ASIAN BUDDHIST SUMMIT

Last Updated on 7th November, 2024
5 minutes, 52 seconds

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Picture Courtesy:

https://epaper.thehindu.com/ccidist-ws/th/th_international/issues/106263/OPS/GCBDH4794.1+GACDI1STS.1.html

Context: 

Recently President Murmu inaugurated the first Asian Buddhist Summit (ABS) organised by the Union Culture Ministry and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

About Buddhism:

Rise: 6th century BCE in India’s Gangetic plain.

Founder: Siddhartha Gautam

Birth: 563 BCE into the royal family of the Sakya clan who ruled from 

Kapilvastu, in Lumbini, is situated near the Indo-Nepal Border.

Married life: At a very young age got married to Yashodhara and became the father of Rahul and Priyanka.

Mahabhinishkramana (the great departure): At the age of 29, he left the palace as well as his royal lifestyle and accepted asceticism.

Gurus (Teachers): Alarakama and Rudraka. They taught him Sankhya and Yoga philosophies.

Bodhi (enlightenment): At the age of 35, he went to Bodh Gaya where under a Bodhi tree, after 48 years of meditation he got enlightenment.

Dharmachakrapravartana: It was the first sermon given by Buddha to his 5 disciples at the Deer Park at Sarnath.

Mahaparinibban: The death of Buddha at the age of 80 at Kushinagara, Uttar Pradesh.

Various sects of Buddhism: Emerged due to the division of doctrines created by Buddha’s disciples interpreting his teachings.

  • 1st division: During the 2nd Buddhist Council at Vaishali 
      • Sthaviravadins: More strict disciplines
      • Mahasanghikas: More relaxed norms
  • 2nd division: After the 4th Buddhist Council under Kanishka
      • Mahayana: Image worship
      • Hinayana: No image or idol worship
  • 3rd division: After the spread of Buddhism via trade networks
      • Vajrayana: Tantric branch. Its localised adaptations are Tibetan, Chinese and Zen.

Four noble truths

Dukkha (suffering)

Samudya (cause of suffering)

Nirodha (extinguishing suffering)

Atthanga Magga (Eight-Fold Path for Nirodha)

Eight Fold Path:

Right view

Right intention

Right Speech

Right action

Right livelihood

Right mindfulness

Right effort

Right concentration

Five Sins:

violence

stealing

Sexual misconduct

Lying or gossip

Taking intoxicants

How did Buddhism spread?

  • Sanghas (organization of Buddhist monks/bhikshuks) spreading Buddhist teachings.
  • After the death of Buddha, his followers took his path of meditation and roamed throughout the country
  • Emperor Ashoka dispatched various Buddhist missions to different areas such as Gandhara, Kashmir, Greece, Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar), Egypt, and Thailand.

Contribution of Buddhism to Indian culture:

  • Ahimsa or non-violence
  • Art and architecture like Sanchi stupa, Bharut, Gaya
  • Proper education in universities like Taxila, Nalanda
  • Development of Pali and other local languages
  • Promotion of Indian culture at the international level

Initiatives taken to promote Buddhism in India:

  • Buddhist Circuit: The Ministry of Tourism has identified it as one of the thirteen thematic circuits for development under the Swadesh Darshan scheme.
  • PRASHAD Scheme: Holistic development of identified pilgrimage destinations including Buddhist sites.
  • Iconic Tourist Sites: Buddhist Sites at Bodhgaya, Ajanta & Ellora have been identified
  • Dekho Apna Desh Initiative: Encouraging tourism

UNESCO’s heritage sites related to Buddhism:

  • Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar
  • Sanchi stupa, Madhya Pradesh
  • Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya, Bihar
  • Ajanta Caves Aurangabad, Maharashtra

Factors leading to the decline of Buddhism:

  • Structural and ideological differences within the sanghas and too many divisions.
  • Revive of Hinduism holding the hands of monks like Adi Shankaracharya.
  • Loss of royal patronage due to the decline of Buddhism following dynasties.
  • Foreign Invasions of non-buddhists like Huns.
  • Corruption among the monks.

Read more about Buddhism: https://www.iasgyan.in/ig-uploads/pdf/info_Buddhism_in_India.pdf

About Asian Buddhist Summit:

Origin: By the Government of India (Ministry of Culture) and IBC to promote Buddhism and cultural dialogue across Asia.

2024 theme: “Role of Buddha Dhamma in Strengthening Asia.”

Aim: 

  • Promoting cultural unity by strengthening ties on the line of Buddhism across Asia.
  • Spiritual development through promoting values of Buddha-like mindfulness and yoga.
  • Encouraging Buddhist pilgrimage tourism to support the local economy and boost the tourism industry.

Source:

THEHINDU

Practice question

Q:How many of the below mentioned persons were the disciples of Buddha?

  1. Alarakama
  2. Aseetha
  3. Assaji
  4. Mahanama

Select the correct Option below:

a. Only two

b. Only three

c. All four

d. None

Answer: b

Explanation:

Alarakama was one of Buddha’s teachers.

Aseetha was the first disciple of Buddha.

Five disciples of Buddha whom he gave his 1st sermon were- Assaji, Bayana, Kondara, Vapa, Mahanama.

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