Mysuru: In the 133rd episode of Mann Ki Baat Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the Karma Monastery in the Tibetan camp at Bylakuppe, Periyapatna, in Mysuru district, for its efforts in nature conservation.PM said the Buddhist tradition teaches people to connect with nature. He noted that Bhagwan Buddha attained enlightenment under a tree and said nature is an integral part of life. Similar efforts are under way across the country, he said, citing Karma Monastery in Karnataka as a good example.He described the monastery as a vibrant forest spanning 100 acres, where more than 700 native trees have been preserved.Karma Samtenlingpa Rinpoche, founder and chairman of the Bodhisattva Trust, Bylakuppe, said the vision of ‘spiritual ecology’ was inspired by the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, and aimed to create a sustainable and replicable model. He said the initiative began in 1995 on 100 acres of barren land, which has since turned into a biodiversity hotspot. “It is a replicable model,” he said. He also recalled the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam drive launched by Modi in 2024.“In the last three decades, we planted more than 700 species, including indigenous species and endangered tree species here. A few thousand tree species have already been planted. The management aims to further increase the number of tree species to around 1,500, including Ayurvedic medicinal plants, by 2035. We aim to achieve net zero emissions,” he said.Bylakuppe is the largest Tibetan settlement in India.
