Buddha Day: Let’s Go Federation Square

Buddha’s Day and Multicultural Festival is a truly unique annual event which celebrates Melbourne’s diverse multicultural society. Running over two days (on 18th and 19th of this month), the Buddha’s Day and Multicultural Festival begins in the heart of Melbourne, at Federation Square. Let’s show our solidarity to this Grand Program on 19/05/2013 as we are from the country where Buddha was born.

Lumbini – Birthplace of Lord Buddha – Nepal

Nice video with important information:

Time ripe for signing a new Nepal-China Treaty of Peace and Friendship

[Nepal initiated an important proposal since 1993 that Buddha should be declared as "Light of the Universe" in place of 'Light of Asia' only. Dr. Bishnu Hari Nepal, former Vigya Member, Foreign Policy Draft Sub-committee, Legislative Parliament of Nepal, is strongly advocating it in the international level. International Relations and Human Rights Committee of the dissolved Legislative Parliament of Nepal had unanimously passed the vision making it a part of the campaign of the Nepalese Foreign Policy. This article is based on that concept.]

Professor Dr. Bishnu Hari Nepal

Buddha: The light of Universe

After going through the book, as a normal reader, I got an impression that Nepal that time, through her Great Son of the Soil, Buddha —the enlightened one, was able to contribute a great and influential philosophy with its impact on the pattern of life of the people -to our today’s great neighbors India and China in particular, Asia and the world in general. I remember the kind words from the great Buddhist philosopher of the 21st century, poet laureate of Japan, global peace initiator and President of Soka Gakai International (SGI) Daisaku Ikeda during our meeting in 1995 in Tokyo, “Japan was indebted to Nepal for their present culture, civilization, way of life, behavioral patterns, and thinking and even to the visionary approaches”. He had also added that it was through the flow of Buddhism -the enlightenment of the ancient Himalayan civilization. In response, I had said, “It is now — just the reverse- you are promoting peace and philosophy of Buddhism from the Far East to the West”. He had laughed.

To my satisfaction now Nepal China Society has done a credible job adding a brick in enhancing Nepal’s deep cultural ties with China and the world. Japan’s case, Buddhism started perhaps only from the sixth century via China and Korea.

On the contrary, the case of China, Buddhism entered to this country crossing the mighty Himalayas, through the Silk Road. The authors in this book argue that this was during the 1st or 2nd century CE. As a normal materialist Nepali thinker of the 21 st century, it gives me a sense of great pride and inspiration, and also impression to be looking for a second child of Buddha’s and Araniko’s repute for the 21^st century Nepal. Specially, on the political grounds, today’s Nepal badly needs it!

For me Buddhism is a philosophy directly related to the way of life of the people. As a matter of fact, it was a materialist theory, alternative to the then existing religions. But during the course of time, Buddha being too much popular by his deeds, people started regarding Buddha himself as God and Buddhism as a religion. Hindus also took the opportunity and made him the incarnation of Vishnu! I do not believe in such superstitions. I believe in the strong scientific fact of explorations that he was the Prince of Lumbini-Kapilvastu of Nepal. But I respect the beliefs of the people.

बिश्व शान्तिको लागि बुद्ध शिक्षा – आजको आबश्यकता

-भिक्षु मगर (नारायण ब. आले मगर)
[बिश्व शन्तिका लागि बुद्ध शिक्षा एवम बुद्ध जन्मस्थल लुम्बिनी नेपालको प्रबर्द्धन उदेश्यका साथ ६० मुलुक भ्रमण गर्न विश्व शान्ति यात्रा लुम्बिनीबाट शुरु गरी बिभिन्न मुलुक भ्रमण गरिराख्नु भएका भिक्षु मगर (नारायण बहादुर मगर), थाइल्याण्ड, मलेशिया, सिंगापुर हुँदै हाल इण्डोनेशियामा हुनुहुन्छ । ]

‘नमो तस्स भगवतो अरहतो सम्मासम बुद्धस्य’ 

आजको यस सन्सारमा भैरहेको हत्या, हिंसा, बैमनस्यता अशान्ति भैरहेको अवस्थामा जसले बिश्व समाजलाई शान्तिमय समाजको निरन्तरता दिने संकल्प लिएको हुन्छ, हामी सबैले बैरी सोचने, बदलाको भावना लिने जस्तो भ्रष्ट स्वभाव कुलषित बिचारधारा, संकुचित भावना स्वार्थगत मनोभाव दृष्टिलाई त्यागेर स्वस्थ मानसिकताको बिकास गर्नु पर्दछ । हामी मानव प्राणीमा रहेको बैरभावले बैरभाव कहिल्यै शान्त हुदैन । अबैरभावले मात्र बैरभावलाई शान्त पार्न सकिन्छ । अनि मात्र आजको यो सन्सारमा शान्ति आउनेछ ।

“भगवान बुद्धले धम्मपद पालीमा भन्नुभएकोछ, नहि बेरेन बिरानि सम्मन्तिथ कुदाचन । अबेरेनच सम्मन्ति यस धम्मो सनन्तनो ”

 

बैरभावले बैरभाव शान्त हुन सक्दैन, मैत्रिभावले मात्र बैरभाव शान्त हुन सक्छ । यहि सनातन बाट चलिआएको धर्म हो ।

Indonesia Program

Nepalese presenter sets talk show world record

KATHMANDU : A Nepalese presenter has set the world record for the longest television talk show by staying on air for 62 hours and 12 minutes, organisers said Sunday.

Rabi Lamichhane, a 36-year-old based in the US, returned to Kathmandu to  stage the “Lord Buddha Was Born in Nepal” programme, which took the Guinness  world record late Saturday night.

“Our campaign was aimed to spread the message to the world that the Buddha  was born in Nepal,” said Anil Joshi, Chairman of News24, the television station  broadcasting the program told AFP, adding that the programme promoted tourism  destinations such as Mount Everest.

One hundred guests, ranging from former Maoist rebel leader Pushpa Kamal  Dahal, to the Indian ambassador to Nepal, to Nepalese television celebrities  and common people joined Lamichhane during the programme.

Lamichhane’s performance broke the record previously held by Pavlo Kuzheyev  and Tetiana Danylenko for a 52-hour broadcast to celebrate the twentieth  anniversary of Ukraine’s independence in 2011.

According to Guinness World Records rules, Lamichhane was allowed five  minutes every hour for a break.

Organizers said he ate some meals while interviewing guests, banked several  of the slots for a longer rest period and otherwise survived on energy drinks.

Vote to promote Nepal as the country of the Buddha and the Mt. Everest

Dear friends,

Including this blog 1122 blogs are entered into the Best Australian Blogs 2013 Competition and now this is the time for People’s Choice Award, so now this is your time to vote! It will take you less than a minute and would earn you MASSIVE brownie points and actual brownies if you’d like! This is another small attempt to promote Nepal as the country of the Buddha and the Mt. Everest.

Process to vote:

1. Please click here 
   
2. Select this blog. For this click “VOTE HERE” button. This blog is listed as Nepal – the country of the Buddha and the Mt. Everest on the (almost) bottom of the third page, and then you just need to include your details and done! It’s open until the 30th of April, but why not to do right now? Continue to press Next until you press Done

Or directly you can click here select this blog. It’s listed as Nepal – the country of the Buddha and the Mt. Everest .

I would like to thank you all for your time and contribution in this mission!!!

Chris Demuth Advocates “Buddha was born in Nepal”

Chris Demuth talks about Fareed Zakaria’s book The Post-American World where Zakaria is giving absolutely wrong information on Buddha’s birthplace and Mr Demuth advocates not buying the book as it does lie. He was surprised with India’s claim that Buddha was born in India.  Mr Demuth also suggests signing the petition to advocate Buddha was born in Nepal and not in India.

Fareed Rafiq Zakaria is an Indian-American journalist and author. From 2000 to 2010, he was a columnist for Newsweek and editor of Newsweek International. In 2010 he became editor-at-large of Time. He is the host of CNN‘s Fareed Zakaria GPS. He is also a frequent commentator and author about issues related to international relations, trade, and American foreign policy.

Zakaria is the author of few books including The Post-American World. His last two books have both been New York Times bestsellers, and have been translated into over 25 languages.

Fareed Zakaria opened up about his plagiarism scandal in an interview with the New York Times.  He got into severe trouble after he was found to have lifted a paragraph from a recent New Yorker article for a column in Time. He was suspended from that magazine and from CNN.

Buddha was born in Nepal: A Guinness World Record Attempt of Longest Marathon Television Talk Show

 

To sign the petition please click here

We are not going to prove that Buddha was born in Nepal. It is already proved. We just want to dismiss the misinformation and protect human rights of world tourists who actually want to go to Lumbini, Nepal – the birthplace of The Buddha – but going to the wrong place either due to the misinformation or bad intention. Participating in the petition, hence, is very important and help the petition by inviting and requesting your friends to sign.

Participating in Best Australian Blogs 2013 Competition

Dear all,

This blog (www.ramkshrestha.wordpress.com) and http://nepaleseg.blogspot.com.au (this one competing as new blog) are participating in the “Best Australian Blogs 2013  Competition” . The People’s Choice round will launch on Thursday 28 March 2013. Please be ready to start click-voting on these blogs from 28 April 2013 at 5 pm (Sydney local time). The voting doesn’t open until 28 March. When it does, I will let you know with instructions, including a link to the voting form. Among few blogs I chose this one as more regular visitors from all over the world in this blog and there are direct links to go to Lumbini-Kapilvastu Day Movement blog and Complete Nepal blog in the side bars. This is another small attempt to promote Nepal as the country of the Buddha and the Mt. Everest.

MNTV Highlights Pako Festa Nepalese Participation

Buddha was born in Nepal – Lhochhar 2013 message

World cyclist Saurab Dahal promoting Nepal as the country of the Buddha and Mt. Everest

Nepal was promoted in Pako Festa, Australia

23 February 2013 Geelong, Australia: Geelong, the second biggest city of Victoria in Australia, transformed into a multicultural melting pot as thousands flocked to the thirty-first annual Pako Festa. It incorporated an extravagant street parade featuring around ninety floats and hundreds of performers representing forty-five affiliated ethnic communities and around sixty other community groups and organizations. The street was lined with stalls selling traditional foods and arts and crafts, and nine separate stages in the precinct offer performances of music and dance as well as interactive workshops and exhibitions. Pako Festa has become Victoria’s premier multicultural event, attended by well over hundred thousand people in each of the last three years and estimated to inject close to $2.5 million dollars into the local economy just over the course of the day itself.

Because of very nominal Nepalese in Geelong, Lumbini-Kapilvastu Day Movement Global Coordinator Mr. Ram Kumar Shrestha requested other Nepalese communities living in other cities to use Pako Festa as opportunity to promote Nepal as the country of the Buddha and the Mt. Everest. His idea was for Nepal to take advantage of this big gathering from different counties to try to dismiss misinformation of Buddha’s birthplace. Nepalese Association of Victoria President Bom Yonjan, Nepali Sanchar Managing Director Pramod K Soni and Namaste Nepal News Chief Editor Sabin Thapa, Geelong Nepalese Association and Lumbini-Kapilvastu Day Movement Victoria Committee were active for necessary input and mobilized community members to participate in the festival to promote Nepal as the country of the Buddha and the Mt. Everest. Nepalese communities promoted Nepal through flags, banners, Nepali music, dance, Nepali dress and stalls. Miss Nepal Australia 2012 Deepashree Shah represented our country with a Kumari dance.

Nepalese Participating in Pako Festa – the Biggest of its kind in Australia

Nepalese Community is going to participate first time in Pako Festa that will held on 23rd of February, 2013. Different organizations from Melbourne and Ballarat will join the festival and Lumbini-Kapilvastu Day Movement effort will to introduce Nepal as the birthplace of Buddha. In the festival Miss Nepal Australia, 2012 Deepashree Shah will perform Kumari dance.

Pako Festa, now in its  thirty-first year, is Geelong’s much loved, award-winning, free,  annual community arts festival – the biggest of its kind in Australia. Managed by Diversitat and held on the last weekend of February in Pakington Street, Geelong West, “the multicultural heart of Geelong”, it incorporates an extravagant street parade featuring around ninety floats and hundreds of performers representing forty-five affiliated ethnic communities and around sixty other community groups and organisations. The street is lined with stalls selling traditional foods and arts and crafts, and nine separate stages in the precinct offer performances of music and dance as well as interactive workshops and exhibitions. Pako Festa has become Victoria’s premier multicultural event, attended by well over 100,000 people in each of the last three years and estimated to inject close to $2.5 million dollars into the local economy just over the course of the day itself.

Kenzo Tange Master Plan for Lumbini

 

When U Thant visited Nepal in April 1967 as Secretary-General of the United Nations, he proposed the development of Lumbini into a major centre of pilgrimage. This was followed by a UNDP consultant mission in December 1969, which led to a report that established the basis for further planning around Lumbini.

In 1970, the International Committee for the Development of Lumbini (ICDL) was set up comprising initially of 13 members and later expanded to 16 member states. The initial member states were Afghanistan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Later, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Republic of Korea also joined. At the national level, the Lumbini Development Committee was formed. ICDL initiated the preparation of the Master Plan for Lumbini, which was conceptualized by Kenzo Tange starting from 1972. The Kenzo Tange Master Plan was finalized and approved in 1978.

Indian International Film Festival Misinforming Buddha Birthplace

In an Indian International Film Festival in Florida, Tampa Bay, USA from Feb 15-17, 2013 the organizer is going to show 36 minutes video documentary about the Buddha Birth Place claiming that Buddha was born in Orrisa, India. Buddha is synonym to truthfulness. Sometimes artists, sometimes writers and even sometimes diplomats are raising unnecessary issues threatening neighbors’ sovereignty. In the 21st century we must be civilized and not like in Stone Age. We must respect others’ identity. Even to protect truthfulness we must raise our voice to stop that film show.

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  Vikram Sen · Friends with Greater Nepal

THE HIMALAYAN TALK : RAM KUMAR SHRESTHA SHARES HIS VIEWS

[Ram Kumar Shrestha, the Global Coordinator of 'Lumbini-Kapilvastu Day Movement', founded in 2009 for raising awareness of the Buddha birth place Lumbini and Kapilvastu also, spoke to us tonight from Melborne, Australia. He opines that every Nepalese has a sacred duty to join hands towards the movement he has started for world peace through the Buddha's teachings and messages. He strongly asserts that the Buddha was born in present day Lumbini of southern Nepal.]

4th Lumbini-Kapilvastu Day: Haiku by Janak Sapkota

This haiku was received from Janak Sapkota, Finland on the auspicious occasion of 4^th Lumbini-Kapilvastu day. Janak Sapkota is from Nepal, currently a postgraduate science student in Finland. He has published Lights Along the Road, a collection of haiku co-authored with the American poet Suzy Conway. He won the Smurfit Samhain International Haiku Prize 2006 and the Seventh Annual Ukia Haiku Competition 2009. While on a writing residency at Cló Cheardlann na gCnoc, Donegal, Ireland, he published Full Moon, a limited edition haiku with Irish- language translations by Gabriel Rosenstock and images by Danielle Creenaune. He is, therefore, an internationally recognized poet, however; shadowed in his own motherland and this is just an attempt to bring him among Nepali community. For more please click here]

Kapilvastu* -
every corner
renders silence

(* Kapilvastu is one of the districts of Lumbini Zone, Nepal. The district is located in a part of ancient Shakya kingdom of Buddha.  )

Global Voice on Peace

On the auspicious occasion of 4th Lumbini-Kapilvastu Day, the Movement created this clip to spread Buddha’s peace message all over the world.   Participants:

Agni Frank Eickermann -Spiritual leader, USA
Venerable Samahita Thero, Sri Lanka
Miss Nepal Australia 2011 – Reecha Dhital
Miss Nepal Australia 2012 – Deepashree Shah
Mister Nepal Australia 2012 – Niraj Sharma
Ram Kumar Shrestha – Lumbini-Kapilvastu Day Movement Global Coordinator
Indu Nishani Nanayakkara, Sri Lanka

मेलबर्नमा चौथो लुम्बिनी-कपिलवस्तु दिवस बिभिन्न कार्यक्रम सहित सम्पन्न

१ डिसेम्बर २०१२, प्रेस्टन, मेलबर्न : भारतले नक्कली लुम्बिनी निर्माण कार्य सन २०१२ सम्ममा सम्पन्न गर्ने किसिमले सन २००९ को अन्तसम्ममा झन्डै असी प्रतिशत कार्य सम्पन्न भैसक्ता समेत त्यसबारे बुद्धभूमि नेपालका तर्फबाट भने कुनै पनि स्तरबाट कुनै पनि रुपमा आवाज उठेको नपाईएकोले बिभिन्न देशमा छरिएर रहेका नेपालीहरुले जे जस्तो रुपमा हुन्छ आवाज उठाउनु पर्छ भनी १ डिसेम्बर २००९ मा   कपिलवस्तु दिवस विस्व दिवसको रुपमा मनाउन शुरु गरिएकोमा धेरैको सुझाबलाई ध्यानमा राखी गत बर्षदेखि अभियानको नाम लुम्बिनी-कपिलवस्तु दिवस अभियानमा परिवर्तन गरिएको थियो । यसरी नाम परिवर्तन गरेपस्चात अभियानले पहिलो पटक आफ्नो बार्षिकी बिभिन्न देशमा मनाउने क्रममा आज मेलबर्नको प्रेस्टनमा बिभिन्न कार्यक्रम सहित चौथो लुम्बिनी-कपिलवस्तु दिवस मनाइएको छ ।

कार्यक्रमलाई संबोधन गर्ने क्रममा भिक्टोरियाका लागि अबैतनिक महाबाणिज्य दूत महामहिम चन्द्र योन्जनले वुद्ध जन्मस्थल बिषयलाई लिएर विस्वब्यापी रुपमा आवाज उठाइरहेको यस अभियानका गतिबिधि मेलबर्नमा खटकिरहेकोमा अभियानका विस्व संयोजकको आगमनसंगै मेलबर्नमा अभियानका यस किसिमका गतिबिधि भिक्टोरियामा बसोबास गर्ने नेपालीहरुलाई एक सूत्रमा बाँध्ने माध्यम हुन सक्ने बताउँदै अभियानको उद्धेस्य प्राप्तीका लागि आफ्नो अधिकार क्षेत्रभित्र पर्ने कुनै पनि सहयोग गर्न आफू सधैं तत्पर रहेको बताउनु भयो । 

Loitering in the land of Buddha

By Sanjib Chaudhary

After reading the article “Tilaurakot Excavations (2023 – 2029 V.S.)” by Tara Nanda Mishra and the book “The Great Sons of the Tharus: Sakyamuni Buddha and Emperor Asoka the Great” by Subodh Kumar Singh, I was dying to visit Tilaurakot, the place where Lord Buddha spent his 29 years.

Tilaurakot – the citadel in shambles

Finally, I got the chance to visit Taulihawa. I was excited – the reason – Tilaurakot and Jagadishpur Lake being in the vicinity. As we crossed the Bhikchhu Chowk, the roundabout that leads the way to Tilaurakot, the sign board was misleading. While one showed the way to Tilaurakot, another had a two headed arrow which was pointing towards two opposite directions. However, the problem was solved within minutes as the locals told us to head northward.

On the way to the Tilaurakot complex is a museum that houses the archaeological findings that were excavated from the complex. We wanted to see the site of King Suddhodana’s palace first, so we skipped the visit to the museum.

Not a single visitor in the complex

Reaching the complex, I had thought that crowds of people will be competing for a glimpse of the ancient kingdom. However, the expectation was shattered within seconds. I could see not a single visitor in the surrounding.

Anybody can enter the complex and surprisingly you don’t need to pay for the entrance. Entering the citadel was like travelling back into the days of Buddha. I could sense the ambience – tranquil and heavenly.

Grand defence of ancient times

At the entrance of the Western Gate, the remnants of 10 feet wide defence wall were astonishing. You can imagine how well protected the citadel was – apart from the defence wall, there used to be a 22 feet wide moat with crocodiles. It was simply impossible for the enemies to enter the city.

The excavations carried out on the western end of the ruins at Tilaurakot, roughly in the central position of the western wall brought to light three different phases of defence walls. Among them, the first wall was made of clay, possibly digging the nearest outside area, and the ditch had been simultaneously converted into a moat. The first mud wall can be dated to 7th-6th Century BC. The second phase of defence wall had also been made of yellowish clay, and had been built during 200 BC. The third wall was erected just over the basement and outer toe of the second phase wall. It was made of bricks and brick-bats in yellowish mud mortar. It can be dated to 150 BC. The walls were surrounded by a deep moat, which was probably fed by water from the Banaganga River.

One of my colleagues tried to step on the wall out of curiosity but was admonished by a staffer wearing an orange tee shirt with the Lumbini Development Trust logo. However, he was himself sleeping on the wall!

Buddha Born in Nepal – Nepali Documentary Trailer

 

लुम्बिनी-कपिलवस्तु दिवस अभियानका बिस्व संयोजकसंगको बिशेष अन्तर्वार्ता

हाम्रो पूर्बीय दर्शन अनुसार देव ॠण, पितृ ॠण, गुरु ॠण र माटोको ॠण चुक्ता नगरीकन मान्छेको जीवन सफल हुँदैन भन्ने भनाइ र मान्यता छ । अत: यो अभियानको उद्धेस्य प्राप्तीमा लाग्नु भनेको माटोको ॠण चुक्ता गर्ने एउटा महत्वपूर्ण अबसरलाई गुम्न नदिनु पनि हो ।

सबैभन्दा ठूलो समस्या नेपालको भू-राजनितिक अवस्था हो तापनि सास्वत सत्य मृत्‍युलाई संझने हो भने स्वार्थबाट माथि उठन सकिन्छ । स्वार्थबाट माथि उठने बित्तिक्कै भू-राजनित्क समस्या समस्या रहने छैन र यो समस्या पनि समस्याको रुपमा रहने छैन । बिभिन्न स्तरको स्वार्थका कारण बिद्यमान समस्यालाई कसैले नदेखे जस्तो र कसैले नबुझे जस्तो नाटक गरी गोल मटोल काम कुरो गरी समस्या समाधान गर्ने कार्यमा सहभागी हुनबाट पन्छनेहरु पनि छन । कुनै पनि समस्या समाधानको सबैभन्दा  ठूलो समस्या यथार्थता नबुझ्ने नभएर बुझ पचाउनेहरु हुन ।

(नेपाली संचारका तर्फबाट प्रमोद कुमार सोनी र नमस्ते नेपाल न्यूजका तर्फबाट सविन थापाले संयुक्त रुपमा लुम्बिनी-कपिलवस्तु दिवस अभियानका बिस्व संयोजक रामकुमारश्रेष्ठसंग चौथो लुम्बिनी-कपिलवस्तु दिवसलाई लक्षित गरी लिइएको अन्तरबार्ता ।)

के कस्ता कारणहरुले गर्दा लुम्बिनी-कपिलवस्तु दिवस अभियान शुरु गर्न परेको हो?

२००९ को सेप्टेम्बरको शुरुतिर ‘अनलाइन खबर’ पत्रिकामा “भारतद्धारा नक्कली ‘कपिलबस्तु’ निर्माण” समाचार प्रकाशमा आएको थियो जस्मा दुई कुरा अत्यन्तै संबेदनशील थिए – त्यत्ति ठूलो परियोजना करीब ८०% सम्पन्न भैसकेको भन्ने पहिलो र दोश्रो सन २०१२ सम्ममा सो परियोजना  संपन्न गर्ने किसिमले युद्धस्तरमा काम भैरहेको । नेपालको रास्ट्रियतामाथि चुनौति दिने त्यत्ति ठूलो परियोजना करीब ८०% संपन्न भैसक्ता पनि सरकार, संचार र बुद्धिजिबि कतैबाट पनि कुनै पनि किसिम र स्तरबाट आबाज नउठाइेएकोले सर्बसाधारण यस्तो संबेदनशील खबरबाट बेखबर थिए । यस किसिमको सर्बपक्षीय मौनताका कारण मुलभूत रुपमा भारतीय पक्षद्धारा सिर्जित र त्यस्का कारण दिग्भ्रमित पश्चिमी बिद्धानहरुले छरेको भ्रमलाई चिर्नु आवश्यक थियो । यसर्थ, बिस्वभरि छरिएर रहेका नेपालीहरु बीच ‘कपिलवस्तु दिवस बिस्व दिवस’को रुपमा लुम्बिनी र कपिलवस्तुको प्रचार प्रसार गरिनु पर्दछ दिग्भ्रमित विस्व समुदायका बीच यथार्थबोध गराउनका खातिर भन्ने सहमति बन्यो । र गौतम बुद्ध लुम्बिनीमा जन्मेका हुन भन्ने सबभन्दा राम्रो प्रमाण अशोक स्तम्भलाई अन्तरराष्ट्रिय जगत सामू ल्याउने महत्वपूर्ण काम १ डिसेम्बर १८९६ मा जर्मन पुरातत्वबिद Anton Führer ले गरेको दिनलाई ऐतिहासिक महत्व दिनुको समेत बहु-आयामिक महत्व हुने भएकोले इतिहासमा पहिलो पटक डिसेम्बर १, २००९ मा ‘कपिलबस्तु दिवस विस्व दिवस’को रुपमा मनाइयो । र यस्लाई निरन्तरता दिनको लागि संस्थागत गर्न २०१० मा दुई चरणमा गरी २१ सदस्यीय बिस्व कार्य समिति गठन गरियो यस्को सल्लाहकार मण्डलमा तीन ठूला पार्टीका प्रतिनिधि र दुई बिदेशीलाई समेत समाबेश गरी । र गत बर्षदेखि धेरैको सुझाबलाई ध्यानमा राखी अभियानको नाम लुम्बिनी-कपिलवस्तु दिवस अभियान बनाइएको हो ।

अभियान शुरु गर्नुका पछाडि अन्य उद्धेस्यहरु पनि छन कि ?

जुन कारणले गर्दा यो अभियान शुरुवात गरिनु पर्ने आवश्यकता महसूस गरियो त्यो मात्रै यस्को उद्धेस्य नभएर शान्ति, राष्ट्रियता, सत्यको प्रतिरक्षा र पर्यटन प्रबर्द्धन यो अभियानका मूलभूत उद्धेस्यहरु हुन । वुद्ध शान्तिका प्रतिक र पर्यायबाची हुन र ब्यक्तिगत खुशी र सुखीदेखि बिस्व शान्तिसम्मका लागि उनका सन्देश र बिधिहरु अत्यन्तै उपयोगी मानिन्छन । अत: उनका ती सन्देश र बिधिहरुलाई बिभिन्न माध्यम मार्फत प्रचार प्रसार गरी सुखमय जीवन र शान्तिपूर्ण वातावरण सिर्जनामा सक्दो योगदान गर्नु यस्को पहिलो उद्धेस्य हो । वुद्धको विस्वब्यापी महत्वका कारण यसबाट लालायित भएर बुद्धको नामबाट नाजायज फायदा लिन बिस्वका जनतालाई दिग्भ्रमित तुल्याइ वुद्धको जन्मस्थल जान चाहनेहरुलाई आफूकहाँ लैजाने अभिप्रायले गरिएको कामले नेपालको राष्ट्रियतामा चुनौती दिने काम भएकोले यसबारे सत्य तथ्य जानकारीहरु सुसूचित गरी राष्ट्रियता रक्षाको लागि प्रयास गर्नु यस अभियानको अर्को उद्धेस्य हुनेछ । त्यसरी नै सत्यका प्रतिक र पर्यायबाची वुद्धको नामका कारण उनकै नामबाट नाजायज फायदा लिनका लागि बिस्वका जनतालाई दिग्भ्रमित तुल्याउने कामलाई निस्तेज गरी सत्यको रक्षा गर्नु पनि यस्को उद्धेस्य हो । वुद्धको जन्मस्थल भएको कारण लुम्बिनी र कपिलबस्तु विस्वकै लागि महत्वपूर्ण पर्यटकीय स्थल जे जस्तो रुपमा हुनु पर्ने हो, त्यो आन्तरिक र वाह्य कारणहरुले गर्दा हुन नसकेको कारण यस क्षेत्रलाई पर्यटकीय स्थलको रुपमा अरु बिकसित गर्ने वाताबरण तयार गर्न प्रयास गर्नु यस्को अर्को उद्धेस्य हुनेछ ।

APECF signs agreement for Greater Lumbini

 

KATHMANDU, Nov 7: The Chinese international non-government organization (INGO)- Asia Pacific Exchange Cooperation Foundation (APECF) – on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Lumbini Development Steering Committee (LDSC) for the development and preservation of all aspects of ´Greater Lumbini´.

Executive Vice Chairman of APECF Linus Xiao Wunan and chairman of the LDSC Puspa Kamal Dahal signed the agreement targeting to invest more than US$ 3 billion to develop Lumbini as an international peace city.

Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, Wunan said further investment in Lumbini depended on the political leadership of Nepal. “We are positive to support it, but it will depend upon the policy of Nepal´s government,” said he.

Greater Lumbini Master Plan: A Herculean Task Ahead

DR. JIBA RAJ POKHAREL

Dahal has a tall hill to climb‚ as the Greater Lumbini Project will be almost ten times costly than Lumbini alone. It is a Herculean task indeed. The need of revisiting the present rather ambitious Lumbini plan without diluting its sanctity and concepts has already been expressed in different quarters

Lumbini is again in the news, after remaining in the sidelines for a long time, following the formation of a high level committee chaired by the former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. And, why shouldn’t it be when it is the birthplace of Buddha? Buddha’s notion that there is suffering in the world with desire as its cause has touched the heart and mind of innumerable people around the globe. It is unfortunate that Lumbini should face developmental constraints due to shortage of funds.
This is, however, not the first time that Lumbini has been virtually raised from the ashes in its three thousand year history. It came into prominence in 563 BC when Buddha was born. Lumbini was in the limelight during the visit of Emperor Ashoka, who erected the Lumbini pillar bearing an inscription of the birth of Buddha in 249 BC. Lumbini appears to have started to fall into oblivion as none of the visiting Chinese travelers Mr Yuch Chih in the fourth century, Mr. Fa Hsien in the fifth century and Mr. Yuan Chwang in the seventh make a mention of the all important Lumbini pillar inscription, implying that it was buried in the earth, and nobody bothered to maintain it which reflects serious neglect. It is reiterated by the observation of the horse capital of Lumbini pillar lying on the ground by Mr. Wang Hiuen Tse remaining unattended again in the seventh century. Lumbini was still well known as a Buddist religious site till the visit of Ripu Malla in the year 1312, which is evident from the inclusion of a popular Buddhist verse om mani padmeham in his inscription. But, after that the popularity of Lumbini seems to have taken a nose dive, as Khadga Shamsher had to clear several feet of earth around the Lumbini pillar, when he visited it in the year 1896 along with Mr. Fuhrer. It was given a new lease of life by Kaisher Shamsher in 1928, when he did some construction work. The visit of U Thant, the United Nations General Secretary in the 1950s, was instrumental for the present revival of Lumbini. He mobilized the international community leading to the formation of an International Committee for the development of Lumbini under the umbrella of the United Nations. This international move triggered the inception of Lumbini Development Committee in an effort to coordinate works at the national level.