Buddhist monks organise special prayers on World Heritage Day in Gaya

World Heritage Day is observed on April 18 with an aim to create awareness among the people for conservation of cultural heritage across the world.

World Heritage Day was first celebrated by International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) on 18 April 1982 in Tunisia, which was later also approved by UNESCO in 1983.

Buddhist monks and school children gathered at the Buddhist holy centre of Bodh Gaya in Gaya district and participated in the peace march.

A monk, Ashok Bansh, said: "Today is an important day as on the occasion of World Heritage Day, all the male and female monks have assembled over here and organised a special prayer for world peace, for the welfare of the world and for the protection of the world heritage site."

Buddha was born a prince at Lumbini in Nepal over 2,600 years ago. He left his wife and child at the age of 29 in search of divine knowledge and enlightenment and attained it beneath a banyan tree at Bodh Gaya in Bihar, after years of meditation.

There are several important Buddhist religious places - Bodh Gaya in Bihar, where Lord Buddha attained salvation, Sarnath, Kushinagar, where Lord Buddha breathed his last, Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh, an ancient seat of Buddhist learning, and several monasteries in Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

India, in the recent past, has been promoting Buddhist tourism, and particularly targeting South East Asian countries, China and Japan, which have a sizeable Buddhist population.

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Nalanda monastery organise puja sessions for self-immolated monk

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Toulouse, France -- Nalanda Monastery, based in Lavaur, France will be organising puja ceremonies in memory of the late Ven Tonden, who died last week in an act of self-immolation.

Apart from the monastery in Europe, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has requested concurrent prayers from devotees elsewhere to partake in the pujas. These include Sera Jey monastery to do prayers, where about 20,500 monks have done a puja for a good rebirth for Tönden.

The following is the official statement issued by Nalanda Monastery.

Goodbye to Ven Tönden

For those who are interested in the details of the services regarding pujas, and cremation ritual of Tönden-la (David Allen), here are some details:

Until January 3 daily 19h00: Medicine Buddha Puja at Nalanda MonasteryWednesday November 21: 11h30 Lama Chöpa (Guru Puja) at Nalanda monastery6h00 Cremation ceremony: CREMATORIUM D'ALBI, Complexe Funéraire du Caussels, 12, route de Millau, 81000 ALBI, Tél. : 05.63.60.93.42

In Spring 2013 Nalanda Monastery and Tönden's family will organize another meeting to memorialize Tönden for those family members, friends and Nalanda monks/ nuns/ students who were not able to be with us on such short notice.

Support from all over the world

Here at Nalanda we feel supported by our Holy teachers like Lama Zopa Rinpoche. He made a significant money offering to His Holiness the Dalai Lama (as pujas dedicated to someone need a financial base, even if it would be small) and asked Him to do prayers.

Also Rinpoche requested Sera Jey monastery to do prayers, so about 20,500 monks have done a puja for a good rebirth for Tönden as well. Many other big lamas and Geshes within the FPMT and outside the FPMT have done pujas. Nalanda Monastery has also done various pujas and will continue to do daily the Medicine Buddha Puja.

We received from many FPMT centres a kind email, saying that they would do mantras and dedications towards a good future for Tönden. Outside the FPMT also monasteries like Thosamling, Lerab Ling and a nearby Christian monastery En Calcat are also participating in prayers and practices dedicated to the well being of Tönden.

We have received an overwhelming number of emails (so far about 250) of support, from people saying that they were doing prayers.  Many people have brought flower and food offerings to the Monastery in memory of Tönden and in support of Nalanda. Many people have shared fond memories of Tonden and often commented on how kind and gentle he was.

It is moments like these, the passing from one life into another, that help to remind us that life is bigger than we remember, that life is precious, and yet death is an inevitable and necessary step into the next stage of our development.  For those whose aim is the Bodhisattva's path we can safely assume it will take us a few lifetimes.  Losing the ones we love can help serve to give us courage to embark on this path. May your memories of Tönden (David Allen) inspire you to do your very best in this life and in the next.

On the web: http://www.nalanda-monastery.eu/

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India, China organise conference on Buddhism

Inaugurating the conference, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, "Buddhism defines Asia as a unique space.

Over its long history, it has been the most inclusive, most tolerant and most accommodative way of life when it comes to fostering diversity, solidarity and oneness across Asia".

"This is implicit in the forms of Buddhist architecture. Tales of deliverance by the Buddha have been replicated in arts and sculptures across Asia," he said.

The two day Conference titled ''Buddhism: Mapping Asia''s History and Culture'' was being attended by scholars from India, China, Japan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

Recounting Bihar''s contribution to the religion, Kumar said that it could be called the cradle of Buddhism.

"The term ''Bihar'' itself derives from the Sanskrit word ''Vihara'', which has relations with Buddhist viharas," he said.

About the revival of the famous fourth century Nalanda University, specialising in Buddhist studies, he said it represented the best of the tradition of academic activities.

"Scholars from Nalanda University, such as Bodhidharma took Buddhism to other parts of the world including China, Korea and Japan. Chinese pilgrim, Xuanzang has left detailed accounts of Nalanda," he said.

He said his government was fully committed to the establishment of the Nalanda International University.

"Government of India is making budgetary provisions for the university. Though the university is being established in Bihar, it will have an international status," he said adding that the Nalanda mentor group includes scholars from Singapore, China and Japan.

Many countries including China have shown interest in financing the construction of the university. China has announced a contribution of USD one million for the project.

"Maintaining this university would be a source of great pride and prestige for us," he said.

In his address, Yogeswar Verma, Deputy Director General of Indian Council of Cultural Relations, which sponsored the conference, said, "Buddhism defines Asia and when we talk about Asia, India and China are the two most ancient living civilisations with rich cultural heritage, where Buddhism brought many nations and civilisations together."
"In this context, it is indeed important to delve into and rethink together the thoughts and concepts of this age old philosophy," he said.

India and China simultaneously held a Yoga summit at the Chinese city of Guangzhou. Over a 1000 Yoga enthusiast attended the training sessions being conducted by yoga guru B K S Iyangar.

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