On September 19 and 20, 2022, the 3rd Non-Sectarian Conference on Sutra and Tantra Philosophy was held at Palpung Sherabling Monastic College. The conference was organized by the Indian branch of the International Association of Non-Sectarian Tibetan Religious Traditions in collaboration with Palpung Sherabling Monastic Seat.
At the association's request, Guru Vajradhara His Holiness the 12th Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa graced the opening ceremony, at which he gave a teaching on the essentiality of non-sectarianism in Buddhism. He stressed the importance of knowing that all the eighteen lineages of teaching and practice in Tibet, which comprise the eight chariots of meditation practice and the ten great pillars of teaching transmission, derive from a single teacher—the Buddha, just like different rivers originate from a single snow mountain. Guru Vajradhara also pointed out that both Tibetan religious traditions, Buddhism and Bön, are equal in benefitting beings. He continued with an explanation how Situ Panchen founded Palpung Monastic Seat and initiated the custom of studying, contemplating, and practicing the treatises, commentaries, and pith instructions from all traditions of sutra, tantra, and Buddhist science, as well as how in accordance with Situ Pema Nyinje's vision, Jamyang Khyentse, Jamgön Kongtrul, and Chokgyur Lingpa arranged together the teachings and pith instructions of all Tibetan Buddhist lineages including the Bön tradition, compiled them into the Five Great Treasuries, and created the non-sectarian philosophy. After the teaching, Guru Vajradhara bestowed certificates to the speakers at the conference.
Thereafter, scholars of several non-sectarian Tibetan religious traditions (Bön, Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu, Gelug, and Jonang) presented research papers on special traits of their individual traditions. At the conclusion of this exceptional conference that provided participants with a great opportunity to deepen their understanding of the profound meaning, the presenters answered the monastic seat’s philosophy students' questions about various doubts and difficult points, resolved their uncertainties, presented in depth analyses, and engaged in discussions.
