Mysuru: In the 133rd episode of Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Karma Monastery located in the Tibetan camp at Bylakuppe, Periyapatna, in Mysuru district, for its remarkable contributions to nature conservation.
PM Modi's Remarks on Buddhist Traditions and Nature
The Prime Minister highlighted that Buddhist teachings emphasize a deep connection with nature. He noted that Bhagwan Buddha attained enlightenment under a tree, underscoring that nature is an integral part of life. He further mentioned that similar conservation efforts are underway across the country, citing the Karma Monastery in Karnataka as an exemplary model.
Karma Monastery: A Vibrant Forest Ecosystem
PM Modi described the monastery as a vibrant forest spanning 100 acres, where more than 700 native trees have been preserved. This initiative reflects a growing awareness of environmental stewardship within spiritual communities.
Karma Samtenlingpa Rinpoche, founder and chairman of the Bodhisattva Trust in Bylakuppe, explained that the vision of 'spiritual ecology' was inspired by the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje. The goal was to create a sustainable and replicable model for environmental conservation.
Transformation of Barren Land into Biodiversity Hotspot
The initiative began in 1995 on 100 acres of barren land, which has since transformed into a biodiversity hotspot. Rinpoche emphasized that it is a replicable model. He also recalled the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam drive launched by Modi in 2024.
"In the last three decades, we planted more than 700 species, including indigenous species and endangered tree species here. A few thousand tree species have already been planted. The management aims to further increase the number of tree species to around 1,500, including Ayurvedic medicinal plants, by 2035. We aim to achieve net zero emissions," he said.
Bylakuppe is the largest Tibetan settlement in India, making this conservation effort particularly significant for the community and the region.
