LUMBINI, Nepal — January 12 — Mindful Peace International (MPI) and Lumbini Buddhist University (LBU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Sunday afternoon to jointly establish the “Buddhism of Human Life” (Rensheng Fojiao) Research Center at LBU, marking a new platform for research, dialogue, and practice-oriented programs rooted in Buddhist wisdom.
The signing ceremony was attended and witnessed by senior representatives from both sides, including LBU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Subarna Lal Bajracharya, Registrar Dr Tilak Ram Acharya, Dr Manik Ratna Shakya, Dr Gitu Giri and Dr Kumar Khadka, and MPI representatives including Venerable Dingru, Venerable Guanxuan, and legal representative Li Shaohua.
A partnership anchored in Lumbini’s global significance
LBU is a public comprehensive university located in Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, with an institutional mission focused on promoting the Buddha’s teachings and contributing to world peace and human well-being. The university offers multidisciplinary programs spanning Buddhist studies, international relations, computer science, and other fields, and maintains ongoing academic exchanges with multiple Chinese universities, including Nankai University.
MPI was founded in February 2022 in Zurich, Switzerland, as a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing Buddhist cultural traditions and “Zen-inspired” living worldwide, aiming to foster an open and diverse mindfulness culture ecosystem.
Center focus: bridging Buddhist heritage with contemporary life
According to the cooperation plan, the new Research Center will take “Buddhism for Life” as its intellectual foundation and focus on creating deeper dialogue and integration between classical Buddhist thought and modern living—particularly amid rapid advances in AI and intensified intercultural encounters.
Planned areas of collaboration include:
- Promoting Dharma dissemination and Zen-inspired lifestyle programs such as Zen tea, traditional Chinese therapeutic practices, Tai Chi mindfulness ball, and mindful vegetarian initiatives
- Organizing mutual visits and exchange activities between MPI members and LBU faculty/students
- Co-hosting academic seminars, reading groups, and related conferences to advance both theory and practice
- Supporting the development of a local Zen lifestyle experience space, envisioned as an important venue for teaching and practice for LBU and the Center
Leaders’ remarks: “A new beginning”
At the ceremony, Vice-Chancellor Bajracharya emphasized the unique meaning of running a Buddhist university in the Buddha’s birthplace and encouraged Buddhists and scholars worldwide to come to Lumbini to study, exchange ideas, and practice the Dharma. He described the Center’s establishment as “a new beginning,” underscoring that the core goal remains Dharma propagation and the production of outcomes with practical value.
Venerable Dingru, speaking on behalf of MPI, said that a delegation of more than 50 visitors came to Lumbini with deep reverence, while also recognizing that true blessings come from the Dharma itself. He highlighted the importance of dialogue across traditions and expressed hope that the partnership will broaden the presence of Buddhist teachings both in formal learning and everyday life, bringing “goodness, beauty, truth, and compassion” to Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike.
Academic development and cultural donations
During the event, MPI donated to the library of School of Development Studies and Applied Sciences a collection of Chinese–English books by Master Jiqun, including a complete set of the “Mindfulness Academy” series, and also presented practical gifts for faculty and students such as laptops and Zen-themed items including tea sets, tea, incense, and bamboo wind chimes.