Noble way of flourishing Buddhism

Thimhu, May 01, 2009: Bhutan, which used brutal measures to protect Drukpa Kagyu sub-sect of Buddhism, has not finally found a noble way to make it popular – including Buddhism in national curriculum. 

The Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) with support from the monastic body dratshang started mulling for including the studies in colleges. Buddhism study is included in university curriculum in many countries while few countries like Thailand and Nepal have separate university for Buddhism.

Dratsang and RUB are scheduled to make ten-day long deliberation on possibility and rationale of the study. According the RUB vice chancellor, Dr Pema Thinley Samtse College of Education would be the first to integrate the course.

RUB also has held discussion with US-based Naropa University’s representative MacAndrew Jack on possibility of launching the course.

For decades, the government forcefully compelled non-Buddhist to follow the faith and carry out daily rituals with the help of lamas.