His Holiness the Dalai Lama Visits Norwegian Parliament and Nobel Peace Centre

Oslo, Norway, 9 May 2014 - His Holiness the Dalai Lama was met on the steps of The Storting, the Norwegian Parliament building by Ketil Kjenseth, Liv Signe Navarsete and other Members of Norwegian Parliamentary Group for Tibet, who escorted him into the building. Ketil Kjenseth explained that he was dressed in the local costume of his constituency, Oppland, to mark the fact that it was the first place in Norway to welcome and accommodate Tibetan refugees. After Members of Parliament, including members of the governing coalition, representatives and youth representatives of all other political parties, had introduced themselves, His Holiness was invited to speak.

“Brothers and sisters, I am honoured that you are receiving me. I’m a great admirer of democracy. I often say that the world belongs to the whole of humanity; we are the owners. Each country belongs to the people who live there. When a government is chosen by the people it is accountable to those people. Since 2011 I have completely retired from political responsibility and I have retired the institution of Dalai Lamas from this responsibility too.”Regarding the environment, he said that a Chinese ecologist had estimated the significance of Tibet to be equivalent to that of the North and South Poles, so he had described Tibet as the Third Pole. Asia’s major rivers ultimately have their source in Tibet and 1 billion people depend on their waters. One Chinese Prime Minister acknowledged that the unprecedented flooding in China was a result of deforestation in Tibet.

“As everybody knows, I’m a Buddhist monk,” His Holiness concluded, “committed to promoting human values, inter-religious harmony and the preservation of Tibet’s Buddhist culture and natural environment.”

Ketil Kjenseth opened the meeting to questions from the floor and the first was about religious conflict. His Holiness replied that in most cases such conflict is political or economic rather than religious. He commented that while it is sufficient for an individual to think personally of one religion, one truth, in today’s world on a community level we have to respectfully acknowledge several religions and several truths.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking to members of the Norwegian Parliamentary Group for Tibet at the Norwegian Parliament in Oslo, Norway on May 9, 2014.
Photo/Duy Anh Pham
Asked how Norway can support human rights most effectively, His Holiness said that smaller nations like Norway may be seen as less of a threat and so able to establish the trust necessary to engage in dialogue about this. Trust and respect are key factors. When a similar question was posed a few minutes later, His Holiness said:

“Like peace, progress on human rights will not come about just by making good wishes, it will require action. Once in Hiroshima when there were prayers for peace, I suggested that we have to make efforts to create peace. “

Another questioner began by expressing the hope that His Holiness had felt the warmth with which he is received in Norway. He said: “You’re always smiling, what’s the reason?”

“Peace is actually related to inner peace. Anger destroys our inner peace, while love, compassion and forgiveness are its source. Religious traditions like Christianity and Islam see other beings as creations of God. I met an Israeli teacher who advised his Palestinian students to see hostile security guards as in the image of God. They reported back to him that it was very effective. Sometimes we just pay lip service to our religious traditions, but if we follow a faith, we should do so sincerely. As for why I laugh and smile, that’s my secret! Actually, I work for about 8 hours a day and at night I get 8-9 hours sleep. Laughter is one of our unique human abilities. The human smile is an expression of love and affection.”

To a question about how he sees the future of an autonomous Tibet, His Holiness said that as early as 1974 he and his advisers had decided that they needed to talk to China and that they could not seek independence. Tibet was historically a separate country, but what is past is past. He expressed admiration for the European Union whose members are prepared to be part of a greater whole. He said Tibetans want the Chinese authorities to grant the rights and privileges to Tibetan areas already mentioned in the Chinese constitution. These include human rights and environmental issues, for example where mining is being undertaken contrary to the wishes of the local people. Also China tends to look down on Tibetan language and culture, which is a kind of human rights violation. He said he tells Chinese friends, ‘Look at India with its many different scripts and languages and no threat of separatism.’ Tibetans want religious freedom, the right to preserve their language and culture.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama meeting with members of the Norwegian Parliamentary Group for Tibet at the Norwegian Parliament in Oslo, Norway on May 9, 2014.
Photo/Duy Anh Pham
“Finally, there is the fact that in the past Tibet acted as a buffer state between China and India. China’s stationing of so many troops in Tibet alarms India. If the situation in Tibet were normalized these troop numbers could be reduced.”

When a questioner suggested that human rights violations in Tibet are among the worst anywhere, His Holiness replied that about 15 years ago a local Party Secretary told a Party meeting that the ultimate threat to separate Tibet from China lay in Tibetan Buddhist culture and sought to suppress it. Tibetans like Norwegians are proud of their culture and were offended. Installation of CCTV cameras in every corner of Lhasa and in temples has created an atmosphere of fear and suspicion.

“Meanwhile,” His Holiness said, “many friends say that Xi Jinping is more realistic in his thinking. He is boldly challenging corruption. Recently, on a visit to France, he praised Buddhism as having a special role to play in reviving and revitalizing Chinese culture. We’ll have to see. The totalitarian system has become osssified after nearly 70 years, but many Chinese intellectuals are raising their voices in the cause of freedom. The EU should express support for these people and for Xi Jinping. The world’s moral support will help.

“At present China spends more on internal security than on defence; no one else does this. Wen Jiabao said that China needs political reform, suggesting even US style democracy. He was laying out policies on which to build in order that China can play a constructive role in the world. Secrecy and censorship don’t attract trust and respect.”

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking to members of the Norwegian Parliamentary Group for Tibet at the Norwegian Parliament in Oslo, Norway on May 9, 2014. Photo/JeremyRussell/OHHDLAsked again how Norway can contribute to ensuring human rights in Tibet, His Holiness recalled that Hu Yaobang went to Tibet to see for himself. He sent his own observers ahead to report back to him and rejected the concocted reports of local officials. It remains important for people to go to Tibet and to report what they find.

A question was raised about the self-immolations that have taken place in Tibet. His Holiness said that because it is a sensitive political matter and that hardliners distort whatever he says he prefers to keep quiet.

“When they began I told a BBC correspondent that such events were really very sad and questioned how effective they would be for the Tibet issue. Later, in Japan I stated that these events are symptoms of a cause which urgently needs to be investigated and addressed.”

Ketil Kjenseth concluded the meeting:

“Thank you for coming with your smile and positive values. It was a pleasure to have you here.”

His Holiness the Dalai Lama meeting with group of high school students at the Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo, Norway on May 9, 2014. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL
At the Nobel Peace Centre, His Holiness was welcomed by the director, Bente Erichsen, who showed him around. Among other things she showed him the Fred and Toca Loca children's display about Nobel Peace Prize winners that features him as one of the five best loved Nobel laureates. In a recorded conversation that will be played in schools, His Holiness spoke to a group of high school students about the value of affection and inner peace in creating a happier world. The Mayor of Oslo, Fabian Stang, took the opportunity to introduce himself to His Holiness.

Speaking to Tibetans and Tibet Supporters from Nordic countries he encouraged them, praising the value of Tibet’s Buddhist culture and expressing the hope that China continues to change. From there he went to the Folketeateret, where he was first presented with the Erik Bye Memorial Prize, commemorating the father of modern journalism in Norway. In his subsequent talk, His Holiness spoke about the need for ethics in our world, saying that the essence of ethics is love and respect for one another. These are fundamental values also expressed in all major religious traditions. He said that the distinction between non-violence and violence lies less in the nature of the action than in the motivation for it.

Tibetans and Tibet supporters from Nordic countries listening to His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking during their meeting in Oslo, Norway on May 9, 2014. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL
When a Shugden supporter raised a question he explained that he had propitiated Shugden himself from 1951 until the early 1970s, when he realised there was something wrong with it. He stopped and eventually others came to know that. He said that since the 5th and 13th Dalai Lamas had opposed the practice he felt a duty to explain that to others. He went on to answer questions about the status of men and women in Buddhism and how to respond to the loss of loved ones.

At each event in Oslo, Tibetans and their friends and supporters turned out in large numbers to express their support for His Holiness and to wish him a long life. He in turn made a point of acknowledging and expressing his appreciation for their support.

Tomorrow, he travels to the Netherlands where he will hold meetings and give teachings.

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Nalanda Buddhist Society opens JB outreach centre

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WALK THE WALK: An organisation which believes in holistic education is doing its bit for underprivileged schoolchildren by offering free tuition classes

JOHOR BARU, Malaysia -- THE Nalanda experience has found its way to Johor with the opening of the Nalanda Education & Outreach (NEO) Centre in Taman Johor Jaya here recently.

<< Dr Tan Ho Soon gives dhamma talk to devotees at the shrine hall of the Nalanda Education & Outreach (right) in Taman Johor Jaya. Pix by Chuah Bee Kim

The event also coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Nalanda Buddhist Society founded in 2003 by Dr Tan Ho Soon.

NEO chairman David Yap said that the non-governmental organisation believes in giving knowledge and wisdom to achieve integral human development.

Yap said the centre is recruiting volunteers to tutor children in their school subjects.

"The children who can come here for tuition are from poor families regardless of race or religion," Yap said.

"At our centre in Taman Sri Serdang, Selangor, volunteers of different faiths tutor children from primary and secondary schools in various subjects for free," Yap said.

Tan, who was also present, said that the society had helped 1,200 students to-date.

"Nalanda introduces something new every two years. In 2005, we started the Nalanda Dharma School to provide knowledge, skills and values to teens aged 13 to 18.

"In 2007, the Nalanda Institute was established to offer courses on Buddhism and leadership training. More than 8,000 people have attended the free courses.

"Two years later, we opened the Nalanda Centre in Taman Sri Serdang, followed by the Pustaka Nalanda (Nalanda Library) in 2011.

"It is believed to be the only computerised Buddhist library where members can source books online.

"It has a collection of over 3,000 titles comprising Pali scriptures, Buddhist encyclopaedias and reference books," Tan said.

Nalanda has become one of several acknowledged centres of Buddhist education of the Theravada tradition in the country.

The NEO centre at 30, Jalan Dedap 26, Taman Johor Jaya, is open from 9am to 11am daily, with chanting sessions on Sunday mornings. For details, call 07-350-3870 or visit www.nalanda.org.my.

The two-storey venue offers accommodation to visiting monks, and has a library, shrine hall, meditation room and training rooms for volunteers.

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New university at Kapilvastu to be centre for Buddhist studies

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Lucknow, India -- Uttar Pradesh will get another university at Kapilvastu in Siddharthnagar district. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is likely to lay the foundation stone of the university on September 10.

At present, UP has 13 state universities, including UP Rajshri Tandon Open University, Allahabad.

In the annual budget of 2013-14, the government had proposed setting up two new universities, one at Allahabad as the existing Allahabad University has been given the status of a central university, and another at Sidharthnagar, which is the home district of Assembly Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey.

The proposed university will come up at Kapilvastu, a Buddhist religious place situated on the Nepal border, which is 14 km from Naugarh, the headquarters of Siddharthnagar district.

The Higher Education Department has approached the Tourism Department for handing over its 50 acres of land at Kapilvastu for setting up the new university.

"As many as six sites were inspected at Siddharthnagar district for the university. The Tourism Department has 90 acres in Kapilvastu. We have requested for transferring 50 acres from it for setting up the new university," said Anita Mishra, Special Secretary of Higher Education.

The Tourism department is likely to hand over the land to the Higher Education Department for setting up the university.

The proposed site has been inspected by Speaker Pandey, who has also been named Lok Sabha candidate by the Samajwadi Party from Domariyaganj parliamentary seat. Presently, the seat is represented by Jagdambika Pal of the Congress.

SP leaders from Sidharthnagar said the university would be developed as a centre for Buddhist studies.

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As UN marks Buddhist holiday, Ban says spiritual ideals can help tackle global ... - UN News Centre

Lumbini, a World Heritage site, is the birthplace of Buddha. Photo: UNESCO/Nipuna Shrestha

24 May 2013 – The teachings of Buddhism can offer significant insights on how to face today's most pressing challenges, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, in a message marking Vesak Day, which commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha.

“Now more than ever, we need the spirit of non-violence to help inspire peace and quell conflict,” Mr. Ban said.

“This year's observance, falling at a time of widespread strife and misery, is an occasion to examine how Buddhist teachings can inform our response to prevailing challenges.”

Mr. Ban noted that confronting troubling problems is a big part of Buddhism as the Buddha himself – when he was a young prince – left the safety of his palace to discover the four sufferings of birth, sickness old age and death.

“While such painful realities cannot be avoided, Buddhism offers insights into how to cope with them. Its history is replete with inspiring examples of the transformative power of Buddhist philosophy,” he said.

Mr. Ban also recalled that King Ashoka, who presided over a brutal reign in India in from 268-232 B.C., ultimately converted to Buddhism, renouncing violence and embracing peace.

“The values that King Ashoka espoused, including human rights, democratic governance and respect for the dignity of life, are common to all great religions. The fact that he was able to embrace them after years of brutal war offers proof that the goodwill of individuals can end widespread suffering.”

Mr. Ban offered his best wishes to Buddhists and expressed his sincere hope that “we may all draw on spiritual ideals to strengthen our resolve to improve our world.”

By its resolution 54/115 of 1999, the General Assembly recognized internationally the Day of Vesak to acknowledge the contribution that Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made for over two and a half millennia and continues to make to the spirituality of humanity. This day is commemorated annually at the UN Headquarters and other UN offices, in consultation with the relevant UN offices and with permanent missions.

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New Vegetarian Restaurant Opened at Buddhist Cultural Centre near Thummulla in Colombo

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Colombo, Sri Lanka -- Generally Sinhalese Buddhists in Sri Lanka which comprise about 70% of the country’s population are traditionally inclined towards vegetarianism or semi – vegetarianism in their dietary habits.

Even among those who consume flesh food, Beef is excluded in as much as Muslims exclude Pork from their meals. It is commonplace now a days to see an increasing number of Restaurants even ones owned by Muslims refusing to serve both Beef and Pork to customers out of respect for their religious sensitivities.

Vegetarian restaurants have been there in Sri Lanka, over a long period of time. But they are mostly owned and run by Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus and Indian Hindus, serving mainly South Indian Food. This predisposition is now being gradually broken with Sinhalese entering into the Vegetarian niche market.

The latest entry into the Vegetarian scene in Colombo is a Restaurant, modest in size, situated at the Ground Floor of the huge new multi – storied  Buddhist Cultural Centre also known as the Sri Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi Mandiraya, near the Thummulla Junction at No. 32, Havelock Road (re- named as Sri Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi Mawatha) Colombo 05.

Named as the ‘Paradise Vegetarian Food Court’ (a concept of the founder of the Buddhist Cultural Centre, namely, Ven. Kirama Wimalajothi Nayake Thero to promote vegetarianism as a meatless healthy dietary alternative to flesh food consumption that is increasingly being suspect as the source of major human illnesses) this new restaurant provides pure vegetarian food including eggless cakes, short eats, rice and curry, and a host of fresh fruit juices including umbarella, water melon, divul, and tamarind at reasonable prices.

A friendly staff serves freshly cooked vegetarian food to an increasing number of patrons. The contact person for any inquiries on this new venture is Mr. N. Jayawantha, Telephone: (011) 2580 006 or (071) 658 3333 (mobile).

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Odisha to open advanced centre for Buddhist studies at Langudi

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Bhubaneswar, India -- Odisha government has decided to open an advanced centre for Buddhist Studies scheduled from January 1 next year to attract students from India and other parts of Asia.

"An advanced centre for Buddhist studies will be opened at Langudi in Jajpur District," Tourism and Culture Minister Maheswar Mohanty said today.

Certificate courses, diploma courses, post-graduate and research courses will be available in phases, which would be self-financing at the initial stage, he said.

"The objective of opening such a centre is to attract students from inside and outside the country," Tourism and Culture Secretary A K Tripathy said.
The minister also said a three-day 'International Symposium of Buddhist heritage of Odisha: situating Odisha in global prospective' will be organised at Udaygiri from February 1 to 3.

Many foreign and Indian scholars were expected to participate in the symposium.

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Odisha Urges Centre to include state's Buddhist heritage sites in NCERT text books

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Orissa, India -- Odisha Government urges Union Culture Ministry to ask NCERT to make corrections to its text on Buddhist sites by including ones in Odisha. Odisha Tourism Minister Maheswar Mohanty demanded this during his meeting with Union Culture Minister Kumari Selja in New Delhi.

Minister Mohanty said that, everyone knows about Nalanda from their school textbooks, but very few know about Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri and Udayagiri. While textbooks prepared by the NCERT mentions Nalanda as one of the major Buddhist sites in India, it has ignored Odisha as an important seat of Buddhist Learning. He demanded centre to include Buddhist heritage sites of the state in NCERT text books.Minister Mohanty urged the Minister Kumari Selja to handed over the sacred relic of Buddha  to the state government as state government will display it for tourists and public at the state museum in Bhubaneswar. After the completion of new museum in Lalitgiri the state government will transfer the sacred Relic of the tooth of Buddha to Lalitgiri. It should be noted that ASI preserved the sacred relic of Buddha in it's strong room in Bhubaneswar after it was unearthed at Lalitgiri in 1986.

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Gift to Courtauld will make London a world centre of Buddhist art studies

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Philanthropist Robert YC Ho's gift will fund the launch of an MA for research into Buddhist culture, as the British capital prepares to host a Buddhist art forum and film festival

London, UK -- London is set to seal its status as one of the leading western centres for the study and conservation of Buddhist art, following a remarkable private donation of more than £2.5m to the Courtauld Institute of Art in London.

<< Detail of a 17th-century wall painting in the Lama Lhakang, Trongsa Dzong, Bhutan. Photograph: Courtauld Institute and Bhutan department of culture

The gift comes from a devout Buddhist, Robert YC Ho, a Hong Kong benefactor who is continuing a family tradition of philanthropy that dates back to the 19th century.

The donation will allow the Courtauld to establish an endowment for a postgraduate degree devoted to Buddhist art, examining it from the points of view of religion, history and conservation.

The course will examine the vast heritage of Buddhist art, from painted cave temples along the Silk Road that linked Europe to the far east, to colossal sculptures, delicate porcelain artefacts and illuminated manuscripts.

Ho is also covering the cost of a major Buddhist art forum being staged by the Courtauld this week, which will bring together speakers from India, South Korea, China and Bhutan. Academics from around the world will be joined at the event by Matthieu Ricard, a Frenchman who is one of the world's best-known Buddhist monks.

A greater focus on non-western art has become a firm part of the Courtauld's long-term strategy. The institute's director, Professor Deborah Swallow, who is a former keeper of the V&A's Asian department and has a particular interest in Buddhist art, said the donation would allow the Courtauld to return to its pre-second world war roots.

During its first decade – the 1930s – the Courtauld included programmes in Chinese, Japanese and Indian art and archaeology. However its postwar director, Anthony Blunt, ceded responsibility for the "non-western" world to the School of Oriental and African Studies (Soas), leaving the Courtauld devoted to the western tradition.

Swallow said British universities were generally also restricting art history to western traditions. "We have felt the need to redress this imbalance… to embrace the arts of the world," she said.

The Ho donations have been made through the Robert HN Ho Family Foundation, a philanthropic organisation founded in 2005 by Ho's father, to promote Chinese culture and an understanding of Buddhism. It also supports Buddhist studies at other universities.

"Until now, Buddhism and Buddhist art and its conservation have been studied separately," said Ho. "We are delighted to support the integration of these fields in a new programme that will impact not only on academia, but on the preservation of irreplaceable treasures around the world."

There was a worldwide outcry in 2001 when the gigantic sixth-century Buddhas of the Bamyan valley in Afghanistan were dynamited by the Taliban. Other treasures have suffered decay as a result of indifference or neglect.

"For the first time," said Ho, "the conservation of Buddhist art will be the focus of academic and practical study rather than being a sideline or ignored completely." Among other themes, postgraduates will explore how far western conservation methods are appropriate to Buddhist art – for instance, some believe monastery wall paintings are too sacred to be touched by anyone but monks.

The Ho family fortune is derived from the shipping and property empire of Sir Robert Ho Tung (1862-1955), a philanthropist who gave much of his fortune to educational, cultural and medical causes. His wife, Clara Cheung, supported orphanages and homes for the blind. Their son, Ho Shai-lai, and grandson Robert HN Ho inherited the philanthropic gene and the great-grandson, Robert YC Ho, has devoted himself to cultural and medical research.

The Courtauld donation comes four years after the foundation funded its first significant museum project in the UK – a ground-breaking gallery for Buddhist sculpture, which houses an important collection in London's Victoria & Albert museum. The objects on view range from monumental Chinese temple sculptures to tiny portable gilded Buddhas.

London also boasts important Buddhist collections in the British Museum and the British Library, as well as, at Soas, the highest concentration of students of Buddhist studies at any university outside Asia. The Courtauld will collaborate with Soas on its new degree.

The Courtauld's conservation of wall painting department has recently focused research and conservation increasingly on Asia and the new programme will build on its work in China, India and Bhutan.

As the Observer reported last year, Courtauld experts have had unique access to Bhutan's hidden heritage, where many temples and objects are so remote that few westerners have ever seen them. They were astonished by the exquisite quality and technical sophistication of paintings that were largely unknown in the west.

The Courtauld experts are also working in China, teaching at Dunhuang – site of the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas – and will be taking their conservation expertise to the Indian Himalayas.

Many of these historic sites are also opening up to the west. Professor David Park of the Courtauld institute, who has been instrumental in setting up the new MA course, said: "Quite a few monasteries are building their own museums. They like tourists coming."

Bhutan, once very insular, is now opening up to outsiders.

The endowment coincides with the International Buddhist Film Festival in London this week – with films and documentaries, including one on the life of Buddha narrated by Richard Gere – and a visit to London by the Dalai Lama, who will receive the £1.1m Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion at a presentation on 14 May in a different place of worship – St Paul's Cathedral.

EASTERN JEWELS

Mogao Grottoes, above, Dunhuang, China

World Heritage Site. The world's largest complex of Buddhist wall paintings (over 45,000 sq metres) in 500 cave temples from the 4th to 14th centuries.

Borobudur, Indonesia

World Heritage Site. Vast sculptural 9th century decoration, including more than 3,000 high-quality sculptures.

Ajanta, India

World Heritage Site. Begun in the 2nd century BC, the wall paintings of the Ajanta caves were hugely influential.

The Diamond Sutra, British Library

Dated 868, this Chinese copy of the Diamond Sutra is the world's earliest surviving dated printed book.

Ancient Nara, Japan

World Heritage Site. Capital of Japan in 8th century, the temples and shrines include the Great Buddha Hall of the Todai-ji, largest wooden building in the world with the largest bronze Buddha.

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Centre to host Songwriting Competition 2011

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Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- The the first ever BGF songwriting competition is currently being held with the aim of unearthing new musical talents. Budding musicians are invited to compose an inspirational song with the theme of "Growing People, Inspiring The Future".

Now opened for entries the organiser of the competition, Buddhist Gem Fellowship (BGF) have provided participants with a chance to win cash prizes and get their winning song performed by Buddhist all-star performers on the evening of "Fellowship Of A Thousand Gem Dinner" *.

More importantly, the winning composition shall be recognised as the new theme song for the BGF. Prizes are designated as follows:

Winner: RM500
1st Runner Up:  RM200
2nd Runner Up:  RM100

The organiser have stated that lyrics should be in English. Genre is left to the creativity composer. Lyrics are also not required to include the word "Buddhist Gem Fellowship" or "BGF". The competition is opened to all age groups.

Closing date for submission is July 17, 2011. The winning song will be announced on July 31, 2011 via the BGF website and the winners notified by email. The panel of judges shall comprise a balanced team of qualified musicians, which will include Datuk Dr. Victor Wee, Greg Henderson and Seng Tak Pin among others.

Interested participants can submit their entries for competition to:
bgf_moderator@yahoo.com.

Submissions must either have one of the following attached:

1) an MP3 file OR
2) a video of their song being performed (youtube link)

Participants must provide their name, song title and lyrics in their submission and are advised to keep their own record of song entry with the correct information to avoid any miscommunication.

For further enquiries of the competition, please contact
Bro. Aaron Lee 012-327 6060

or visit the official website at: http://www.facebook.com/BGF.Songwriting

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* The dinner is slated to be held on 21 August 2011, at Sentul Dewan HGH at 6.30pm.

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US$ 3b Buddhist Centre for Lumbini

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Kathmandu, Nepal -- China is providing funds to Nepal to build a US$3 billion Buddhist Centre to attract millions of pilgrims and spiritual tourists to the birthplace of the Buddha.

Lumbini is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts half-a- million pilgrims every year from China, India, Japan, Sri Lanka and Thailand to its ponds, gardens and temples. Planners hope to build an airport, hotels, convention centres, highways, temples and a Buddhist university at the site on Nepal's Western border with India, where Buddha was born about 2,600 years ago.

The scheme is supported by a Chinese government-backed foundation.

It also has the support of Steven Clark Rockefeller, the heir to the Rockefeller dynasty. According to Nepali officials devout Buddhists spend more time at the other three main pilgrimage sites in India because Lumbini does not have the infrastructure for longer stays.

Saranath, in India's Uttar Pradesh, where Buddha first taught the Dhamma, Bodh Gaya in Bihar, where he attained Enlightenment under the Sacred Bodhi tree and Kushinagar where he reached Parinibbana are all drawing increasing numbers of high-spending tourists, and Nepal's government wants to increase its share of this income.

China and Nepal signed an agreement earlier this year to develop the site, and the Beijing-based Asia Pacific Exchange and Co-operation Foundation has launched an ambitious campaign to raise the three billion US dollars required for the site to be transformed into the world's leading Buddhist pilgrimage site.

Nepali Government officials have made a number of fund-raising trips to Singapore and Malaysia, and hope the project will create new jobs in Lumbini, a poor area.

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