Five students from Fo Guang University (FGU), one of the largest Buddhist universities in Taiwan, are visiting The Dalai Lama Institute for Higher Education, Bengaluru. The group is led by their professor, Sonam Wangyal la, who joined them one week after the students’ arrival. During their stay, the students are observing various academic programs at the institute and visiting other Buddhist institutions as well as historical sites in South India.

The students belong to the College and Department of Buddhist Studies with interest in the Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy. Over the past three weeks, they visited Drepung Monastery, where they had the profound honor of an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They also traveled to the World Heritage Site of Hampi in North Karnataka, where they explored India’s rich history and architectural heritage—particularly the remains of the Vijayanagara Kingdom—as part of their cultural exposure.

The visit of Professor Sonam Wangyal la and his students stands as a meaningful example of dedicated scholarship, strengthening the ties between our communities through shared learning, tradition, and mutual respect.