-Wangmo Dixey
Executive Director of the Light of Buddhadharma Foundation International
As dawn breaks over the ancient hills of Odisha— Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri—an extraordinary spiritual, cultural, and historical gathering has unfolded once again. The 2nd Guru Padmasambhava Program and Conference, held from January 11th–16th, has drawn monastics, scholars, dignitaries, and devotees from across India and around the world. More than an event, it is a homecoming of honouring Guru Padmasambhava, revered as the Second Buddha, and restoring recognition to Odisha as a vital cradle of Vajrayana Buddhism. Set amid the sacred landscapes of the Diamond Triangle, this year’s celebration illuminated a precious truth: India’s eastern coastline holds deep, ancient roots connecting directly to the life and legacy of Guru Padmasambhava. While Padmasambhava is honoured across the Himalayas, in Tibet, Bhutan, Mongolia, and Nepal, his origins in the Indian subcontinent have remained less understood.
Through this conference and its accompanying research presentations, Odisha’s historic link to Uddiyana, the legendary birthplace of Guru Padmasambhava has been examined, celebrated, and brought back into global awareness. A central highlight of this year’s program was the International Conference on the Life and Legacy of Guru Padmasambhava and the Origins of Vajrayana, held on January 15th. Scholars from India and abroad presented groundbreaking research, correlating archaeological evidence, sculptural remains, inscriptions, textual sources, and regional memory. Their presentations reaffirmed the significance of Odisha as a major center of early Vajrayana development.
This gathering of minds was more than an academic exercise, it reflected a deep aspiration: that each year eminent scholars will be invited to contribute more research, expanding our collective understanding of this sacred region. It is our wish, and indeed our commitment, to make this conference an annual tradition. By inviting global scholars, monastics, and researchers to Odisha every year, the program seeks to ensure that the archaeological sites of Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri remain open, protected, and recognized as among the “best kept secrets” of Odisha, an evocative tagline that captures both their profound value and their quiet, untouched beauty. Much of this momentum has been made possible by the Light of Buddhadharma Foundation International (LBDFI), which has worked tirelessly for two decades to preserve and revive India’s Buddhist heritage.
Complementing the scholarly gatherings, the week also featured two evenings of exceptional cultural programs. Traditional Odisha dance, dramatic retellings of Padmasambhava’s life, classical music, and poetry brought colour and life to the spiritual atmosphere. These performances showcased Odisha’s diverse artistic heritage and revealed how deeply Buddhism once shaped its artistic expressions. The evening programs were not merely entertainment, they were a cultural offering, a bridge between the ancient and the contemporary, reminding audiences that Odisha’s history remains vibrantly alive. Nearly a thousand participants—monks, nuns, historians, pilgrims, students, and local villagers walked, chanted, prayed, and celebrated together. The 2nd Guru Padmasambhava Program has thus emerged not only as a celebration of heritage but also as a heartfelt message for world peace and inner harmony. Guru Padmasambhava’s teachings emphasize that transformation begins within through clarity of mind, compassion, and fearlessness. In an age marked by tension, uncertainty, and fragmentation, his message resonates deeply. True peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of awakened understanding.
This gathering in Odisha embodied that spirit. People from many nations came together without barriers, united by a shared intention to honour wisdom and promote harmony. Beneath the open sky of Udayagiri, in the presence of ancient monasteries and stupas, there was a palpable sense of unity, an understanding that the spiritual heritage of India can guide humanity toward greater compassion and cooperation. May the seeds planted here continue to flourish. May Odisha shine as a beacon of peace, scholarship, and cultural renewal. And may Guru Padmasambhava’s blessings inspire the world toward compassion, wisdom, and enduring harmony.