IBC Newsletter

Samyak Sambodh VOLUME III ISSUE 3 OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2019

Council of Patrons Samvad III  His Holiness Thich Tri Quang Deputy Patriarch, Vietnam Buddhist , Vietnam Ulaanbaatar conclave unites  His Holiness Samdech Preah Agga Maha Sangharajadhipati Supreme Patriach, Mahanikaya Order, Buddhist leaders across Asia  His Holiness Dr. Bhaddanta Kumarabhivamsa Sangharaja and Chairman, State Sangha Committee,  His Holiness Sanghanayaka Suddhananda Mahathero President, Bangladesh Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha, Bangladesh  His Holiness Jinje-Beopwon 13th Supreme Patriarch, Jogye Order of Korean , South Korea  His Holiness the 14th Dalai Tenzin Gyatso ( in Exile)  His Eminence Rev. Khamba Lama Gabju Choijamts Supreme Head of Mongolian Buddhists,  His Eminence 24th Pandito Khamba Lama Damba Ayusheev Supreme Head of Russian Buddhists,  His Holiness Late Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Performers at the opening of Battsagaan Grand Assembly Hall on September 6. Photo: Raymond Lam Suvaddhana Mahathera Supreme Patriarch,  His Holiness Late Phra Achan Maha Phong global Hindu-Buddhist Initiative for Samaleuk gathered in the Mongolian capital Sangharaja, Laos Aconsciousness, initiated as part International delegates from Asia and  His Holiness Late Aggamaha of a seriesconflict of avoidance dialogues and for environmentpeaceful co- Davuldena Gnanissara existence, inter-religious understanding with the aim to create a conducive and Mahanayaka, , and interdependent sustainability compelling eco-system with the objective of emphasizing the importance of dialogue Ulaanbaatar. inand global understanding dialogue for and avoiding restructuring conflicts 50th anniversary celebration was held from September 6-8, 2019 in and bring environment Contd. consciousness on page 2... of Vishwa Shanti The famous Shanti Stupa (Peace ) built atop the hills, surrounded by a forest and The Inner Path Festival accessed both by a ropeway and by he International Buddhist Confed- foot- will mark its 50th anniversary, eration (IBC) in collaboration with later this month on 25 October 2019. T fourcreasing days. rapidly. This year it will be held The temple was conceptualized at the National Gallery of Modern is the Art,pioneer over- and gifted by famous Buddhist Inner Path is organizing a Buddhist ing festival in India of , philanthropist and monk Nichidatsu Film Festival in Delhi from October 10-13, The Inner Path Festival 2019.Four The editions festival of the later Festival moves have to Nepal been Fujii Guruji of Japan. page 11... heldand will so far,be heldand onaudiences October have18-19, been 2019. in- aesthetics, art, culture and films.Contd. Launched on page 3... in 2013, The Inner Path attempts to take Sambodh

...Contd. from page 1 presided over the adoption of the Samvad III: Ulaanbaatar held on September 7. Swami Mitrananda was then taken to the capital’s Central energies—the Sor Zalakh—was also held. wasStadium, being whereheld. Forgotten this year’s for a Danshigcentury, Finally, the VIF hosted an Indian-style conclave unites Buddhist “Samvad III – Ulaanbaatar Declaration,” Naadam festival and Khuree Tsam dance farewell dinner with performances by leaders across Asia before a final word of thanks was given Mongolian and Indian musicians. by Dr. Enkhbaigali Byambasuren of the the festival was revived in 2015 and continueIndia, Japanto andbuild Mongolia, on importantBuddhist Institute of Strategic Studies. has since then been held annually. The stakeholders in the Samvad dialogues The third day of the conference Khuree Tsam (Cham) dance is a taxing for peace, co-existence and inter-religious withof present nature. economic system that is had fewer official events and consisted and epic ritual demanding an ensemble of understanding.cooperation among democratic nations inherently unsustainable and in conflict of a city tour of local landmarks and ofsong, channeling dance music, supernatural decorative forcesart, masks, and Inputs from Raymond Lam’s article on monuments. Chief among the sites was and spiritual costumes in the service the event in Mongolia Courtesy-Buddhistdoor Organized jointly by the Vivekananda the Palace Museum of the Bogd Khan Global International Foundation (VIF), (1869–1924), a Mongolian theocratic moral instruction. A spectacular Gandan Tegchenling, Ulaanbaatar’s and nationalist leader. The delegation ceremony to burn away negative most important Buddhist monastery, ...Contd. from page 1 associationand Mongolia’s with the Institute Japan ofFoundation, Strategic theStudies, International this year’s Buddhist Samvad Confederation was held in The Inner Path Festival Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks (pre-recorded) to Samvad delegates inside Battsagaan Grand Assembly Hall the resurgence in Buddhist thought to a on September 6. Photo: Raymond Lam (IBC), and the Mongolia-based Asian when violence and strife disrupt the fun- Buddhist Conference for Peace (ABCP). wider range of urban audiences at a time The occasion was formally titled “Samvad Each edition of the Festival presents to its Consciousness.”III: Global Buddhist-Hindu Initiative on at Gandan where the consecration of the khoomiiof cultural performances highlighting damentals of our civilisation and culture. Conflict Avoidance and Environment Buddha Statue and His two chief disciples Mongolian long song, orchestral music, - gifted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, (throat) singing, and folk dancing. turalaudience expression, works of philosophy,visual and performing discourse The Samvad series has been ongoing the Je Tsongkhapast statue gifted by HH the Nepalese Buddhist singer and activist Ani arts and other forms of creative and cul since 2015, when Indian and Japanese and the statue of Ondor Gegeen Choying Drolma also gave a performance Becoming who I was Painting Life Prophecy prime ministers Narendra Modi and Zanabazar, the 1 BogdJevzundamba of of her distinctive chanting. and discussions related to Buddhism South Korea 2017 India 2018 Bhutan 2016 Shinzo Abe began working together to- Mongolia gifted by the former President by Thea succession ceremonial openingof speeches of the by Grand the from across the world. Directors: Moon Chang-Yong Director: Bijukumar Damodaran Director: Zuri apply the spiritual teachings of Hinduism purposeof Mongolia structure was undertaken. for religious events on Assembly Hall’s doors was succeeded as “Ita beliefgives audiencesand a philosophy the opportunity which can to and Jeon Jin and Buddhism to address modern-day is The Grand Assembly Hall has a multi- gain a greater understanding of Buddhism sues threatening human civilization. The religious and political stakeholders event was also one of national importance the third floor, exhibition and conference of this event. The abbot of Gandan, theand festival. does enrich their lives,” said Aruna for Mongolia. Myanmar was the host to spaces on the second floor, and a reception His Eminence Khamba Lama Gabju Vasudev, the co-founder and Director of filmmakers – Indian and international – the second Samvad conclave in 2017. hall on the ground floor. Many residents Choijamts Demberel, gave a keynote Buddhistan opening practitionersand closing night and performance scholars. This year’s inauguration of Samvad from around Ulaanbaatar and beyond that was followed by a speech from the The four-day Festival comprises Inof dancethe past or music,we have Discourses had discourses by eminent by was timed to coincide with the opening of attended the inauguration on September prime minister of Mongolia, Khurelsukh speciallyaround 12-15 curated feature art and documentaryphotography the new Battsagaan Grand Assembly Hall 6, with the delegates welcomed by a series Ukhnaa. Swaminathan Gurumurthy, films on Buddhism, an art camp, a th chairman of the VIF and director of the people of such eminence as His Holiness A Thousand Mothers Reserve Bank of India, highlighted the aexhibition panel discussionof works related with toartists Buddhism, and the 12 Kenting Tai Situpa, Dorji USA 2017, Director: Kim Shelton Indian perspective on conflict avoidance a painting demonstration/workshop, Damdul, Dr. Ravindra Panth, Prof. Lokesh and environmental awareness. Both the Chandra, Dharmacharya Shantum Seth A Thousand pre-recordedIndian Prime Ministerspeeches Narendra felicitating Modi andthe The Discourse at Inner Path festival and Venerable Sumati Sasana. Mothers His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave separate, will be conducted by The key speakers for the sessions on by Bijukumar Damodaran,Prophecy • Ven. Dr. Dhammapiya, Secretary discourse and philosophy are Ven. Dr. Bhutan directed (2017) by from Zuri USARinpoche. directed by conference. The Japanese ambassador to General, IBC Dhammapiya, Secretary General, IBC; Kim Shelton and (2016) from Mongolia, Takaoka Masato, delivered a • Most Ven. Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, Most Ven. Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, Dongyu Aruna Vasudev, the founder and editor text address from Prime Minister Shinzo Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery, HP and Gatsal Ling Nunnery, HP and member of Abe, stressing the common goals, shared member of IBC’s Governing Council IBC’s Governing Council; Ven. Gyalten values,Plenary and democraticsessions idealsfeatured of countries on • Ven. Gyalten Samten, New Delhi Samten, New Delhi and Prof. K.T.S. Sarao, of Cinemaya, Cinefan Festival of Asian in the Indo-Pacific region. • Prof. K.T.S. Sarao, Head, Department Head, Department of ,Be- Cinema, the Founder and now President- of peaceful coexistence, interreligious of Buddhist Studies, Delhi University Delhicoming University. who I was Emeritus of NETPAC [Network for the September 6-7, with papers on the themes Some of the films to be shown are Promotion of Asian Cinema] International Khamba Lama Gabju speaks to a reporter about the conclave and exhibits on September 7. understanding, and interdependent directors Moon Chang-Yong and Jeon Jin, Photo Raymond Lam. Photo: Raymond Lam Painting Life (2017) by South Korean Pathas well Festival. as of NETPAC India, is the co- founder and the Director of The Inner 2 | IBC Newsletter sustainability. The valedictory session was (2018) from India directed IBC Newsletter | 3 Samyak Sambodh

of bliss already exists in suffering. Material - the Second Buddha deprivationexistence is caninterdependence. lead to spiritual The treasure. kernel (150-250 AD) and the concept of emptiness conceivableConflict can change blossom is indeed into our friendship. nature Samsara can flow into . All

and that’s where we enter the realm of Nagarjuna was the founder of Enlightenment may be achieved by becauseThe Tathagata of this nature Buddha of interdependence (the One Who thefreedom direction of individual in which choice. they go In can fact, be it Buddhism who acquiring and the perfection Came and Went) was transformed only shapedis up to by us. our Things deeds. can Realisation go either depends way, so transformed the understanding of of wisdom, meaning knowledge of on what we do and how we exist within Buddhist traditions for future millennia, secondemptiness. Buddha. Within the Tibetan tradition and emptiness of all phenomena. but the man remains an enigma. especially, Nagarjuna is viewed as the It signified the hope of change and andNagarjuna’s his substantial visionary body interpretation of Buddhist of enlightenment for all. the world. The law of karma is operated the concept of the emptiness of all things By the time Nagarjuna had matured essence,Nagarjuna and to recognise said that it as such whatever is the by us. He showed that Buddhism does as a philosopher, the concept of ‘zero’ phenomenon arises is empty of eternal not belong merely inside the covers of works earned him the sobriquet of had shaken up all existing metaphysical conscious of how we live, of what we do, sacred texts or within the robes of monks about‘The Secondhis actual Buddha’ life. in the systems of philosophy. Since the third ofmiddle how path.we interact To realise with it, each we haveother to and be and monasteries but on the street and in tradition, but precious little is known century BC, the freshly minted concept the minutiae of our daily lives. It is one of zero had been helping to redefine the of the most empowering messages the There are constant contradictions world. Nagarjuna took the new concept with the earth; in short, mindful living. world has ever heard. The Buddhist must asabout the Nagarjuna’s broad period, lifespan with but the the years second of of emptiness, the void, and changed Nagarjuna gave hope to our perennial constantly reform himself and transform century AD seems to be widely accepted Buddhism. quest to understand the world and the world around him. That is the true This is the third ourselves. So far, all phenomena had been missionpurposefully of Buddhism. on that path. First, however, his life placed around 150–250 AD. This viewed as being fixed and their inherent We could be transformed if we move ofseems the totreatise tally with Four the Hundred life of his Verses foremost on in a series on the substance as stable and unchanging. Good disciple, , who was the author Great Masters thewas oppositegood and of bad the was enlightened bad; the turbulent spiritual we must understand our own nature. suffering of ignorant material life was heThe preferred Buddha, us to Siddhartha spend our Gautamavaluable the actions of a ’s . Shakyamuni, had already signalled that Nagarjuna, together with Aryadeva, is existence and the wheel of samsara, of credited with founding the Madhyamaka time, rationed by life, on self-mastery School of Mahayana Buddhism. instead of pondering on ultimate This also means that Tibetan sources knowledge. He pointedly refused to present-daythat place , his emigrationare basically from accurate. the orrespond end of to themetaphysical world. Instead, questions he placed about Andhra region to University, in the existence of God and the beginning Nagarjuna in the with in the clouds Nagarjuna eventually became the abbot of destructiveemphasis onpsychological directing ourtendencies energy and to Nalanda. understanding and curing mental ills, Nagarjuna, through the great merit anguish and pain, was the opposite of Tibetan sources that he had earned, fulfilled the superhuman the bliss of nirvana. He showed us that attachments. task of living on the ocean bed to teach place his emigration When a human being is kept constantly the Nagas. He made them many offerings on the boil by emotions, where is the need and satisfied them on every score. change and transformation, including from the Andhra to seek an answer to the end of the world? Pleased, the Naga king presented him enlightenment, is possible because of region to Nalanda Until and unless human beings introspect with the Hundred Thousand Verse, the interdependence. Phenomena are open and develop a state of meditative . to change precisely because they lack University, in present- enlightenment, they will be trapped in While Nagarjuna is particularly inherent fixed nature and are, therefore, day Bihar, are basically ignorance and suffering. Knowledge can associated with the Prajnaparamita empty. The very nature of our existence accurate. Nagarjuna (alleviateCatuskoti suffering, but one has to work for theSutra, Madhyamakahe is truly famous Shastra for his writings and all the phenomena around us is that. The Buddha provided the Four Error on emptiness. His legendary work is emptinessHis analysis and interdependence,deconstructed the which world is eventually became the ) denial method to discourage Mulamadhyamakakarika (Treatise towhy show the Buddhathat nothing too was is incontrovertible,transformed. abbot of Nalanda beginningfutile metaphysical of the world meanderings. was to say: i) Histhe on the ), also known as worldresponse does tonot thehave questiona beginning about ii) it does the (Fundamental Naga princesses hold blazing wish-fulfilling jewels. The Dzi stones said to originate from Naga realms, are also depicted not have a beginning, iii) It does not have Verses on the Middle Way). His theme is nothing has immutable essence. Instead, the Bodhisattva’s path to . everything flows into each other and 4 | IBC Newsletter IBC Newsletter | 5 Samyak Sambodh

and not have a beginning, iv) nor does it International Symposium on Scholarships neither have nor not have a beginning. for studying Buddhism in India In effect, he said nothing, neither HH the Dalai Lama on Nagarjuna noconfirming position whatsoever. nor denying the proposition. ICCR supports IBC efforts He recommended to his followers to take “Nagarjuna is someone for whom I have immense admiration. As soon as I wake The Middle Way is the path between up in the morning, I recite a verse he wrote in praise of the Buddha and his the extremes of sensual pleasure and explanation of emptiness. In the Buddhist tradition, the Buddha taught us to test asceticism. Enlightenment is the state and verify his teaching through reason and analysis, and that is what Nagarjuna beyond the agitated, dissatisfied mind. and other masters of the ancient Nalanda University have done. This scientific ownIt is alives, state instead of freedom. of being What controlled it means by is approach is a unique feature of the Buddhist tradition. that we can actually take charge of our Nagarjuna made clear that while the teachings found in the Mahayana tradition are more profound than the teachings found in the tradition, they the environment. At present, most of us, do not contradict the Pali teachings. The Mahayana scriptures elaborate on bymost reaction, of the time, not action. live in a state of reaction. themes presented and first developed in the earlier teachings of the Buddha, Our time and our energies are absorbed ofgiving sunyata deeper (shoonyata and more detailed explanations of the ideas they contained. He explained that the reason we seek to understand the complex explanations Nagarjuna talked precisely about ) or emptiness (void) is to understand reality and to everythingthe lack ofelse, autonomous which in turn existence depends of eliminate wrong views and distorted ways phenomena. Everything depends upon of thinking. Wrong here relates to the our lives unfold in the context of nature second of the , the origin andupon society. other Within phenomena. that context, It means we thatare of suffering. Once we begin to understand free to choose our attitudes and deeds, actuallywisdom is and possible. eliminate wrong view, we Participants at the concluding session of the Symposium, New Delhi, July 21, 2019. , may glimpse that achieving liberation- . - our karma accumulating meritorious The Buddha emphasized the develop The IBC organized a two-day Council for Cultural Relations), initiative by IBC for encouraging karma or harmful and negative karma ment of wisdom as the remedy for over International Symposium on The Director General of ICCR (Indian Symposium on Scholarship an excellent buddhahoodThus, our fate is is given in our to all,hands, but realisationand so we realitycoming as ignorance. it is. Ignorance And what pervades is wisdom? all our Scholarships for studying Buddhism good news for the participants when he can transform ourselves. The nature of It is understanding of ultimate reality, of in India on 20-21 July, 2019 in Mr Akhilesh Mishra brought some Buddhistinteraction countries. among Buddhist universities, vow to avoid suffering is not an ascetic New Delhi. The scholarships will monasteries and Institutions of India and depends upon our efforts. The Buddhist perceptions and in order to overcome it we be available to foreign students for said that the Council “would be willing cultivate an understanding of emptiness Buddhist studies in India. Based to consider enhancing the number of The subject was of special interest to shrinking from the world but a pledge to and dependent origination. Nagarjuna on the inputs received from the scholarships for studying Buddhism and him as he was from Varanasi and had bothseek outare thepossibilities nirvana thatthat alreadylie before exists us, referred to these teachings as being like treasure. The explanation of how things participating universities and the was open to exploring other instruments. Mastersgrown up in under Mechanical the shadow Engineering of Dhamekh is within this world. Suffering and peace, arise in dependence on causes and conditions may also arouse in us a deep delegates, the IBC in consultation for promoting interactions and exchanges Stupa in . Mr. Mishra, though a sorrowsconcern forof the others, world. which we call compassion. And compassion teaches us the with an expert committee especially among Buddhist scholars and researches and the outcome depends on our actions value of non-harming, non-violence, which is a fitting panacea for the ills and formed for this purpose is presently In his address as the Chief Guest, Mr a career diplomat and speaks Spanish, and interaction. Merit and wisdom can working out the detailed procedure relationsMishra said with ICCR other “attached countries the highestin the besidesItalian andEnglish. Nepalese, and among Indian lead to enlightenment. Indian civilisation has given rise to a long series of great thinkers and priority to promoting and nurturing languages he knows Hindi and Sanskrit, and modalities of the scholarship In an address where he extensively This is an immensely liberating teachers endowed with both human intelligence and a sense of responsibility scheme, including the shortlisting message, even for the twenty-first towards the community. The leading India nuclear physicist Raja Ramanna once field of education and intellectual, and for happiness and if we reach beyond of prospective universities, the century. Everyone is engaged in the quest told me that he had read one of Nagarjuna’s texts and was amazed and proud academic exchanges. Annually, ICCR offers quoted from Sanskrit verses to expound courses and the number of slots students to pursue higher studies in to find an account that accords with much of what quantum physics is saying about 4,000 scholarships for foreign on Buddhism, Buddhist philosophy and to be offered. The IBC scholarship Indian Universities. other world religions, बुद्धधम㔮 withinour conditioned which the minds,true reality moulded is revealed by our today. Similarly, ancient Indian texts are a treasure trove of knowledge about its message, he stated: Compared to many programme will begin from the पुराणमित्뵇 साधु स셍픂- tocircumstances, us. we can attain the silence the mind and its working. I believe they still have relevance today in the twenty- (Buddhism) academic session 2020-21. In sophisticatedfirst century. philosophy of non-violence at the core of their heart, tolerance “I am glad to share that this year ICCR is quite ancient – but just the first phase of the scheme, the Excerpts from Nagarjuna- the Second Because India and her people have, from ancient times cherished a rich and has included in the scheme two Premier because something is ancient it doesn’t scholarship will be open to some Buddha by Mohini Kent, Global Envoy IBC; Buddhist Institutions – Central Institute of become great. The great significance of focused countries of South and Series Editor (Books on the Great Masters ) and pluralism have also flourished. These values, elaborated on by masters like Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS), Sarnath BuddhismIt does liesnot inencourage its essential blind message faith, Aruna Vasudev theNagarjuna, world.” continue to have great importance in the world we live in today and South East Asian Buddhist nations, receivingand Central scholars Institute for of Buddhist Buddhist studies Studies, in whichbut rationalis ever-fresh, understanding timeless in relevance. through Publisher: Wisdom Tree it is my conviction that India should take a stronger lead in presenting them to including Bhutan, Nepal and theseLeh.” Addinginstitutions. that they looked forward to Mongolia. He described the International very foundation of ‘ ’ is reasoning, argumentation and debate. The 6 | IBC Newsletter BuddhaIBC Newsletter Dhamma | 7 Samyak Sambodh

बुद्ध 鴂 तद् यच्च बोद्धव्यम् यच्च नान्뵇न बुद㔧्뵇त theश配 questरुत् च for जिताः knowledge: कलेशाः तेन बुद्ध 鴂 वदन्त माम् |

of the Republic of . Even at Mongolia during the second half of the all Thisbeings: Pursuit of knowledge is for Buddhismth in Russia came through through these territories on their way to Elizaveta Petrovna signed a decree theज removalगत् हिताय of बु sufferingद्धो हि बोध fromमाꥍनोत the शाश्वत livesम of् | Chinathat time,noticed Russian that diplomats had portable passing officially accepting Buddhism as theth अत एव च जीवनाम् स셍핇षाम् तु हिते रतः | 16 century,th though Buddhism spread prayer houses called dugans, which were Buryat religion: in 1991, the Republic from Tibet to Mongolia in the beginning later replaced by the of Buryatia commemorated their 250 of the 13 century, says Prof Victoria anniversary of this Decree. Demenova, Director of the Art History, temples. However, Another famous Russia Empress, Buddhism is very modern in outlook,(राग, however,Culture Studies it was only and in Design the second Department half of ofBuddhism the eighteenth began tocentury. spread actively among Catherine the Great, established by her रandति, का quiteम) or mathematical aversion (hatred, in precision.envy 饍षव ) at the Ural Federal University of Russia; Buryats only during the first three decades Supreme Decree the position of Pandit Suffering is caused by attachment religion of the Mongol Princes. , head of Russian Buddhists the 16th century that it became the state Finally, (the present day Republic in Eastern and Transbaikal region. – due to ignorance and confusion about of Tuva) became a part of Russia (then Catherine the Great was recognized as one Chief Guest, Mr. Akhilesh Mishra, Director General, ICCR, lighting the lamp: (L to R) Mr. Malay K Sinha, Director andthe fundamentalproper understanding nature of theof thereality. nature So General, IBC, Rev. B. Sri Saranankara Nayaka MahaThera,Chief Adhikarana Sangha Nayaka of Malaysia and At a lecture on ‘Buddhist Collections USSR) only in 1944. Before this, from 1921 of the incarnations of White . ofliberation the reality from (शून suffering्ता) requires insight President, IBC, Ven Dr Dhammapiya, Secretary General, IBC, Ven. Lama Lobzang, Working President IBC, Most Ven. in Russian Museums’ in Delhi at INTACH to 1943, it was independent after being In 1764, head lama of Tsongol अनित्), without Dr. Pallekande Rathanasara Maha Thero, Sri Lanka, President, IBC and Prof. Dr. Christie Yu-Ling Chang, Director, (Indian National Trust for Art and earlier a vassal territory of China. The was officially recognized as the Chief Lama Taipei, Taiwan, President, IBC. essence and self-less –(अनात㔮 all phenomenon, शून्) and Cultural Heritage), in late September, ancestors of Tuvans were already familiar of Transbaikal Buryats, receiving a title of are impermanent ( Prof Demenova dwelling on the history with Buddhism during theth earlyth medieval Pandito Khambo-Lama (“The Learned (प्रतीत् समुत्पद) | said “the Eastern religion now formed an period, when their land formed a part of High Priest”). This confirmed Buryatia interdependent in cause-effect dynamicदुःख), artintegral collectors.” part of our country. Buddhism is Uyghur Khaganate (8 -10 centuries); Buddhists’s special position regarding राग 饍षव ) When you are hit by a stick, you fight ultimate responsibility on the individuals an important subject for researchers and however,th century. Tuvans themselves converted Tibet and Mongolia, although spiritual The causes of suffering ( not with the stick, but the one using themselves; no one else can make anotheror to Buddhism only in the latter part of the andauthority worshippers. of Tibetan Dalai has attachment and aversion ( – the stick; but since it is hatred which is willperson have pure to ortravel impure. oneself to reach the Buddhism is one of the three official 18 always been recognizedth century, by BuryatBuryatia lamas had causesoriginate suffering, in individual’s anything own said mind or – done causingसुसुखं व theत ज personीवेम वेरि न toेसु useअवे रि theनो | stick, you Man himself is one’s protect . One religions in Russia. The official Russian Anything said or done with evil thought should fight at the hatred, not the person. else to travel. Individual can never escape religions include Orthodox Christianity, By the early 20 - destination; can’t depend on someone Islam and Buddhism. Orthodox Christianity 47 monasteries and over 10,000 lamas. with content, happy, positive mind gives अष्टग hasis certainly over four the centuries most widespread of history in and Russia. old The major were: Tsongol, Gusi happiness. So control of own mind and कियThereतो मisार noयि स्other,यमि दु effective,र्नान् गगनोप pragmaticमाम् theमार 㔗consequences of his actions – Untilreligious the tradition;end of the however, twentieth Buddhism century, noozersky (Tamchin), Aginsky, Anninsky, thought is key to happiness and removal wayम ारtoि तeliminateे 啍रधचि配 त yourतु मार िenemiesता स셍핇श配 –रुः || andRight liberation. knowledge, Just rightrituals, conduct prayers – and Atsagat, Egituy and Tsugol datsans. of hatred – - is the way to live in peace & harmony Buddhism played an enormous role Also, hatred can’t be eradicated by asout Buddhist. of about 150 ethnic groups living in the development of Buryat national hatred, it can only be removed“hatred by love,” as cover the entire earth so that your feet temple visits will not help. in Russia, three were officially recognized culture. Datsans hosted faculties that kindness, compassion and friendship – Where is the amount of leather to Contrary to misperception in some taught philosophy, logic, medicine, मBuddhaुख्य दडादं taughtिकं हित्व us प्रे रक to े fightयदि कुप ्यत people, Buddhism is not a pessimistic These were the Buryats, the Kalmyks and so on; they printed religious, scholarly the饍 enemyषव ेण प्रेरि तः– सोऽपि 饍षव े दोषोस्त मे वरम् | asare covering protected the from entire thorns? earth! Just covering philosophy, but actually an optimistic and the Tuvans. From these three- Prof. Victoria Demenova and popular didactic literature; they had your feet with shoes has the same effect and positive approach to life and human Kalmyks were the first to become a part workshops where painters, woodcutters, existence – Westernof the Russian Mongolia Empire. to the Theysteppes were of the th century, they already sculptors, scribes and many others He goes on to say: Buddhism placed It is never too late to make amends descendants of the Oirats who movedth century. from worked. Why study Buddhism in India of past-mistakes through good deeds. By the early 20 culturalAs a centres result, Buddhistof traditional monasteries Buryat If someone overcomes his past bad deeds Lower Volga region in early 17 had monasteries and a systems for literally became the main spiritual and In India, the land of Buddha (आर्भूमि), you get not just academic knowledge theby cloud. subsequent good deeds he begins Today, this area is known as the training and schooling for the monks. The but profound spiritual experience – opportunity to live in places associated to shine like the moon coming out of Republic of . th century, Tuvans became the third ethnic group hadsociety. their The own educational printing houses work (or, of Buryatrather, with Buddha’s life and relive the memory of Buddha’s life. Buddhist literature The Kalmyks officially converted within Russia officially recognized as datsans is very well known: 29 of them – in Pali, Sanskrit – contain homegrown native thoughts organically rooted It is important to note that Buddha was to Buddhism around late 16 Buddhists. All of themth century, belonged Buryatia to the in the Indian soil. Many unique concepts, epithets of Buddhism can only be बुद्धतborn् asand Siddhartha, सर्शुद्ध स् भा anव ordinary human although by that time they were already alreadyGelug School. had eleven dugan print shops), where woodblocks were understood by familiarizing with the Indian context. being. But through efforts he acquired familiar with Buddhism for three hundred By the early 18 used to manually print Buddhist works in In India, Buddhism is part of multi-cultural, multi-religious society. This makes – and practiced alreadyyears. As Buddhists. a result, when Kalmyks became temples where Tibetan and Mongolian languages, both Indian – Buddhism experience conducive to interfaith dialogue, and promotion of compassion for all beings, without any a part of the , they were theprayers region. were However, held. In Tsongol 1712, around Datsan 150 sawfor monks the rise and offor Buryatthe lay public.national school inter-religious understanding and world peace. distinction. This is the only way to gain Mongolian and Tibetan lamas arrived in of Thearchitecture, latter half ofpainting the nineteenth and sculpture. century – Mr Akhilesh Mishra, Director General of ICCR lasting peace and tranquility: The second Buddhist people were – In conclusion, he states, the “study of Buryats.th Their territories were gradually the first permanent Buddhist monastery Buddha Dhamma should be for all, not absorbed by the Russian Empire in the in Transbaikal region – was built only in Following the Tibetan canon, Buryat 8 | IBC Newsletter just for Buddhist scholars or monks. mid-17 century. Today this is a territory the mid-18th century. In 1741, Empress masters created outstandingIBC Newsletter works | in 9 Samyak Sambodh

th each of these art forms – precisely because 50 anniversary celebration of they infused them with the spirit and style of their local traditions. The greatest Vishwa Shanti Stupa to be a grand affair examples of Buryat school of architecture is the temple complex of Gusinoozyorsky (Tamchinsky) datsan. Pagoda) built atop the , The best examples of icon painting are Tsurroundedhe famous by Shanti a forest Stupa and accessed (Peace by lama Osor Budayev Rajgir hills pantheonIn sculpture, and portraitsthere are woodenof outstanding figures th representing members of Buddhist both by a ropeway and by foot- will mark its 50 anniversary, later this month on lamas made by Orongoi masters from 25October 2019. datsan.Yangazhinsky He lived datsan. in the late Master nineteenth Tsybikov and The temple was conceptualized and was the greatest artist of Yangazhinsky Itgifted was byinaugurated famous Buddhist by the thenphilanthropist President and monk Guruji of Japan. early twentieth century (1877-1934). A foundation stone was laid four years large album devoted to the works of Sanzhi- Republic of Kalmykia in XIX century. Kalmyks officially VV Giri in 1969. Though the Stupa's Tsybik Tsybikov, was published several converted to Buddhism during the late sixteenth artyears school. ago. This master is considered the century, although Buddhism was known among them earlier in 1965 by the then President for three centuries before this date. As a result, when founder of the first Buryatan professional Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. The site also The Shanti Stupa- Peace Pagoda Kalmyks became a part of the Russian Empire, they includes a Nipponzan Myohoji temple. were already Buddhists. Woodworking was a long-established It was the former Foreign Secretary, Mr cutting,traditional building craft among and paintings. the Buryats; But theythe Lalit Mansingh’s cousin the well-known Buddhistwere all-round art and masters, culture usingbrought wood to the for artist Padmashri Upendra Maharathi, a Buryats the new ideas of the beauty of Buddhist who migrated from Orissa to wide shoulders of deities; some details settle down in Bodhgaya, with Anagarika belong to the Dolonnor School (Inner theDharmapala Buddhists. restored the Mahabodhi deities. Tsybikov school, which mostly naturalMongolia) colours. – but overall, this is an original Temple as a revered place of worship for produced wooden and papier-mache style of wooden sculpture painted in warm sculpture, developed a uniform style. Its He set up the Mahabodhi Society in works are marked by an unusual type of The majority of works by Buryat India and subsequently with his spiritual beauty: a mixture of European and Asian masters are housed by the National - Fujji Guruji whom he had met in features. We can observe the influence Museum of the Republic of Buryatia. Japan, he assisted in the identification of Mongolian Dzanabadzar school in the Description of Buryatia Buddhist aof lead Rajgir on forthe theanniversary Shanti Stupa. celebrations Today, his of collection was a long-time project of daughter, Mahasweta Maharathi is taking Svetlana Batyurovna Bardaleeva; the first book about collection was the Shanti Stupa. researchedwritten by and Professor studied Buryatan Badmazhapov painting in The importance of this hill is because Monks in meditation at the Vulture’s Peak where the Shakyamuni preached the andthe 1990s.its characteristic Later, many features. scholars For worked, a long of the Griddhakuta, or Vulture’s Peak its(it iswings so named folded) because where the the rocks Buddha on the is the th and early believedhillside resembleto have a preached sitting vulture the with time,th Buryat style was confused with the Pagodasatomic had bombs been builttook around the lives the of world over beganin 1931 constructing and decided Peace to devote his lifeas Chinese thangkas of late 19 Lotus 150,000 people. By 2000, eighty Peace shrinesto promoting to world non-violence. peace. In 1947, he 20 century. But today, thanks to the Sutra. It was here that Buddhist stupa, it - efforts of many researchers – among them spent several months meditating and isin designedEurope, Asia, to provide and the a United focus forStates. people dra Maharathi are to be found inside the Yulia Igorevna Elikhina, chief custodian preaching. He also delivered some of towardsA Peace peaceful Pagoda co-existence- is a of all races Original paintings by Padmashri Upen Buryatof Tibetan painting and Khotanis distinguished collections by in the his famous sermons and initiated king Hermitage museum – we can say that of and countless search for world peace. Most (though monastery in the complex. The museum- natural range of colours: all colours are Pagodas,others to Buddhism.Mr Mansingh said these were notand creeds,all) peace and pagodasto help unite have them been in theirbuilt Upendra Maharathi Shilp Anusandhan large figures of deities and a characteristic Explaining the significance of the Peace under the guidance of woodSansthan crafting, has some weaving, of his paintingspriceless collecand a tions of art, documents, stone carvings, Tsongolsky datsan “Baldan Breybun” (the first Buryat datsan in the Russian Empire. Year of its official recognition host of other artefacts that testify to the - 1741 when Buddhism in Russia was recognized as one of the state religions. It is located in the territory of very natural (synthetic pigments were not built as a symbol of peace in Japanese Nichidatsu Fujii ancient and rich heritage of Bihar. Kyakhtinsky District of the Republic Buryatia available in Buryatia at the time), while cities at the end of World War 11, (1885–1985). Fujii was greatly inspired the Chinese works of the same period use including Hiroshima and Nagasaki where by his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi 10 | IBC Newsletter a vibrant emerald-green colour. IBC Newsletter | 11 DELENG19358

Maha Bodhi Temple,

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