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– Buddha
31-08-2010 FREE ONLINE e- Nālandā UNIVERSITY
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LESSON – 16
WISDOM IS POWER
Awakened One Shows the Path to Attain Ultimate Bliss
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The Free e-Nālandā University has been re-organized to function through the following Schools of Learning :
Buddha Taught his Dhamma Free of cost, hence the Free- e-Nālandā follows suit
As the Original Nālandā University did not offer any Degree, so also the Free e-Nālandā University.
Main Course Programs:
I.
KAMMA
REBIRTH
AWAKEN-NESS
BUDDHA
THUS COME ONE
DHARMA
II.
ARHAT
FOUR HOLY TRUTHS
EIGHTFOLD PATH
TWELVEFOLD CONDITIONED ARISING
BODHISATTVA
PARAMITA
SIX PARAMITAS
III.
SIX SPIRITUAL POWERS
SIX PATHS OF REBIRTH
TEN DHARMA REALMS
FIVE SKANDHAS
EIGHTEEN REALMS
FIVE MORAL PRECEPTS
IV.
MEDITATION
MINDFULNESS
FOUR APPLICATIONS OF MINDFULNESS
LOTUS POSTURE
SAMADHI
CHAN SCHOOL
FOUR DHYANAS
FOUR FORMLESS REALMS
V.
FIVE TYPES OF BUDDHIST STUDY AND PRACTICE
MAHAYANA AND HINAYANA COMPARED
PURE LAND
BUDDHA RECITATION
EIGHT CONSCIOUSNESSES
ONE HUNDRED DHARMAS
EMPTINESS
VI.
DEMON
LINEAGE
with
Level I: Introduction to Buddhism
Level II: Buddhist Studies
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Level III: Stream-Enterer
Level IV: Once - Returner
Level V: Non-Returner
Level VI: Arhat
Jambudvipa, i.e, PraBuddha Bharath scientific thought in
mathematics,
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alchemy,
and
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and Ecology and Environmental Studies
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Rebirth Part IV
http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/Rebirth.htm
The laws of kamma are as inviolable as the law of gravity: SN XLII.6
http://www.cambodianbuddhist.org/english/website/canon/samyutta/sn42-006.html
Samyutta Nikaya XLII.6
Paccha-bhumika Sutta
[Brahmans] of the Western Land
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
For free distribution only.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn42/sn42.006.than.html
· Tipitaka · Samyutta Nikaya · SN 42
SN 42.6
PTS: S iv 311
CDB ii 1336
Paccha-bhumika Sutta: [Brahmans] of the Western Land
translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Nālandā in the Pavarika Mango Grove. Then Asibandhakaputta the headman went to the Blessed One and on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there he said to the Blessed One: “The brahmans of the Western lands, lord — those who carry water pots, wear garlands of water plants, purify with water, & worship fire — can take [the spirit of] a dead person, lift it out, instruct it, & send it to heaven. But the Blessed One, worthy & rightly self-awakened, can arrange it so that all the world, at the break-up of the body, after death, reappears in a good destination, the heavenly world.”
“Very well, then, headman, I will question you on this matter. Answer as you see fit. What do you think: There is the case where a man is one who takes life, steals, indulges in illicit sex; is a liar, one who speaks divisive speech, harsh speech, & idle chatter; is greedy, bears thoughts of ill-will, & holds to wrong views. Then a great crowd of people, gathering & congregating, would pray, praise, & circumambulate with their hands palm-to-palm over the heart [saying,] ‘May this man, at the break-up of the body, after death, reappear in a good destination, the heavenly world!’ What do you think: would that man — because of the prayers, praise, & circumambulation of that great crowd of people — at the break-up of the body, after death, reappear in a good destination, the heavenly world?”
“No, lord.”
“Suppose a man were to throw a large boulder into a deep lake of water, and a great crowd of people, gathering & congregating, would pray, praise, & circumambulate with their hands palm-to-palm over the heart [saying,] ‘Rise up, O boulder! Come floating up, O boulder! Come float to the shore, O boulder!’ What do you think: would that boulder — because of the prayers, praise, & circumambulation of that great crowd of people — rise up, come floating up, or come float to the shore?”
“No, lord.”
“So it is with any man who takes life, steals, indulges in illicit sex; is a liar, one who speaks divisive speech, harsh speech, & idle chatter; is greedy, bears thoughts of ill-will, & holds to wrong views. Even though a great crowd of people, gathering & congregating, would pray, praise, & circumambulate with their hands palm-to-palm over the heart — [saying,] ‘May this man, at the break-up of the body, after death, reappear in a good destination, the heavenly world!’ — still, at the break-up of the body, after death, he would reappear in destitution, a bad destination, the lower realms, hell.
“Now what do you think: There is the case where a man is one who refrains from taking life, from stealing, & from indulging in illicit sex; he refrains from lying, from speaking divisive speech, from harsh speech, & from idle chatter; he is not greedy, bears no thoughts of ill-will, & holds to right view. Then a great crowd of people, gathering & congregating, would pray, praise, & circumambulate with their hands palm-to-palm over the heart [saying,] ‘May this man, at the break-up of the body, after death, reappear in destitution, a bad destination, the lower realms, hell!’ What do you think: would that man — because of the prayers, praise, & circumambulation of that great crowd of people — at the break-up of the body, after death, reappear in destitution, a bad destination, the lower realms, hell?”
“No, lord.”
“Suppose a man were to throw a jar of ghee or a jar of oil into a deep lake of water, where it would break. There the shards & jar-fragments would go down, while the ghee or oil would come up. Then a great crowd of people, gathering & congregating, would pray, praise, & circumambulate with their hands palm-to-palm over the heart [saying,] ‘Sink, O ghee/oil! Submerge, O ghee/oil! Go down, O ghee/oil!’ What do you think: would that ghee/oil, because of the prayers, praise, & circumambulation of that great crowd of people sink, submerge, or go down?”
“No, lord.”
“So it is with any man who refrains from taking life, from stealing, & from indulging in illicit sex; refrains from lying, from speaking divisive speech, from harsh speech, & from idle chatter; is not greedy, bears no thoughts of ill-will, & holds to right view. Even though a great crowd of people, gathering & congregating, would pray, praise, & circumambulate with their hands palm-to-palm over the heart — [saying,] ‘May this man, at the break-up of the body, after death, reappear in a destitution, a bad destination, the lower realms, hell!’ — still, at the break-up of the body, after death, he would reappear in a good destination, the heavenly world.”
When this was said, Asibandhakaputta the headman said to the Blessed One: “Magnificent, lord! Magnificent! Just as if he were to place upright what was overturned, to reveal what was hidden, to point out the way to one who was lost, or to carry a lamp into the dark so that those with eyes could see forms, in the same way has the Blessed One — through many lines of reasoning — made the Dhamma clear. I go to the Blessed One for refuge, to the Dhamma, & to the community of monks. May the Blessed One remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forward, for life.”
Why not just settle for divine rebirth among the devas?: SN V.7
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn05/sn05.007.than.html
· Tipitaka · Samyutta Nikaya · SN 5
SN 5.7
PTS: S i 133
CDB i 227
Upacala Sutta: Sister Upacala
translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Alternate translation: Bodhi
At Savatthi. Then, early in the morning, Upacala the nun put on her robes and, taking her bowl & outer robe, went into Savatthi for alms. When she had gone for alms in Savatthi and had returned from her alms round, after her meal she went to the Grove of the Blind to spend the day. Having gone deep into the Grove of the Blind, she sat down at the foot of a tree for the day’s abiding.
Then Mara the Evil One, wanting to arouse fear, horripilation, & terror in her, wanting to make her fall away from concentration, approached her & said, “Where do you want to reappear, nun?”
“I don’t want to reappear anywhere, my friend.”
[Mara:]
The devas of the Thirty-three,
the Hours, the Contented,
those who delight in creation,
& those in control:
direct your mind there
and it will enjoy
delight.
[Sister Upacala:]
The devas of the Thirty-three,
the Hours, the Contented,
those who delight in creation,
& those in control:
they are bound
with the bonds of sensuality;
they come again
under Mara’s sway.
The whole world is burning.
The whole world is aflame.
The whole world is blazing.
The whole world is provoked.
The Unprovoked, Unblazing
— that people run-of-the-mill
don’t partake,
where Mara’s
never been —
that’s where my heart
truly delights.
Then Mara the Evil One — sad & dejected at realizing, “Upacala the nun knows me” — vanished right there.
Notes
1.
To reappear = to be reborn.
The preciousness of our human life: SN XX.2, SN LVI.48
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn20/sn20.002.than.html
· Tipitaka · Samyutta Nikaya · SN 20
SN 20.2
PTS: S ii 263
CDB i 706
Nakhasikha Sutta: The Tip of the Fingernail
translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Staying at Savatthi. Then the Blessed One, picking up a little bit of dust with the tip of his fingernail, said to the monks, “What do you think, monks? Which is greater: the little bit of dust I have picked up with the tip of my fingernail, or the great earth?”
“The great earth is far greater, lord. The little bit of dust the Blessed One has picked up with the tip of his fingernail is next to nothing. It doesn’t even count. It’s no comparison. It’s not even a fraction, this little bit of dust the Blessed One has picked up with the tip of his fingernail, when compared with the great earth.
“In the same way, monks, few are the beings reborn among human beings. Far more are those reborn elsewhere. Thus you should train yourselves: ‘We will live heedfully.’ That’s how you should train yourselves.”
See also: Dhp 174.
· Tipitaka · Samyutta Nikaya · SN 56
SN 56.48
PTS: S v 456
CDB ii 1872
Chiggala Sutta: The Hole
translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
“Monks, suppose that this great earth were totally covered with water, and a man were to toss a yoke with a single hole there. A wind from the east would push it west, a wind from the west would push it east. A wind from the north would push it south, a wind from the south would push it north. And suppose a blind sea-turtle were there. It would come to the surface once every one hundred years. Now what do you think: would that blind sea-turtle, coming to the surface once every one hundred years, stick his neck into the yoke with a single hole?”
“It would be a sheer coincidence, lord, that the blind sea-turtle, coming to the surface once every one hundred years, would stick his neck into the yoke with a single hole.”
“It’s likewise a sheer coincidence that one obtains the human state. It’s likewise a sheer coincidence that a Tathagata, worthy & rightly self-awakened, arises in the world. It’s likewise a sheer coincidence that a doctrine & discipline expounded by a Tathagata appears in the world. Now, this human state has been obtained. A Tathagata, worthy & rightly self-awakened, has arisen in the world. A doctrine & discipline expounded by a Tathagata appears in the world.
“Therefore your duty is the contemplation, ‘This is stress… This is the origination of stress… This is the cessation of stress.’ Your duty is the contemplation, ‘This is the path of practice leading to the cessation of stress.’”
How to gain rebirth as an elephant or a horse: AN X.177
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an10/an10.177.than.html#elephant
· Tipitaka · Anguttara Nikaya · Tens
AN 10.177
PTS: A v 269
Janussonin Sutta: To Janussonin
(On Offerings to the Dead)
translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Then Janussonin the brahman went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, exchanged courteous greetings with him. After an exchange of friendly greetings & courtesies, he sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he said to the Blessed One, “Master Gotama, you know that we brahmans give gifts, make offerings, [saying,] ‘May this gift accrue to our dead relatives. May our dead relatives partake of this gift.’ Now, Master Gotama, does that gift accrue to our dead relatives? Do our dead relatives partake of that gift?”
“In possible places, brahman, it accrues to them, but not in impossible places.”
“And which, Master Gotama, are the possible places? Which are the impossible places?”
“There is the case, brahman, where a certain person takes life, takes what is not given, engages in sensual misconduct, engages in false speech, engages in divisive speech, engages in abusive speech, engages in idle chatter, is covetous, bears ill will, and has wrong views. With the break-up of the body, after death, he reappears in hell. He lives there, he remains there, by means of whatever is the food of hell-beings. This is an impossible place for that gift to accrue to one staying there.
“Then there is the case where a certain person takes life, takes what is not given, engages in sensual misconduct, engages in false speech, engages in divisive speech, engages in abusive speech, engages in idle chatter, is covetous, bears ill will, and has wrong views. With the break-up of the body, after death, he reappears in the animal womb. He lives there, he remains there, by means of whatever is the food of common animals. This, too, is an impossible place for that gift to accrue to one staying there.
“Then there is the case where a certain person refrains from taking life, refrains from taking what is not given, refrains from sensual misconduct, refrains from false speech, refrains from divisive speech, refrains from abusive speech, refrains from idle chatter, is not covetous, bears no ill will, and has right views. With the break-up of the body, after death, he reappears in the company of human beings. He lives there, he remains there, by means of whatever is the food of human beings. This, too, is an impossible place for that gift to accrue to one staying there.
“Then there is the case where a certain person refrains from taking life, refrains from taking what is not given, refrains from sensual misconduct, refrains from false speech, refrains from divisive speech, refrains from abusive speech, refrains from idle chatter, is not covetous, bears no ill will, and has right views. With the break-up of the body, after death, he reappears in the company of the devas. He lives there, he remains there, by means of whatever is the food of devas. This, too, is an impossible place for that gift to accrue to one staying there.
“Then there is the case where a certain person takes life, takes what is not given, engages in sensual misconduct, engages in false speech, engages in divisive speech, engages in abusive speech, engages in idle chatter, is covetous, bears ill will, and has wrong views. With the break-up of the body, after death, he reappears in the realms of the hungry shades. He lives there, he remains there, by means of whatever is the food of hungry shades. He lives there, he remains that, by means of whatever his friends or relatives give in dedication to him. This is the possible place for that gift to accrue to one staying there.
“But, Master Gotama, if that dead relative does not reappear in that possible place, who partakes of that gift?”
“Other dead relatives, brahman, who have reappeared in that possible place.”
“But, Master Gotama, if that dead relative does not reappear in that possible place, and other dead relatives have not reappeared in that possible place, then who partakes of that gift?”
“It’s impossible, brahman, it cannot be, that over this long time that possible place is devoid of one’s dead relatives. But at any rate, the donor does not go without reward.
“Does Master Gotama describe any preparation for the impossible places?”
“Brahman, I do describe a preparation for the impossible places. There is the case where a certain person takes life, takes what is not given, engages in sensual misconduct, engages in false speech, engages in divisive speech, engages in abusive speech, engages in idle chatter, is covetous, bears ill will, and has wrong views. But he gives food, drink, cloth, vehicles, garlands, scents, creams, bed, lodging, & lamps to priests & contemplatives. With the break-up of the body, after death, he reappears in the company of elephants. There he receives food, drink, flowers, & various ornaments. It’s because he took life, took what is not given, engaged in sensual misconduct, engaged in false speech, engaged in divisive speech, engaged in abusive speech, engaged in idle chatter, was covetous, bore ill will, and had wrong views that he reappears in the company of elephants. But it’s because he gave food, drink, cloth, vehicles, garlands, scents, creams, bed, lodging, & lamps to priests & contemplatives that he receives food, drink, flowers, & various ornaments.
“Then there is the case where a certain person takes life… has wrong views. But he gives food… lamps to priests & contemplatives. With the break-up of the body, after death, he reappears in the company of horses… in the company of cattle… in the company of poultry. There he receives food, drink, flowers, & various ornaments. It’s because he took life… and had wrong views that he reappears in the company of poultry. But it’s because he gave food, drink… & lamps to priests & contemplatives that he receives food, drink, flowers, & various ornaments.
“Then there is the case where a certain person refrains from taking life, refrains from taking what is not given, refrains from sensual misconduct, refrains from false speech, refrains from divisive speech, refrains from abusive speech, refrains from idle chatter, is not covetous, bears no ill will, and has right views. And he gives food, drink, cloth, vehicles, garlands, scents, creams, bed, lodging, & lamps to priests & contemplatives. With the break-up of the body, after death, he reappears in the company of human beings. There he experiences the five strings of human sensuality [delightful sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tactile sensations]. It’s because he refrained from taking what is not given, refrained from sensual misconduct, refrained from false speech, refrained from divisive speech, refrained from abusive speech, refrained from idle chatter, was not covetous, bore no ill will, and had right views that he reappears in the company of human beings. And it’s because he gave food, drink, cloth, vehicles, garlands, scents, creams, bed, lodging, & lamps to priests & contemplatives that he experiences the five strings of human sensuality.
“Then there is the case where a certain person refrains from taking life… and has right views. And he gives food, drink, cloth, vehicles, garlands, scents, creams, bed, lodging, & lamps to priests & contemplatives. With the break-up of the body, after death, he reappears in the company of devas. There he experiences the five strings of divine sensuality [delightful sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tactile sensations]. It’s because he refrained from taking what is not given… and had right views that he reappears in the company of devas. And it’s because he gave food, drink, cloth, vehicles, garlands, scents, creams, bed, lodging, & lamps to priests & contemplatives that he experiences the five strings of divine sensuality. But at any rate, brahman, the donor does not go without reward.”
“It’s amazing, Master Gotama, it’s astounding, how it’s enough to make one want to give a gift, enough to make one want to make an offering, where the donor does not go without reward.”
“That’s the way it is, brahman. That’s the way it is. The donor does not go without reward.”
“Magnificent, Master Gotama! Magnificent! Just as if he were to place upright what was overturned, to reveal what was hidden, to show the way to one who was lost, or to carry a lamp into the dark so that those with eyes could see forms, in the same way has Master Gotama — through many lines of reasoning — made the Dhamma clear. I go to Master Gotama for refuge, to the Dhamma, & to the community of monks. May Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone to him for refuge, from this day forward, for life.”
Notes
1.
The Vinaya counts as one’s relatives all those related back through seven generations past one’s grandparents — in other words, all those descended from one’s great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparents.
2.
Apparently, “ornaments” for poultry would consist of brilliant plumage. Similarly, “ornaments” for elephants, horses, & cattle might consist of attractive markings.
3.
For some reason, the PTS translation of this sutta cuts off right here.
See also: MN 135; MN 136; SN 42.6; SN 42.8; Khp 7.
What’s so bad about being reborn?: SN V.6
· Tipitaka · Samyutta Nikaya · SN 5
At Savatthi. Then, early in the morning, Cala the nun put on her robes and, taking her bowl & outer robe, went into Savatthi for alms. When she had gone for alms in Savatthi and had returned from her alms round, after her meal she went to the Grove of the Blind to spend the day. Having gone deep into the Grove of the Blind, she sat down at the foot of a tree for the day’s abiding.
Then Mara the Evil One, wanting to arouse fear, horripilation, & terror in her, wanting to make her fall away from concentration, approached her & said, “What is it that you don’t approve of, nun?”
“I don’t approve of birth, my friend.”
[Mara:]
Why don’t you approve of birth?
One who is born
enjoys sensual pleasures.
Who on earth
ever persuaded you:
‘Nun, don’t approve of birth’?
[Sister Cala:]
For one who is born
there’s death.
One who is born
sees pain.
It’s a binding, a flogging, a torment.
That’s why one shouldn’t approve
of birth.
The Awakened One taught me the Dhamma
— the overcoming of birth —
for the abandoning of all pain,
he established me in
the truth.
But beings who have come to form
& those with a share in the formless,
if they don’t discern cessation,
return to becoming-again.
Then Mara the Evil One — sad & dejected at realizing, “Cala the nun knows me” — vanished right there.
Nālandā: A pleasant project
The passage of the Nālandā University Bill by Parliament is a firm indication that Jambudipa, i.e, PraBuddha Bharath is moving in the direction of a pleasant power on Asia and the world. This is reinforced by the efficient completion of the South Asian University project under SAARC and Jambudipa, i.e, PraBuddha Bharath’s decision to open up its higher education sector to global inputs and competition. Initially, Nālandā University was to be launched in 2009, but the question of funding and the defining of its basic structure took more time than expected. The idea of reviving it as a centre of excellence in the creation and dissemination of knowledge in Asia was first mooted by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in February 2006 during his official visit to Singapore. He then elaborated on it while addressing the Bihar Assembly.
Both Bihar and Singapore got motivated to translate the idea into a concrete project. The Assembly passed a bill in 2007 to establish Nālandā University, acquired land for it but handed over the project to the government of India in view of its emerging international character. Singapore pursued the idea more vigorously than even India did in some respects and to propagate it in East Asia organised a “Nālandā Symposium” in November 2006. As a result, it succeeded in enlisting the support of East Asian countries, especially China, Japan and Korea, for the project. Singapore has also joined hands with Japan in mobilising funds for giving shape to the project and executing it.
As a result of all these efforts, the East Asia Summit (a grouping of ASEAN plus six countries — China, Japan, Jambudipa, i.e, PraBuddha Bharath, Korea, Australia and New Zealand) not only spontaneously endorsed the project in 2007 but in 2009, at its fourth summit, called upon all its members to make “appropriate funding arrangements on a voluntary basis from government and other sources including public-private partnership” for this “non-state, non-profit, secular and self-governing international institution.”
Nālandā University is destined to emerge as a strong instrument of a pleasant power at two levels; for the rising Asia in relation to the West and for Jambudipa, i.e, PraBuddha Bharath in relation to Asia. As the project recaptures its past glory and élan, it will boost Asia’s confidence in its intellectual and academic capacities and dent the heavy reliance that exists today on the western universities like Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard for Asian scholars’ professional credibility and recognition. This is underlined by Amartya Sen, chairman of the Nālandā Mentor Group (NMG), in his pointer that “Oxford was rising when Nālandā was declining” and now the new Nālandā should reflect Asia’s re-emergence. Defining the link between the Nālandā project and Asia’s rise, Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo, who is also an NMG member, described the project as the “icon of Asian Renaissance” adding, “as Asia re-emerges on the world stage this century, its civilisational origins will become a subject of intense study and debate. Asians will look back to their own past and derive inspiration from it for the future.”
A senior Jambudipa, i.e, PraBuddha Bharath official after the New York meeting of the NMG in May 2008 said the objective of Nālandā was “to emphasise the importance of eastern intellectual endeavour and ensure that human aspiration is not being dominated by the western imprint.” Nālandā will build itself in the course of time as a vehicle for propagating the constructive and creative dimensions of oriental thought and knowledge systems based on Asian philosophies, experiences and practices that seldom find adequate place in contemporary western curricula.
The revival of Nālandā University is a multinational project, in partnership with Asian countries. The NMG member, Professor Wang Bangwei of Peking University, emphasised that “Nālandā belonged to not only India but all Asian Buddhists.” It will spurt activities and processes towards building an Asian community and cannot be used as an instrument of competitive diplomacy in the region. While participating in the 2006 symposium in Singapore, Professor Wang Dehua of the Shanghai Centre for International Studies referred to India-China relations in the context of Nālandā saying: “Let us forget about the 1962 incident. This project will symbolise the rebuilding of our old friendship and understanding. In the future, we will be able to reach the dream of an Asian community with a project like this.”
Other scholars at the symposium like Professor Tan Chung from Jambudipa, i.e, PraBuddha Bharath also elaborated on this theme, recalling that when the Han dynasty was on the verge of collapse in the sixth century, the spread of Buddhism from Nālandā helped China revive. The message is loud and clear — Nālandā should bring Jambudipa, i.e, PraBuddha Bharath and China, as also other Asian countries, closer.
Without invoking any competitive drive with its Asian neighbours, Nālandā would help Jambudipa, i.e, PraBuddha Bharath consolidate its position in the region. Since the university is based in Jambudipa, i.e, PraBuddha Bharath, scholars and students going out of Nālandā would become Jambudipa, i.e, PraBuddha Bharath’s goodwill ambassadors in their countries, generally at the critical levels of decision-making. Through the Nālandā alumni, Jambudipa, i.e, PraBuddha Bharath will also be able to showcase its cultural richness, democratic commitments, secular ethos and innovative strength in the frontier areas of knowledge. The boost in tourism and marketing of knowledge and cultural products in Asia would be a bonus for Jambudipa, i.e, PraBuddha Bharath, as also for other countries.
The completion and further expansion of the Nālandā project will not be without challenges. It will have to be insulated from the strong undercurrents of competitive strategic moves among its Asian stakeholders. Jambudipa, i.e, PraBuddha Bharath will also have to ensure that its bureaucratic processes do not intervene and erode the efficiency of this all-Asian project.
Funding the project would indeed be a formidable challenge, even as a public-private
enterprise. The present target is to create an endowment of $1 billion. Harvard University’s endowment is $35 billion. The funding constraint restrained the NMG from opening faculties in hard sciences and frontier areas of knowledge. This will handicap Nālandā in becoming a real centre of excellence in knowledge creation and thus in competing with the well endowed western Universities. The stakeholders of the project seem to be acutely aware of these challenges. It is hoped that they will be overcome as the project unfolds.
GOOD GOVERNANCE
Press Information Bureau
(C.M. Information Campus)
Information & Public Relations Department, U.P.
Central Governments led by Congress and BJP and other parties responsible for poor plight of farmers
BSP against forced acquisition of agricultural lands of farmers in the country
BSP to support farmers’ proposed August 26 siege of Parliament
Lucknow : 22 August 2010
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati, while holding
the Congress led UPA Government and also the BJP and other
parties led Central Governments responsible for the sad plight of
the farmers and also for the problem of naxalism, said that owing
to the flaws of the land acquisition law of the Central Government
the farmers were forced to take to the roads to solve their
problems. She said that owing to the misuse of the Land
Acquisition Act and also because of the mentality of grabbing
farmers’ land, this situation had emerged at present. She said that
since 1894 the farmers had been demanding change in this law
and to define the ‘public purpose’ as well. But, the anti-farmer and
pro-industrialist Central Governments did not pay any attention in
this regard during the last 6 decades.
Ms. Mayawati said that it was very unfortunate that on one
hand the farmers demanded amendment in the Land Acquisition
Act, while on the other and the Congress led UPA Government
ignored their demands and gave away 50000 hectare land of the
farmers to industrialists in the name of SEZ so that they can
become billionaires. She said that the farmers of the country were
angry because of the anti-farmer policies of the Centre.
The CM said that the forest dwellers were also facing similar
situation. She said that for years the lands of the forest dwellers
were given away to the industrialists in the name of
industrialisation and lakhs of forest dwellers were rendered
landless and because of it they had now resorted to naxalism. She
said that it was very unfortunate that the Congress led UPA
Government instead of solving the basic problem, was taking
police action against the forest dwellers. She said that the problem
of naxalism could not be solved through bullets. This problem could be solved by changing the conditions, she pointed out. She
further said that as soon as the mentality of grabbing forest
dwellers’ land was checked, the problem of naxalism would be
solved.
Ms. Mayawati said that the NDA Government led by BJP was
also responsible for the land acquisition related problems of the
farmers. She said that the NDA Government ruled the country for
6 years and during that period it did not solve the problems of the
farmers and effected any change in the land acquisition laws. She
said that the BJP should pressurise the Central Government to
amend the Land Acquisition Act 1894.
Ms. Mayawati said that by amending the Land Acquisition
Act, the mentality of forcible acquisition of land of the farmers
could be changed. She said that BSP was always of the opinion
that the land of the farmers should be taken with their consent. In
the year 2007, the BSP Government formulated a new policy to
protect the interests of the farmers at the time of land acquisition.
Under it, the land of the farmers would be taken under the
agreement rules. She made it clear that the State Government
was totally against the forcible acquisition of land of the farmers.
Ms. Mayawati said that she supported farmers’ proposed
August 26 siege of Parliament. The farmers of the country have
decided to gherao the Parliament to enforce amendment in the
Land Acquisition Act, so that their problems could be solved.
Showing her agreement with the demand of the farmers to amend
this act, she said that she would take all possible steps in this
regard.
The CM said that as far as the land related problems of the
farmers of the Aligarh and Agra were concerned, they had been
solved. She said that the anti-government elements were trying to
worsen the law and order or the state under its pretext. She said
that the politicians visiting these districts should pressurise Central
Government to amend the Land Acquisition Act.
******
Carry out relief and rescue works on war-footing in flood affected areas —C.M.
Rs. 10 crore released for flood relief works
Rs. Two crore for repair works of
damaged roads and culverts
Lucknow: 28 August 2010
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati has directed the
officers to carry out relief and rescue works on war-footing. She has
directed the officers to make necessary arrangements in flood affected
districts, so that affected people could reach in relief camps at earliest
and they should be provided relief materials and medical facilities. Any
laxity in relief and rescue works would be severely dealt with, she
warned.
Ms. Mayawati was reviewing flood relief works at a high-level
meeting at her official residence here today. She said that the State
Government had released Rs. 10 crore for flood relief works so far and
all districts had got the required amount. She said that Rs. Two crore
had been given for repair works of damaged roads and culverts.
Besides, an amount of Rs. 2.5 crore had been made available to P.A.C.
for making arrangements of 33 new rubberised boats, motor-boats
and other necessary life saving equipments.
The C.M. said that the flood affected people should be
immediately provided the facilities of boats, motor boats, food articles
and medicines. She has also directed the officers to make special
security arrangements in flood affected areas. She said that there was
no lack of money for flood relief works.
Ms. Mayawati said that on her directives, Mr. Nasimuddin
Siddiqui had reviewed the relief works in flood affected districts of
Bijnor, Kanshiram Nagar, Ballia, Gonda and Bahraich. She said that following her directives, the Chief Secretary had reviewed flood relief
and rescue works at Government level on Aug. 25 last. She had
directed the senior government officers for regular monitoring of relief
and rescue works in flood affected areas, besides making necessary
arrangements.
The C.M. has also directed that monitoring of embankments
should be done continuously. She directed that repair work of Charsari
embankment damaged in Parsawal village situated on the border of
Barabanki-Gonda district should be done on war-footing. She directed
the Irrigation Minister to gauge the situation arising out of damaged
embankment by immediate aerial survey. She also directed the
officers for immediate relief and rescue works for flood affected village
people. She said that special attention should be given on
maintenance of embankments.
Ms. Mayawati has directed the officers to make proper
arrangements of medical facilities and ensure the prevention of
infectious diseases. It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had
directed to nominate senior departmental officers for the proper
functioning of health services in flood affected areas. Following her
directives, additional health directors had been assigned the
responsibility of management and monitoring of medical facilities in
flood relief camps in Bahraich, Sitapur, Lakhimpur-Kheri, Pilibhit,
Kanshiram Nagar, Meerut and Barabanki districts.
The Chief Minister has directed the District Magistrates of flood
affected districts to make flood control rooms more effective and take
immediate action on the information received there. She said that
repair works of damaged roads and bridges should be done
immediately. She said that concerning District Magistrates and
Divisional Commissioners had been given the powers to start
immediate repair works by taking decisions at their own level, so that
repair works could not get delayed. She has also directed the officers
to ensure the availability of fodder and vaccines for cattle in flood
affected areas.
Drive against adulterators to continue
Complain against milk and milk product adulteration
at telephone no. -0522-2258103 and 9454400201
Lucknow : 25 August 2010
As many as 304 FIRs were lodged and 196 out of 429 named persons
were arrested in a drive launched against the food adulterators on the directive
of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati from 1 June to 25 August
2010. Likewise, in a drive launched against the spurious and below standard
drugs, 186 FIRs were registered and 165 out of 233 named persons were
arrested during the drive. During this drive, articles worth Rs. 1.87 crore were
seized and spurious and below standard drugs worth Rs. 2.09 lakh were also
captured.
Giving this information here today, a Food and Drug Administration
Department spokesman said that the Chief Minister had directed the officers to
carry out this drive in the State till the problem of food adulteration and
spurious drugs was fully rooted out. The spokesman said that a drive launched
against the adulteration in milk and dairy products like paneer, ghee, khoya
etc. had been launched from 19 August. As many as 66 persons had been
named in 50 cases of adulteration caught in the raids. Out of these, 39 persons
had been arrested. During the drive, 60 quintals of khoya, 20 quintals of
adulterated ghee, 5 quintals of adulterated paneer and 2.85 lakh litres of
adulterated milk was captured and destroyed.
The spokesman said that 5 milk testing mobile vans had been pressed
into service in Lucknow district during the drive launched against adulteration
of milk. Trained milk analysts accompanied the van and provided on the spot
milk test reports to the people residing in various parts of the city. The
spokesman said that this experiment had given encouraging results as
preventive measures were taken against the erring milk suppliers.
The spokesman said that the people could lodge their complaints
regarding adulterated milk and dairy products on the telephone no. 0522-
2258103 and mobile no. 9454400201 which belong to Additional Commissioner
Enforcement, so that the adulterators could be punished severely. The
spokesman said that there was provision of life imprisonment for the
adulterators and warned them to desist from food adulteration.
The spokesman said that owing to the drive launched on the directives of
the CM, the problem of adulteration would be rooted out from the State very
soon.
State Medical and Health Minister demands Rs. 10 lakh assistance for family members of vaccine victims
Requests to provide sample test report at earliest
Lucknow: 24 August 2010
The Uttar Pradesh Medical and Health Minister Mr. Anant
Kumar Mishra has written a letter to the Union Health Minister to
provide Rs. 10 lakh assistance to the family members of the each
deceased child, who died in the immunisation incident that occurred
in Mohanlalganj area recently. He said in his letter that the
circumstances suggested that there was some problem with the
vaccine owing to which this incident occurred. He said that though
the C.M. had sanctioned Rs. 50,000 assistance for the family
members of each deceased, but the Central Government should also
provide them assistance in the interest of the immunisation drive. He
demanded that the quality of the vaccines being supplied in the State
should be given special focus.
Mr. Mishra said that the Food and Drug Administration
Department of the State Government had already sent the samples
of the vaccine to the Central Drug Laboratory, Kasauli, Himanchal
Pradesh for testing. He said that the report of the samples should be
provided to the State Government at the earliest as the Dr. G.K.
Malik Committee set up to investigate the incident could draw any
conclusion thereafter.
The Medical Health Minister, in his letter, said that the
Government of India supplied measles vaccines, syringes and vitamin
A syrup to the State. He said that the Dr. G.K. Malik Committee set
up by the State Government believed that the quality of vaccines,
syringes and vitamin A syrup should be checked, so that the incident
could be properly investigated.
Mr. Mishra said that the U.P. Chief Minister had taken the
incident very seriously and provided Rs. 50,000 assistance to the
family members of the deceased children from C.M.’s discretionary
fund. Besides, the guilty were suspended and the Dr. G.K. Malik
Committee had also carried out ‘Death Audit’.
Five health workers including a doctor suspended in Mohanlalganj vaccination incident
Rs. 50,000 aid provided to parents of deceased children
Magistrate inquiry ordered into incident
Lucknow : 21 August 2010
Taking serious note of the death of four children who died, when
they were administered vaccines yesterday, the State Government
ordered magistrate inquiry into the incident. The children belonging to
Bindauwa, Padminkhera and Ramgarhi villages under the Mohanlalganj
(Lucknow) CHC, died after they were vaccinated. The Government has
also ordered test of the vaccine. The parents of the deceased children
would be provided Rs. 50,000 assistance each through the Chief
Minister’s Discretionary Fund.
A spokesman said that five health personnel including one doctor
and four para-medical staff working under the Mohanlalganj CHC were
suspended and the Superintendent of the CHC Dr. K.S. Trivedi has been
asked to explain his conduct on slack administrative control. The
suspended health personnel included Dr. K.P. Upadhyaya Medical Officer
PHC Nigoha, Shri C.P. Yadav In-charge Cold Chain, A.N.M.s Christina
Charan, Akhtari Bano and Usha Verma have been placed under
suspension. All of them work under CHC Mohanlalganj. Departmental
inquiry has been ordered against them.
The Spokesman said that the Principal Secretary Medical Health
and Family Welfare Mr. Pradeep Shukla directed the D.G. Family Welfare
Dr. S.P. Ram and Chief Medical Officer Dr. A.K. Shukla to go to the
incident site along with their team. The team visited the villages and
inquired about the incident.
The Spokesman said that the vaccination programme would
remain suspended till the investigation is completed. He said that the
‘Death Audit’ of the deceased children was being conducted by the team
led by the HOD of the Paediatrics Department, Chhatrapati Shahuji
Maharaj Medical University to ascertain the cause of death.
The Spokesman said that the D.G. Family Welfare had been
directed to take full precautions in the vaccination programme, so that
such incidents were not repeated again. The spokesman appealed the
people not to feel any fear from this vaccination drive as the children
were being protected from six deadly diseases and it was being
conducted from earlier. He said that the mother-child protection drive
would continue in future as well.
******
Name - Mayawati, known as or called as Bahanji’ (Sister)
Political party - Bahujan Samaj Party The party’s political symbol is an Elephant.
Mayawati has been National President of the BSP since 2003.
She follows Buddhist traditions and customs.
Education –
1. B.A. from Kalindi College, Delhi University,
2. B.Ed. BMLG College, Ghaziabad, Meerut University,
3. Law Degree from the Delhi University
Father’s name - Mr. Prabhu Das, who retired from the Indian Government’s Postal Department as a section head.
Mother’s name - Mrs. Ramrati (housewife) not educated.
Date of Birth - 15 January, 1956
Place of Birth - Shrimati Sucheta Kriplani Hospital (formerly known as Lady Harding Hospital), New Delhi
Relatives - Six brothers and two sisters (besides herself)
Marital Status – She is not married and has taken a vow to remain unmarried
Permanent Address - C-57, Indrapuri, New Delhi-110012
Present Address - 14, Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Road, New Delhi-110001
Foreign Travels –
Visited Canada, Denmark, France, Japan, Switzerland, Korea and Taiwan in the capacity of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.
London : To inaugurate the Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Community Centre as Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) National Vice-President.
As a representative of India, addressed the UN General Assembly while participating in an international seminar on the topic, “Democracy through Partnership between Men and Women”, organized by the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) on 7th June, 2000 in New York, USA.
In 1995, Ms. Mayawati created history by becoming Indian’s first Aboriginal Inhabitant of Jambudvipa,i.e,PraBuddha Bharath (Untouchable or Scheduled Caste) woman chief minister
She is an Aboriginal Inhabitant of Jambudipa,i.e,PraBuddha Bharath (Scheduled caste Jatav sub-caste of the Chamar community).
She worked as a teacher in Delhi
In 1977, Aboriginal Inhabitant of Jambudvipa,i.e,PraBuddha Bharath (Untouchable or Scheduled Caste) politician Kanshi Ram and Mayawati became his follower.
In 1984 Kanshi Ram founded Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Mayawati joined his core team. Kanshi Ram founded BSP to represent Aboriginal Inhabitant of Jambudvipa,i.e,PraBuddha Bharath (Untouchable or Scheduled Castes/Trobes/OBCs) and Buddhists people of Jambudvipa,i.e,PraBuddha Bharath.
Thus Mayawati changed her career path and joined politics.
Mayawati won for the first time in the Lok Sabha elections of 1989 from Bijnor.
April 1994 - Elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh
In 1995, while a member of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House), she became a Chief Minister in a short-lived coalition government
Became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh 4 times –
(1) 1995 : 3rd June, 1995 to 18th October, 1995
(2) 1997 : 21st March, 1997 to 20th September, 1997
(3) 2002 : 3rd May, 2002 to 26th August, 2003
(4) 2007 : 13th May, 2007 to till date
15th December, 2001 – BSP founder Kanshi Ram declared her as the sole heir and political successor of him and the “Bahujan Movement” at a grand rally in the Lakshman Mela ground on the bank of river Gomti in the Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow.
At Kanshi Ram’s funeral ceremonies in 2006, Mayawati said they had both been following Buddhist traditions and customs. She performed the last rites as Buddhist of Kanshi Ram. As per customs Females are not allowed to do last rites of dead person.
She said that she will convert to Buddhism after getting an absolute majority at the Centre
2007 –
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has been listed as one of the top eight woman achievers by the Newsweek magazine.
As a Chief Minister, Mayawati erected number of statues of Buddhist and SC/ST/OBC icons like Bhimrao Ambedkar, Shahuji Maharaj, Gautam Buddha, BSP founder Kanshi Ram and of herself.
In February 2010, Mayawati’s government approved a plan for a special police force to protect the statues.
Became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh 4 times –
(1) 1995 : 3rd June, 1995 to 18th October, 1995
(2) 1997 : 21st March, 1997 to 20th September, 1997
(3) 2002 : 3rd May, 2002 to 26th August, 2003
(4) 2007 : 13th May, 2007 to till date
She said that she will convert to Buddhism after getting an absolute majority at the Centre
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has been listed as one of the top eight woman achievers by the Newsweek magazine.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati says Central Bureau of Investigation continuing the probe in the assets case against her under political pressure.And investigation was being conducted illegally.
At the last hearing in April, the Centre said it would reconsider the disproportionate assets case in view of Ms. Mayawati’s fresh representation to the CBI. Attorney-General G.E. Vahanvati then said: “The representation was received only a few days ago, and some more time is required to reconsider the whole case.”
In her application, Ms. Mayawati said income tax authorities had found her income (for the relevant period) bona fide through various orders, including the latest one on April 19, and hence no case remained to be investigated by the CBI.
Ms. Mayawati alleged that she was being discriminated against, pointing out that the CBI decided not to file an appeal against the order of a Patna special judge exonerating the former Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, in a wealth case on the basis of the findings of income tax authorities.
Furthermore, the then Solicitor-General gave an opinion in favour of the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh, not to include the income of his family members for purposes of a disproportionate assets case against him. Ms. Mayawati said the same yardstick should be applied to her.
CBI should drop the case in view of the order passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) giving her a clean chit.
Every year all the citizens Income Taxes are assessed and cleared by Income Tax authorities. How can the CBI find fault with them only in Ms Mayawati’s case? Does it mean that all that is being done ny the authorities are not genuine and only what CBI doing is genuine?
This is nothing but the very old traditional, venomous, caste based discrimination.
Interestingly, Mayawati had raised the ITAT decisions of April 5 and April 19 this year to allege double standards against the Centre, claiming the CBI had let them (Mulayam Singh and Lalu Prasad) off on the basis of Income tax clean chit.
In the case of Lalu, the CBI refused to appeal against the order of the Special CBI Judge acquitting him in the DA case. When the State Government filed an appeal, the CBI challenged it all the way to the Supreme Court. On the other hand, Mulayam got a favourable legal opinion from a top law officer that forced the CBI to move an application to withdraw further prosecution against him.
Mayawati had cited that Income tax department held that the entire gifts and receipts of her income for the assessment years 1999-2000 and 2004-05 were genuine. The Income Tax authorities have moved an appeal before the Allahabad High Court to set aside these findings.
Mayawati had cried hoarse over being harassed by the Centre, which was using the CBI as a political tool to target her. In this context, she wrote a representation to the CBI Director on April 20, seeking parity with her political counterparts Lalu and Mulayam.
Although the Government had assured the apex court to look into her representation, the affidavit makes it clear that the agency is determined to pursue against her.
Mayawati, in her reply affidavit filed earlier, had said, “The CBI cannot discriminate between two individuals merely on the basis of its whims or choice as the same would be liable to be struck down in view of Article 14 read with Article 21 of the Constitution.”
Terming CBI as a “super statutory authority”, the affidavit by Mayawati had stated, “CBI being an authority created under the 1946 Act is bound by the finding of the fact recorded by another statutory authority under the I-T Act 1961.” She even cited a Supreme Court decision that held in 2007 that a finding arrived at by the I-T Appellate Tribunal is binding even on Supreme Court.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati says Central Bureau of Investigation continuing the probe in the assets case against her under political pressure.And investigation was being conducted illegally.
At the last hearing in April, the Centre said it would reconsider the disproportionate assets case in view of Ms. Mayawati’s fresh representation to the CBI. Attorney-General G.E. Vahanvati then said: “The representation was received only a few days ago, and some more time is required to reconsider the whole case.”
In her application, Ms. Mayawati said income tax authorities had found her income (for the relevant period) bona fide through various orders, including the latest one on April 19, and hence no case remained to be investigated by the CBI.
Ms. Mayawati alleged that she was being discriminated against, pointing out that the CBI decided not to file an appeal against the order of a Patna special judge exonerating the former Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, in a wealth case on the basis of the findings of income tax authorities.
Furthermore, the then Solicitor-General gave an opinion in favour of the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh, not to include the income of his family members for purposes of a disproportionate assets case against him. Ms. Mayawati said the same yardstick should be applied to her.
CBI should drop the case in view of the order passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) giving her a clean chit.
Every year all the citizens Income Taxes are assessed and cleared by Income Tax authorities. How can the CBI find fault with them only in Ms Mayawati’s case? Does it mean that all that is being done ny the authorities are not genuine and only what CBI doing is genuine?
This is nothing but the very old traditional, venomous, caste based discrimination.