Paper Title
Buddhist Pedagogy and Educational Diplomacy: Reinterpreting from Nālandā’s Legacy

Abstract
The pedagogical legacy of Nālandā Mahāvihāra represents a profound intersection between Buddhist education and diplomatic engagement. This study critically examines the historical and philosophical underpinnings of Nālandā’s educational model, exploring its role in fostering cross-cultural knowledge exchange, ethical scholarship, and intellectual diplomacy. While previous research has extensively documented Nālandā’s contributions to Buddhist education, a critical gap remains in assessing how its pedagogical strategies can inform contemporary educational diplomacy. This study addresses this by reinterpreting Nālandā’s legacy in modern transnational academic cooperation, particularly within the Buddhist traditions. Methodologically, this research employs a qualitative approach, integrating historical textual analysis of Buddhist scriptures, epigraphic records, and secondary sources to construct a comparative framework. Key findings reveal that Nālandā’s pedagogical model was not merely monastic but encompassed a multidisciplinary intellectual tradition that engaged with secular sciences, ethics, and intercultural exchange. Furthermore, its knowledge dissemination strategies functioned as an early form of educational diplomacy, paralleling modern soft power initiatives. The study underscores the contemporary relevance of Nālandā’s principles in shaping higher education policies and transnational academic collaborations, advocating for a renewed integration of Buddhist pedagogy into global education systems. Ultimately, this research affirms that Nālandā’s intellectual heritage remains a valuable model for fostering cross-border academic cooperation rooted in the ethical-moral discipline (sīla), meditative development (samādhi), and wisdom (paññā). Keywords - Ancient Nālandā’s Legacy, Buddhist Pedagogy, Educational Diplomacy, Reinterpreting