Inauguration of the Lotus-Stupa
and transmission of the precious
Drigung-Monkey-Year-Teachings
in Lumbini, Nepal from February 25th thru March 6. 2004
1.) Introduction.
Through the inspiration of His Holiness, the 37. Drigung Kyabgon Chetsang
Rinpoche, the blessing of many high Lamas of the Drigung Kagyud
Tradition, in particular H.E. Drubwang Rinpoche, H.E. Garchen Rinpoche
and H.E. Ayang Rinpoche, and under the spiritual guidance of the Venerable
Drubpon Sonam Jorphel Rinpoche, a Stupa and Centre for Buddhist activities
of the Drigung Kagyud School is under construction in Lumbini since 1999.
Because it is conceivable, that the project will be finished by the end of
the year, the attention can be directed to the solemn inauguration. The date
for this was appointed on particularly appropriate days in the 1st Tibetan
month of the following Wood-Monkey-Year.
The opening will be connected with the rare and precious Drigung teachings
for the Tibetan year of the monkey. These instructions are traditionally given
only once every twelve years - this exclusively in Lumbini in the future.
In the following a summary to different topics will be given, which can be
conducive to a general understanding and answer possible questions already
now.
2.) Historical background.
About 500 years before Christian era, the historical Buddha was born by Queen
Mayadevi as Prince Siddhartha, in a small kingdom in the south
of the present Nepalese national borders, which was ruled by the Shakya dynasty.
The name of the village is Lumbini. It belongs to the major places of Buddhism,
beside Bodhgaya (place of enlightenment), Sarnath (place of the first sermon),
Kushinagar (place of entering mahaparinirvana), and others.
Around 200 B.C. the first Buddhist king of India, Ashoka, visited Lumbini
and erected the so-called Ashoka pillar there. From the inscription
found on it follows, that he accepted the place as being authentic. Later
excavations certify this opinion undoubtedly. Lumbini fell into oblivion during
the following centuries and was rediscovered by some archaeologists only at
the end of the 19. century. The Germanscholar,
Prof. Fuhrer, got permission to investigate on the scene and proved,
that it is the historical birthplace of the founder of Buddhism.
In 1967, the then Secretary-General of UNO from Vietnam, U-Thant, visited
Nepal in the course of a pilgrimage, found Lumbini isolated and neglected,
and developed a vision for this area, together with King Mahendra, who ruled
the country at that time.
As a result, Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) was founded end of 1970
and the Japanese Professor Tange worked out the so-called ’Masterplan’.
The Nepalese Government placed land at LDT’s disposal in the range of
3 square miles, with the intension to offer the possibility to Buddhists
from all over the world, to erect temples of their respective tradition and
to be pilgrim place for the followers of all schools of this world religion.
The available land, the ’Lumbini Development Zone’ is subdivided
in three areas:
’Sacred Garden’ - area around the Mayadevi-Temple.
’Monastic
Zone’ - area for the construction of temple-complexes for
a)
followers of Mahayana-Buddhism (Western Zone) and
b)
followers of Theravada-Buddhism (Eastern Zone).
’Cultural
Zone’ - area for research centres and others.
In March 1997, Lumbini was declared World Cultural Heritage.
3.) Origin of the project.
After the concept for the construction of the Stupa-Complex was developed,
work began on the scene in May 2000. Completion probably will be in January
2004. The project will be erected under the guidance of the Venerable Drubpon
Sonam Jorphel Rinpoche, the Spiritual Director of Drigung Kagyud Dharmaraja
Foundation (DKDF).
The building characteristics are based on the writings of Rigdzin Choskyi
Dragpa, one of the most important scholars of the Drigung Kagyud-Tradition
from the 16./17. century (1595-1659), who also was the 1st Drigung Kyabgon
Chungtsang Rinpoche.
After he entered mahaparinirvana, the body of the magnificent was burnt and
the ashes were brought to 8 different places, to remain in specific reliquaries,
which symbolize his activity at the respective location. Thus, we find the
’Enlightenment-Stupa’ in Bodhgaya, the ’Stupa of many doors’
in Sarnath, representing the first sermon, and, as mentioned already, the
’Lotus-Stupa’ in Lumbini, pointing to the birth. For the reason,
that the now growing Stupa is realized at the birthplace, it is one of the
last-named type as well.
A big number of artists has been involved in the project. All of them were
from Nepal and their painting-, decoration-, wood-, and gold-works were carried
out on the very highest level.
4.) Completion and inauguration.
His Holiness Drigung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche will inaugurate the
Stupa from 25.-27.02.2004 and guide the rituals, being performed on this occasion.
As mentioned earlier, the next year is, according to the astrological calendar
of the Tibetans, very special, and for the Drigung Kagyud School in so far,
as a particular cycle of instructions is taught at that time. Because this
wasn’t planned formerly, the coincidence of these two events has to be
regarded as very auspicious. His Holiness thus will give the rare ’Monkey-Year-Teachings’
after the inauguration in this course.
So, at the present time the following dates are certain:
'Inauguration
of the ’Lotus-Stupa’
25.02.-27.02.2004
’Monkey-Year-Teachings’
28.02.-06.03.2004
For this event, several thousand people from Nepal and abroad are expected
to gather in Lumbini. Many realized teachers of our and other traditions,
monks and nuns, as well as a great number of Nepalese Buddhists also will
attend the ceremonies. To prepare and co-ordinate this carefully, it requires
a lot of organizing activities. The trustful and single-minded working together
of all co-ordinators involved, certainly will lead to an efficient execution
of the planning tasks.
5.) Organization.
His Holiness currently stays in retreat in La phyi and is not available
for personal contacts until the end of the year. However, prior to his departure,
he has appointed several persons being responsible for the planning and co-ordination
of the inauguration of the Stupa-Complex and the subsequent teachings. Consequently,
DKDF will take care of the spiritual organization only, and I am responsible
for the infra-structural affairs. Furthermore,
-
Michelle, Glorious Jewel Centre, for Taiwan,
e-mail:
glorious_jewel@seed.net.tw
-
Tashi Jamyangling, Drikung Kagyud Office, Toronto, for America and
Canada,
e-mail:
DKOFFICE2001@aol.com
-
Elke Bartussek, Drikung Kagyud Ratnashiri Dharma Vereinigung e.V.,
Goettingen, with
the support of Drikung Sherab Migched Ling, Aachen,
e-mail:
bartussek@t-online.de
or aachen@drikung.de,
will take over the organizing guidance in their respective regions.
6.) Expenses.
The described activities will require a considerable quantity of financial
support. At the moment, the requirements cannot be named in detail, but during
the following planning stages it will get clearer. Provided that there is
a big number of participants, costs possibly can reach an amount of six-digits
in US-Dollars. At this point, DKDF wants to lay particular emphasis
on the necessity of getting donations for the successful realization of the
teachings, and asks for seizing every available opportunity, to grant financial
support, to put the planning activities on firm ground. To this end, a bank-
account was opened here in Kathmandu, to which donations can be paid in. This
goes by the name of “DKDF-Monkey-Year-Teachings-2004". The incoming
money will be used exclusively for the mentioned purpose. It makes sense,
if every local co-ordinator collects donations in his area, to transfer them
in one amount to Nepal afterwards. This, among others, saves charges for single-transfers
of smaller amounts. After receiving money a receipt will be issued immediately
and delivered up to the sender.
The account data is:
"DKDF-Monkey-Year-Teachings-2004"
Himalayan Bank Limited
Ac.-No.: 0010091538001-2
Karmachari Sanchaya Kosh Bldg.
Tridevi Marg, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal
P.O. Box 20590
Swift-Code: HIMANPKA
The participation in the teachings
is free, but it would be appropriate and helpful, if those who take part,
would give generously.
7.) General.
a) Duration:
In general, everybody can participate. The individual should plan a sojourn
of three weeks for the inauguration of the Stupa-Complex and the cycle of
instructions, in order to avoid stress and have a stay, which is appropriate
to the event. But it is self-evident, that there is no obligation to be present
for the whole time.
b) Translation:
The teachings will be translated into English and Chinese.
c) Infra-structure:
An organization committee was established already on the scene, which will
create the infra-structural conditions in and around Lumbini until February
next year. These partners are of utmost reliability and therefore a successful
progress of the preparations is ensured.
8.) Journey to and in Nepal.
a) Concerted journey:
If there should be need of organizing a group travel, the co-ordinators are
requested to put information and wishes in concrete form in time, so that
possibilities for the realization can be established.
b) Flights to Nepal:
Those interested from Southeast-Asia and the West of America should fly to
Kathmandu via Thailand (Bangkok), those from Europe and the East of America
via Austria (Vienna) directly, or via Bangkok, India (Delhi) or Qatar (Doha)
with change of the aircraft in the respective cities. Enough time is advisable
for all the connections.
c) Kathmandu - Lumbini:
Lumbini is situated 320 km southwest of Kathmandu, close to the Nepalese/Indian
border and is within reach by either flight, bus or taxi.
For the time being, there is only one airline operating flights several times
a day to Baihrawa, the domestic airport close to Lumbini (20 km). Flight time
is 40 minutes and the fare currently is $ 79,- one way excl. tax. However,
in February it can happen, that flights
are postponed or cancelled, due to bad weather conditions.
The alternative is, to go by bus from the capital to South-Nepal. This ride
takes about 10 hours and the fare is around $ 4,- one way.
Furthermore, the trip by taxi/jeep would take 7 hours and cost $ 80,-/100,-
one way.
The planning group in Nepal endeavours, to install a shuttle service between
Baihrawa and Lumbini, as well as between the hotels and the scene of action.
All participants should take care that they are already present at Buddha’s
birthplace in the evening of February 24th, 2004, because the ceremonies will
start very early the next morning.
9.) Accommodation.
There are different hotels and guesthouses in Kathmandu, such as.:
- Hyatt Regency Kathmandu
***** over $ 100 ,-
- Hotel Vajra **
. $ 40,-
- Boudhanath Guesthouse guesthouse
. $ 15,-
There are only a few hotels and guesthouses directly in Lumbini. These are:
- Lumbini Hokke Hotel
***** . $ 100,-
- New Crystal Hotel
**** . $ 90,-
- Buddha Maya Garden Hotel **
. $ 30,-
- Buddha Garden Guesthouse guesthouse .
$ 15,-
- Sri Lanka Guesthouse pilgrim quarters donation
There are more possibilities in Baihrawa to find accommodation, for example
in the:
- Nirvana Hotel
**** $ 90,- to 100,-
- Pavan Hotel ***
$ 50,- to 60,-
- Yeti Hotel **
. $ 40,-
Besides, there are numerous guesthouses there, in the range between $ 10,- and $ 30,- per night.
All particulars refer to a double room per night.
For those ordained, there will be erected big tents by the organizing committee,
to guarantee free accommodation on the
scene.
Food supply will be provided on the spot for all participants from local catering services at prime cost.
Questions and ideas of the co-ordinators to:
Ferdinand Stange, DKDF
+977-1-4489006 (tel./fax)
monkeyyearlumbini@yahoo.com
(e-mail)