Lucknow: UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that Buddhism was more relevant in present times than it was earlier and the religion was also closely linked to Hinduism.
Speaking at a function in Myanmar, the chief minister said that he was a monk belonging to the Nath sect which was an amalgamation of Hinduism and Buddhism.
According to an official release issued by the state information department, the chief minister said that Guru Gorakhnath is revered as one of the 84 Maha Siddhas of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition.
He said Buddhism and Hinduism were complementary to each other and preached tolerance. The Narendra Modi government worked on the inclusive philosophy of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas.
The chief minister also underlined the need for debate and discussion. “Our culture prefers this method instead of forcing one’s belief on the people. In ancient India, this was regularly used between scholars and intellectuals who discussed and debated views and philosophy with others before arriving at any conclusion”, he said.
Recalling the names of places like Sarnath, Kushinagar, Shravasti, Kapilvastu and Kaushambhi as places of Buddhist importance, Mr Adityanath said that it was a matter of pride that Uttar Pradesh was home to several important places related to Lord Buddha. He added that these places were being developed under the Buddhist circuit.
The chief minister said that his government would ensure that travel to these places was easier and more comfortable than before.
