Thailand). WFB has over 180 regional offices spread across 50 countries. WBF organises Dhamma talks, academic conferences, visits of high ranking Sangha members, and collects and promotes Buddhist literary and art works.  

  4. Vice-President
    World Buddhist Sangha Council, Taipei, Taiwan

    World Buddhist Sangha Council (WBSC) is an international organisation established in 1966 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It aims to promote the Buddha’s teaching of compassion to promote peace and harmony, to enhance the relations between different Buddhist traditions by organising exchanges between Sangha members worldwide and to lead the Buddhist world in Dhammaduta (Emissaries of Dhamma) activities to serve humankind. Its present headquarters is Taipei, Taiwan. WBSC currently has Sangha members from 25 countries.

  5. Vice-President
    World Buddhist Supreme Tathagata Followers, Seoul, South Korea
  6. Vice-President
    Mahabodhi Society of India

    The Mahabodhi Society of India presently based in Kolkata was founded in 1920 by the Sri Lankan Buddhist leader Anagarika Dharmapala in Bodh Gaya. The aim of the organization was to resuscitate Buddhism in India, and to restore and revive the glory of the ancient Buddhist shrines at Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinara. Some of the prominent presidents have been Aushotosh Mukherjee, Manmatha Nath Mukherjee, and Shayama Prasad Mukherjee.
  7. President
    India-Nepal Human Development and Friendship Association, New Delhi
  8. Founder and General-Secretary
    Ladakh Bauddha Vihara, Delhi (1963-1986

SPEARHEADING THE MOVEMENT FOR SCHEDULED TRIBE STATUS FOR LADAKH

 

Venerable Lama Lobzang has worked to mobilize the people of Ladakh for cultural and psychological integration with India in view of the geopolitical importance of Ladakh. He spearheaded the movement for the declaration of the indigenous people of Ladakh as Scheduled Tribes. Thereafter, he worked for the  social and economic upliftment of these socially weaker sections.

 

Venerable Lama Lobzang has also apprised and advised leaders of national parties on the problems of Ladakh. In the disturbed conditions in the state of Jammu & Kashmir and emergence of incipient anti-national forces even in parts of Ladakh region, his advice to the government was of vital significance.

PROMOTING LIVING BUDDHIST HERITAGE AND DIPLOMATIC ENGAGEMENT WITH BUDDHIST COUNTRIES

Venerable Lama Lobzang has been working from the initial years of his career for the revival of Buddhism and restoration of Buddhist heritage sites in India – the birthplace of Buddha Dhamma.

He has been travelling around the world meeting the top Buddhist leaders to facilitate international participation in revitalisation of Buddhist heritage in India and to bring the Buddhist community together to address the problems of Buddhist countries and the world at large.

His efforts culminated in the formation of the Global Buddhist Congregation (GBC) in 2011 in New Delhi which was attended by more than 800 delegates from 40 countries, including Supreme Patriarchs and Heads of Buddhist traditions from all over the world.

In 2013, he convened the First Founding Members Conclave in New Delhi attended by about 300 delegates from 39 countries. At the Conclave, the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) was established to serve as a Buddhist umbrella body and a common platform for Buddhists worldwide to deliberate on global problems like religious intolerance, discriminaion and persecution of minorities, enmity between nations, conflict and violence between communities and countries.  

Venerable Lama Lobzang served as the Founder cum Secretary-General of IBC from 2013 to 2017. Under his leadership, IBC worked to promote the Buddhist cultural and historical heritage of India and transform it into ‘living heritage’,  and provide a medium of soft diplomacy for the Indian government to engage with the Buddhist world.

Today, more than 300 Buddhist organisations from 39 countries are members of IBC. IBC plays a crucial role in promoting cultural exchange and friendship between India and the Buddhist countries.  

PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE TO PATIENTS FROM LADAKH


Venerable Lama Lobzang has been working for the last five decades in providing healthcare to the people of Ladakh especially those who do not have access or cannot afford advanced and specialised medical care facilities.

For the last 25 years, Venerable Lama Lobzang has been organising medical camps in Leh and Kargil cities and other remote areas of the Himalayan region with the help of doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.

Patients diagnosed with serious ailments are referred to Delhi for further treatment at AIIMS. Venerable Lama Lobzang arranges for the accommodation of the patients in the campus of Asoka Mission free of cost and their treatment takes place under his personal guidance and close supervision.

In the last five decades, hundreds of patients from Ladakh have received treatment at AIIMS in the departments of Neurosurgery, Oncology, Urology, Gynaecology, Cardiology, Cardiothoracic & Neuroscience, Neurology, Gastroenterology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Psychiatry and Paediatrics, ENT, Dermatology, Hematology, Hepatology, Rheumatology, Radiology, Obstetrics. Without the help of Venerable Lama Lobzang it would be unthinkable for these patients to receive treatment at such a reputed and leading medical facility of the country as AIIMS.

CONFERENCES ORGANISED

  1. Inter-University Seminar, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla, 1974
  2. All India Frontier Bauddha Sammelan, New Delhi, September 1978
  3. Chief Organizer, International Buddhist Conference, New Delhi, September 1978
  4. Invited a high level Buddhist delegation consisting of three top religious leaders (Mahanayakas) and important laity from Sri Lanka, who called on the President and the Prime Minister of India in March 1988. This visit had a great impact on the people of Sri Lanka
  5. Indo-Sri Lanka Cultural Interaction, Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi, 1990
  6. Organized an International Conference on the occasion of the 60thBirthday Celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Delhi, July 1995
  7. Invited a high level Buddhist delegation from Sri Lanka who met the Prime Minister of India and visited Buddhist holy places of India
  8. Convener, International Conference on The Heritage of Nalanda at Nalanda, February 12 to 14, 2006. It was attended by about 300 delegates from 30 countries. More than 50 papers by eminent scholars were presented at this conference
  9. Member, National Committee for the Celebration of the 2550thAnniversary of the Mahaparinirvana of Bhagawan Buddha, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, 2006.
  10. Convener cum Secretary General, Global Buddhist Congregation 2011, 26 – 30 November 2011, New Delhi, India. More than 800 delegates from 40 countries, including Supreme Patriarchs and Heads of Buddhist Traditions from all over the world attended this congregation.
  11. Convener of First Founding Members Conclave, International Buddhist Confederation 2013, 9-12 September 2013, New Delhi, India. 300 delegates from 39 countries, including Supreme Patriarchs and Heads of Buddhist Traditions from all over the world attended this conclave.

 

CONFERENCES ATTENDED

 

  1. Sixth Buddhist Synod, Rangoon, 1954
  2. Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, Bangkok, 1966 (leader of the Indian delegation)
  3. World Conference of Religions for Peace, Moscow, 1977
  4. Inauguration of the Republic of Sri Lanka, January 1978
  5. Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, Tokyo, 1978
  6. World Conference of Religions for Peace, Nairobi, 1984
  7. World Council of Religions and Peace, Seoul, South Korea, 1984
  8. World Congress of Religions, New Jersey, USA, 1985
  9. Led a delegation of monks and important laity welcomed by the President of Sri Lanka in July 1988.Also attended the ceremony of the exposition of the Holy Tooth Relic of the Tathagata Buddha at Kandy.
  10. World Council of Religions and Peace, Melbourne, Australia, 1989
  11. Bodhi Tree Planting Ceremony, Nihonji Temple, Tokyo, 1989
  12. International Conference on Peace and Security of Asia with Special Focus on Tibet, Tokyo, 1990
  13. Film Premiere on His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Frankfurt, Germany, December, 1994
  14. Inauguration of Old Age Home at Hachioji, Tokyo, January 1995
  15. Film Premiere of ‘Siddhartha: A Life in Light’, Frankfurt, Germany, December, 1995
  16. Sacred Fire Offering Ceremony at Agon Shu Temple, Kyoto, Japan, February 1997, February 1998, February 1999 and February 2000
  17. Sixth Executive Committee Meeting of the World Buddhist Sangha Council, Manila, Philippines, April 1997
  18. Third General Conference of the World Buddhist Supreme Tathagata Followers at Colombo and Kandy, Sri Lanka, July 1997
  19. Fourth Inter-Religious Conference organized by the Inter-Religious Federation for World Peace, Washington DC, USA, November 1997
  20. World Culture and Sports Festival 1998 and Convocation on ‘The Family and World Peace’ organized by the Family and World Peace and Unification International, New York City, June 1998
  21. World Culture Festival 1999 organized by the Family and World Peace and Unification International, Seoul, South Korea, February 1999
  22. Meeting of the World Buddhist Sangha Council, Colombo, April 1999
  23. Conference of the World Buddhist Supreme Tathagata Followers, Kandy, Sri Lanka, March 2000
  24. Seventh General Conference of the World Buddhist Sangha Council, Taipei, Taiwan, November 2000
  25. International Conference of the Maha Bodhi Societies World Wide, Colombo, July 2001
  26. International Conference on Religious Cooperation, Taiwan, September 2001
  27. The General Conference of the World Buddhist Sangha Council (WBSC), Singapore, November 2002
  28. Conference on ‘Forging Path to Peace At A Time of Global Crisis’, Seoul, South Korea, 29 April to 2 May 2004
  29. Conference of Inter-religious and International Federation for World Peace, Seoul, South Korea, from November 30 to December 4,2004
  30. International Celebration of the 88thBirthday of Rev. Takeyasu Miyamoto, one of the senior most religious and social leaders of Japan at Tokyo, 14 May 2005
  31. 1stExecutive Council Meeting of 8thWorld Buddhist Sangha Council (WBSC), 5- 9 January 2008, Taipei, Taiwan
  32. 2nd Executive Council Meeting of the 8th World Buddhist Sangha Council (WBSC), 11 – 16 March 2010, Hong Kong
  33. 25th General Conference and 60th Anniversary of World Fellowship of Buddhist (WFB), 14-17 November 2010, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  34. Chanting Ceremony in “Commemoration of the 2600thYear Anniversary of Great Enlightenment of the Buddha Shakyamuni” from 07 – 11 May 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  35. “Celebrations on the Auspicious Occasions honouring Buddhajayanti: The Celebration of 2,600 Years of the Buddha’s Enlightenment plus His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 85th Birthday Anniversary and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 80th Birthday Anniversary” 20 – 26 May 2012, Bangkok, Thailand.
  36. The 26th World Fellowship of Buddhists KOREA CONFERENCE, 11 – 16, June 2012, Yeosu-Si, Republic of Korea.
  37. The World Buddhist Conference 2012:“Transcending Negative Emotions: To Create Happiness and Well-Being in our Lives”. 03 – 04 November, 2012, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  38. World Buddhist Sangha Council The Ninth General Conference, 01 – 07, December 2012, Medan, Indonesia.
  39. The Celebration of the 100th Birthday Anniversary of His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, the 19th Supreme Patriarch  of the Kingdom of Thailand, 01-03 October 2013, Bangkok, Thailand.
  40. International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) 2013 Conference, Inter-Faith Dialog for Peace and Sustainability, 01-03 November 2013, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  41. International UN Day of Vesak 2014 at Ninh Binh, Vietnam from 08 to 10 May 2014