The Dalai Lama gestures a peace symbol as he is introduced during the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC, on 5 February 2015. File photo/AFP/Getty Images/Saul Loeb
By Lobsang Wangyal
McLEOD GANJ, India, 30 November 2017
Following an uproar in the Nepalese media and the Internet over the Dalai Lama’s remarks that Buddha was born in India, his office issued a statement saying that the Dalai Lama was not disputing that Buddha’s birthplace was Lumbini.
Responding to a question from a student during a function in Meerut on 16 October, the Dalai Lama had said, “Some Nepalese say Buddha was born in Lumbini, so part of Nepal. So Buddha was Nepalese, not Indian. That’s nonsense, I think. In ancient time, [maybe] small kingdom there, [but] it was under greater Bharat [India].”
The Dalai Lama’s office issued a clarification on 25 November, after Nepalese media carried stories saying, “Dalai Lama misleading people”, and “spreading illusion and lie about the birthplace of Gautam Buddha.”
The statement said: “We are concerned to know there was misunderstanding of the intent of his answer, and would like to clarify that His Holiness meant no disrespect towards his Nepalese brothers and sisters. Like Buddhists everywhere, he wholeheartedly accepts that the Buddha’s birthplace was Lumbini.
“What he wanted to emphasize in contemporary terms is the importance of understanding what the Buddha taught and the scope of his influence throughout Asia. It is universally acknowledged that India, the land of the Noble Ones, is where the Buddha achieved enlightenment and subsequently gave profound teachings.”
Nepal strongly objects to claims that Buddha was born in India, and says he was born in Nepal. Lumbini, located in the Terai plains of southern Nepal, is believed to be the Buddha’s birthplace. It is listed in the United Nations UNESCO World Heritage List.
The Wikipedia page about Buddha shows him to be born in Lumbini, as a prince of the Shakya clan, part of the Kosala kingdom, which later became part of the Magadha empire, during the reign of Bimbisara. He lived and taught mostly in the eastern part of what is now India, sometime between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE. He died in Kushinagar at the age of 80.
Descendents of Gautama Buddha’s Shakya Clan in the state of UP have only recently rediscovered their heritage. Now there’s been great effort made to claim & acknowledge this past by the study of Buddhism the last few decades.
Lumbini was all but forgotten until some 100 years ago.
Thanks to the activities of His Holiness & fellow Tibetan lamas in surrounding-exile; Buddha’s teachings have been renewed with respect & vigour.
@Gangchenpa
The name Bhayul is not land of cows. It’s land of Bhalpo or Newar. I’m positive.
Also, it wasn’t a period of all peace between the two countries. There were two wars fought between Tibet and Nepal 1788 – 1792, and 1855 – 1856.
During the first war Shigatse and Tashi Lhunpo monastery were invaded and looted by the Gurkhas. And the previous Shamar rinpoche had played some role at the time. However, over all the two peoples had fairly good relationship.
The 1788-92 war was similar to Saddam’s invasion of Kuwait. Just like US came to Kuwait’s support and repulsed the invading Iraqis, the Manchus with 40,000 troops drove out the Gurkhas.
This is my 1 cent input.
My two cents: Tibetan government had rights in Nepal and boudhanath (chini Lama took over). Mustang and mon thang well known.
I think of Tibet as the land of yaks and Nepal as the land of sacred cow where people practice blood sacrifice.
Some three thousand years ago gyagar or India referred to cultural identity and kingdoms like Shakya or magadha existed before recent notions of nation and sovereignty.
Lumbini is today in Nepal but it may have been in the land of Shakya or indu or aryans when Indra was the king of gods.
Newars and their language and political history should be made known.
Nepal is a beautiful country, and its people have big hearts. Bad politics is failing it.
It’s true that Buddha was born in Lumbini, which is a part of Nepal today. Nobody is denying that. But who was the king of Nepal when Buddha was born?
My father was born in Kham. It is under Chinese rule today, and the region is called Sichuan. Just because it is under China and called Sichuan, my father is not a Sichuanese. My father is a Khampa.
The Dalai Lama has not disputed that Buddha was born in Nepal. So how is the Dalai Lama wrong in saying that Buddha was an Indian? Or do Nepalese still think that Buddha was a Nepalese? Rather than trying to rewrite history, accept the reality. Instead, work on to promote Lumbini in the way pilgrims would visit. That will have real benefit than empty words that doesn’t mean anything.
Even if Buddha was a Nepali, then he must be a Madhesi. So Nepalese (Newar, Chetri, Rai, Darai, Sunuwar, Majhi, etc) should love and respect Madhesis, and give them the equal rights in the constitution, rather than isolate them.
China calls Indians “indus” or Hindus from Indu-stan or Hindustan from the Indus Valley civilization known to Tibetans as Gyagar.
Nepal is of course called Bayul the land of cow. Maybe the sacred cow. Tibetan Buddhist and Nepalese have lived in peace and friendship till the present when Nepalese are savagely beating and torturing Tibetan refugees especially nuns and monks.
Tibet existed as a nation but now Nepal says it doesn’t; Nepal exists now but maybe it didn’t in the past.
As lord Buddha said: life is impermanent; the enlightened mind is indestructible.
It is true that Tibet held sway in Central Asia before the modern Nepal. What is Nepal may be examined but the history of Nepal has not been written from the people’s history.
Where was the Lord Buddha born?
Not in a land where Buddhist nuns and monks are so savagely attacked and tortured.
Modern Bayul has scant right to claim any allegiance to Buddha.
Keep on beating nuns and monks and torturing people who live in the umbrella of the Buddha.
@ Legmol la:
Legso, legso, Legmol la. However, I’m afraid that you’ve erred in stating that the Dalai Lama has never set foot on the Nepalese soil since 1959. Yes, the 14th Dalai Lama had visited Lumbini in 1987, as graciously granted permit by King Birendra.
For your information, as far as I know no previous Dalai Lama has visited Nepal. Today’s Nepal is amazingly progressive. Its leaders and government ministers and staffers must be credited for bringing much progress in the country. These positive changes can be observed in many areas, particularly at the airport.
Things change as evidenced by Prince Harry of Wales who proposed to Meghan Markle, a commoner and biracial. Both the princes William and Harry have something in common with Tibetans; as they are not circumcised, having insisted by Princess Diana. Inconceivably unconscionable at one time; now deliciously titillating.
So, it’s good to toy with the idea of Kundun visiting Lumbini and so forth. If materialized it would possibly usher in a middle path in resolving nearly 70-year China-Tibet impasse. The result is bound to reap immense benefit to China, Nepal, India and Tibet, especially now that China is the Asian super power, and poised to become world’s biggest economy. No venture no gain. Be imaginative and think positive.
@Chewang,
if Dalai Lama sets foot on Nepal, authorities will arrest His Holiness, and deport to China. That’s why Dalai Lama has never set foot on Nepalese soil since 1959.
Nepalese government has always waited for a chance to grab the Dalai lama, and return him to Beijing, for which they will be suitably rewarded.
Also, this is an opportune time for the Buddhist community of Nepal to extend an invitation to the Dalai Lama to visit LUMBINI for some prayers, et al. The octogenarian is not getting any younger.
The government should issue the necessary permit to the Dalai Lama in light of the fact, that many of its denizens are still suffering from the 2015 earthquake, that took the lives of nearly nine thousand Nepalese, of whom many were Buddhists in the hill region. The warm magnanimous gesture of the Nepal government will surely help in the healing process; serendipitously, exhilarate its netizens, ameliorate its image internationally and accentuate its religious tolerance and good will. Viola, a piece of cake.
Uncle Chin should not object to an issuance of coveted permit to the Dalai Lama, at a time when many countries in the west are clamouring against China’s draconian rule and lack of religious freedom and fundamental human rights, etc. Objecting to it will only validate others allegations.
More often than not misunderstanding, miscommunication and misinterpretation do happen in all communities in the world. It’s now clear that it is believed Buddha was born in LUMBINI.
Now taking advantage of the current situation, it would be super diplomatic on the part of Nepal to proffer the Dalai Lama permit to visit LUMBINI. Seize the opportunity and shine – even if it is just one day permit.
This is bound to ameliorate Nepal’s image internationally as well as exhilarate its Buddhist denizens. Why not?
Doesn’t Nepal says Tibet is part of China?