1.01 lakh houses to be constructed under the Manyawar Shri Kanshi Ram Ji Urban Poor Housing Scheme Lucknow: July 18, 2008
The Uttar Pradesh Government has decided to provide two-room houses
free-of-cost to the urban poor living below the poverty line, destitute
widows and handicapped under the Manyawar Shri Kanshi Ram Ji Urban Poor
Housing Scheme. The cost of these houses will be Rs. 1.75 lakh. During
the first phase (2008-09) of this scheme, as many as 101000 will be
constructed. As many as 1,500 houses per district will be constructed
in 60 districts having larger urban population, while in 11 districts
1,000 residences per district will be constructed. The State Government
has made a provision of Rs. 500 crore for the purpose and more funds
would be allocated as per the requirement. Under this scheme, 23 per
cent houses would be reserved for the SC/ST, 27 per cent for the OBC
and 50 per cent for the candidates of the general category. The
disabled persons would essentially be allotted houses on the ground
floor. Those living below the poverty line would be eligible for the
allotment. For its verification, the applicant would have to submit a
BPL certificate. For the eligibility under the destitute widows and
disabled persons category, submission of certificate would be required.
Under this scheme, the allottees would be exempted from house and water
taxes. This decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting presided over by
the Chief Minister, Ms. Mayawati. During the first phase, the districts
selected for the construction of 1500 houses would be provided 10 acres
of land for the purpose, while those districts where 1000 houses would
be constructed, would be provided 7 acres of land. The arrangement of
land would be ensured under the supervision of the concerning D.M.s.
The plinth area of every housing unit would be 35 sq. mtr. and each
house would have two rooms, a kitchen, latrine, bathroom and a balcony.
The maximum cost of the house constructed under this scheme would be
around Rs. 1.75 lakh. Sixty districts, where 1500 residence per
district would be constructed, would include Kanpur Nagar, Lucknow,
Ghaziabad, Agra, Meerut, Moradabad, Varanasi, Allahabad, Bareilly,
Bulandshahr, Muzaffarnagar, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Mathura, Aligarh,
Bijnore, Gorakhpur, Saharanpur, Jhansi, Badaun, Unnao, Shahjahanpur,
Rampur, Sitapur, Hardoi, Jyotiba Phule nagar, Lakhimpur Kheri, Jalaun,
Farrukhabad, Mau, Etawah, Pilibhit, Jaunpur, Mirzapur, Rae-Bareli,
Ballia, Deoria, Azamgarh, Faizabad, Hathrus, Kanshiram Nagar, Banda,
Bahraich, Fatehpur, Barabanki, Kannaunj, Etah, Bagpat, Gazipur,
Sonebhadra, Gonda, Hamirpur, Bhadohi, Ambedkarnagar, Auraiyya,
Chandauli, Mahoba, Sultanpur, Pratapgarh and Lalitpur.
One thousand (1000) houses each will be constructed in - Balrampur,
Gautambuddha Nagar, Kushinagar, Basti, Maharajganj, Kanpur Dehat,
Kaushambi, Sant Kabirnagar, Siddhartha Nagar, Chitrakoot and Sravasti.
A district level committee would be set up under the Chairmanship of
D.M. for the supervision, implementation and monitoring of the scheme.
The senior most A.D.M. would be Secretary of the committee and district
treasury officer, co-planner of the division, executive engineer PWD,
executive engineer Jal Nigam, Municipal Commissioner of local Urban
Body or executive officer, Vice-President/Secretary of the local
Development Authority and an officer nominated by the D.M. would be its
members. The government would provide full amount allocated for the
scheme through the concerning D.M.
According to the 2001 census, about 3.29 crore people reside in urban
areas of the State. Owing to the rapid increase in the urban
population, the number of urban poor had also increased. In the next 10
years, it is expected that the urban population would increase at a
rapid pace. The State Government is committed to bring the urban poor
into the mainstream of development. The Government has accorded top
priority to provide clean and pucca houses to almost 10 lakh families
living in the slums of the various districts of the State. The scheme
has been named after Manyawar Shri Kanshiram Ji, who is the founder of
the BSP, who devoted his entire life for the cause of dalits. ********
Scheme to be continuously monitored at the Government, division and district level
Lucknow: July 18, 2008
The Uttar Pradesh Government has chalked out the timetable for the
construction of cement concrete roads and pucca drains for Gram Sabhas
selected under the Dr. Ambedkar Gram Sabha Vikas Yojana. According to
the timetable, the concerning D.M.s would pick one third Gram Sabhas
out of the total selected Gram Sabhas by July 20, 2008 for completing
the construction of C.C. road and drain. Under the first phase,
one-third Gram Sabhas would be saturated with the construction of C.C.
roads and drains as per the amended parameters. The State Government
has made a provision of Rs. 1,173 crore and additional funds would be
allocated if needed. After the completion of first phase, the
construction work of second and third phase would be undertaken. This
decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting presided over by the Chief
Minister, Ms. Mayawati.
According to the Cabinet decision, out of the one-third Gram Sabhas,
main villages of the revenue villages and one majra having
predominantly scheduled caste population would be identified. Thus, the
list of selected Gram Sabhas would be provided to the working agency
selected for the district. By August 10, the working agency would
conduct survey and prepare an initial plan and estimates for the
construction of C.C. roads and drains. The concerning D.M.s would give
administrative and financial sanctions to it. After the sanctions were
made, the concerning executive engineer would give technical sanction
to the estimate submitted by the working agency at the district level
by August 15, 2008 and after that the working agency would present its
demand for the amount required for the purpose. The working agency
would complete the formalities of tender etc. and the work of the first
phase would be started by September 15, 2008 and the same would be
completed by December 31, 2008. According top priority to the
construction of C.C. roads and drains, the State Government has
increased the sanctioning powers of executive engineers from Rs. 40
lakh to Rs. 2 crore. The Public Works Department, as a parameter, has
fixed a cost of Rs. 139.63 lakh for the construction of the average
length of 4.5 km. between two revenue villages of the single Dr.
Ambedkar Gram Sabha. It also includes construction of 200-meter long
pucca drains to connect ponds/drains (on the basis of two villages) to
be constructed outside the habitation.
For the continuous monitoring of the scheme, a district level committee
would be set up under the chairmanship of the D.M. The members of the
committee would include additional chief officer, engineer and
financial advisor, executive engineer of the PWD/R.E.S. and district
panchayati raj officer. The divisional commissioner would also monitor
the scheme and review it on a regular basis. At the government level,
the scheme would be monitored and reviewed by a high level committee
headed by the Principal Secretary, Panchayati Raj. It may be recalled
that the Cabinet during its May 23, 2008 meeting had decided to
construct C.C. roads and K.C. drains in the Gram Panchayat. Initially,
two Gram Sabhas of Lucknow district were selected by the PWD as a model
and the C.C. roads and drains were constructed with the help of U.P.
Bridge Corporation. To remove the hurdles coming in way of the
construction, a meeting was orgainsed, which was presided over by the
Chief Secretary and the final guidelines for the construction of C.C.
roads, and drains were decided at the meeting. According to the
guidelines of the government, the selected villages and majra would be
saturated with the construction of C.C. roads and drains. Keeping the
availability of funds in mind, it was decided that the construction of
C.C. roads and pucca drains would be undertaken at the main village of
the every revenue village and one majra each dominated by SC population
of every revenue village. It was also decided that C.C. roads and pucca
drains would be constructed in a total of 4,397 Gram Sabhas which
included 685 selected Gram Sabhas for the year 2007-08 but could not be
saturated and 3,712 Gram Sabhas selected for the year 2008-09. ********
BSP supremo Mayawati and Prakash Karat, addressing the press
conference to launch a campaign against UPA, in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Photo: V.V.Krishnan
New Delhi (PTI): The Left, UNPA and BSP
on Wednesday said they will launch a nation-wide campaign against the
UPA government on nuclear deal, price rise and agrarian issues and
described the trust vote win in Lok Sabha as “immoral”.
“The UPA government might be patting
itself for whatever happened yesterday. But at the same time, it is the
defeat of the democracy,” BSP supremo Mayawati told a press conference
after a breakfast meeting with leaders of Left parties, TDP, TRS, RLD
and JD(S) among others.
Reading out from the statement adopted
at the meeting, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said that the
“UPA government may have won the vote in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday but
has lost the trust of the nation in the immoral manner in which it has
engineered this win.
“The Manmohan Singh government has lost
its moral authority. All the political parties present decided to
launch a national level campaign on pressing issues before the people,”
Karat said.
The statement was adopted by leaders of
ten parties — BSP, TDP, Forward Bloc, RSP, Janata Dal (S), RLD, IMLD,
JVM, CPI and CPI(M).
The campaign will be launched against price rise, inflation, agrarian crisis leading to farmers suicides, Karat said.
“We are also against Indo-US nuclear
deal, against communal forces, against gross misuse of government
institutions like CBI,” the CPI(M) leader said.
Condemning the “murder of democracy”, N
Chandrababu Naidu (TDP) said it was a “national shame” that the
government has stuck to power by indulging in horse-trading,
manipulation, threat and blackmail”.
“If you take into account the cross voting, the opposition has a clear majority,” Naidu claimed.
Naidu asserted that the coming together
of these parties showed that “we are the real alternative to Congress,
UPA and NDA. We will be number one in the coming days”.
In a similar statement, RLD leader Ajit
Singh said “this will provide an alternative to UPA and NDA and create
a real force in the country”.
Speaking in Hindi, former Prime
Minister and JD(S) President H D Deve Gowda assured full cooperation of
his party to the joint campaign.
Asked who will lead the new group, Mayawati evaded a direct reply saying all were equal.
On whether AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa
would be invited to join the group, Bardhan said the issue had not been
discussed. “We are proceeding step by step,” he said.
The breakfast meeting at Mayawati’s
residence was also attended by A B Bardhan and D Raja (CPI), Debabrata
Biswas (FB), T J Chandrachoodan and Abani Roy (RSP), K Yerrannaidu
(TDP), Ajay Chautala (INLD), Babulal Marandi (JVM) and Sitaram Yechury
((CPI-M).
The meeting constituted a committee to conduct the nationwide campaign, the dates of which will be announced “very soon”.
Mayawati says UPA should end negotiations on US-India nuke deal
Monday,21.07.2008 (GMT)
New
Delhi, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister
Mayawati said on Monday that the UPA should suspend further action on
the US-India civilian nuclear cooperation agreement and leave it for
the next government to finalise it.
Claiming that the deal was a step to
make India a “slave” of the United States, she said the country should
hold its head high to safeguard its interests.
“The Government and the Prime Minister
should not make the deal a prestige issue. They should suspend the deal
for the time being. Elections are near. Let the next government take a
decision on it,” she told a press conference in New Delhi.
She noted that the deal would also
“hamper” the USD 7.4 billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project
as the US was acting against Tehran in a “dangerous” manner.
“The whole world have to face the
consequences of a nuclear war between US and Iran and the blame for
which will fall on the UPA government if it goes ahead with the deal,”
Mayawati said.
Holding the UPA and Congress “guilty”
for going ahead with the deal, she said New Delhi should assert itself
for a permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council.
Asked whether the anti-Government side
has enough numbers to topple the UPA, she said, “wait till tomorrow,
you will come to know.”
However, Mayawati refused to comment
on the allegations made by Samajwadi Party leaders that the BSP was
using money power to get MPs from other parties.
On Advani’’s comment that she will not become Prime Minister, the BSP chief said, “I don'’t take note of useless talks.”
A World class education
“I don’t want to send another generation of American children
to failing schools. I don’t want that future for my daughters. I don’t
want that future for your sons. I do not want that future for America.”
— Barack Obama, Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, Des Moines, Iowa, November 10, 2007
No Child Left Behind Left the Money Behind:
The goal of the law was the right one, but unfulfilled funding promises, inadequate implementation by the
Education Department and shortcomings in the design of the law itself have limited its effectiveness and
undercut its support. As a result, the law has failed to provide high-quality teachers in every classroom and
failed to adequately support and pay those teachers.
Students Left Behind:
Six million middle and high school students read significantly below their grade level. A full third of high
school graduates do not immediately go on to college. American 15 year olds rank 28th out of 40 countries
in mathematics and 19th out of 40 countries in science. Almost 30 percent of students in their first year of
college are forced to take remedial science and math classes because they are not prepared.
High Dropout Rate:
America has one of the highest dropout rates in the industrialized world. Only 70 percent of U.S. high
school students graduate with a diploma. African American and Latino students are significantly less likely
to graduate than white students.
Teacher Retention is a Problem:
Thirty percent of new teachers leave within their first five years in the profession.
Soaring College Costs:
College costs have grown nearly 40 percent in the past five years. The average graduate leaves college with
over $19,000 in debt. And between 2001 and 2010, 2 million academically qualified students will not go to
college because they cannot afford it. Finally, our complicated maze of tax credits and applications leaves
too many students unaware of financial aid available to them.
Barack Obama’s Plan
Early Childhood Education
Zero to Five Plan: Obama’s comprehensive “Zero to Five” plan will provide critical support to young
children and their parents. Unlike other early childhood education plans, Obama’s plan places key emphasis
at early care and education for infants, which is essential for children to be ready to enter kindergarten.
Obama will create Early Learning Challenge Grants to promote state “zero to five” efforts and help states
move toward voluntary, universal pre-school.
Expand Early Head Start and Head Start: Obama will quadruple Early Head Start, increase Head Start
funding and improve quality for both.
Affordable, High-Quality Child Care: Obama will also provide affordable and high-quality child care to
ease the burden on working families.
K-12
Reform No Child Left Behind:
Obama will reform NCLB, which starts by funding the law. Obama believes
teachers should not be forced to spend the academic year preparing
students to fill in bubbles on standardized tests. He will improve the
assessments used to track student progress to measure readiness for
college and the workplace and improve student learning in a timely,
individualized manner. Obama will also improve NCLB’s accountability
system so that we are supporting schools that need improvement, rather
than punishing them.
Make Math and Science Education a National Priority: Obama will recruit math and science degree
graduates to the teaching profession and will support efforts to help these teachers learn from professionals
in the field. He will also work to ensure that all children have access to a strong science curriculum at all
grade levels.
Address the Dropout Crisis: Obama will address the dropout crisis by passing his legislation
to provide funding to school districts to invest in intervention strategies in middle school - strategies such
as personal academic plans, teaching teams, parent involvement, mentoring, intensive reading and math
instruction, and extended learning time.
Expand High-Quality Afterschool Opportunities: Obama will double funding for the main federal
support for afterschool programs, the 21st Century Learning Centers program, to serve one million more
children.
Expand Summer Learning Opportunities: Obama’s “STEP UP” plan addresses the achievement gap by
supporting summer learning opportunities for disadvantaged children through partnerships between local
schools and community organizations.
Support College Outreach Programs: Obama supports outreach programs like GEAR UP, TRIO and
Upward Bound to encourage more young people from low-income families to consider and prepare for
college.
Support English Language Learners: Obama supports transitional bilingual education and will help
Limited English Proficient students get ahead by holding schools accountable for making sure these students
complete school.
Recruit, Prepare, Retain, and Reward America’s Teachers
Recruit Teachers: Obama will create new Teacher Service Scholarships that will cover
four years of undergraduate or two years of graduate teacher education, including high-quality
alternative programs for mid-career recruits in exchange for teaching for at least four years in a
high-need field or location.
Prepare Teachers: Obama will require all schools of education to be accredited. He will also create a voluntary
national performance assessment so we can be sure that every new educator is trained and
ready to walk into the classroom and start teaching effectively. Obama will also create Teacher
Residency Programs that will supply 30,000 exceptionally well-prepared recruits to high-need
schools.
Retain Teachers: To support our teachers, Obama’s plan will expand mentoring programs that
pair experienced teachers with new recruits. He will also provide incentives to give teachers paid
common planning time so they can collaborate to share best practices.
Reward Teachers: Obama will promote new and innovative ways to increase teacher pay that
are developed with teachers, not imposed on them. Districts will be able to design programs that
reward accomplished educators who serve as a mentor to new teachers with a salary increase.
Districts can reward teachers who work in underserved places like rural areas and inner cities.
And if teachers consistently excel in the classroom, that work can be valued and rewarded as well.
Higher Education
Create the American Opportunity Tax Credit: Obama will make college affordable for all Americans by
creating a new American Opportunity Tax Credit. This universal and fully refundable credit will ensure that
the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the
cost of tuition at the average public college or university and make community college tuition completely
free for most students. Obama will also ensure that the tax credit is available to families at the time of
enrollment by using prior year’s tax data to deliver the credit when tuition is due.
Simplify the Application Process for Financial Aid: Obama will streamline the financial aid process
by eliminating the current federal financial aid application and enabling families to apply simply by checking
a box on their tax form, authorizing their tax information to be used, and eliminating the need for a separate
application.
Barack Obama’s Record
Record of Advocacy: Obama has been a leader on educational issues throughout his career. In the Illinois State Senate, Obama
was a leader on early childhood education, helping create the state’s Early Learning Council. In the U.S.
Senate, Obama has been a leader in working to make college more affordable. His very first bill sought
to increase the maximum Pell Grant award to $5,100. As a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions committee, Obama helped pass legislation to achieve that goal in the recent improvements to the
Higher Education Act. Obama has also introduced legislation to create Teacher Residency Programs and to
increase federal support for summer learning opportunities.
A Travelogue Of My
Struggle - Ridden Life And Bahujan Movement
After going through
both the volumes of A Travelogue Of My Struggle - Ridden Life And Bahujan
Movement it is concluded that:
Bahanji Ms Mayawati, the Original Inhabitant of Jambudvipa, that is the
Great Prabuddha Bharath,
is
MUCH MORE than a
Chief Minister or would be Prime Minister
Has
EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND
Engaged to
Organise, Educate and Concentrate one and all
For the
Welfare, Happiness and Peace within Ones self and Harmony with all
other sentient and non-sentient beings
In order to elevate them to become
Exalted, Blessed, Noble and an Awakened Mighty Great Mind
Whenever a true history is written in JAMBUDVIPA, THAT IS THE GREAT
PRABUDDHA BHARATH, 14TH OCTOBER would be observed as the real
Independence Day for the ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF JAMBUDVIPA, THAT IS THE GREAT
PRABUDDHA BHARATH for it was on that day Baba sahib Dr. Ambedkar, seven before
attaining TheUltimate Bliss, with lakhs of his followers took Diksha and
returned back to the right path shown by EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN
AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND
Sharp ReactionTo The
Desecration Of The EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND’s
Statue
EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND
Was a super sentient
being of the universe, who gave the message of humanism, compassion. Kindness,
truth, non-violence peace and fraternity to the mankind. Bahanji Ms Mayawati,
the Original Inhabitant of Jambudvipa, that is the Great Prabuddha Bharath
sharply opposed the demolition of two massive statues of such a super sentient
being, which were world heritage, as also desecration of other memorabilia of
His in the Bamian province of Afghanistan under a proclamation of the violent
and fundamentalist Taliban Government.
As the national
Vice-President of BSP, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and an MP, she
convenedaprès conference at her Delhi residence on March
3, 2001 and said that mere condemnation of this heinous act by the Central
Government will not do. The Government should treat this issueseriously and arrive at a firm decision to
take it up at the international level.
Addressing media persons, she said Lord EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN
AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND is our ideal, who gave the message of humanism to
the world. His is a religion in which all are equal.
That is why our ideal and the messiah of ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF
JAMBUDVIPA, THAT IS THE GREAT PRABUDDHA BHARATH, Baba Saheb Dr. Ambedkar after
a study of all religions arrived at the conclusion that his downtrodden society
could get a status of religious equality only within the right path shown by
the EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND’s religion. That
is why at Nagpur in Maharashtra, on October 14, 1956 took Diksha and returned
back to the original path shown by the EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN AWAKENED
MIGHTY GREAT MIND.Several lakhs of ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF JAMBUDVIPA, THAT IS
THE GREAT PRABUDDHA BHARATH followed his example and along with him they also
got initiated, which is a continuous process.
It is not only Baba Saheb
Ambedkar, but many countries in the world which believe in the right path shown
by the EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND practice that
path. Statues of a sentient being like Lord EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN
AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND are being demolished on a large scale by the violent
regime of Taliban and BSP condemned it.
On March 2, the Central Government got a motion of condemnation passed
in Parliament, but it was her submission to the Central Government that the
tallest statues of EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND in
Bamiyan are being demolished on a big scale. Merely a statement by the Government
about it will not serve any purpose.It is the responsibility of the Government
to take the initiative of raising the issue at the International level and
seeking a diplomatic solution to it.. Merely, a statement that it is being
condemned at International level and India also condemns is altogether
inadequate. Therefore, it is our submission that this alone will not serve any
purpose. It is the responsibility of the Central Government to take the
initiative for raising the issue at the international level and make efforts to
stop the Taliban immediately from carrying out its misdeed.
However, she believed that the people with a distructive bent of mind
will never like the EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND
because they have a separate and uncivilised culture. Buddhists areORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF JAMBUDVIPA, THAT IS
THE GREAT PRABUDDHA BHARATH and its culture. Whether it is selfe-styled Chief
of Taliban, Mulla Mohammed Omar, Chengiz Khan of Mangolia, former Prime Minsiter,
Indira Gandhi, the Prime MinisterMr.
Vajpayee and his associates, RSS, Bajrang Dal or Vidhva Hindu Parishat, they
all are the same category.
THIS IS BECAUSE THE WAY THE SELF-STYLED Chief of the Taliban, Mul;la
Omar is possessed with a madness to demolish the 2000 years old world heritage,
EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND statues, Chengiz Khan
of Mangolia was also possessed with a similar madness. But it is said that
these statues of EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND were
so massive that like the Taliban the Mangol army used mortar and cannons but
could not destroy these statues. They could only chip away some bits under the
feet of the statues, which are 175 feet high and massive and have been carved out
of a massive hill. They are unique. Today, if the Taliban government succeeds in damaging of
the statues more than the Mongolian army did, they are not going to be covered
with any glory. The whole world is condemning those holding responsible
position in Taliban Government.They
should know that this brutal act of theirs is nothing better than banging one’s
against stone, but what can they do? Those who cannot think of anything good
start banging their gheads against stone. These EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN
AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND ststues have done no harm to them. But can you
destroy the ideas of the EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT
MIND by breaking and desecrating these statues ?Never.
Similarly, the formerPrime
Ministers Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee chose the day of EXALTED,
BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND’s Jayanti (birth anniversary –
May 18, 1974 and May 11, 1998) for carrying out atomic explosions and the code
word “Buddha Smiles” was used to convey the success of these explosions.
When the entire world knows that the EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN
AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND gave the message of humanism, compassion, kindness,
love, truth non-violence, peace and fraternity, how can he smile at atomic
explosion ?
This can be the smile of only those with violent bent of mind, who
always entertain violent, destructive and inhuman thoughts. If such a work was
carried out by taking the name of the EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN AWAKENED
MIGHTY GREAT MIND, was it not akin to insulting MahatmaEXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN AWAKENED
MIGHTY GREAT MIND in the same way as the Taliban government is doing by
demolishing His statues ?
History is witness to the fact that the Invader rulers who came from
central Asia were not any less than the
Taliban chiefs and Chengiz of Mangolia. Mrs. Indira Gandhi during her regime in
1984 issued the order for firing rockets and cannon balls at the Golden Temple
of the Sikhs and Hindu Chiefs of the then Prime Minister Vajpayee’s associate
organizations, RSS, Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal demolished the Babri
Mosque of the Muslims, which was condemned all over the world and was a blot on
Indian democracy.
But it needs to be thought what message these people with violent bent
of mind want to give to the world with their inhuman acts? And after succeeding in their object of committing such
barbaric acts how can they spend their life in peace?
It is, therefore, necessary to tell these people with barbarian
mentality that the awakened people of today will never forgive the people with
such a violent frame of mind. History is witness to the fact that the people
with such a mentality have always met with utter ruination. Today also they are
bound to be ruined.
Of all the other religions in the world, the RIGHT PATH SHOWN BY
EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND is the most renowned,
old and first PATH devoted to the welfare for all sentient and non-sentient
beings. Even now there are many countries in the world following the RIGHT PATH
SHOWN BY EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND. The Taliban
have tried to disfigure and demolish the statues of the EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE
AND AN AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND, which are massive rock structures, but the
RIGHT PATH SHOWN BY EXALTED, BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND
is living and will always live. Destructive tendencies can never harm EXALTED,
BLESSED, NOBLE AND AN AWAKENED MIGHTY GREAT MIND but what a sorry fate befell
the Taliban government is known to all of us.
And now the Maitreya Buddha
Statue is to be another gem added to this crow. The statue is a
veritable temple-skyscraper that will contain 17 individual shrine
rooms. The highest room at 140 meters high — the equviliant height of
the 40th storey of a standard
building. This statue and complex will be a fusion of Indian and
Tibetan architectural styles that will adhere to ancient Vaastu Shastra
design code and will also hold the world’s largest collection of Lord
Buddha’s relics. ^
A cutaway view of the 152 meter Maitreya statue and throne building
showing the spaces and levels within. Note that the throne itself will
be a 17 storey fully functional temple, with 15 additional shrine rooms
in the the body of the Maitreya statue.
^ Maitreya Project engineers on-site
Mayawatiji govt in UP is all set to build the world’s Tallest
Buddha statue, this is an uplifting project in various means. First it
would help heal the sabotaged buddhists/dalits/Ambedkarites, second, it
would bring tourism industry at a big level to UP through which the
state can benefit in economic and social changes, it would help peace
and better living of people in this area by following Buddha’s
path……….it is a great idea and project. If done, this would just
uplift the BSP itself and it’s supremo to further higher level in the
world of Buddhism and good humans.
which is not just a statue but an academy to uplift the poor, one and all.
From correspondents in Uttar Pradesh, India, 03:33 PM IST
Decks are being cleared for the installation of the world’s tallest Buddha statue in Kushinagar town of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati was understood to have directed officials to speed up
the acquisition and transfer of 600 acres of land required for the
Rs.10 billion project to be funded and undertaken by the global Maitryi
group. Proviuion of land is UP government’s share in the project.. The
project involves installation of a 152-metre-tall bronze statue of Lord
Buddha along with a giant meditation centre, an international
university, a state-of-art world-class hospital and a museum. The
project also envisages an entertainment complex in the neighbourhood
that would include an amusement park and a five-star hotel.
UP
Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Misra presided over a high level meeting
of state officials, in which representatives from Maitryi were present
here Monday. A presentation on the project was made. Significantly, the
project was initiated during the previous tenure of Chief Minister
Mayawati in 2003, after which it was put on the backburner during the
Mulayam Singh Yadav regime. ‘Since then, it had been hanging fire, so
we decided to revive it after Maitryi officials approached us,’ Misra
told IANS. He said: ‘Of the 600 acres required for the project, we need
to acquire only about 300 acres while the rest is government land.
‘The
government had already started the acquisition process. The whole
project would not involve any major displacement of people and not more
than 70-80 farmers would be involved,’ he said.
‘We have worked out a handsome rehabilitation package for the farmers who would get displaced on account of the project.’
^ A view of the temple from the gardens surrounding the site
^ A View from the Maitreya Project Park
All of these features will be set in beautifully
landscaped parks with meditation pavilions, beautiful water fountains
and tranquil pools. All of the buildings and outdoor features will
contain an extensive collection of inspiring sacred art.
The Living Wall:
Surrounding the Maitreya Buddha statue is a
four-storey halo of buildings called the “Living Wall.” This ring of
buildings contains accomadation for the complex’s monks and workers as
well as rooms for functions ancillary to the statue and throne building.
The wall also serves two additional important
functions. In light of cross-border Islamist terrorist attacks against
Indian holy sites in Ayodhya, Akshardham and Jama Masjid, the Living
Wall also is designed to be a security cordon eqivalent to a modern
castle wall, staffed with security personnel and designed to withstand
an attack from 200 heavily armed raiders.
^ Prerendering of the Statue showing the location of the living wall, main gate, paths and garden areas
The final major function it
performs is that of the boundary for the enclosed sanctuary area of
landscaped gardens, pools and fountains for meditation directly
surrounding the Maitreya statue. The entry to the enclosed sanctuary
and the Maitreya statue will be serviced by a main gate.
^ The tree and stupa lined paths to the ceremonial gate, which is the entrance to the sanctuary.
The Statue of the Maitreya Buddha
The center of the Maitreya Project, of course, is the bronze plate statue of the Maitreya Buddha itself. Rising 500ft/152m in height, the statue will sit on a stone throne temple building located in an enclosed sanctuary park.
Passing the ceremonial gate, landscaped paths allow devotes to do Pradakshina (circumambulation) of the Maitreya Statue.
^ The terraced circumambulation paths, with the gate in the background.
Within the sanctuary, the gardens provide a place for
relaxing, resting, and meditating, with educational artwork depicting
the Buddha’s life.
^ A view towards the statue from one of these stupa lined terraces.
Walking further inward, the is Maitreya Statue and
Throne Temple, surrounded by tranquil ponds and fountains that will
cool the area in the intense Indian summer.
^ The Maitreya statue and throne surrounded by the tranquil ponds containing Buddha statues of the meditation sanctuary.
The Throne Temple:
The “seat” of the statue is itelf a fully functioning 17-storey temple roughly 80m x 50m in size.
The building will contain two very large prayer halls, as well as
meditation and meeting rooms, a library and facilities to deal with the
anticipated annual influx of 2 million visitors.
^ The entrance to the throne building with the Maitreya Buddha statue resting upon the lotus on top
Pilgrims will enter the throne temple through the
giant lotus that supports the Maitreya Buddha statue’s feet. The throne
temple contains several entrance rooms that contain works of art on the
Buddha’s life and teachings.
^ The first major prayer hall of throne building, containing works of art on the Buddha.
Continuing inward is the cavernous main auditorium of
the Maitreya Temple containing the Sanctum Sanctorum which in Indian
architectural tradition is the innermost most sacred room where the
actual shrine is held. This Sanctum Sanctorum is unique in that within
it contains two large auditorium temples.
The first temple in the Sanctum Sanctorum is the Temple of the Maitreya Buddha, containing a huge, 12 meter tall statue of the Buddha.
^ Upon entering the Sanctum Sanctorum, the 12 meter tall statue of the Buddha can be glimpsed.
A wall containing 200,000 images of the Buddhas rises
up to the throne ceiling over 50 metres above, behind both auditorium
temples.
^ A glimpse from the ambulatory of the side walls within the Maitreya Temple and the 1,000 paintings of the Buddhas.
The centerpiece shrine of the Maitreya Temple is the
12 meter tall Maitreya Buddha. Stairs and elevators lead to viewing
platforms around the Maitreya Temple, allowing views of the entire room
^ A view of the Maitreya Buddha statue and the wall of the 200,000 images of the Buddha, seen from viewing platforms.
The next biggest shrine in the Sanctum Sanctorum is the Temple of the Shakyamuni Buddha
which contains a 10 meter statue of the Shakyamuni (Historical) Buddha.
Behind the shrine is the continuation of the wall of 200,000 Buddhas.
^
On a higher level yet again, the Shakyamuni Temple will house a 10
metre (33 ft.) statue of the historical Buddha. The glass rear wall
will reveal the wall of 200,000 Buddhas within the Maitreya Temple.
^ Another view of the Shakyamuni Temple.
In Indian architecture, the Sanctum Sanctorum is
encircled by a pathway that allows devotees to do Pradakshina
(circumambulation) of the shrine. The Maitreya Temple, following this
tradition, also has this feature.
^
The main throne building and Pradakshina path where visitors may
circumambulate Sanctum Sanctorum of the Maitreya Temple, which can be
seen through the doorways on the right
From this area, elevators and staircases will carry
visitors to the various other rooms in the 17 storey base, including
prayer halls, meditation halls and libraries. Eventually conveying devotees to a large rooftop garden terrace upon which the Maitreya Buddha statue actually rests.
Here, rising into the upper legs of the main statue, is the Merit Field Hall
with a 10 meter, 3-dimensional depiction of over 390 Buddhas and
Buddhist masters at it’s center. Surrounding this will be 12 individual
shrine rooms devoted to particular deities in the Hindu-Buddhist
pantheon.
^ The Merit Field Hall with its 10m, 3-D depiction.
From the garden terrace, another bank of elevators
will whisk pilgrims to the higher shrine rooms contained in the
statue’s torso and head.
-=—-=—=–
The Statue:
The statue will contain 15 individual shrine rooms
and have a total height of 152 meters, with the highest shrine room in
the statue’s head, at over 140 meters up. This is roughly equivalent in height to a 40-storey skyscraper.
^ A cutaway diagram of the statue-tower.
The statue is itself an engineering marvel. Rather than simply be designed in its massive size, the statue of the Maitreya Buddha was actually reversed-designed from a carved statue only a meter and half in height and the structure’s engineering extrapolated into its current form.
^
The original statue from which the Maitreya Buddha statue tower is
extrapolated from was hand carved, and is in the Indian Gupta style.
Moreover, the statue is designed to stand for at least 1,000 years,
supporting the Project’s spiritual and social work for at least a
millennium. Due to the statue’s millenia-passing lifespan, the huge
structure is designed to withstand high winds, extreme temperature
changes, seasonal rains, possible earthquakes and floods and
environmental pollution.
Extensive research has gone into developing
“Nikalium”, the special nickel-aluminum bronze alloy to be used for the
outer ’skin’ of the statue designed to withstand the most challenging
conditions that could conceivably arise.
As the bronze ’skin’ will expand and contract
dramatically due to daily temperature changes, the statue will require
special expansion joints that were designed to be not only invisible to
the observer, but also in such a way as to protect the internal
supports of the statue from water leakage, erosion and corrosion. The
material and structural components of the statue are meant to be able
to withstand potential unforseen disasters like earthquakes and monsoon
flooding.
^ The engineering process of the Buddha statue.
—–==–=–==—–
Construction Status — June, 2007
The Maitreya Project recently passed its first major
milestone this month, when, in compliance with the Indian Land
Acquistion Act, the State Government of Uttar Pradesh has completed the
necessary legal requirements for the acquisition of the 750 acre land
site to be made available to the Project.
While there are still permissions and clearances to be obtained, it has now officially given the green light and the full support of the government.
It is expected that the Project will formally break ground either later this year or early 2008, with an expected construction time of five years. The project will employ more than a thousand skilled and semi-skilled workers in the construction phase.
—–==–=–==—–
For more information on this fantastic project, check out
Sorry for the length of the post, but I wanted this
veritable essay to be a comprehensive introduction to what Maitreya
Project organizers aim to literally be the 8th Wonder of the World, and
an everlasting symbol of Religious Syncretism, Tolerance, Compassion
and most of all, Love.
A cause truely fitting of the Buddha, Shakya Muni Sri Siddharth Gautamaji.
Lucknow: Decks are being cleared for the installation of the
world’s tallest Buddha statue in Kushinagar town of eastern Uttar
Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati was understood to have
directed officials to speed up the acquisition and transfer of 600
acres of land required for the Rs 10 billion project to be funded and
undertaken by the global Maitryi Group. Provision of land is UP
government’s share in the project.
For more news, analysis click here>> | For more Science and Medicine news click here >>
The project involves installation of a 152-metre-tall bronze
statue of Lord Buddha along with a giant meditation centre, an
international university, a state-of-art world-class hospital and a
museum. The project also envisages an entertainment complex in the
neighbourhood that would include an amusement park and a five-star
hotel.
Nowra to get its own Kung Fu temple: Australia
Sat, 2006-06-10 08:25 — ABN
The more I read about this temple, the less I like it. See also this. ABN _______________
There will be a three-tier temple complex, with two pagodas,
500-room hotel, a 500-place kung fu academy. There’ll be some
residential subdivision, a 27-hole golf course, herbal medicine, herbal
gardens, acupuncture, special massage, and that’s about it.
AM - Saturday, 10 June , 2006 08:24:30 Reporter: John Taylor ELIZABETH JACKSON: It’s probably the most famous temple in the world.
China’s Shaolin Temple has been made famous through books, films, and TV, because of its legendary kung fu fighting monks.
Now, the Zen Buddhist temple is looking to build another home for its monks, outside Nowra in New South Wales.
A deal to purchase 1,200 hectares will be signed in China today, as our Correspondent, John Taylor, reports.
JOHN TAYLOR: In the history of kung fu, there is no other place like the Shaolin Temple.
The 1,500-year-old Zen Buddhist monastery in central China
is home to fighting monks, made famous in modern times on the big and
small screen.
If things go to plan, the monks may be about to set up a lavish home away from home, just south of Nowra.
Greg Watson is Mayor of the Shoalhaven City Council.
GREG WATSON: There will be a three-tier temple complex, with two pagodas, 500-room hotel, a 500-place kung fu academy.
There’ll be some residential subdivision, a 27-hole golf
course, herbal medicine, herbal gardens, acupuncture, special massage,
and that’s about it.
JOHN TAYLOR: Today in central China’s Henan province Mayor
Watson and the Temple’s Abbott are to sign off on the monks’ purchase
of a 1,200 hectare property south of Nowra.
Patrick Peng is the Abbott’s representative in Australia.
PATRICK PENG: The Shaolin of course is very well known in
China itself, so he like to take this opportunity to try to introduce
the Shaolin legacy, the heritage to the rest of the world, through
another outlet.
JOHN TAYLOR: The NSW Government is still to give final
approval to the project. But speaking in Beijing yesterday, Mayor Greg
Watson wasn’t expecting a fight.
GREG WATSON: What happened was, I heard via a Member of
Parliament, that the Abbott was looking for a potential location to
establish the second Shaolin temple in the world, somewhere in
Australia, and I said have I got a deal for the Abbott?
JOHN TAYLOR: Who says religion and big business can’t mix?
The Shaolin Temple already has a performance touring the world, featuring the impressive skills of its fighting monks.
The Abbott’s man in Australia, Patrick Peng, says Shaolin is not just about kung fu.
PATRICK PENG: You know, it’s culture.
JOHN TAYLOR: Well can you have the two together, a tourist attraction and a functioning temple?
PATRICK PENG: Oh yes, in fact, on the contrary. Nowadays
many religions, not only just Buddhism, Daoism, they’re all trying to
make themselves more relevant to the modern world, and really they’re
not exclusive, they’re not just men in the caves, you know.
So what they’re trying to do is to share the philosophies and the lifestyle, the healthy lifestyle, to the world.
ELIZABETH JACKSON: Patrick Peng, who represents the Abbott
of the Shaolin Temple in Australia, ending that report from John Taylor.
Uttar Pradesh to have world’s tallest Buddha statue
March 25th, 2008 - 3:37 pm ICT by admin
Lucknow, March 25 (IANS) Decks are being cleared for the
installation of the world’s tallest Buddha statue in Kushinagar town of
eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati was understood to have directed
officials to speed up the acquisition and transfer of 600 acres of land
required for the Rs.10 billion project to be funded and undertaken by
the global Maitryi group.
Proviuion of land is UP government’s share in the project.
The project involves installation of a 152-metre-tall bronze
statue of Lord Buddha along with a giant meditation centre, an
international university, a state-of-art world-class hospital and a
museum. The project also envisages an entertainment complex in the
neighbourhood that would include an amusement park and a five-star hotel.
UP Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Misra presided over a high
level meeting of state officials, in which representatives from Maitryi
were present here Monday. A presentation on the project was made.
Significantly, the project was initiated during the previous
tenure of Chief Minister Mayawati in 2003, after which it was put on
the backburner during the Mulayam Singh Yadav regime.
“Since then, it had been hanging fire, so we decided to revive it after Maitryi officials approached us,” Misra told IANS.
He said: “Of the 600 acres required for the project, we need to acquire only about 300 acres while the rest is government land.
“The government had already started the acquisition process.
The whole project would not involve any major displacement of people
and not more than 70-80 farmers would be involved,” he said.
“We have worked out a handsome rehabilitation package for the farmers who would get displaced on account of the project.”
UP to have world’s tallest Buddha statue
Published: Wednesday, 26 March, 2008, 08:05 AM Doha Time
LUCKNOW: World’s tallest Buddha statue will be installed in Kushinagar town of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Chief
Minister Mayawati has asked officials to speed up acquisition and
transfer of 600 acres of land required for the Rs10bn project to be
funded and undertaken by the global Maitryi group. The state
government will give the land for the project which involves
installation of a 152m tall bronze statue of Lord Buddha along with a
giant meditation centre, an international university, a state-of-art
hospital and a museum. The project also envisages an entertainment
complex in the neighbourhood that would include an amusement park and a
five-star hotel. Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Misra
presided over a high level meeting of state officials, in which
representatives from Maitryi were present here on Monday. A
presentation on the project was made. The project was initiated during the previous tenure of Mayawati in 2003, after which it was put on the backburner. “Since then, it had been hanging fire, so we decided to revive it after Maitryi officials approached us,” Misra said. “Of
the 600 acres required for the project, we need to acquire only about
300 acres while the rest is government land,” he said.- IANS
From correspondents in Uttar Pradesh, India, 03:33 PM IST
Decks are being cleared for the installation of the world’s tallest Buddha statue in Kushinagar town of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati was understood to have
directed officials to speed up the acquisition and transfer of 600
acres of land required for the Rs.10 billion project to be funded and
undertaken by the global Maitryi group.
Proviuion of land is UP government’s share in the project.
The project involves installation of a 152-metre-tall bronze
statue of Lord Buddha along with a giant meditation centre, an
international university, a state-of-art world-class hospital and a
museum. The project also envisages an entertainment complex in the
neighbourhood that would include an amusement park and a five-star
hotel.
UP Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Misra presided over a high
level meeting of state officials, in which representatives from Maitryi
were present here Monday. A presentation on the project was made.
Significantly, the project was initiated during the previous
tenure of Chief Minister Mayawati in 2003, after which it was put on
the backburner during the Mulayam Singh Yadav regime.
‘Since then, it had been hanging fire, so we decided to revive it after Maitryi officials approached us,’ Misra told IANS.
He said: ‘Of the 600 acres required for the project, we need to acquire only about 300 acres while the rest is government land.
‘The government had already started the acquisition process.
The whole project would not involve any major displacement of people
and not more than 70-80 farmers would be involved,’ he said.
‘We have worked out a handsome rehabilitation package for the farmers who would get displaced on account of the project.’
Population : 14,000 Distance : 55km from Gorakhpur
¤ Kushinagar - A Site of Buddhist Parinirvana
Situated
in Deoria district of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Kushinagara was a small
town in the days of the Buddha. But it became famous when the Buddha
died here, on his way from Rajgir to Sravasti. His last memorable words
were, “All composite things decay. Strive diligently!” This event is
known as the ‘Final Blowing-Out’ (Parinirvana) in Buddhist parlance.
Since then the place has become a celebrated pilgrim centre. It was the
capital of the kingdom of the Mallas, one of the 16 Janapadas (see
Sravasti).
¤ Places of Interest
Muktabandhana Stupa The
Muktabandhana Stupa was built by the Mallas just after the Buddha’s
death. It is built over the sacred relics of the Buddha himself. The
Stupa is also known as Ramabhar Stupa and is 50 ft tall. It is believed
that the Stupa was built on the spot where the Buddha was cremated.
Nirvana Stupa 1km west of the Muktabandhana Stupa is the
Nirvana Stupa that was built in the days of Ashoka. It was renovated in
1927 by the Burmese Buddhists. In front of the Stupa is the
Mahaparinirvana Temple in which is installed a colossal sandstone
statue of the Buddha in the reclining position. It was built by the
Mathura school of art and was brought to Kushinagar by a Buddhist monk
named Haribala during the reign of Kumaragupta (c. a.d.415-454).
Kushinagar
Kushinagar
Once in Kushinagar, it appears that time has
come to a complete halt. This sleepy town, with its serenity and
unassuming beauty, absorbs visitors into a contemplative mood. It is
this place that the Buddha had chosen to free himself from the cycles
of death and life and, therefore, it occupies a very special space in
the heart of every Buddhist. Location Kushinagar is situated in
the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, 51 km off Gorakhpur. The
place, which is famous for the Mahaparinirvana (death) of Lord Buddha,
has been included in the famous Buddhist trail encompassing Bihar,
Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal. Kushinagar is also known as Kasia or
Kusinara. The founder of Buddhism, Lord Buddha passed away at this
place near the Hiranyavati River and was cremated at the Ramabhar
stupa. It was once a celebrated center of the Malla kingdom. Many of
its stupas and viharas date back to 230 BC-AD 413. when its prosperity
was at the peak. The Mauryan emperor Ashoka added grandeur to this
place by getting the magnificent statue of Buddha carved on a single
piece of red sandstone. Fa Hien, Huen Tsang, and I-tsing, the three
famous Chinese scholar travelers to India, all visited Kushinagar.
With the decline of Buddhism, however, Kushinagar lost its
importance and suffered much neglect. It was only in the last century
that Lord Alexander Cunningham excavated many important remnants of the
main site such as the Matha Kua and Ramabhar stupa. Today, people from
all over the world visit Kushinagar. Many national and international
societies and groups have established their centers here.
Climate Like other places in the Gangetic plain, the
climate of Kushinagar is hot and humid in the summers
(mid-April-mid-September) with Maximum Temperature touching 40-45°C.
Winters are mild and Minimum Temperature in December can go down
to around 5°C. Monsoon reaches this region in June and remains here
till September
Population Around 22,35,505 people live here
Language Hindi and Bhojpuri
Places of Interest
Mahaparinirvana Temple The
Mahaparinirvana temple (also known as the Nirvana temple) is the main
attraction of Kushinagar. It is a single room structure, which is
raised on a platform and is topped by a superstructure, which conforms
to the traditional Buddhist style of architecture. The Mahaparinirvana
temple houses the world famous 6m (19.68 ft) long statue of the
reclining Buddha.
This statue was discovered during the excavation of 1876 by
British archaeologists. The statue has been carved out from sandstone
and represents the dying Buddha. The figures carved on the four sides
of the small stone railing surrounding the statue, show them mourning
the death of Lord Buddha. According to an inscription found in
Kushinagar, the statue dates back to the 5th century AD. It is
generally believed that Haribala, a Buddhist monk brought the statue of
the reclining Buddha to Kushinagar, from Mathura during 5th century,
during the period of the Gupta Empire.
Nirvana Stupa The Nirvana stupa is located behind the
Mahaparinirvana temple. British archaeologists discovered this brick
structure during the excavation carried out in 1876. Subsequent
excavations carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
unearthed a copper vessel, which contained the remains of Lord Buddha
apart from precious stones, cowries and a gold coin belonging to the
Gupta Empire. The copper vessel bore the inscription that the ashes of
Lord Buddha had been interred here.
Mathakuar Shrine The Mathakuar Shrine is an interesting
place to visit in Kushinagar. It is located near the Nirvana stupa. A
statue of Buddha made out of black stone was found here. The statue
shows Buddha in the Bhumi Sparsha mudra (pose in which Buddha is
touching the earth with his fingers). It is believed that Lord Buddha
preached his last sermon here before his death.
Ramabhar Stupa The Ramabhar Stupa (also known as the
Mukutabandhana stupa) is a 14.9 m (49 ft) tall brick stupa, which is
located at a distance of 1 km from the Mahaparinirvana temple. This
stupa is built on the spot where Lord Buddha was cremated in 483 BC.
Ancient Buddhist scriptures refer this stupa as the Mukutabandhana
stupa. It is said that the Malla rulers, who ruled Kushinagar during
the death of Buddha built the Ramabhar stupa.
Modern Stupas Kushinagar has a number of modern stupas
and monasteries, which have been built, by different Buddhist
countries. The important shrines worth visiting are the Chinese stupa
and the IndoJapan-Sri Lankan Buddhist Centre.
Kushinagar Museum The Kushinagar Museum (Archaeological
Museum) is located near the IndoJapan-Sri Lankan Buddhist Centre. The
museum has a collection of artefacts like statues, carved panels etc
excavated from various stupas and monasteries in Kushinagar and places
around it.
Excursion
Gorakhpur Fifty-one kilometers
off Kushinagar is Gorakhpur, an important city of eastern Uttar
Pradesh. At Gorakhpur is the Rahul Sanskrityayan Museum, which has an
excellent collection of Thanka paintings and relics of the Buddha. The
water sports complex at Ramgarh Tal Planetarium and the Gorakhnath
Temple in the city are also worth a visit.
Kapilavastu (Piprahwa) Situated 148 km from Kushinagar
and is an important Buddhist pilgrimage. Kapilavastu was the ancient
capital of the Sakya clan ruled by Gautama Buddha’s father.
Lumbini Situated in Nepal at a distance of 122 km from
Gorakhpur, Lumbini is the birthplace of Lord Buddha. There are regular
buses to the Nepalese border, from where the remaining 26 km has to be
covered by private vehicles
How to get there
Airport The nearest airhead is located at Varanasi from where one can take flights to Delhi, Calcutta, Lucknow, and Patna.
Rail Kushinagar does not have a railway station. The
nearest railway station is at Gorakhpur (51 km), which is the
headquarters of Northeastern Railways and linked to important
destinations. Some important trains to Gorakhpur are
Bombay-Gorakhpur-Bandra Express, New Delhi-Barauni-Vaishali Express,
Cochin-Gorakhpur Express, Shaheed Express, Amarnath Express, and
Kathgodam Express.
Road Kushinagar is well connected to other parts of the
state of Uttar Pradesh by bus. The distances from places around are :
Gorakhpur (51 km), Lumbini (173 km), Kapilavastu (148 km), Sravasti
(254 km), and Sarnath (266 km), and Agra (680 km).
BUDDHIST HEARTLAND
Enlightening Odyssey
It
was a prediction that set it off. Terrified that his son might one day
renounce the world to become a great seer, King Suddhodhana of the
Shakyas, a small kingdom in the Terai region of Nepal, shielded the
young Prince Siddhartha from the evil of the world by keeping him
within the confines of his palace, in the embrace of material comforts
and loving care. From his very birth in 623 BC, in a garden at Lumbini
close to the Shakya capital of Kapilavastu, portent’s revealed that the
young man’s fate was sealed for higher things than dealing with the
earthly concerns and the business of a king.
It was chance too that rolled the dice in
favour of the spiritual world, and Prince Siddhartha was a willing pawn
when he rejected his regal life. It was an amazing journey that would
transform the deeply troubled prince into the great Buddha, the
Enlightened One, culminating in his release from the endless cycle of
rebirths, at Bodhgaya in Bihar. His great quest would become the core
of an important religious movement.
Buddhism - Charismatic Formula
For kings and commoners, criminals and
courtesans, Buddhism had the power and strength to transform their
lives forever. This is beautifully illustrated in the legendary
commitment to Buddhism of King Ashoka, after the bloody battle of
Kalinga in Orissa. The great king was enthusiastic in spreading the
Buddha’s message of peace and enlightenment across the length and
breadth of his vast empire, reaching from present day Afghanistan,
Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.
Buddhism was to travel from its home in India’s eastern
Gangetic region of Bihar, Bengal and Orissa to encompass Sri Lanka and
the countries of South East Asia, then onto the Himalayan countries of
Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet, even far-flung Central Asia, China and Japan,
under the umbrella of royal patronage and the dedication of its vast
community of monks, teachers and artists.
The essence of Buddhism is embodied in the concept of the 4
noble truths and the 3 jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) via the 8-fold
path to salvation and peace Anticipating his death in his 80th year
Buddha urged his followers, especially his chosen disciples, to
continue his work after his imminent Mahaparnirvana the attaining of
nirvana (enlightenment). As a reminder of his difficult journey and its
ultimate goal, he prevailed upon them to visit the four important
places that were the cornerstones of his great journey - Lumbini,
Bodhgaya, Sarnath, and Kushinagar.
The spread of Buddhism down the centuries was to leave in
its wake a wealth of symbolic structures, including sculpted caves,
stupas (relic shrines), chaityas (prayer halls) viharas (monasteries),
mahaviharas (universities) and numerous art forms and religious
literature. The arrival of Guru Padamasambhava, in the 8th century, was
a major impetus in the spread of Buddhism in the Himalayan region.
Today, both pilgrims and tourists can enjoy the special
appeal of these myriad experiences, in the Buddhist Heartland of
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal. From the moment of his birth, his
teachings, spiritual struggle, attainment of enlightenment, great
meditations, and message of peace and non-violence, are as relevant to
our life and times as it was in his day.
Buddhism - Jewels of the Lotus
Almost a hundred years later there emerged
various schools of Buddhist thought evolving somewhat from the Buddha’s
original precepts. The most prominent amongst these were the Mahayana
School, the Theravada School (based on the old Hinayana School) which
flourished in Sri Lanka and established itself quite quickly in many
South East Asian countries, and the Vajrayana School with its Tantric
features, which spread to the Himalayan regions of Bhutan, Nepal and
Tibet.
Lumbini, Sarnath, Bodhgaya and Kushinagar
are the primary pilgrimage places associated with the life and
teachings of the Lord Buddha. There are numerous other sites where the
Buddha and the saints that followed travelled during his life after his
transformation, which are held in deep veneration. Visitors can travel
through this Buddhist Heartland today, to savour the splendid beauty
and great appeal of Buddhism.
FOOTSTEPS OF LORD BUDDHA
The greatest impetus to Buddha’s teachings
came from the Indian King Ashoka who went on a great pilgrimage
visiting the important sites that are directly associated with his
life, in the Footsteps of Lord Buddha. Primary amongst these holy
places are Lumbini in Nepal, and Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar in
India. The international Buddhist community has been active in
supporting these important religious centres. There are other places of
lesser significance on the Footsteps of Lord Buddha visitor circuit
associated closely with Buddha’s life. Amongst these are Buddha’s
monsoon retreats of Vaishali, Rajgir and Sravastii in India, and his
early home at Tilaurakot in Kapilavastu Nepal.
Primary Patronage
Lumbini. Lumbini in southern Nepal is where
Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Prince Siddhartha. It is just a short
distance from the Shakya capital of Kapilavastu. Pilgrimages focus on
the sacred garden which contains the site of the birth, the Mayadevi
temple, the Pashkarni pond and the Ashoka pillar. Designed by Japanese
architect Kenzo Tange, the sacred garden of Lumbini is a World Heritage
Site with monasteries from many Buddhist nations. It is recognised as a
supreme pilgrimage site and symbol of world peace.
Bodhgaya. It was in Bodhgaya in Bihar, India
that Prince Siddhartha found Enlightenment (nirvana) under the bodhi
tree after meditating for 49 days. No longer a bodhisattva (mentor), he
became Lord Buddha, the Enlightened One.
Primary points of homage are the Mahabodhi
Temple, the Vajrasan throne donated by King Ashoka, the holy Bodhi
Tree, the Animeshlochana chaitya, the Ratnachankramana, the
Ratnagaraha, the Ajapala Nigrodha Tree, the Muchhalinda Lake and the
Rajyatna Tree. The spiritual home of all Buddhists, devotees from many
Buddhist countries have built temples around the complex in their
characteristic architectural styles. Bodhgaya today is a vibrant and
inspiring tourist attraction.
Sarnath. Buddha gave his first sermon at
Sarnath after achieving enlightenment, about 10 km from the ancient
holy city of Varanasi. The sermon, setting in motion the wheel of the
teaching (dharamchakrapravartna) revealed to his followers the 4 noble
truths, the concept of the 3 jewels of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha via
the 8 fold path, for inner peace and enlightenment. It was here that
the Buddha established his first disciples (sangha) to promote his new
doctrine. The splendid Dhamekha Stupa at Sarnath was originally erected
by King Ashoka, as was the famous lion capital pillar, now the proud
symbol of India.
Kushinagar. At Kushinagar close to Gorakhpur
in eastern Uttar Pradesh, India en route to Kapilavastu, Lord Buddha
fell ill and left this world in 543 BC. His mortal remains were
preserved in eight commemorative chortens, and then further distributed
by King Ashoka into 84,000 stupas across his kingdom and beyond.
Important places to see here are the Mukatanabandhana stupa and the
Gupta period reclining Buddha statue in red sandstone.
Mobilising Mantras & Sutras
The Buddha preached his last sermon before
his death at Vaishali in Bihar, 60 km away from its capital Patna. It
was here that he told his disciple Ananda about his imminent demise.
The Second Buddhist Council was held in Vaishala about 110 years later.
About 70 km from Bodhgaya, Rajgir was
Buddha’s monsoon retreat for 12 years whilst he spread his doctrine. It
was at the holy Griddhikuta Hill that he expounded the precepts of his
Lotus Sutra and the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra. The Saptaparni Caves
set on Vaibhar Hill were the venue of the First Buddhist Council, held
to compile the teachings of the Buddha in its authentic form, after his
death. The world-renowned university of Nalanda is another important
landmark site.
About 150 km from the city of Lucknow in
Uttar Pradesh, Shravasti was Buddha’s favourite rainy season retreat
where he Buddha performed his first miracle.
The Ties That Bind
Around Lumbini in Nepal are seven other
pilgrimage sites. The first thirty years of Buddha’s life were spent at
Tilaurakot in Kapilavastu in his father’s home, 27 km west of Lumbini
in Nepal. The well-preserved city foundations are evocative of former
times, and the casket recovered from the original stupa is preserved in
the nearby museum. About 34 km northeast of Lumbini is Devdaha whose
Koliya people are considered to be the maternal tribesmen of the
Buddha. The forest of Sagarhawa lies northwest of Niglihawa. Another
important site is the stupa at Kudan, 5 km from Tilaurakot, where
Buddha’s father King Suddhodhana met him after his enlightenment.
LIVING BUDDHISM
The trans-Himalayan regions of Bhutan,
India, and Nepal are strongly rooted in the Buddhist faith. In
Dharamsala, in the Kangra Valley, lives his Holiness the 14th Dalai
Lama, spiritual leader of all Tibetan Buddhists. Visitors can enjoy
Living Buddhism experiences throughout the region, whether as a student
of Buddhism, meditation and yoga, or as a layperson attracted by the
vibrant culture, people and festivals.
Eastern Himalayas-The Lotus Blooms Still
Kathmandu Valley is an important Buddhist
pilgrimage circuit with 15 major sites. It is a living center of
Buddhist learning with many new monasteries and schools that attract
funding and visitors from all over the world. The most important Living
Buddhism sites are Swayambhunath and Bodhnath stupas, both with strong
links to Tibet. Protected as World Heritage Sites, they are the most
revered spiritual sites in the country, attracting thousands of
pilgrims. Many of the indigenous Newar people of Kathmandu practice a
unique form of Buddhism, unrelated to Tibet.
In the northern regions of Nepal, Tibetan
Mahayana Buddhism continues to flourish and there are many monasteries
and sacred sites. Many of these are in Mustang and Dolpa districts. The
important monasteries Thyangboche, Thame, Chiwong and Thupten Choeling
are in the Everest region of Solu Khumbu.
In the Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan, HM the
King is considered equal in status to the religious leader, the
Jekhenpo. The depth and vibrancy of the Buddhist faith is reflected in
everyday life. Devotees revere Guru Padmasambhava as the second Buddha.
Bhutan’s monastery fortresses (dzongs) are an integral feature of
governance, and the repository of precious treasures of ancient
literature, scriptures and art. The great dzongs of Thimphu, Paro,
Punakha and Wangdi Phodrang, amongst many others, offer a fabulous
journey for both pilgrim and tourist to explore Bhutan’s colourful
history and spiritual splendour. An added temptation for the visitor is
the fabulous repertoire of cultural activities associated with the
Kingdom’s renowned festivals (tsechus).
A short distance from Paro is the renovated
Taktsang monastery, the venerated location of Guru Rimpoche’s
(Padmasambhava) deep meditation before subduing evil demons. Kyichu
Lakhang in Paro and Jambay Lakhang in Bhumtang are amongst Bhutan’s
most important and oldest Buddhist sites. The famous tsechu festivities
are marked by prayers and religious dances, colourful costumes,
morality tales, and invocations of protection against evil forces.
Dungtse Lakhang is reputed for its fabulous collection of religious
paintings .The spectacular Punakha dzong is the winter seat of the
monkhood, and houses numerous sacred artifacts and important temples.
Living Buddhism flourishes in northern
India, home of the Dalai Lama. Set amongst the splendid heights of the
Eastern Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh is the remote Tawang Monastery.
Amongst the native inhabitants, the Monpas and the Sherdupkens people
keep alive the Buddhist faith from ancient times. This 17th century
monastery is the largest of its kind in India and the second largest in
Asia. The hill town of Bomdila offers local handicrafts and religious
artifacts, and ancient monasteries
Other North East states also have Buddhist
attractions. In the shadow of Mt Khangchendzonga, Buddhism flourishes
in the sacred landscape of Sikkim which is dotted with 107 monasteries
and many sacred stupas. Amongst the most important are Rumtek, the home
of the Kagyupa sect, Pemayangtse, Tashding and Enchey. The monastery at
Chungtang marks the footprint of Guru Padamasambhava when he rested en
route to Tibet. Recently, the world’s tallest statue of Guru Rinpoche
has been erected at Namchi. The people celebrate their faith during the
chaam (masked) dances at the great festivals.
Surviving Buddhist Enclaves
Bangladesh is now largely Muslim, but the
country has important pockets of Buddhist communities that date back to
the 7th century, especially in the region of Chittagong, the Chittagong
Hill Tracts, Cox’s Bazaar, Noakhali and Barisal. There are at least 50
Buddhist settlements surviving from the 8-12th century in the
Mainamati-Lalmai range at Tipera, Laksham and Comilla
ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY
The great journey of Buddhism throughout its
2,500-year history has manifested itself in a profusion of creative
energy in its art, archaeology and architecture. These include
beautifully painted holy caves, statues and sculpted heads, bas
reliefs, mandalas, thangkas (religious paintings) and frescos, stupas
and chortens, fine chaityas, viharas, mahaviharas and temples that
offer the traveller cross-border cultural pickings that are as
enriching as they are moving.
The earliest form of Buddhism had no
iconoclastic roots. Buddha himself was regarded as a teacher not a God.
When Buddha attained nirvana he was represented only in the form of
symbols such as the lotus, the bo (peepul) tree, and the wheel.
Buddha as an icon emerged through the
influence of the Mahayana School of Buddhism, and the mystical and
highly symbolic Tantric form of the Vajrayana School. Vajrayana culture
flourished at Bodhgaya, Nalanda and Vikramshila around the 8-9 BC.
Buddhist Nalanda enjoyed the patronage of several dynasties of kings
but was annihilated by the Turks in the 12th century. Tantric ritual
and mysticism relied heavily on sutras and tantras - secret practices
linked with the mandala (magical diagram). It saw the inclusion of
occult concepts woven intricately into the rapidly expanding pantheon
of Buddha images of gods and goddesses.
The Dharma and the Kings of old Bengal
Bangladesh enjoyed the fruits of early
Buddhist thought and art. Buddhism received enormous support during the
Pala, Chandra and Deva rulers, devout Buddhists, who were responsible
for erecting a cavalcade of commemorative monuments. Amongst them was
the important university of Paharpur, now archaeological remains about
300 km from Dhaka. Along with Nalanda University in Bihar, India it was
an important centre of Buddhist teaching. Other important archeological
sites in Bangladesh are at Mahastangar, Comila, Mainamati, and Ramu.
Pillars, Sculpted Caves and the Pledge of a King
The earliest form of Buddhist architecture
is visible in the sculpted caves, monastic retreats that were in effect
temples of great spirituality. The caves at Udaygiri, Ratnagiri and
Lalitagiri in Orissa and the Barabar caves in Bihar are an excellent
example of how the art form developed. At Dhauli, the site of the great
battle of Kalinga fought by King Ashoka, 8 km from Bhubaneswar, stands
Ashoka’s rock edict revealing his pledge to become a Buddhist.
Stupas, Chortens, Chaityas, Viharas and Dzongs
The splendour of the stupas at Sarnath,
Bodhgaya, Bodhnath, Nalanda and other important Buddhist sites are an
evocative message of Buddha’s teachings. The Dhamekha stupa at Sarnath
is a cylindrical structure dating to the golden age of the Guptas (320
AD). It features the typical floral design on stone of Gupta
workmanship. Nepal’s Swayambhunath features traditional Nepalese
architectural design with its tall steeple mounting the dome,
representing the 13 Buddhist heavens.
Chortens and viharas, stupas in miniature,
were originally meant to preserve the relics of the Buddha or great
Buddhist teachers. Excellent examples of the early viharas were those
at Vaishali, Rajgir and Shravasti. Some of the most powerful
mahaviharas were Nalanda and Vikramshila in Bihar, India and Paharpur
in Bangladesh.
In Bhutan the great dzongs were ideal for
keeping precious Buddhist treasures and also as monastic retreats
thanks to their isolation and invincibility. These imposing structures
with their tapering walls, courtyards and galleries have been created
with traditional designs handed down verbally from generation to
generation, No nails mar their creation.
Buddhist Centres of Learning
With the advent of the Mahayana school, the
world-renowned university of Nalanda became an important centre for
Buddhist learning, along with Pahapur, attracting scholars from around
the known world. Nalanda enjoyed the patronage of several dynasties of
kings but was annihilated by the Turks in the 12th century. It’s an
amazing experience walking across the vast grounds of the ruins with
its great stupa and other monastic structures.
Sculptures & Paintings - Messengers of the Buddha
The first images of Buddha were formed at
Gandhara and show decidedly Hellinistic features (defined by drapery
and hairstyle) due to the trade and cultural links with Mediterranean
Europe at the time. With the emergence of the Mathura school, close to
Agra, the features of the Buddha became more indigenous, inspired by
the traditional yakshis and yakshas sculptural forms. In Bhutan, and
Nepal the elements of the highly symbolic Vajrayana Buddhist style of
iconography, so popular in the 10th-11th century, were however
discontinued around the 14th century in exchange for a less complex
range of artistic vision but which still retained its vibrancy and
colourful splendour.
The massive Mahasthangarh archeological
remains (240 km from Dhaka) throw light on the development of Buddhist
art and architectural leanings in Bangladesh. This fortified city of
the 3rd century BC, extending over an 8 km radius, is the earliest
documented urban civilization of Bangladesh. Within easy reach are the
Buddhist ruins of Govind Bhita, Gokul Medh Stupa and the Vasu Vihara
monastery. The greatest collection of early Pala sculptures have been
found in the Paharpur monastic complex at the central temple of the
renowned Somapura Mahavihara.
At the tomb of Saint Shah Sultan Mahi Swar
Balkhi, were discovered 40 bronze statues representing Buddhist
deities, and terracotta plaques with scenes from the Ramayana. The
Mainamati Museum houses an extensive range of finds from these Buddhist
sites. The Salban Vihara in the Mainamati-Lalmai hills has a complex of
115 cells around a central courtyard with its cruciform temple facing
the gateway complex, resembles the Paharpur monastery. Kotila Mura
houses three stupas representing the holy Trinity of Buddhism - the
Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. From Rupban Mura was recovered an early
standing Buddha in abhaya mudra.
The yellow-bronze statuary of Bhutan
reflects influences in bronze-casting from the craftsman who settled
here from the eastern Tibetan province of Kham, in the 16th century.
Bhutanese painters are still sought after to decorate religious
buildings all over the region.
The splendid innovation in the use of colour
and expressive elements of Buddhist art down the ages is amply recorded
in the fabulous thangkas or religious paintings of Bhutan, Nepal, Tibet
and the trans-Himalayan regions of India. Objects of veneration and an
aid to meditation, thangkas are traditional scroll paintings on cotton
cloth with vegetable and precious mineral dyes. Buddhas, Boddhisatvas,
Taras and numerous estoteric subjects reflect the artist’s vision of
his Buddhist world. Embellishments with the lotus motif and themes from
the Jataka Tales (lives of the Buddha) are a recurring form of imagery
and inspiration for paintings.
The fantastic range of Buddhist art and
archaeology in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal, carries the visitor
on a splendid journey that marks some of the most evocative and dynamic
aspects of the Buddhist faith. Time and tide have worked upon the
measures of the emerging artistic trends, but at the core of it remain
the Buddha’s basic tenets - of self-discipline and balance as a means
to the ultimate goal of the human being - the release from the endless
cycle of rebirth-pain and suffering and finding the great peace.
Giant Face-lift of World’s Tallest Buddha Statue
2001.04.18 16:25:03
CHENGDU, April 17 (Xinhuanet) – Looking through the cobweb-shaped
platforms wrapped around the head and chest of a 71 meter-tall
seated Buddha statue, the backs of repair experts’ are seen while
they are busy painting dark-red clay, which will be the new
lipstick on the Buddha’s huge mouth. Like a slow motion, another expert with a safety rope is sent
down in mid-air from the base of the 8 meter-long middle finger of
the statue’s left hand to the statue’s 8.5 meter-high flat instep
of the left foot, where 100 people could sit. This is just one scene of an ongoing facelift project on the 1,
280 year-old Buddha statue in Leshan, a city in southwest China’s
Sichuan Province. Carving of the Buddha started in 713 A.D. and was completed in
803 A.D., in the prosperous period of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The statue was included in the World Cultural Heritage List
under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) in 1996. The Buddha statue, which sits on a cliff overlooking the
merging of the three rivers: Minjiang, Qingyijiang and Daduhe. The
statue is 71 meters from top to bottom and 28 meters from left to
right. It is 18 meters higher than the standing Buddha statue at
Bamian Valley, Afghanistan, once thought to be the highest of its
kind in the world. Over the past 1,000 years, erosion has become a major threat to
the statue. Owning to damage by natural environment changes and
human activities, six major repairs on the giant Buddha statue
have been carried out since ancient times. Before the largest repair project, which was initiated early
this month, Xinhua reporters visited the famous sitting Maitreya,
which looked in need of immediate repair and attention. ”Some coiled bobs on the head of the statue fell down, weed
coated on its surface rocks, and the face was darkened,” the
reporters recalled. But the reporters visited it again this week and it looks very shiny and new after two weeks of repair. The 1,000 color-faded bobs on the Buddha’s head have been
painted black, the drainage system has been dredged and the big
crack going from the right eye to the back of its head has been
fixed. ”The crack use to cause the Buddha to burst into tears on rainy
days,” said Zeng Zhiliang, an engineer of ancient architecture,
who climbed up onto the 10-story-high statue everyday to conduct
repair work. When the reporters followed Zeng to have a closer look and
touch the Buddha’s cheek, they could feel the smoothness and
brightness of the repaired surface of its’ face. The black spots on the face of the Buddha, caused by erosion have disappeared after a thorough cleaning,” Zeng said. At the Buddha’s neck, which 60 meters high from the base of the
statue, an expert is using a small hammer to carefully knock
mantlerocks, rocks which have become loose on the statue due to
erosion, away from the statue surface. With a safety rope, the
expert is crouching in the narrow space of the platform
constructed around the statue. After knocking it free, he has to use a brush and water to wash
the spot and piece it up with repair material. To achieve the
perfect result, this procedure has to be repeated three or four times. According to Zeng, the experts also take photos on the
mantlerocks in order to set up archives on the statue’s original
form and the repair work done. The most difficult parts in the face-lift are the giant facial
features, Zeng said, for example, the Buddha’s nose is the
combined size of several persons. ”If there is no accurate technique and skills, harmonious proportionment can be hardly realized,” he told the reporters. Tourists to the statue are also interested in asking questions about the repair work. ”How do you mix the face color of the Buddha,” asked Ney Johnn, a German tourist. Zeng’s answer is that the statue was carved out of red gritstone and covered by skin-color clay. ”Why don’t you use chemical paint as my country did on some historical relics?” Johnn said. Natural repair material, in the same color of the statue, is
being used, Zeng said, adding that it is a mixture of rocks,
charcoal, hemp and lime. This is in accordance with China’s law on cultural relics that chemical materials or cement are banned for repairing relics. Chinese leaders have paid close attention to the repair work.
The repair plan was made by the State Administration of Cultural
Heritage and seven universities and related cultural relics
protection research institutes across China. The face-lift project has aroused great attention at home and
overseas. The UNESCO has sent experts to the repair site, the
World Bank has provided considerable loans and foreign media
coverage with Time magazine and New York Times being contacted to
cover the event. A massive petition signing has been staged here to call for
efforts to be made to protect the statue. So far, more than 10,000
tourists signed their names on a scroll of silk 71 meters long. The Buddha statue management center said the drive has received
a donation of over 300,000 yuan (about 36,000 US dollars) from
people from all walks of life. The first phase of the repair work will be completed by the end
of April. An additional investment of 250 million yuan (about 30
million US dollars) will be used for the further repair on the
statue as well as a number of projects to build roads and highways
and control pollution in the area. Experts suggested that the statue should be inspected and
repaired every five years after this project is completed. Enditem
^ A prerendering of the Maitreya Buddha statue and temple, showing its massive
International Early Birds Brotherhood Multipurpose Cooperative Society
(IEBBMCS)
For
The Welfare and Ultimate Bliss of Entire Mighty Great Minds
The Blessed,
Noble,Awakened Mighty Great Mind once said, ‘When the ruler of a
country is just and good, the ministers become just and good; when the
ministers are just and good, the higher officials become just and good;
when the higher officials are just and good, the rank and file become
just and good; when the rank and file become just and good, the people
become just and good.
He said
that immorality and crime, such as theft, falsehood, violence, hatred,
cruelty, could arise from poverty. Kings and governments may try to
suppress crime through punishment, but it is futile to eradicate crimes
through force..
He suggested
economic development instead of force to reduce crime. The government
should use the country’s resources to improve the economic conditions
of the country. It could embark on agricultural and rural development,
provide financial support to entrepreneurs and business, provide
adequate wages for workers to maintain a decent life with human dignity.
He had
given to rules for Good Government, known as ‘Dasa Raja Dharma’. These
ten rules can be applied even today by any government which wishes to
rule the country peacefully. The rules are as follows:
1) be liberal and avoid selfishness, 2) maintain a high moral character, 3) be prepared to sacrifice one’s own pleasure for the well-being of the subjects, 4) be honest and maintain absolute integrity, 5) be kind and gentle, 6) lead a simple life for the subjects to emulate, 7) be free from hatred of any kind, 8) exercise non-violence, 9) practise patience, and 10) respect public opinion to promote peace and harmony.
Regarding the behavior of rulers, He further advised:
-
A good ruler should act impartially and should not be biased and
discriminate between one particular group of subjects against another. - A good ruler should not harbor any form of hatred against any of his subjects. - A good ruler should show no fear whatsoever in the enforcement of the law, if it is justifiable. -
A good ruler must possess a clear understanding of the law to be
enforced. It should not be enforced just because the ruler has the
authority to enforce the law. It must be done in a reasonable manner
and with common sense. —
’If
a man, who is unfit, incompetent, immoral, improper, unable and
unworthy of kingship, has enthroned himself a king or a ruler with
great authority, he is subject to be tortured‚ to be subject to a
variety of punishment by the people, because, being unfit and unworthy,
he has placed himself unrighteously in the seat of sovereignty. The
ruler, like others who violate and transgress moral codes and basic
rules of all social laws of mankind, is equally subject to punishment;
and moreover, to be censured is the ruler who conducts himself as a
robber of the public.’
It is mentioned that a ruler who punishes innocent people and does not punish the culprit is not suitable to rule a country.
The
king always improves himself and carefully examines his own conduct in
deeds, words and thoughts, trying to discover and listen to public
opinion as to whether or not he had been guilty of any faults and
mistakes in ruling the kingdom. If it is found that he rules
unrighteously, the public will complain that they are ruined by the
wicked ruler with unjust treatment, punishment, taxation, or other
oppressions including corruption of any kind, and they will react
against him in one way or another. On the contrary, if he rules
righteously they will bless him: ‘Long live His Majesty.
His
emphasis on the moral duty of a ruler to use public power to improve
the welfare of the people had inspired Emperor Asoka in the Third
Century B.C. to do likewise. Emperor Asoka, a sparkling example of this
principle, resolved to live according to and preach the Dhamma and to
serve his subjects and all humanity. He declared his non-aggressive
intentions to his neighbors, assuring them of his goodwill and sending
envoys to distant kings bearing his message of peace and
non-aggression. He promoted the energetic practice of the socio-moral
virtues of honesty, truthfulness, compassion, benevolence,
non-violence, considerate behavior towards all, non-extravagance,
non-acquisitiveness , and non-injury to animals. He encouraged
religious freedom and mutual respect for each other’s creed. He went on
periodic tours preaching the Dhamma to the rural people. He undertook
works of public utility, such as founding of hospitals for men and
animals, supplying of medicine, planting of roadside trees and groves,
digging of wells, and construction of watering sheds and rest houses.
He expressly forbade cruelty to animals.
Aims & Objects
To
enrol membership for IEBBMCS for the welfare and happiness of all the
members in accordance with the Constitution of India through their
empowerment by grabbing the master key for distributing the nations
wealth to benefit all sections of the society.
Distribution of fertile land to all poor farmers with healthy seeds.
Loan
to each and every person who is interested in starting his own business
with proper training on latest and most modern successful Trade
Practices
To train Government servants to serve the society in a most efficient manner without corruption.
To train members to become leaders for excellent governance.
To train all members on “The Art of Giving” for a happy longevity, beauty, prosperity and Authority.
To
create a database of all members with their photos, address, age, and
all other necessary information that will serve as Citizens Identity
Cards.
To help all members to be in the voters list in order to acquire the Master Key. To strive hard to convert the existing three member Chief Election Commission
as
Chief Election Committee, just like any other Parliamentary Committee
representing all sections of the society to ensure that all eligible
voters in the Country are included in the Voters list with their photo
identity for free and fair elections.
To help all members to get genuine Caste Certificates.
To train all members to become media to propagate peace within oneself and harmony with others.
To
train all members on the latest trade practices to make them to earn
more money for the wholesome desire of propagating the Practicing and
the Noble Right path shown by the Blessed, Noble and the Awakened One.
To train and cultivate the habit of early birds
To practice and train on the essential movements of the body, including walking, cycling and swimming for fitness
To practice and train to buy essential qualitative and most economic household articles and commodities
To train to cultivate the best food habits
To train to cultivate the ten disciplines for happy and peaceful life
Through the practice of Noble Eightfold Path
To
train to practice meditation such as Pabajja, Vipassana and Zen
practice for peace and happiness within oneself and harmony with others
to enable to become Great Minds in order to attain the Ultimate Bliss
To enroll minimum two members per street for cultivation of the practice by way of training
Membership Minimum Rs.200 ($100) up to 25% and above of one’s net profit.
New
Situated
