The Buddha instructs his followers, “As the wise test gold by burning, cutting and rubbing it, so, bhikshus, should you accept my words- after testing them, and not merely out of respect for me."

This injunction captures the essence of the Nālandā Tradition: a discipline that encourages rigorous debate, critical thinking, and the testing of ideas through reason and logic.

Rather than accepting what is taught with passive obedience, the Nālandā Tradition insists that even the Buddha’s words must withstand scrutiny. His Holiness the Dalai Lama reminds us that regarding the Buddha as our teacher also means seeing ourselves as students- obligated to study, question, and reason.

The Nālandā Tradition originates from the ancient Nālandā Mahāvihāra, established in the 5th century CE during the

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