(Empirical Analyses)
Buddha and Buddhists:
If Lumbini is noteworthy of preservation, it is to remind the genesis of the cosmic Buddha. Would Lumbini in Kapilavastu appeal to the Buddhists for any other reasons than being an important pilgrimage destination? Lumbini gives importance to Buddhist ethos, as Buddha is kept alive by the Buddhists, in the same way as Christianity thrives in maintaining Jesus as the focal point of the Christian civilization, with Jerusalem and the Vatican as the geographical symbolism of Christianity. The Wailing Wall in Jerusalem separates the Jewish faith from the Muslims without confusing the two.
Yet, why is it than that Buddhist physicality always feels encroached upon, whether at Charumati, Sankhu, Namobuddha or Lumbini? Is it because Buddhism is considered a pacifistic religion in Nepal? Are human beings psychoactive and willing to destroy for the sake of inner discovery? If so, then the new Nepal presents a challenging plethora of cultural diversity in a secular state.
Buddha was part of the non-Vedic Shramana movement, pacifying evil (Ref: Svarghese, Alexander), and challenged the Brahmanical tradition and ameliorated the concept of the cycle of birth, death, samsara, and liberation. Caste Hinduism imposed immense psychological damage in the system of practicing karma (actions) within the dharma. Buddha’s life and teachings set an antithesis to the Vedic canon and it synthesized into a powerful alternative - mokcha (psychological liberation). Buddha was able to mastermind the concept of mokcha in the human realm of suffering.
The Buddha consciousness reflected in the cultures that practiced his teachings became an alternative path to the psychological despair rooted in the system of Manusnriti empowering only Brahmin men.
The Significance of Lumbini
To perceive Lumbini as primarily a didactic feature of the historic Buddha, both undermines the spiritual Buddhist psyche , as well as limits the significance of Lumbini to a rustic space of 5 x 5 miles with the sacred garden acting as a buffer zone between the local community and the Master Plan. UNESCO stands as full proof of those archeological excavations in Kapilvastu, Rupandehi and Tilaurakot.
The magnitude of the Buddha’s nativity is the influence of civilization beyond its own cultural epicenter. Siddartha ‘s personal quest to give meaning to the core of human suffering culminated in individuals and communities alike, acculturating his teachings in transforming social values into a distinct Buddhist civilization. The life and teachings of Buddha has impacted more than 43 cultures worldwide. In practicing the tangible values of Buddha’s teachings, one becomes the intangible part of an empirical civilization.
Yet, contesting civilizations of warring kings brought Lumbini to mere rubble. Lumbini‘s epigraphic evidence also suggests the transformation of emperor Ashoka’s murderous intentions to the path of non-violence (ahimsa) when he embraced the teachings of Buddha. In his transformative life, he bequeathed his daughter Charumati to a Nepali prince and asked her to be the harbinger of Buddha’s teachings. Thus, Buddhism became active in Nepal and began to influence cultures worldwide.
Mystery Shrouded in History
Nonetheless, even though the Buddha preached liberation from caste, Vedic Hindu reignited caste during the Malla period. Escapists of the Hindu civilization from the Gangetic plains avoided the religious persecution of the Mughals and became fugitives in Nepal between the 11th to 16th Century AD.
This Brahmanical infiltration began when they overruled the multiculturalism in Nepal by the theory of divide and rule. The hegemony of the Brahmins from priesthood to Prime Ministers was possible only in a Hindu caste state, empowering the theory of divine right under the tutelage of Prithivi Narayan Shah. Then, having overthrown the Rana oligarchy, by the 1990s the Brahmins overtook the system of governance with Manusmriti as the terra firma of constitutional reform. Hindu casteism became the cover-up for Nepali nationalism of “ek raja, ek dharma, ek bhasa” with each identity, psychologically misappropriated from birth to death.
The Hindu caste pyramid sought to diminish the rich and diverse cultures of Nepal. Anything associated with Buddhism was ostracized as Mongolian-Tibetan and lower caste. The Himalayan Buddhists in the north were considered “Bhotes”, a derogatory term of Mongolian origin, as Madeshis were ostracized for being of Indian origin in the south. Gurungs and Magars, Tibeto –Burmese Buddhists, who joined the Nepal Army had to first sub serve to Kali, the Hindu goddess of ferocity.
In today’s secular Nepal, Tharus have begun to reclaim their ancient bloodline to Maha Maya, the mother of Buddha, who was raised in the Tharu village of Devdaha. Moreover , they claim the nemesis in the pond of Sangrahawa, Tilaurikot of 77,000 Tharus, murdered enmasse by Phakle, king of Kausal state in 5000 Isa Purva, because they refused the conversion from Buddhism to Hinduism ( ref: Bangmaya “ History of Buddhists”).The continued invasion by King Prasamjit , King Vidurak, various Muslim attacks and Guru Gorakhnath until the 14 century distanced the Tharus from Buddha ( Historian P.C. Mukerji).
Intimidation of Buddhists
Pushpa Kamal Dahal became PM in 2008, popularized by Maoist ideological indoctrination overrun by Machiavellian intent. The willingness to consider the dialectics of caste, buckled even under PM Baburam Bhattarai. Why was Dr. Bhattarai, a Socialist/Marxist specialist unable to detect the flaw of caste dialectics as the core of Nepali nationalism? Why could he not read that Marxism in Europe and Maoism in China had not experienced the gnawing infliction of caste in its social dialectics?
The Maoists were successful in their revolutionary zeal; however, their revolution has not addressed the social rights and justice at the core of Nepali nationalism. Current reforms may be chaotic but the dismantling of social discrimination is gathering momentum, challenging continued caste discrimination. If unfulfilled, the Adivasi Janajatis, Dalits and other infringed identities will escalate their demands for social justice at many levels.
Nepal’s secular state will be demanded by Buddhists, Muslims and Christians alike. A peace rally for secularism was organized by the Buddha Dharma Samrakchan Sarokar Samoyan Nepal (Coordination Council for Buddhist Concerns) on December 7th 2011. The Council drafted a memorandum to UN General-Secretary Ban Ki-moon against the unlawful and unconstitutional act to control Lumbini under the guise of development by non-Buddhist representation seeking UN backing. The Council warned against the political appointment of Dahal, the Maoist Chairman, and other non-Buddhist representatives of APEC and UNIDO, sanctioned by the government under PM Baburam Bhattarai.
History is not going to sleepwalk through a superficial peace and reconciliation effort put forward by the existing major parties until there is balance for the survival and dignity of all Nepali civilizations. Buddhism and Hinduism in Nepal reflect a strong discipline of universal consequences. Samuel Huntington’s “clash of civilizations” is teetering in a young nation, where traditional values ride high, perpetuated by the conservative sect, who is floundering to find their own expression in an increasingly democratic, secular state.
by Shakun Sherchand
No comments:
Post a Comment