Dirgha Raj Prasai
Goutam Buddha was born in Lumbini in the 6th century B.C. in mid Tarai, Nepal. Nepal has been a pious and holy land for all Buddhists as well as all kinds of religious men and women around the world. Buddha has guided the human society on the path of peace, non-violence and prosperous thinking. Goutam Buddha meditated at Sarnath-Banaras and acquired the “Light of Knowledge” (Mokchya) sitting cross legged under the holy fig-tree at Gaya, which is now called Bodhagaya. A Nepalese scholar Rupesh Shrestha writes - The term Buddha means “Enlightened One”, and signifies that the person to whom it is applied has solved the riddle of existence, and discovered the doctrine for the cessation of misery. Lord Buddha propounded Hinayan, a simple religion in which he followed to a large extent. This was a direct and simple philosophy that appealed to the masses. Geographically, historically and politically, Nepal occupies a position in between two great empires of India and China and has drunk deeply from the two culturally rich springs, drawing inspirations from both its grand neighbors, as the political current ebbed or flowed - an influence clearly illustrated in the building styles of Nepal. In addition, there is the religious, cultural and philosophical effect of that great tide of Buddhism, which swept through the continent of Asia.
The descriptions of famous ancient Chinese pilgrims, Huian Tsang (who traveled through India between A.D. 629 & 645) and Fa Hein (who traveled between A.D. 400 & A.D. 414) indicate to this area, saying, 'Lumbini, where the Lord was born, is a piece of heaven on earth where one could see the snowy mountains amidst a splendid garden embedded with Stupas and Monasteries.'
An English writer H.A. Oldfield has written - There are about 2,000 Buddhist Shrines in the Kathmandu Valley. The majority of those are Chaityas. The Buddhists of Nepal have been adopting several Hindu deities as part of the religious behavior. I have included the opinions of many researchers as Ram Kumar Shrestha, Min Bahadur Shakya, Dr. Tulsi Ram Baidya, V.K. Manandhar, Shankar Thapa, Dr. Tilak Bahadur Shrestha and the others. Dr. Tilak Bahadur Shrestha writes - 'The ethnic politics and Dharmic ignorance create some non-existing problems. In the given setup, it is to assign Bahun, Pradhan and Kirati traditions into the Hindu Camp and Bajracharyas, Shakyas, Tuladhars, Sherpas and Tamangs too, Some Gurungs, Magars, Tharus, traditions into the Buddhist camp is the deliberate outcome of a serious comedy. Shaiva and Bouddha Religions are very similar, emphasizing knowledge, meditation and retreat. The sheer difference is that Shaiva begins with the assumption of ‘Brahma’ as the ultimate reality. The world as we know is one of its manifestations. Bouddha remains empirical and makes no assumptions. Though the goal is to proceed beyond emancipation, the discipline lies within the direct understanding and experience of an individual in the world as it is. For the Bouddha Dharma, the ‘Bodhi’ (Brahma) is the result of the empirical finding, not a priori. One of the philosophers of the middle age Shankaracharya was an Adwait (Non-duel) scholar and debated mainly with Mimamsa School of Darshan. He also debated with Jain, Shaiva and Bouddha scholars. While Shankaracharya is given credit for the defeat of Buddhism in Hindu literature, he was in fact active after Buddhism had almost entirely faded from prominence. In particular, he was not a contemporary of the last great Indian Buddhist philosopher, Dharmakirti.”
When Shankaracharya came north to the intellectual centers there, he borrowed many of the ideas that had been formulated by the Buddhist philosophers of the past. “(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adi_Shankara)” The unity of the three principal Dharmas of Hinduism in Nepal – Buddhism (Buddha), Shaiva (Nilkantha) and Vaishnav (Narayan) is beautifully given in the temple located in Kathmandu valley, which we lovingly call – ‘Buddha Nilkantha Narayan.’ The great contribution for the spread of Buddhism with definition of homely environment and Vikshus (begging alms) disseminated Buddhism was made by Shankaracharya. The opinion, doctrine and ethics strengthened Buddhism. Thus, Shankaracharya was not averse to real Buddhism. Due to the Nepalese princess Bhrikuti who married with the King of China- the famous Shronchan Gompo, speeded the Buddhism and the craftsman Arniko who built numerous famous Buddhist statues in China and Tibet. From the time of Shronchan Gompo, Buddhism became gradually popular in China and Mongolia.
Medieval China learned and gained the Buddhism- 'the way of peaceful life.' Fa-xian, a famous monk visited the Buddha's birth place. His account on Lumbini -'Record of Buddhist Kingdom.' is applied as a useful historical asset. A Chinese scholar-Xuan-zhang visited 636 Kapilvastu and his traveling accounts are known as historical knowledge's. Lumbini, the holy pilgrimage had and has been attracting the Chinese monks to visit. The reality is that the Chinese monks contributed to preach Buddhism in China, India, south Asia, Burma, Ceylon, Afghanistan and the western world also. The monks preached translating the Sanskrit sermons of the Buddhism. The Tibetan Buddhism was developed as the most influential Buddhist heritage. Nepal and China have a long history of cultural relations.
In 1895, a German Archaeologist- Dr. A. Fuhrer, an Indian researcher Dr. P.C. Mukarjee and Nepalese Khadga Samsher Rana discovered the missing pillar which was set up by the Mauryan Emperor of India, Ashok the Great where Goutam Buddha was born - the most visible landmark of the Sacred Garden. The historic importance of the pillar is evidenced by the inscription engraved in the pillar (in Brahmi script). From excavations, it has been found that the Ashokan Pillar stands on its original base of the unborn brick platform which concludes that the Pillar is at its original location.
In 1967, the United Nations Organization Secretary-General, U Thant (himself a Burmese Buddhist), visited Lumbini and made an appeal in front of the international community for assistance to maintain and improve the pitiable plight of this world famous pilgrimage site. Suggestions of the development of Lumbini as an international pilgrimage and tourist center then came into light. And since the implementation of the Master Plan for the development of Lumbini, prepared by Prof. Kenzo Tange in 1978, Lumbini has been a marked scene for development, both as an international pilgrimage as well as a tourist destination.
Lumbini was then enrolled in the World Heritage Site in 1997 AD. It must also be mentioned here that UNESCO too has published a report stating that there have been some activities which violate the basic essence of the Master Plan. For instance, the Peace Stupa in the Lumbini Center is built entirely against the Master Plan and violates its spiritual and technical aspects. It is now seen as a counter point of the Ashok Pillar which in its absurdity has affected monumentalize and spiritualism brought about by the Pillar.
The late King Mahendra had visited Lumbini and advised the government officers to regard and secure the Buddha's land. King Birendra expressed-'Although Goutam Buddha was born in Nepal, he belonged essentially to the whole world and to all times. He blazed a trail leading humanity to cast off parochialism and seek liberation and enlightenment. For us in Nepal, the way of life which Buddha practiced and propagated has remained an inextricable part of our cultural heritage. The Nepalese civilization has brought about a marriage between Hinduism and Buddhism making them inseparable.' It is due to this sheer reason that King Birendra requested the whole world to declare Nepal a “Zone of Peace” indeed following which the proposal was duly recognized as well whilst India and Russia were the only obstinate countries who stood against it.
Buddhism changed the thinking and behaving of the human life. We can see the Great Stupa in Kathmandu. The Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal is steeped in history and can offer any visitor a truly magical experience that will last a lifetime. The Stupa itself is a large white dome, or Mandal (Greater Area), topped by a pinnacle with eyes to denote the Principal Lord Buddha watching over us; a third eye for wisdom; the nose a Sanskrit number 1 to mean wholeness, and no ears or mouths so the evil cannot be heard or spoken. The five elements - water, earth, air, fire and ether are evident in the thousands of colorful prayer flags adorning the whole site. These are blue, green, white, red and yellow, and each contain a prayer to be blown away by the wind. Visitors include the many maroon robed monks and nuns from Tibet, the yellow ones from China and Japan, and the (literal) saffron clad devotees from Nepal and India. Their early morning devotional procession is awesome. They wave the Mane inscribed Sanskrit Mantra (hymn) - 'OM Mani Padme Hum.' There are a great number of mountain Sherpas and Tibetans visible, and Nepalese and foreign tourists from all over the globe. The stall and shop holders and restaurant staff are very friendly and honest, Nepalese and Tibetan folk, just waiting to give you a smile. http://www.suite101.com/content/
A great world famous scientist Albert Einstein said - "The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend personal God and avoid dogma and theology. Covering both the natural and the spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things natural and spiritual as a meaningful unity. Buddhism answers this description. If there is any religion that could cope with modern scientific needs, it would be Buddhism."
The religious structure of Nepalese society is formally Hindu; but here and only here the interplay of peoples and their religious traditions has produced a rich fusion of Hindu and Buddhist faiths. It is common for both Hindus and Buddhists to worship at the same shrine, for many gods and saints are cross-over, often known by a different name but holding the same attributes. The original inhabitants of the valley were animists, a tradition which survives in the multitude of spirits, demons, local deities, and stones which receive dutiful worship to this day. Hindu and Buddhist traditions adapted from the pre-existing animist practices and from each other. Indeed, in the medieval period, when both religions' practice adopted mystical, Tantric traditions, they were almost indistinguishable from each other. Nepal's History and Religions Nepal is a rich and complex mix of different cultures and traditions, melded over thousands of years into a unique whole.
A Nepalese scholar Dr. Tilak Bahadur Shrestha expresses - ' Buddhism is a major break through within the long traditions of Hinduism. That is Buddha achieved Nirvan without depending on any supra-humanity or divinity. The central message of Lord Buddha is that an individual can achieve salvation by working within the human faculty. All of Buddha’s teachings and analyses are within rational self-examination of the world including one’s mind. Buddhism is not political or social grouping. It is an inner discipline, similar to mathematics or music, practicable by any body regardless of their religious or other backgrounds.' Buddha dharma is more rigorous. Its root in Hinduism is symbolized by 'OM.' the 'OM' is the symbol of 'Brahman' in Adwait, 'Godhead' in Dwait and 'Bodhi' in Buddhism. The most repeated Buddhist mantra is 'OM Mani Padme Hum' or the 'Goodness comes out of goodness. The greatness of the Buddha is that he is able to bring many of the truths, which were considered purely a matter of faith and revelation, within the realm of rational deduction.
A great scientist Albert Einstein said-' The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend personal God and avoid dogma and theology. Covering both the natural and the spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things natural and spiritual as a meaningful unity. Buddhism answers this description. If there is any religion that could cope with modern scientific needs it would be Buddhism.'
Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great, the unifier of the 'Greater Nepal', is the pride of the Nepalese people who saved the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism in Nepal, in time. It was almost 100 years before the unification of Germany (1868), Italy (1868), and the restoration of the Meiji (Japan, 1868) in which America was also under the British dependency, that Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great had already unified (1768) 54 small fiefdoms to build a large, expanded and Greater Nepal. But after the movement of April 2006 and the party leaders Congress, U.M.L. and Maoists came to power, they smashed the statue of the Great King, contempt and insulted him and called off the birth anniversary of the late king as a day of national unity. Why? If they are patriotic Nepalese, they should answer the question. The site is now being developed as a Buddhist pilgrimage center, where the archaeological remains associated with the birth of Lord Buddha form a central feature.
Lumbinī - Nepal is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi District of Nepal, near the Indian border. It is the place where Queen Maha Mayadevi is said to have given birth to Siddhartha Goutam, who as the Buddha founded the Buddhist tradition. Records made by the Chinese pilgrim Fa Xian were also used in the process of identifying this religiously acclaimed site. The holy site of Lumbini has ruins of ancient monasteries, a sacred Bodhi tree, an ancient bathing pond, the Ashok Pillar and the Mayadevi Temple. The truth, however is that Buddha was born at Lumbini in present day Rupandehi District of the western Terai region in Nepal. There are some antagonistic so-called politicians in Nepal; some against of Christian are habituated to exploit our national cultures, religions and identities. Almost, the Nepalese Communists are active to minimize the immortality of Hinduism and Buddhism. The communist old-leader Mohan Bikram Singh wants to dismiss the existence of Buddha and he wrote that Buddha was born in Orissa (India) but not in Nepal. (See: Kantipur B.S. 2059 Bhadra 19) What does that mean? But, the renowned historian of India and native Orrisan Prof. Karuna Sagar Behera has been quoted as saying "The Buddha was neither born in Orissa nor visited the place during his lifetime" (http://tinyurl.com/yl3jlyv). Similarly, another communist, the Maoist leader Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai stressed – 'Buddha is our Nepalese Glory. Lord Buddha held a very progressive view during his time and it is needed to expand the Buddhist philosophy across the world.' ('BUDDHISM' - Book Launching Ceremony - Nepal-China Society, 12 December 2010).
A country's existence and prestige can gradually be eroded by finishing off its faith and belief tradition and culture and the creator of the nation. If anyone wants the assurance of integrity and lasting peace in this country, one must not be confused about the country's century old custom and religious prestige as well as the builder of nationality and unity.
Having diverse cohesive communities, Nepal has built up as a nation in a long historical process. But, at present why the peaceful country where Lord Buddha was born has become the venue of confrontations? The main causes of the crisis are the abolishment of our cultures and traditions. Some are going to abolish the monarchy - the creator and protector of Hinduism and Buddhism. So, for the sake of the Nepalese identity, Hinduism and Buddhism and the people-oriented Monarchy must be reinstated by all means.
