Nagpur: President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday visited the world-famous Dragon Palace in Kamptee and inaugurated the new Vipasanna Meditation Centre in the complex. He also attended special Buddha Vandana after the inauguration. Governor C Vidhyasagar Rao, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Transport and Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari, State Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Social Justice Minister Rajkumar Badole, Chairman of Vipassana Meditation Centre Sulekha Kumbhare and other prominent personalities were present on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, the President Ram Nath Kovind said, “I feel privileged to visit spiritual land of Maharashtra. A number of specialities and achievements connected to Maharashtra State could be counted but the state is specifically well known for faith and meditation. I am fortunate that I got an opportunity to visit the pious Deekshabhoomi where the architect of the Indian Constitution Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar had embraced Buddhism. And here at Dragon Palace I am inaugurating the Vipassana Meditation Centre. Blessings of Bhagwan Buddha are behind me for my visit to Deekshabhoomi. Bhagwan Buddha’s teachings are an inspiration since the past 2500 years,” the President said.“The meditation system formulated by Bhagwan Buddha is the Vipassana. The simple meaning of Vipassana is to see things as they really are. Controlling our breathing, thoughts, body organs and attitudes in such a way that nothing is left unsighted. By doing this, we get connected to our real identity,” the President stressed. “I extend my best wishes to the Meditation Centre in achieving all its goals. I appeal all to spread the message of Vipassana and teachings of Bhagwan Buddha to every corner of the world. In today’s situation of insecurity and upheaval the message of apostle of peace Bhagwan Buddha on non-violence, love and mercy is more relevant today,” Kovind said.The imposing Vipasanna Meditation Centre, built on a ten-acre land in the Dragon Palace complex, is the biggest such facility in Central India to promote the ancient Buddhist technique of peaceful life by de-stressing. The beautiful structure with a 72-feet central pagoda has been built at a cost of Rs 9.50 crore. Artisans from Chennai and Hyderabad worked round the clock and completed the 1000 sq ft construction in a record time of 18 months.The Meditation Centre has two special halls and separate residential hostels for men and women to accommodate 125 participants, a dormitory and central kitchen, dining hall along with landscaped gardens. The centre will run meditation camps ranging from three to ten days. The Dragon Palace is a world-class Buddhist centre of learning and research. The International Buddhist Peace Convention is also held here every year.

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