Tathagat Buddha Chair- Subharti University

Tathagat Buddha Chair

PREAMBLE

“Na hi verena verāni sammantīdha kudācanaṃ, averena ca sammanti, esa dhammo sanantano.”
“Hatred is, indeed, never appeased by hatred in this world. It is appeased only by loving-kindness. This is an ancient law.”
— Dhammapada, Verse 5

VISION AND MISSION OF THE CHAIR

The Tathagat Buddha Chair envisions becoming a leading institution for Buddhist learning and intercultural understanding by:

Reviving and propagating the wisdom of the Buddha
Creating a research-oriented, inclusive, and spiritually inspired academic atmosphere
Contributing to India’s global leadership in promoting Buddhist heritage and soft diplomacy

ABOUT TATHAGAT BUDDHA AND HIS TEACHINGS

Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha or Tathagat Buddha, lived in the 5th century B.C. Born as a prince, he renounced royal luxuries to explore the deeper truths of human existence. After six years of intense spiritual pursuit, he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree and devoted the rest of his life to teaching the path to spiritual liberation.

Core Teachings:

The Four Noble Truths:

Dukkha: The truth of suffering
Samudaya: The truth of the cause of suffering
Nirodha: The truth of the end of suffering
Magga: The truth of the path that frees from suffering

The Five Precepts (Pañca-Sīla) for lay followers:

The Four Noble Truths:

Abstain from killing living beings
Abstain from taking what is not given
Abstain from sexual misconduct
Abstain from false speech
Abstain from intoxicants

Key Virtues Taught by Buddha:

Wisdom, compassion, generosity, patience, and mindfulness

HISTORICAL RELEVANCE OF MEERUT AND THE BUDDHIST LEGACY

Meerut has been historically significant in the context of Buddhism. It was part of the ancient Kuru Mahājanapada and had deep Buddhist roots since the 3rd century B.C. The city once housed an Asokan Pillar, which was later relocated to Delhi by Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq in the 14th century. This underscores Meerut’s association with the Mauryan legacy and the spread of Buddhism under Emperor Ashoka.

ABOUT THE TATHAGAT BUDDHA CHAIR

The Tathagat Buddha Chair serves as a centre of excellence for the study and research of Buddhist Philosophy, Pāḷi Language, Ancient Indian Knowledge Systems, and Cultural and Social Thought. The Chair has been established with the objective of:

Promoting the values and teachings of the Buddha
Conducting academic research in Buddhist philosophy and literature
Exploring socio-economic and cultural aspects related to Buddhism
Organizing scholarly events like seminars, conferences, webinars, and workshops
Facilitating dialogue on peace, meditation, yoga, ethics, and interfaith harmony

The Chair does not limit itself to textual studies but explores broader dimensions such as social values, cultural heritage, and spiritual education in both historical and contemporary contexts.

ACADEMIC AND CULTURAL INITIATIVES

Organizing interactive seminars, national/international conferences, webinars, and public lectures
Engaging in collaborative research, digitization, and translation projects
Encouraging student research, community outreach, and curriculum innovation

KURU MUSEUM: A LEGACY OF THE PAST

The Kuru Museum, established under the Tathagat Buddha Chair at SASSBS, SVSU, showcases rare and ancient Buddhist antiquities. It is an academic and cultural centre that preserves:

Artifacts from ancient mounds of the Kuru region (districts like Meerut, Hapur, Ghaziabad, Baghpat, etc.)
Pottery, coins, terracotta toys, and other remnants from the Indus Valley, Vedic, Mauryan, Gupta, Kushan, and Medieval periods
Paintings and step-well models related to Buddhist and local heritage

The museum is a valuable resource for students, scholars, and the public interested in Buddhist archaeology and regional history.

To carry out the above-mentioned vision, mission, and objectives of the chair and to discipline the functions assigned to them, the following officials are posted in the Tathagata Buddha Chair:

SR No	Name	Designation	Role in the Chair
1	Prof. Praveen Kumar	Professor	Convener
2	Dr. Vivek Kumar	Assistant Professor	Research Officer
3	Mr. Praveen	Junior Clerk	Office Assistant

CONTACT (REACH) US:

Tathāgat Buddha Chair

Samrat Ashok Subharti School of Buddhist Studies
Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Subhartipuram
NH-58, Delhi-Haridwar Bypass Road, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh – 250005
Email: tathagat@subharti.org
Website: ssbs.subharti.org