Lumbini J OURNAL O F T HE L UMBINI N EPALESE B UDDHA D HARMA S OCIETY (UK) Volume 22 B. E. 2563 May 2019 Kwapadya - Sakyamuni Buddha Lumbini Nepalese Buddha Dharma Society (UK) uddha was born more than 2600 years ago at Lumbini in Nepal. His teachings of existence of suffering and Lumbini the way out of the suffering are applicable today as they were Journal of The Lumbini Nepalese Buddha Dharma Society (UK) Bapplicable then. The middle way he preached is more appropriate now than ever before. Lumbini is the journal of LNBDS (UK) and published annually For centuries Buddhism remained the religion of the East. Recently, depending upon funds and written material; and distributed free more and more Westerners are learning about it and practising Dharma of charge as Dharma Dana. It is our hope that the journal will serve for the spiritual and physical well-being and happiness. As a result of as a medium for: this interest many monasteries and Buddhist organisations have been 1.Communication between the society, the members and other established in the West, including in the UK. Most have Asian interested groups. connections but others are unique to the West e.g. Friends of Western Buddhist Order. 2.Publication of news and activities about Buddhism in the United Nepalese, residing in the UK, wishing to practice the Dharma for their Kingdom, Nepal and other countries. spiritual development, turned to them as there were no such Nepalese 3.Explaining various aspects of Dharma in simple and easily organisations. Therefore, a group of Nepalese met in February 1997 and founded Lumbini Nepalese Buddha Dharma Society (UK) to fill understood language for all age groups. this gap. The society is non-political, non-racial, non-profit making 4.Discussion on Dharma through a readers column. voluntary organisation and open to all, both Nepalese and non-Nepalese, whatever their faith and tradition. Lumbini is run purely on donation. Therefore, any donations are welcome and greatly appreciated. Cheques/Postal orders should be Objectives made payable to Lumbini Nepalese Buddha Dharma Society (UK) or LNBDS (UK) and forwarded to the society. 1. To make Buddhism known to the wider public and to help them understand the benefits of the Budha's profound teachings, 2. To have a forum for the meeting of Nepalese residents in the UK Lumbini for you... and others with an interest in Buddha Dharma as a spiritual practice for discussion, exchange of ideas, constructive dialogue and to build Nepalese Buddhist community in the UK etc., For the forthcoming issues of Lumbini, we welcome your articles, anecdotes, short stories or news features, which are linked to Nepal 3. To establish links with similar organisations in the UK, Nepal and and/or Buddhism. Send your contributions and comments to the other countries, Editor, LNBDS. 4. To organise voluntary work to help reduce human Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We suffering in Nepal and other countries, and regret we cannot acknowledge or return items we do not publish. 5. To promote and publish religious and cultural heritage of Nepal. Advisers Nepal, Mr. Chakra B. Tamang, Dr. Dinesh Bajracharya, Miss Sophia Bhikkhu Sugandha (Thailand), Lodro Thaye, Bhikkhu Sujankirti, Somerville, Mrs. Vibeke Dahl, Mrs. Asha Sharma, Dr. David Gellener, Dr. Ratna Bahadur Sakya Mrs. Shanta Gurung, Mrs. Geeta Shrestha, Ms Jasmin Lama, Mrs Hind Executive Committee Members Maiya Vaidya, Mr. Rajju Dwip Bajracharya, Mr. Dinesh Sthapit, Mrs. Bhikkhu Sumana (President), Mr. Amrit Ratna Sthapit (Vice-President), Bijaya Luxmi Joshi Rai, Dr. Chuda B. Karki, Dr. Rajan Bajracharya, Dr. Mr. Dinesh Sthapit (Treasurer), Dr Dharma B. Shakya (Secretary), Sachetan Tuladhar, Mr. Madan Thapa, Mr. Mahanta B Shrestha, Mrs. Mr. Ram Babu Thapaliya (Joint Secretary) Bhim Laxmi Shakya Members Editor: Amrit Ratna Sthapit Mrs. Nani Shova Shakya, Mr. Gyalsang Tamang, Mr. Sukman Lama, Dr. Dinesh Bajracharya, Dr. Swayambhu Tuladhar, Mr. Sujan Shakya, Editorial Panel: Dr Dharma B. Shakya, Ram Babu Thapaliya Mr. Rajju Dwip Bajracharya, Mr. Kushal Tuladhar and Dr. Rajan Bajracharya Front Cover Design: Udaya Shakya Organising Committee All Executive Committee Members, Mrs. Pramila Shakya, Dr. Rasana Design & Layout: Amrit Ratna Sthapit Bajracharya, Mrs. Anu Sthapit, Mr. Shubha Ratna Shakya, Mrs. Menika Sthapit, Mrs. Padma Tara Sakya, Mrs. Reema Shakya, Mrs. Suchita LNBDS Office: Lumbini Nepalese Buddha Dharma Society (UK) Tuladhar, Mrs. Durga Thapaliya, Mrs. Ramila Bajracharya, Mrs. Rinu [email protected] Tuladhar and Mrs. Anjali Bajracharya www.lumbini.org.uk Life Members Printed by: PIP Printing Mr. Amrit R. Sthapit, Dr. Dharma B. Shakya, Dr. Lochan Manandhar, 198 High Street, Brentford TW8 8AH Mrs. Nani Shova Shakya, Mrs. Sakuna Lama, Miss Hima Gurung, Mrs. Anita Rai, Mr. Lil Gurung, Mr. Surya Bajra Yonjan, Mr. Redwood Articles and opinions expressed in the journal are not necessarily MA, Mr. Shashi Manandhar, Mr. Rambabu Thapaliya, Mr. Uttam the opinions of the society. 2 Lumbini May 2019 Lumbini Contents Journal of The Lumbini Nepalese Buddha Dharma Society (UK) LNBDS Executive Committee and Objectives 2 Volume 22 B.E. 2563 May 2019 Editorial 3 Cover Story - Kwa Bahah - Devid Gellner 4 Editorial The Life of the Buddha 5 - Karuna Shakya LNBDS UK would like to wish a very Happy Buddha Upekkha - Equanimity 7 Buddha Jayanti, Swanyapunhi Day, to all our readers. It - Rajah Kuruppu/Dr. Arjun Dev Mehta is 2563rd Buddha Jayanti, the era which marks the passing away (Mahaparinirvana) of the Buddha, in 543 BCE. The My dialouge in Buddhism 9 Buddha was born in 623 BCE in Lumbini, Nepal. So, - Venerable Seelawimala Nayaka Thera this year we will also be celebrating the Buddha’s 2643rd Condolences 10 birth day, Lumbini Day. Karuna (Compassion) 11 Teachings of the Buddha is norm for Buddhists in Nepal. - Aranitara Bajracharya From our culture, architects and thinking process, Buddha’s Late Venerable Ashwaghosa Sangha Nayaka Thera 13 teaching has great impact. Once Kathmandu was main A brief overview of Zen Buddhism 14 hub of Buddhism but due to various outside influences, - Dotetsu Zenji (An Iranian Zen Monk) it deteriorated. When some Theravada monks tried to ;'vL kfl/jfl/s hLjgsf] nfuL a4' lzIff 17 revive Buddhism in mid 90s, they were expelled during - bLgf s+;fsf/ Rana regime. The expulsion of Buddhist monks from LNBDS Activities and News 20 Nepal was part of an operation by former Rana government to suppress the revival of Theravada News about Buddhism 23 Buddhism in Nepal in the early decades of the 20th century. There were two deportations of monks from We are thankful to Professor David Gellner for cover story Kathmandu, in 1926 and 1944. Among various Buddhist on Kwa Bahah, Hiranya Varna Mahavihara (Golden monks Venerable Ashwaghosa was one of the prominent Temple). This is one of the most captivating, most well- monk who played important role in present day Buddhism designed, and most elaborate Buddhist monuments of in Nepal, mainly Theravada Buddhism. We have allocated Nepal in Patan. a page to pay our tribute to late Venerable Ashwaghosa, Equanimity (Pali: Upekkha; Sanskrit: Upekchya) is one 6th Sangha Nayaka of Nepal, which is a great lost to of the four sublime states of mind and is considered: Buddhists and Buddhism in Nepal. Neither a thought nor an emotion, it is rather the steady The Buddha was very logical and practical teacher. His conscious realization of momentary of life. It is the ground teachings throughout is based on experiences gained by for wisdom and freedom and the protector of compassion himself. Rather than imposing like command or dogma, and love. We are grateful to Mr. Rajah Kuruppu for his he always preferred as a teacher a discussion giving in-depth article on Upekkha. illustrations. We express our humble thanks to Venerable Seelawimala for his article ‘My dialogue in Buddhism’ To our Nepali readers we got ‘;'vL kfl/jfl/s hLjgsf] nfuL which will be beneficial to our readers. a'4lzIff’ by Dina Kansakar, the winning articles from our essay competition in 2018 in Nepal. Lumbini Nepalese Venerable Dotetsu Zenji was kind enough to write an Buddha Dharma Society (UK) in collaboration with article on ‘A brief overview of Zen Buddhism’. This article Buddhist Youth Group (Yuva Baudha Samuha), gives an enlightening overview of Zen Buddhist practice Kathmandu has been organising Buddhist essay for which we are grateful. In this Buddhist School, main competition on various topics since 2007. Last year's focus is given to meditation (Dhyana), thus known as competition topic was ‘Buddha’s teaching for happy family Zen. Teaching of the Buddha is not limited to any country life. or any geographical area. Irrespective of past, present or future (Akalika), Buddhism is for all who wants to live We are thankful to Karuna Shakya for her article on ‘The harmonious life. However, we could see some differences Life of the Buddha. Equally our thanks to Aranitara in practices in different schools of Buddhism such as Bajracharya for her ariticle on Karuna, one of sublime Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana and Zen but fundamental practices in Buddhism, teachings are same in all Schools. May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with us! May 2019 Lumbini 3 Cover story Kwa Bahah (Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, Golden Temple) Prof David Gellner, UK Introduction ringing a bell, at the end of the morning service and be- Hidden away from the crowded streets and crossroads of fore the evening service. the ancient city of Lalitpur (Patan/Yala) is one of the most The Main Shrine of the Shakya Muni (Gandhakuti) intriguing, most elegant, and most ornate Buddhist monu- The main temple in the courtyard is a three-tiered rectan- ments of Nepal: the monastery called Hiranya Varna gular pagoda structure dominating the entire complex.