Lumbinī或Lumbini , Nepal 藍毗尼/ China Banks on Buddhism

藍毗尼（梵語：लुम्बिनी，Lumbinī或Lumbini），又譯嵐毘尼、臘伐尼、林微尼，位於尼泊爾境內的蒂萊（Terai）小村落附近，靠近印度的邊境上，距加德滿都280公里。公元前623年，相傳釋迦牟尼佛誕生於古印度迦毗羅衛國，因此成為佛教四大聖地之一。1997年被入選世界遺產。
《法顯傳》稱藍毗尼為「論民國」，玄奘《大唐西域記》稱「臘伐尼林」。1896年印度考古學家穆克吉根據玄奘《大唐西域記》的記載，在藍毗尼挖掘出一根阿育王石柱，高約6米，直徑45公分。上面銘刻著阿育王的親筆敕文：

「天佑慈祥王登基廿年，親自來地朝拜，因為這裡是釋迦牟尼佛誕生之地。」一塊石上刻著一個形像，並建立一根石柱，表示佛陀在此地降生。藍毗尼村成為宗教的免稅地，只須付收成的八分之一作為稅賦。

635年，玄奘在蘭毗尼還親見阿育王石柱。1968年尼泊爾政府對蘭毗尼進行復原工程，中國政府在蘭毗尼建造兩座佛寺。

圖像

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  菩提樹和池塘
  
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  精確的佛陀出生地點
  
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  阿育王石柱
  
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  永久和平之火
  

Lumbini

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For the zone of Nepal, see Lumbini Zone.

Not to be confused with Lumbini Gardens or Lumbini Park.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Lumbini, Nepal the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List
Country	Nepal
Type	Cultural
Criteria	iii, vi
Reference	666
UNESCO region	Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription	1988 (21st Session)

Lumbinī (Sanskrit: लुम्बिनी, "the lovely") is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi district of Nepal.^[1] It is largely regarded as the place where Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama, although the exact birthplace is disputed. Siddhartha Gautama lived roughly between 623 and 543 BCE ^[2][3][4] and he founded Buddhism as Gautama Buddha. Lumbini is one of four magnets for pilgrimage that sprang up in places pivotal to the life of the Buddha, the others being at Kushinagar, Bodh Gaya and Sarnath.
Lumbini was where the Buddha lived until the age of 29. Lumbini has a number of temples, including the Mayadevi temple, and others under construction. Also located here is the Puskarini or Holy Pond where the Buddha's mother took the ritual dip prior to his birth and where he, too, had his first bath, as well as the remains of Kapilavastu palace. At other sites near Lumbini, earlier Buddhas were, according to tradition, born, achieved ultimate awakening and finally relinquished earthly form.

Location of Lumbini, Nepal

Contents

• 1 In Pratham's time
• 2 Re-discovery
• 3 Present-day
• 4 Transport
• 5 Gallery
• 6 References
• 7 External links

In Pratham's time

Pilgrimage to Buddha's Holy Sites
The Four Main Sites
Lumbini · Bodh Gaya Sarnath · Kushinagar
Four Additional Sites
Sravasti · Rajgir Sankissa · Vaishali
Other Sites
Pataliputra · Gaya · Kosambi Kapilavastu · Devadaha Kesariya · Pava Nalanda · Varanasi
Later Sites
Sanchi · Mathura Ellora · Ajanta · Vikramshila Ratnagiri · Udayagiri · Lalitgiri Bharhut · Barabar Caves
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In the Buddha's time, Lumbini was situated between Kapilavastu and Devadaha (both ruled by Nepal).^[5] It was there that the Buddha was born.^[6] A pillar now marks the spot of Asoka's visit to Lumbiní. According to an inscription on the pillar, it was placed there by the people then in charge of the park to commemorate Asoka's visit and gifts.^[7] The park was previously known as Rummindei, two miles north of Bhagavanpura.
In the Sutta Nipáta (vs. 683) it is stated that the Buddha was born in a village of the Sákyans in the Lumbineyya Janapada. The Buddha stayed in Lumbinívana during his visit to Devadaha and there preached the Devadaha Sutta.^[8]

Re-discovery

Main article: Pillars of Ashoka

Lumbini

In 1896 Nepalese archaeologists (effort by Khadga Samsher Rana) discovered a great stone pillar at the site attributed to Ashoka. It is believed that the pillar was established by the great king Ashoka in about 245 BC. Records made by the Chinese pilgrim Faxian were also used in the process of identifying this religiously acclaimed site.

Present-day

Lumbini, as of 1997, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site specifically nominated for the international World Heritage program.
The present Lumbini is divided into an ratio of 1:3 which means it is 3 km (2 mi) long for every 1 km (1 mi) wide. In total it's 2 km (1 mi) by 6 km
The holy site of Lumbini is bordered by a large monastic zone in which only monasteries can be built, no shops, hotels or restaurants. It is separated into an eastern and western monastic zone, the eastern having the Theravadin monasteries, the western having Mahayana and Vajrayana monasteries.
The holy site of Lumbini has ruins of ancient monasteries, a sacred Bodhi tree, an ancient bathing pond, the Asokan pillar and the Mayadevi temple, where the precise place of birth of Buddha is located. From early morning to early evening, pilgrims from various countries perform chanting and meditation at the site.
A Non-governmental organization called "Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooperation Foundation" (APECF) backed by chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and then Prime Minister Prachanda, the Chinese government and a UN group called "United Nations Industrial Development Organization" (UNIDO) signed a deal to develop Lumbini into a "special development zone" with funds worth $3 billion.^[9] The venture was a China-UN joint project. A broader 'Lumbini Development National Director Committee' under the leadership of Pushpa Kamal Dahal was formed on October 17, 2011.^[10] The six-member committee included Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) leader Mangal Siddhi Manandhar, Nepali Congress leader Minendra Rijal, Forest Minister Mohammad Wakil Musalman, among other leaders. The committee was given the authority to "draft a master plan to develop Lumbini as a peaceful and tourism area and table the proposal" and the responsibility to gather international support for the same.^[10]
Hindus regard the Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu and thousands of Hindu pilgrims come here on the full moon of the Nepali month of Baisakh (April–May) to worship Maya Devi as Rupa Devi, the mother goddess of Lumbini.^[11]

Transport

Lumbini is a 10-hour drive from Kathmandu and a 45-minute drive from Bhairahawa. The closest airport is Gautam Buddha Airport at Bhairahawa, with flights to and from Kathmandu.^[12]

Gallery

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  Bodhi tree and pond at Lumbini
  
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  Exact birthplace of Gautama Buddha
  
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  Ashokan Pillar
  
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  Pillar Edict of Aśoka
  
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  Lumbini Garden
  
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  Eternal Peace Flame
  
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  Burmese Lokamani Cula Pagoda
  
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  Chinese Maitreya Temple
  
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  A mixture of Tibetan prayer flags and Korean lanterns near the Sacred Pool (Puskarni)
  

References

1. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
2. ^ "Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". Whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 2013-08-19.
3. ^ ""Gautama Buddha (B.C. 623-543)" by T.W. Rhys-Davids, The World's Great Events, B.C. 4004-A.D. 70 (1908) by Esther Singleton, pp. 124-135". Unz.org. 2012-11-28. Retrieved 2013-08-19.
4. ^ "The Buddha (BC 623-BC 543) - Religion and spirituality Article - Buddha, Bc, 623". Booksie. 2012-07-08. Retrieved 2013-08-19.
5. ^ "Lumbini". Victoria and Albert museum. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
6. ^ J.i.52, 54; Kvu.97, 559; AA.i.10; MA.ii.924; BuA.227; Cv.li.10, etc.
7. ^ See Mukerji: Asoka, p.27; see p.201f for details
8. ^ MA.ii.810
9. ^ "Programs/Projects >> UNIDO IP Projects >> Introduction". UNIDOitpo.org. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
10. ^ ^{a b} "Lumbini Development Committee formed under Dahal's leadership". ekantipur. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
11. ^ "Nepal 8 - Joseph Bindloss - Google Books". Books.google.co.in. 2010-09-15. Retrieved 2013-08-19.
12. ^ "Lumbini". Welcome Nepal. Retrieved 2013-08-19.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lumbini

• Lumbini travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Lumbini at the Open Directory Project
• Entry on Lumbini in the Dictionary of Pali Proper Names
• Buddhist studies: Pilgrimage: Lumbini - Birthplace of the Buddha
• WorldHeritageSite.org/Lumbini
• World-Heritage-Tour.org 360° wraparound photos of Lumbini
• NepaloPedia 360° Enjoy the virtual tour of Lumbini. You can drag mouse up, down, left, right and travel 360 X 180 of almost all places of Lumbini.

*****

China Banks on Buddhism

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By
• ILARIA MARIA SALA

Lumbini, Nepal

REUTERS

Many have long lamented the untapped tourism potential of Lumbini, known as 'the Buddhist Mecca.'

The plain of Terai, a poor agricultural land crossed by holy rivers, straddles the border between Nepal and India. Its sweltering summers see temperatures climb above 100 degrees, but this parched terrain might be on the verge of tumultuous changes. On the Nepali side is the small city of Lumbini, which, after long neglect, is now at the center of great power politics.
This is where the Lord Buddha was born, about 2,500 years ago, under a bodhi tree at the bend of a small creek. His mother, a Hindu princess called Maya, was traveling to her parental home in Kapilavastu when her labor started, and all her entourage could do was stop and arrange a place for her to give birth under the tree, near a pool of water.
Lumbini, sometimes called "the Buddhist Mecca," has been described as a potential gold mine for Nepal, and many have been lamenting that its impressive tourist potential should be so underdeveloped, with just a small white temple sitting on the holy grounds. Those who come, though, appreciate the calm of the place, and sit cross-legged in meditation, or murmur sacred scriptures in small groups. Monks and nuns from all over the Buddhist world tour the temple, which shelters a series of carved stones that depict the holy birth, and just sit on the grass outside, in contemplation.
The idea of developing Lumbini has long been toyed with by various organizations, from the World Federation of Buddhists to the United Nations, not forgetting numerous Nepali agencies that have looked at the birthplace of the Buddha as a possible resource. The U.N. got its eyes on Lumbini early on, under the presidency of U Thant, himself a Buddhist, who visited in 1967. Three years later, the U.N. International Committee for the Development of Lumbini (now the U.N. Lumbini Development Trust) was established, with the approval of the Hindu King Mahendra, traditionally regarded as a descendant of Hindu gods.
In 1972 the committee selected Japanese architect Kenzō Tange to draw up a project for a Peace Park that would surround the temple, approved by the king (who died later that year) and the committee itself. Six years and a few more high-level U.N. visits later, part of what became known as the Tange Master Plan is now partially built. Arched red-brick bridges reach over a straight canal, and a red-brick museum with a Bauhaus-like flair to it sits by a reflecting pool about a quarter of a mile from the small white temple.
The U.N. involvement means a lot of emphasis is given to representing Buddhist nations: On one side of the canal, every country that follows the Theravadha ("Small Vehicle") tradition of Buddhism—such as Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka and Thailand—has, or will have, a temple. The other side is reserved for the countries following the Mahayana tradition ("Greater Vehicle"), like China, Japan, Korea and Mongolia. It translates into a hodgepodge of styles and many replicas of famous buildings. Burma has built a concrete Shwedagon Pagoda; China, a smaller version of the Forbidden City. So far only about a dozen of the foreseen 42 buildings have been erected. One of the problems has been the lack of cash: The finished project should cost about $64 million in total, but not all contributing Buddhist countries see this as a priority.
Enter the Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooperation Foundation (APECF), a well-funded Chinese association headed by a rather mysterious figure, Linus Xiao Wunan. A Buddhist and a Chinese Communist Party member, he wants to see a whole Peace City built here and a tower called "Lumbini Cloud."
"We have already broken ground," says Mr. Xiao, in his living room in a diplomatic compound in Beijing, showing an artist's impression of a tall and slender "celestial observatory" building that will host restaurants, temples, shops and prayer rooms in a circular ring built several hundred feet from the ground. "We have agreed on a project with VTP Global," he says, referring to a theme-park development group based in London. Around him, a confusing array of pictures hints at a complex biography: At the back, Mr. Xiao is seen posing next to the Dalai Lama, whom he met in Dharamsala, where the Tibetan government in exile resides. Other photos show him surrounded by high prelates of various Buddhist sects. But next to where he sits, on a coffee table, is a portrait of Mao Zedong.
"We have the full support of the Nepali government," he says. Not that Nepal has much of one at present, since a caretaker administration has been sitting in Kathmandu for the past 10 years. Before that, a lengthy civil war led to a short-lived communist government, which subsequently collapsed. The next elections are scheduled for November. The caretakers are headed by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the former leader of the Maoist guerrilla known as Prachanda, or "the Fierce," who also sits on the board of the Lumbini Cloud Project, and has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Mr. Xiao to go ahead with it.
Not everyone is in accord, and some even see self-interest in Dahal's motives, but Mr. Xiao is not troubled with these developments. Yet he remains vague on many details—like questions about where the $3 billion he claims to have for Lumbini is coming from, or if the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is backing APECF.
"APECF is part of the grander strategy of increasing China's soft power," Mr. Xiao says, "but we are independent, and the Lumbini development project is our own idea."
Still, China is also getting busy building an international airport here, with direct flights from major Chinese cities, as well as restaurants and hotels to cater to the devout masses.
The U.N. is also still involved: Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General and himself a Buddhist, has often mentioned the need to develop Lumbini, and those in the know say that the push comes from Mr. Ban's mother, a fervent Buddhist. At least one Korean sect, called Chhoge, has been received by Mr. Dahal for this very reason, and according to Nepali newspaper reports Mr. Dahal has signed an MOU with it, too.
"Our plans are not incompatible," says Mr. Xiao in Beijing. "This is going to be for the whole Buddhist world. To those who find it too striking, I say: At the beginning nobody liked the Pyramid at the Louvre."
India, once more, is left looking uneasily as China expands its influence in its backyard, tapping into the soft-power potential of Buddhism, and an air of Buddhist Great Game can be felt in what was until now the sleepy, holy site of Buddha's birth.
Ms. Sala is a writer based in Hong Kong.