The Return of the Buddha
Posted on December 6th, 2011
by Shobhan Saxena, Times of India, Dec 4, 2011
Are Buddhist nations coming together to form a bloc that is as much religious as it is political? And is India ready to assume leadership of the group? If it is, China is clearly unhappy about it. But a churning has begun. Sunday Times reports from the first Global Buddhist Congregation
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ New Delhi, India — With the smell of incense floating above their shaven heads, the Thai monks in grey robes walked in a single file, eyes to the ground and their hands softly beating the prayer drums. Following them were the Tibetan lamas, Sri Lankan monks and Taiwanese priests – all walking elegantly, murmuring mantras under their breath and forming a circle around a chosen spot.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Then a shiver passed down the crowd as the Dalai Lama arrived at Nehru Park and placed into freshly dug-up holes saplings of the Bodhi Tree – a cutting of the same pipal under which the Buddha had found enlightenment 2600 years ago and which was slashed and burned by King Sasanka of Bengal, an anti-Buddhist iconoclast, in the 6th century AD.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ On November 30, as the first Global Buddhist Congregation in Delhi decided to form a new global Buddhist body based in India, delegates from 46 countries – from the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions – were handed over the Bodhi Tree saplings to be planted in their countries. Many leaders received the plants from the Dalai Lama, who also gave the valedictory speech at the congregation.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The message was not missed on anyone : Buddhism is set to get more organized globally; India is to become the new centre of this unity; and the Dalai Lama is recognized as an unofficial leader of all Buddhists. “All Buddhist countries feel that in India, the land of Buddha, nothing is being done to promote Buddhism. Now, all the Buddhist organizations will be under the International Buddhist Confederation to be based here,” says Lama Lobsang, the head of Asoka Mission, which organized the Delhi congregation.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The idea seems to have been accepted. “The whole world looks to India because of Buddhism. If someone from India takes initiative, India can take leadership of the Buddhist world,” says Banagala Uptatissa , chief of Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka . Well, not exactly the whole world. On November 26, one day before the Congregation began, China kicked up a diplomatic storm by putting off border talks with India after New Delhi refused to give in to its demand of not allowing the Buddhist meet.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Earlier, 35 Chinese monks invited for the meet didn’t turn up, making it clear that Beijing was not happy with the congregation. “This conference had a very clear agenda to remind the scattered Buddhist communities that India is the home of Buddhism,” says Gabriel Lefitte, Australian academic and environmental activist who attended the meeting. “China has been quite vigorous in making sure that anybody with a Buddhist background feels connection with China but India has been a bit slow by comparison to restore the ‘Buddhist parivar’ .”
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It’s not that the officially atheist China has suddenly fallen in love with Buddhism . China is worried about the growing stature of the Dalai Lama as a global Buddhist leader; it’s also trying to build credibility among the Buddhists so that Beijing can pick the next incarnation of the Dalai Lama without any problem. “The current Chinese leadership is haunted by the Tibetan issue as there have been many cases of self-immolation by the Tibetan monks in mainland China. There is a feeling of urgency regarding the decision of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama,” says Binod Singh, who teaches at the India Study Centre of Peking University.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ China faces an additional problem. It may have dazzled the world with its growth rate, but China has not been able to check social unrest and growth of religion at home. It’s believed that there are now some 100 million Buddhists in China, many of them followers of Tibetan Buddhism. “Of late, the Chinese leaders have been talking about a ‘harmonious society’ and they have eased restrictions on all religions.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Communist Party takes part in the selection of reincarnation of Tibetan lamas. They want to control Buddhism to keep control on their people,” says an Indian diplomat who served in Beijing till recently. “The friction with India is over the leadership of Buddhist countries and trade interest in east Asia, which China considers its area of influence.”
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Courtesy:ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Buddhist Channel
Video: Dalai Lama’s address at the World Buddhist Congregation 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4A4mDRjElk&feature=player_embedded
December 6th, 2011 at 8:17 pm
India is to become the new centre of this unity; and the Dalai Lama is recognized as an unofficial leader of all Buddhists.
What nonsense is this how can India lead the world in Buddhism? Who recognizes the Dalai Lama as leader of all Buddhist?NOT me! In India there is a minority of Buddhist, then also many other western and asian countries which have the same number of Buddhist can lead the Buddhist world! The Dalai Lama is the head (Nayaka) of 1 of the Buddhist sects of Tibet, that is it! How can we as Theravada Buddhist except this? as far as my knowledge go’s they dont even take tisarana and pancha sila! This is politics!He might be a “nice fellow”as someone described him resently to me, but the world is full with nice fellows! We dont need a Buddhist Pope! The Buddha said before He passed away that after him there should be no Leader! The Dhamma is there to guide, that is the leader on the path!How can our Nayaka’s which are there accept this!It is against the Buddha’s words! India is playing the Buddhist (Dalai Lama ) card now against China, and uses Buddhism for it! It is NOT right! Metta Devamitta Thera
December 6th, 2011 at 8:46 pm
Any organisation formed as a Buddhist organisation will succeed only if its aim is the protection of Buddhism. If it is used for any other specific political or commercial purpose it is bound to fail. If the organisation aim to support Dalai Lama it should be only because the Tibetan culture and hence the Tibetan Buddhism is endangered. This should be same with India or China. Leadership should be rotated as in any other organisation. The most capable person should lead the organisation – not necessarily a political leader. As Devamitta said The Buddha declared nobody is required to lead the Buddha Sasana.
This organisation should have nothing to do with Buddhist principles or Buddhist doctrine, because it is a religion mainly for individual practise. Its main aim is purification of mind. No time for mundane matters. It has nothing to do with this organisation which is for protection of (Buddha), Dhamma, Sangha and all Buddhist laymen, which is a must in the present dog eat dog society.
December 6th, 2011 at 9:00 pm
There is the WFB, and it is slowly deing because of the lack of support! No need for more World org. lets 1st try to make the WFB function! That is non political. I agree that Tibetan Buddhism is endangered in Tibet, and it should be supported to survive as a Buddhist school, but if that is the purpose they should do it in another way, I would support that. But this not, howe can we? Metta Devamitta.
December 6th, 2011 at 9:46 pm
WFB is a good organisation. But too good for the purpose we are discussing. I cannot think of anything achieved by WFB. It was a Hindu Mr. Kadiragamar that worked hard to get the Wesak day as an International day at UN.
It is very difficult to find motivated people among Buddhists, because the Buddhism is not confrontational.
We must give any organisation which is organised with a set purpose a chance.
December 8th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
I have always enjoyed listening to the Dalai Lama talk. It must be a very difficult thing to both be a Buddhist priest as well as the head of a Nation, Tibet. I don’t think such a thing is possible in this war ridden, fear filled world – but the Dalai Lama has never given up his values as a Buddhist and I respect him highly for that.
The speech given at the GBC reflects his undying courage and sincerity of purpose as a Buddhist, delivered with his inimitable humour.
Politics always spoil life for ordinary human beings seeking a peaceful life !
December 11th, 2011 at 9:51 am
Fran Diaz, you are very wrong. Dali Lama has is a sect, that uses what Gauthama Buddha preaced and mix it with disinformation to create a society that is controlled by him. Dali lama is a billioner and a leader of a terrorist army. Chinese have corrected his most of his draconian laws. There are plenty of books written about his nasty side. Maduma Lama was found by a visiting Chinese child inspector, with a young boy. He issued a summons to appear in court. The very next day he disappeared after few days he appeared in INDIA and told the local media that Chanese are changing the Tibatian calture.