Loud Lumbini and silent Buddha
Siddhartha Gautam, who later became Gautam Buddha, was not born in Nepal as there was no Nepal as such at the time when he was born twenty six hundred years ago, but Lumbini has been undeniably proven to be the birth place of Siddhartha Gautam and we are proud of having it within Nepal's territory today. Development of Lumbini to attract tourists and its potential contribution to the economy is an old issue but it’s resonating lately with prominent politicians suddenly keen on “developing” Lumbini.
First among them is Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”, who spearheaded a violent insurgency. We witnessed some of the cruelest acts human beings could imagine during the insurgency. The same Prachanda, who chose violence instead of peaceful way of revolution and freedom, is now at the forefront of promoting the birthplace of Buddha.
That said, I believe Prachanda means it this time when he says he wants to develop Lumbini — he knows the toll of disparaging Buddha and Buddha's teachings. Besides, anyone can undergo a transformation, even while keeping the mustache and haircut intact.
What I don’t understand is what development of Lumbini really means. Construction of airports, roads, railways, hotels, shopping malls, parks, giant monasteries and statues of Buddha— do these lifeless structures (Budhha himself forbids idolising his images) really help promote Buddhism and Buddhist teachings?
Plans of Rs 100 million for the 'Visit Lumbini Year-2012' were made public by Lumbini Development Trust recently. The plan includes year round programs to “attract and entertain” tourists. Ridiculous as it sounds, they are setting up welcome gates and filling up ponds around Lumbini to run boats for tourists. If things go the way they are planned, we will soon need a “Save Lumbini Year”.
It’s vital to understand that there is no better way to revere and promote Buddha and his birthplace than by disseminating his true teachings. But, unfortunately, neither the state nor the learned Buddhists have paid enough attention to it.
As I said, I’m a born Buddhist and I belong to Gurung community. During our rituals and ceremonies, I see Lamas draped in red who recite books and mantras in a language which nobody can understand except the Lamas themselves. Even the interpretations offered by different Lamas vary, confusing us further.
I don’t know what learned Buddhist do within monasteries isolated from society. There are hardly any programs on national radio, TV which promotes Buddhist teachings. Even the book stores in Kathmandu cannot offer more than few books on Buddhism in Nepali. And The progress of establishment of Lumbini Boudhha University has been shamelessly sluggish.
Buddhism in Nepal has hitherto been treated as a religion that some poor Janajatis practice whereas history reveals Buddha's first disciples were Brahmins, and the Brahmin's role in promoting Buddhism was crucial. We don’t know what caused his teachings to be limited to certain caste groups or people.
I’m not against developing Lumbini’s infrastructure and its potential economic benefits as long as it does not undermine core Buddhist values. We have a lot of potential for tourism development, including spiritual tourism. But, in the truest sense, you cannot build or develop the birthplace of Buddha because it’s already there, rustic as Budhha would’ve liked. Rather, we should try to keep it green, shady and tranquil. Buddha's true followers want to inhale the air Buddha inhaled, same rusticity he saw
when he opened his eye, meditate on the land when he first stepped in and the surrounding where cravings for his wisdom grew. Ultimately, I don't think Muslims go to Macca because it is developed and Hindus travel to Pashupati because it is developed.
ujjwalmeghi@gmail.com
Posted on: 2012-01-15 09:44
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