Global Buddhists come to Bodh Gaya for peace conference

The conference started with a special prayer session at the famed Mahabodhi Buddhist temple premises in Bodhgaya, Bihar.

The conference has been held for the last 25 years.

?This annual ceremony has been organising for the last 25 year, more than 25 year and today also as it happened in the morning, we prayed in the Nipunji Japanese temple and conference will take place in the afternoon from today,? said a Buddhist.

Monks from countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and several other countries ,including India were participating in the event.

The purpose of holding such an event was to popularize the ideologies of Buddhism, especially peace and solidarity, among the masses from across the globe.

?The message of this conference purpose is to spread the teaching of the Buddha, peace, harmony, brotherhood, and solidarity among the human races in India and outside of India,? said another Buddhist.

Bodh Gaya is regarded as a holy spot as Lord Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment under a tree and it still exists although in a pitiable state, even after thousands of years.

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Famed Buddhist temple going global

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Beijing, China -- The Shaolin Temple, known as the cradle of Chinese kung fu, is preparing to stage its first cultural festival in the United States as part of efforts to expand its global clout.

<< The Shaolin Temple [Photo by Wang Zirui/Asianewsphoto]

The first North America Shaolin Cultural Festival is scheduled to be held from Oct 8 to 14 in Los Angeles, according to Shi Yongxin, abbot of the Buddhist temple in the city of Dengfeng in Central China's Henan province.

The temple has successfully hosted an annual Shaolin Temple Day in California for nine consecutive years, Shi said.

He added that the temple has over a million followers in North America.

"We're working to build a platform to support exchanges between Shaolin disciples and kung fu lovers across the world," he said.

Over the last two decades, Shi and his disciples have visited more than 60 countries and regions, mainly to stage kung fu shows. The abbot regularly spends two months a year conducting overseas trips.

In September, Shi will lead a delegation to take part in an international martial music festival to be held in Russia. The "Shaolin fighting monks" will demonstrate their kung fu skills in Moscow's Red Square, according to Shi.

Shaolin kung fu has gained worldwide popularity through the success of Chinese kung fu movies, particularly those filmed in the 1970s.

Shi said training for the inheritors of Buddhism has been crucial to the 1,500-year-old temple's development.

"We encourage our young monks to travel overseas to expound scriptures and pursue their practice. We also welcome people all over the world to learn kung fu and practice Zen Buddhism," he said.

The temple, which has more than 300 locally registered monks, also has more than 40 overseas culture centers, mostly in the United States and Europe.

Shi said he expects a boom in Buddhism's popularity in the west and believes that the religion can blend well with western culture.

"Buddhism can win respect from the world because it can peacefully co-exist with other religions. It focuses on the purification of the soul," he explained.

In order to bring Shaolin martial arts to a wider audience, Shi has joined hands with a Beijing-based film company to shoot a 3D kungfu movie -- a remake of the 1982 blockbuster "Shaolin Temple".

Born in East China's Anhui province, Shi became abbot of the Shaolin Temple in 1999. He has courted controversy in recent years for developing business operations, such as profitable kung fu shows and online sales, and has subsequently been referred to as China's "CEO monk".

However, Shi said he always insists on making time to meditate, despite his tight schedule.

"How wonderful it would be if I could sit in my meditation room for dozens of days at a time," he mused.

"That's what I hope for my life from the bottom of my heart," he said.

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8th Global Conference on Buddhism passed resolutions against violence in Buddhist countries and bombing in India

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Singapore -- Delegates from Singapore and overseas attended the two-day 8th Global Conference on Buddhism, held in Singapore on 6 and 7 July 2013. Drawing on the presence of 1,200 delegates from the various Buddhist traditions, the Conference culminated in the passing of two resolutions concerning the on-going violence against Muslims in Buddhist countries, and the bombing of the MahaBodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, India on 7 July 2013.

The resolutions were a response from the Buddhist community towards these international incidents, and passed with an overwhelming majority of more than 95% voting in favour.

Resolution on the violence against Muslims in Buddhist countries

“We hereby wish to inform our Muslim brothers and sisters that as Buddhists, we are deeply concerned by the violent treatment of Muslims at the hands of people claiming to be Buddhists.

Islam is a religion of peace and Buddhism a religion of non-violence. These are ideals for all mankind, regardless of differences in beliefs and customs. We call upon the leaders of the Buddhist and Muslim communities to condemn all acts of violence and to use their influence to encourage all to be gentle and act with compassion. We also call on governments to take firm measures against murder, assault, arson, rape and other acts of violence and incitement to violence, and take the appropriate action against offenders, whatever their social status.”

Resolution on the bombing in India

“We are deeply saddened but we forgive those responsible for bombing the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya.

You may damage the most important temple in Buddhism but you will not destroy our faith in forgiveness and compassion. “

“Buddhism is a religion of compassion and wisdom,” said Ms Angie Chew Monksfield, organising chairperson of the Global Conference on Buddhism and President of Buddhist Fellowship, said: “While we are saddened by the violence in Myanmar and the bombings in
India, we recognise that the only lasting solution towards such acts of violence is forgiveness. The resolutions are a concrete way of demonstrating our commitment to peace. We hope that these resolutions will contribute towards resolving the conflicts in a
peaceful and effective manner.”

Datuk Dr Victor Wee, President of Buddhist Gem Fellowship Malaysia, said: “I am heartened to see Buddhists from all traditions using this opportunity to engage each other on current issues of critical importance. We have discussed and passed public
resolutions on these two issues, based on the Buddhist principles of kindness and wisdom.”

The Conference included topics and presenters such as “Search Inside Yourself” by Mr Tan Chade-Meng of Google, “Challenges to Buddhism: Taking the Buddha Seriously” by Professor Richard Gombrich of Oxford University, and “Buddhist Bioethics in Medicine and Research” by Dr Ho Eu Chin.

About the Organiser of the Conference - Buddhist Fellowship

Buddhist Fellowship is a non-sectarian English speaking Buddhist group that focuses on the learning of the Buddha’s Teachings and the practice of meditation. It has over 5,000 members and has been a dynamic force in the Buddhist community in advocating modernization and bringing issues into the open for discussion and resolution.

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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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Global Vipassana Pagoda opens in Mumbai

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96.12 metre pagoda is dubbed as "Wonder of the new millennium"

Mumbai, India -- Asia’s tallest stone structure rises majestically in the sky against the blue background of the Arabian Sea. Located in the southwest of Mumbai on the Essel Plateau near Gorai and covering an area of about 15.5 acres, the Global Vipassana Pagoda is a 21st century architectural wonder.

Surrounded by important ancient Buddhist heritage sites like Kanheri, Mahakali and others, it stands close to Sopara, the ancient harbour city of Shurparak or Supparaka blessed by the holy footprints of  Buddha’s disciples, reminding us of the rich heritage of Buddhism in Mumbai.

Inspired by the great Vipassana meditation master Acharya S N Goenka, this glorious monument symbolizes humanity’s deep reverence to Gautama Buddha, his teaching (the Dhamma) and his followers (the Sangha). It also stands there as an expression of India’s heartfelt gratitude towards Emperor Ashoka and the chain of Buddhist masters starting from his teacher Moggaliputta Tissa up to the present day’s Burmese Vipassana masters like Ledi Sayadaw, Saya Thetgyi and Sayagi U Ba Khin for protecting, preserving and spreading the Buddha’s teachings in India and abroad.

In order to appreciate Burma’s contribution in preserving the technique of Vipassana meditation in its pristine purity, the Global Vipassana Pagoda is built on the lines of the famous Shwedegon Pagoda of Yangon, where the hair relic of the Buddha is enshrined.

The word ‘Pagoda’ - meaning a Buddhist shrine - is a Portuguese mispronunciation of the word ‘Dagoba’. The Sinhalese word  ‘Dagoba’ is a rendering of the Pali word ‘Dhatugabbha’ meaning a cell housing the relic of the Buddha. The Global Vipassana Pagoda houses genuine bone relics of Buddha.

Some of these relics were found by the archaeology department of the imperial British government in the ruins of a ‘stupa’ in Bhattiprolu in southern India before the Second World War. They were then kept in the Museum of London and were returned to the Mahabodhi Society of India after the war.

The Society presented them to Acharya Goenka to place in the Global Vipassana Pagoda for the benefit of the countless faithful who come here to meditate. Another portion of the relics enshrined in the Pagoda was received from the prime minister of Sri Lanka.

The main dome of the Global Vipassana Pagoda was inaugurated on October 29, 2006. On the same day, the sacred bone relics of the Buddha were enshrined in the Pagoda on top of the first dome above the Dhamma Wheel.

The final construction of the Global Vipassana Pagoda was completed in November 2008. The formal inauguration ceremony of the Pagoda took place on February 8, 2009 in the presence of the then President of India, dignitaries, guests, monks and thousands of
Buddha’s followers.

It has taken almost 11 years and 3.87 million man days to complete this colossal monument, which was started in October 1997 with the laying down of the foundation stone. Its construction has been made possible by the generous donations received from various quarters in terms of land for the Pagoda, money and material.

The Structure

The Global Vipassana Pagoda is a three-storied huge hollow stone structure painted in a shining Thai golden paint. It is the world’s largest pillar-less dome especially designed for meditation. For this very reason, it is called the Vipassana Pagoda. Keeping in view
the convenience of those who wish to meditate, the relics are enshrined in the centre of the middle dome and a revolving stage is created in the centre of the main dome at the ground level so that meditation can be done around it while listening to the sermons.

It has the capacity of accommodating over 8,000 meditating people at a time. Meanwhile, efforts are on to improve the acoustic design of the Pagoda in such a way that the echo disturbance can be kept at its minimum.

The Pagoda exhibits the excellence of ancient Indian architecture combined with modern construction technology. Many research organisations, including IIT Mumbai, were consulted for this purpose. It is a 325 foot i.e. 96.12 metre tall monument with an octagonal base. Externally it has a circular bell shape rising towards a pointed pinnacle adorned with a crystal that is covered by a steel umbrella and a Dhammadhvaja (flag of Dhamma) on the top. The interior of the Pagoda has three domes located over one another. The first
dome at the ground level has an inner height of 86.29 feet i.e. 26.3 metres and 280 feet i.e. 85.15 metres in diameter with a total carpet area of 65,000 square feet.

<< Inner view of the main dome

The second dome housing the relics is 105.25 feet i.e. 32.081 metres in height and 105 feet i.e. 32 metres in diameter. The third, which is the topmost dome, has a height of 73 feet i.e. 22.19 metres and is 26.6 feet i.e. 8.13 metres in diameter. It is twice the size of the previously largest masonry structure, the Gol Gumbaz (130 feet in diameter i.e. 39.64 metres) in Bijapur in the southern Indian state of Karnataka.

The circumambulatory path is 70 feet wide. About eight to ten thousand people can walk over it at any given time.

The foundation and the Pagoda up to the base level are built with black basalt stones. The average depth of the foundation is 30 feet with about 20 feet width. The construction of the inner dome and the outside serrations of the Pagoda are made up of the famous Jodhpur stone, weighing 2.5 million tonnes and brought from Rajasthan at a distance of around 1,200 kms. The stones are skillfully cut and manually fixed into the grooves using an interlocking system and cemented with lime mortar.

The initial plan was to build the Pagoda in RCC and mild steel. But since the aim of the construction was to build a structure that could last for a thousand years or more, it was decided to use the basic stone interlocking system and lime mortar to ensure strength
and longevity of the structure.

The architect and temple consultant (late) Mr Chandubhai Sompura suggested and demonstrated this technique with the help of a model made of soap bars. Stones here are cut in such a way that each stone has grooves cut both in horizontal and vertical direction so that it holds and grips other stones in both directions.

This unique interlocking system is so amazing that it can hold massive stones without any support.

The top key stone depicting the Dhamma Wheel suspended over our head at a height of 90 feet weighs almost 4 tonnes. Besides the main Pagoda there are two smaller Pagodas that are 60 feet high built on both sides in the north and south.

The northern Pagoda has a meditation hall used for teaching Anapana meditation to the general public whereas the southern Pagoda contains 108 meditation cells. A grand Ashoka pillar with the Dhamma Wheel similar in shape and size to the original pillar in Sarnath has been constructed to the east of the Global Vipassana Pagoda.

The entrance to the west of the Pagoda is a replica of the Burma Gate at Dhammagiri Vipassana Centre at Igatpuri with two lion images on both its sides. An information centre and a bookstore are being constructed near this gate. The stairway at this side of the
Pagoda rises straight up to the circumambulatory path above the basement. Climbing up the staircase one can see two pedestals on its each side with a huge bell from Burma weighing 11 tonnes installed on the left hand side and a gong set up on the right.

The Facilities

The Pagoda complex also houses a Vipassana centre called ‘Dhammapattana’ to the southwest of the main Pagoda at the basement level where 10 day long courses have been conducted regularly since October 2007. The centre is well-equipped with 100 air-conditioned rooms and a meditation hall. Recently a research centre devoted to the study of Pali language and Buddha’s teachings has been established near it. A 60-tonne Buddha statue in white marble located near the research centre provides a fitting ambience to this entire area.

From the north to the south and through the west there is a two-storied C-shaped basement area housing service facilities. On the first floor of the basement one can discover many facts about Vipassana and the inspiring life and teachings of Buddha in a wonderful exhibition gallery displaying 123 paintings.

There is also an audio-visual centre and a gallery of wall mounts and photographs adjacent to a book and souvenir shop. Besides these, there is a library and two auditoriums under construction. Service facilities such as rest-rooms, offices, quarters and a food court are located on the ground floor of the basement area. A three-storied guesthouse is being built outside the Pagoda premises in the northwest direction.

Getting there

From the Western Express Highway, head north towards Dahisar/Borivali/Ahmedabad.Cross the Dahisar toll booth and keep going straight.When you reach the Mira-Bhayandar crossing, turn left towards Mira-Bhayandar. The crossing has a statue of Shivaji Maharaj positioned at the centre.Keep going straight till you reach the Golden Nest Circle. Take a left turn and stay on the main road.Keep going straight till you take a hard right turn at the end of the road. This point will come after Maxus Mall, which comes on your right. After this take a left at the T-point junction.Keep following directions to Essel World or the Global Vipassana Pagoda from this point forward.When you reach the Essel World parking lot, go ahead a few metres and take a right turn towards Essel World. Tell the guard at the security post that you want to go to the Pagoda.Keep going straight till you reach the helipad. At the Helipad, take a right turn to the Global Pagoda road through the Sanchi Arch.The Pagoda is about 42 kms from the domestic airport terminal in Mumbai.

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Korean Buddhist cultural offerings designed to go global

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Seoul, South Korea -- Buddhism is not just a religion in Korea. It is an integral cultural asset that has substantially contributed to the development of the country’s tradition and arts for the last 1,700 years.

<< This file photo shows participants at a Templestay program meditating in the woods with Korean Buddhist monks. (Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism)

The Korean Buddhist culture now attempts to go abroad in an effort to better serve the rising global demand for learning about Korean history and culture, thanks to the popularity of K-pop around the world.

The Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism, an affiliate of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, plans to develop various programs to promote its two signature cultural offerings ? templestays and temple food.

Its latest development includes a Templestay program designed exclusively for K-pop fans from France created in collaboration with the Korea Tourism Organization. It also plans to open the first temple food restaurant on the rooftop of the French department store Galeries Lafayette in Paris next year.

Templestay was one of the cultural projects introduced during the Korea/Japan World Cup in 2002 as part of the government’s effort to offer the world a better understanding on the country’s traditional culture. The program as well as general Buddhist cultural practices remained nearly unknown even to many Koreans until then. In the last decade, however, the programs have been gaining popularity both at home and abroad for their unique roles in delivering Korean culture as well as offering a rare chance to contemplate the meaning of life and heal the tired mind while surrounded by nature.

Templestay is a cultural program that allows people to stay in mountainside temples and participate in Zen meditation, early-morning chanting and daily chores.

“Through the Templestay, participants can learn the wisdom of monastic life and the philosophy of a peaceful co-existence with nature. The program is not only designed to offer cultural understanding but also to offer new direction for people struggling in the highly competitive society,” said Ven. Deung Mok, deputy director of the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism.

“Templestay will be developed into various programs and will continue to serve people’s needs not only in Korea but also people coming from all over the world,” he added.

The number of temples offering Templestay programs across the country has surged from 33 in 2002 to 118 last year. About 1.9 million people have participated in the program as of late last year. In 2011 alone about 190,000 people, including 25,000 foreign travelers, joined the program, officials at the group said.

The unique program has also contributed to enhancing Korea’s image abroad.

Templestay was selected as one of the most successful tourism items by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2009.

An OECD report titled “The Impact of Culture on Tourism” included Korea’s Templestay program as a successful combination of culture and tourism, along with other strategic tourism sites such as the Vorarlberg Province in Austria, the State of Michoacan in Mexico and the Industrial Monuments Route of the Silesian Voivodeship in Poland.

With the success of the project, Culture Ministry transferred the project from the Religious Affairs Office to Tourism Industry Bureau last year.

“The government has decided to transfer the project to the tourism bureau because it is no longer about religious affairs but an important tourism resource for Korea,” said Hong Seung-mo, an official at the department of tourism promotion.

The government spends 20 billion won ($17.72 million) a year for developing various Korean Buddhist cultural content, from Templestay to temple food. The budget also includes expenditure on renovation at temples to help them better accommodate participants coming from all around the world.

Temple food has been also drawing attention from abroad, particularly among the health-conscious in North America and Europe.

To better promote the 1,700-year-old culinary assets, the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism is seeking ways of modernizing the recipes while preserving the traditional style of temple food. It also plans to provide recipes for nutritious vegetarian food and to hold a campaign against food wastage.

The religious group has been holding seminars on temple food in the U.S. and also participated in ITV, an international tourism exhibition in Germany, earlier this year.

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