The Chakra News » buddhist

Global Epic on Karma to Benefit World’s First Museum of Buddhism and Yoga

Editor — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:51:41 +0000

By Dorje Lama

Buddhism - Lord Buddha

(CHAKRA) Albert Einstein famously dubbed Buddhism ‘the religion of the future’ and several studies show Buddhism to be the fastest growing religion among Westerners all over the world. In addition, the PEW Forum has found that a 65% majority of Americans subscribe to Dharmic practices like yoga, meditation, karma and the number continues to grow in record numbers.

To help everyone with their New Year’s resolutions, complimentary digital downloads are being offered of the most ambitious international film ever made on Eastern philosophy – ‘Karma Yoga: The New Revolution’. Filmed all over the world in India , Japan , France , UK , USA , Switzerland , Hong Kong and Hungary , the epic features more teachings of Lord Buddha as well as the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads than any other film with real-life testimonials of how Westerners are increasingly using Dharmic traditions to overcome serious life challenges from cancer to strokes.

The film is presented by Zenji Acharya, who hails from the oldest Buddhist lineage of India and donations will benefit the world’s first Museum of Buddhism and Yoga. Featuring an unrivalled collection of Buddhist and Hindu artifacts, antiquities, manuscripts and murtis, the Museum will unite all traditions of Buddhism – Mahayana, Vajrayana and Theravada as well as build a bridge between Buddhists, Hindus, yoga practitioners and spiritualists worldwide.

The Buddhist Assemblage will include the earliest original Indian depictions of all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Devas from the Gandhara, Gupta and Pala empires of India that inspired the majority of art all across Asia over many millennia. Be it Lord Buddha’s own Footprint Buddhapada and His earliest aniconic representations of the Triratna and Dharmachakra – all over 2000 years old, a 4^th century Gupta masterwork that reflects the glory of Nalanda; a large antique sculpture of the emaciated Siddhartha or the last full-size prayer bust of Amitabha in the trademark Black stone of the 8^th century Pala Empire, the Museum will feature rare artworks unmatched by any other collection. It will also contain the earliest Indian depictions of Avalokiteshwara, Maitreya and Vajrapani and an unprecedented gallery dedicated to history’s second most influential monk Bodhidharma – the founder of Zen Buddhism who himself resurrected to Amitabha’s Pure Land. In addition, the collection features the world’s oldest and longest thangka in 24K gold showing the Indo-Tibetan influence; ancient scrolls of China’s most famous Buddhist emperors, original art by Japan’s all-time greatest Buddhist monks including Nichiren, Hakuin Ekaku, Obaku Kosen, Ikkyu Sojun, Otagaki Rengetsu, Takuan Soho and Samurai legend Miyamoto Musashi and masterworks by the greatest Buddhist painters in history such as Seeshu Toyo, Katsushika Hokusai and Ando Hiroshige who all inspired Europe’s Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh and Obrist among others.

In addition, the Museum will feature some of the rarest Hindu deities that feature prominently in Buddhist texts and architecture as Guardians of the Buddha and that reflect the artistry of majestic Hindu empires from Pallava and Chola to Hoysala and Vijayanagara. There will also be the oldest palm-leaf manuscripts of Tipitakas, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana and Puranas and collectibles of Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore and Shankaracharya – all of whom venerated Lord Buddha in superlative terms. Each item will be used to teach Dharma and visitors will be allowed to interact with these relics through prayer, meditation and chanting – a feature no other world-class museum allows. The Museum will also produce films, art exhibitions, magazines and speaking events to promote Dharmic philosophy to all demographics with a special emphasis on the youth and the young at heart.

This monumental project is the brainchild of Zen Acharya (Sanskrit: Dhyanacharya) – the only Western acharya to share lineage with Indian Buddhist gurus such as Sariputra, Maudgalyayana, Bodhi Dharma, Nagarjuna, Asvaghosha, Buddhaghosha, Nagasena, Kumarajiva, Padmasambhava, Atisa and the like. The ‘last of the Jedi Knights’ so to speak, Zenji’ hails from a direct line of Buddhist Brahmin sages that built dozens of temples near the Buddha’s home in Magadha over a millennia ago and were appointed by the Palas of Bengal – the last Buddhist empire of India – to preserve Buddhist practices. In fact, the temples continued to honor the traditions of Shakyamuni, Amitabha, Lokeshwara, Vajrapani and Maitreya long after Buddhism disappeared from India and they carry the oldest figures of Dharmapala Nio that are seen today across Japan as Kongo Rikishi temple Guardians. The temples also bear architecture similar to the greatest Buddhist centers Vikramashila and Nalanda where the monks taught and also contained a monastery for monks who brought Buddhism down the Silk Road to China from where it spread to other parts of Asia . Moreover, the compound includes a cave for meditation similar to the one used by Bodhi Dharma at the Shaolin monastery of China .

At Bodh Gaya where Lord Buddha gained His enlightenment, Zen made a vow to his ancestors to honor their traditions and preserve the teachings of the Tathagatha. For this reason, he conducted years of research into the forgotten Buddhist practices of India and early Buddhist traditions of Asia and discovered that a great deal of what passes off for Buddhism in the West is not in line with what his ancestors had intended. He also realized that the only way Buddhism will thrive is if it can generate excitement and enthusiasm among the youth who often do not relate to monks in general. This is why Zenji is using “upaya kausalya” or skillful means to make Buddhism and Dharmic traditions exciting and cool to young people as well as older generations.

Akin to a Buddhist version of Joel Osteen, Zen is giving a whole new face and voice to Dharma. Instead of a shaved head, he maintains the long cascading hair of a yogi. Instead of a monk’s garb, he wears modern suits. While he fluently quotes Sanskrit and Pali, the bulk of his Dharma talks engage eloquent British motivational speaking in the realm of Tony Robbins generating excitement and enthusiasm. Instead of merely referencing old scriptures, he also cites present day pop culture scenarios so that everyone can relate to the applicability of Dharma even in this day and age. Inspired by the Jatakas and Ramayana, Zen is also using the power of film to communicate dharma and will also present another epic on the Bodhisattva Warriors and Dharmapala Defenders in the near future. In addition to art exhibitions, Zen is also ushering in a new collection of “Spiritual Bling” or dharma related accessories to reflect spirituality instead of materialism. And while he has been compared to Deepak Chopra, Zenji is able to reach out to the youth in a manner that is simply unprecedented as he honors the Buddhist heritage of India’s past by introducing it to the world’s future.

Not since Dr. B.R. Ambedkar has Buddhism had an Indian ambassador. Zen Acharya is ready to answer the call.

Attacks on Buddhists in Southern Region of Thailand

Editor — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 04:52:50 +0000

Yingluck Shinawatra

Bangkok, Thailand (CHAKRA)—In the southern region of the Narathiwat province, three consecutive bomb explosions killed four Malaysians as well as a Thai volunteer that was working in a tourist area. Concern has risen for the area, especially because officials believe that the targets of such blasts are foreign tourists. The specific targets of the blasts were a hotel and a Chinese-Thai cultural center, which were both partly damaged. These spoils have reminded the government of the ethnic minority problems that exist in the south.

Approximately 80% of the population in Thailand’s three southern provinces is made up of Muslims which add up to about 1.7 million people. For about seven years now, ethnic Malay Muslims have been looking to separate their portion of the south from the rest of the majority Buddhist land.

Governments of Thailand have placed over 60,000 troops in the southern region but even that has not helped stop the frequent attacks that take place in the area. The local population largely opposes the presence of soldiers in their area.

Yingluck Shinawatra, the Prime Minister has promised to take more seriously the terrorism problem of the Muslim south although the Phue Thai party has no representatives in any of the three southern provinces. People wonder, without representatives, how the Prime Minister will go about making a positive change related to the violent extremist behavior that takes place in the southern provinces.

The Thai military claims that there are many insurgents out in the south, who want to terrorize the area making it difficult for foreigners to get in and out without fear.

Buddhist Pilgrimage Created to Facilitate Community Heritage

Editor — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 13:59:26 +0000

There are various Buddhist tours in Bihar

By Linda Brock

Patna, India (CHAKRA)— A project titled “Revival of the Ancient Buddhist Pilgrimage in Bihar” has been an ongoing introduction that the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara University in collaboration with the Department of Youth, art and Culture has been participating in.

The project has two main objectives that the participants are determined to carry out: to take the existing Buddhist pilgrimage to other Buddha influenced areas that are not very familiar with it and secondly to facilitate community-heritage interface.

The main purpose of the project has been in progress by starting an event calendar which was prepared to generate a greater awareness of the Buddhist heritage of Bihar. One of the events being held is a workshop titled “Engaged Buddhism”.

National Heritage Buddhist College To Get Major Renovations

Editor — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:25:22 +0000

Dong Duong Buddhist College

By Tan Ong

(CHAKRA) At a conference on the preservation of cultural relics in the province of Quang Nam, it was announced that the Dong Duong Buddhist College would be renovated to be able to continue to share its beauty with visitors from all around the world.

The Buddhist College, which is located in a jungle, is currently in ruins and in major need of renovations. The people of the surrounding area are very happy to hear such news since the college has a lot of potential to spread cultural knowledge, being a National Heritage site. Since it is located in one of the largest centres in Southeast Asia it has a large holding capacity. One of the towers known as the Sang Tower is close to toppling down after merely being held up with a rotten piece of wood.

Nguyen Thuong Hi, a worker who spends a lot of time on the preservation of cultural architecture in the province, shared his fear of the tower and the high chance that it may not be able to withstand heavy rains.

Hoang Dao Kinh, an architect working on rebuilding the college stated that the difficulty in just repairing the My Son Towers has made clearer how difficult it will actually be to restore the Dong Duong Buddhist College. He envisions it to be a much more difficult job compared to the My Son Towers.

Kinh further stated that their top priority is to keep the current vestiges in tact. He is determined to repair the college as soon as possible especially because he remembers visiting the relic over 30 years ago, after being mesmerized by photos of it published by the French.

Kinh is going about repairing the college with one important fact in mind: the less interference there is to fix and change the relic, the more it will continue to be recognized as a world cultural heritage site.

Tran Minh Ca, the vice-chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said that scientific research would be carried out to preserve and restore the cultural heritage and significance of the spiritual attraction.

According to Truong Quoc Binh, a member of the National Council for Cultural Heritage, explained that the Buddhist College was first founded by King Indravarman II in 875 in the capital city of the Champa Kingdom.

Located in the Binh Dinh Bac Commune of Quang Nam Province’s Thang Binh District, the Dong Duong Buddhist College, was first excavated by a French architect H. Parmentier in 1902. It is commonly known that the towers of the main shrine were strategically arranged from west to east with a length of 1,300m.

Most of the sculptural work is on display at the Da Nang Museum of Champa Sculpture and contains elements of Hinduism and Buddhism from the second half of the ninth century.

The college was recognized as a National Heritage site in September 2000, after its cultural and historical value were measured.

Hindu Survival and Buddhist Disappearance During Medieval India

Editor — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 05:05:41 +0000

Buddhist temples span across India

By Sandeep Sharma

No less a person than Mahatma Gandhi once estimated that nearly a quarter of Hindus had converted to Islam over the past on thousand years. How true is this statement ?

Hinduism has been associated with the Indian subcontinent since time immemorial. The teachings of the sages of the Vedas emanate from the mists of the past with a chain of Gurus and Saints stretching to the modern day. Amongst the myriad of thoughts coming from this ‘land of saints’ range from the pure stream of Vedanta to the mystical experiences of a Mirabai and to the compassion of Guatam Buddha.

By the dawn of the first millennia CE the Hindu world straddled across the same contiguous region as the Buddhist world. Stretching from the islands of the Indonesian archipelago to the wild regions of Central Asia. The Buddhists with an organized priesthood had ranged furthest with missions to the island of the Indian Ocean and across the Himalayas into China and beyond.

A happy coexistence with little conflict to the point where it was common for people of the same region, tribes and even families to be both Hindu and Buddhist. The kings of the nations under Dharma or Dhamma would donate equally to both religious centres and preachers without distinction.

This however all began to change in the seventh century. The Arab tribes erupted from their desert homes armed with the zeal of a new faith Islam burst into the lands of these ancient faiths. The age old faith of Zoarasterism and Eastern Christianity was almost obliterated within a generation up to and including the venerable Persian lands.

After reaching Sindh a decisive repulse from a coalition of Hindu kings in the battle of Rajasthan in 738 AD the Arabs turned their attention to the north. The Chinese empire was defeated in the Battle of Talas in 751 AD and the field of Central Asia with its patchwork of predominantly Buddhist kingdoms was laid open.

What followed was a relentless pressure of Islamisation which lasted for the next two centuries. In this time with the tides of warfare ever changing the Buddhist kingdoms began to fall one by one.

The destruction of the monasteries and murders of their priests led to a leaderless Buddhist community being unable to resist the pressures of the Islamic missionaries and soldiers. A stream of refuges and priests began to head for the spiritual homeland of India lending vigour to the infancy of the much acclaimed bhakti movement. By the end of the millennia the Buddhists had almost been wiped of the map of Central Asia to the borders of India and Tibet and the newly Islamised Turk tribes now eyed the vast Indian subcontinent.

Here meeting sterner resistance after a wave of incursions on an around 1000 AD the Turks eventually broke into the subcontinents around 1200AD leading to a tidal wave of bloodletting that has scarce comparison in human history. The Buddhist regions of Afghanistan and Western Punjab fell rapidly to the Islamic crusaders as did the far flung regions of predominantly Buddhist East Bengal. The same story of Central Asia was repeated with the destruction of the great Buddhist centres like at Nalanda and the slaying of their organised priesthood leaving a confused and leaderless populace.

The Hindus however reacted differently. The existence of numerous tribes and clans and religious groupings led to a deficiency in common action. However each region and tribe despite the destruction of many temples and slaughter of holy men managed to maintain its viability. The absence of an organized priesthood and single doctrine foiled the Turk and Afghan attempted to obliterate the Hindu religion. The defeat of a single Hindu clan in a particular region was quickly replaced by another Hindu tribe/warrior community to fill the vacuum almost instantly. After overwhelming the mainly Buddhist regions the Turks found themselves holding certain urban centres in a sea of Hindu resistance.

The burgeoning bhakti movement helped by the headlong demise of Buddhism, though no Buddhist ideas expanded to cover the entire subcontinent in a challenge to the nascent Islamistation in many regions.

The bloodletting continued. The Muslims historian Firishta in his book Tarikh i Farishta talks of tens and thousands of Muslim solders having to immigrate to India each year to cover the losses in the endless wars with the Hindus. The Hindu kings being pushed back by the heavy Turk Cavalry which had defeated the Crusaders of Western Europe adopted tactics to harry and punish Muslim warriors at each and every opportunity. A bloody stalemate was reached in which it began to dawn on the Muslim armies that the Hindus could not be wiped out in the same manner as the Jews, Zoroastrians, Pharsees, and the erstwhile Buddhists of west and South Asia.

What happened was a regeneration of Hindu thought. A reaction based on dogged resistance backed by religious inspiration. The inspiration allowed the Hindus to stop the Arabic Jihad in its tracks after overwhelming all resistance from the border of India to Spain. It foiled the Turks for three hundred years whilst they beat back the combined might of the Europe in the Crusades. The waves of attacks emanating from central Asia were beaten back on numerous occasions and eve after the plundering and penetrative raids of Mahmud Ghaznnavi and two centuries later of Mohammed Ghori the fighting did not end. Indeed whilst the hapless Buddhists of South Asia were almost wiped from the face of the subcontinent with a large number falling under the flag of the ummah the Hindus crucially proved the ability to regenerate.

The open system of worship without a central authority and a defined priest hood or single place of pilgrimage allowed Hinduism to resist, adapt, regenerate and eventually thrive in the face of genocidal attack. The Muslim historians whilst lauding the achievements of their kings in entering and establishing rule in India lamented their failure to convert the land into the land of Islam. Eventually realising the futility of their operations we have the sight of the Mughal emperor , Akbar renouncing traditional Islam and establishing his own Din i Ilahi in line with the syncretic traditions of the people. When his successor broke this tenuous compromise the Empire was broken into pieces with predominantly Hindu warrior lands rising over its ruins and obliterating the Islamic rule. Indeed by the time of the advent of the British the surviving Muslims kings either had folded to the new Hindu revival or ran into the waiting arms of the British Empire for protection.

Buddhism is happily making a return to India, the land of its origin. Pilgrims from East Asia and the Americas now make pious journeys to the land of Buddha’s Birth. It is however a sober reminder to humanity of the need to preserve an ethos of toleration and acceptance and resistance in the face of genocidal terror. It is the lesson of the history of Hinduism.

The truths of conversion are far more complicated than envisaged by modern day self proclaimed scholars. The idea of a mono religious India prior to the Islamic invasions defies historical truth. A multi cultural, multi religious India was assailed by the determined forces of monotheistic jihad. The end of a millennia of attack saw nearly a quarter of the subcontinent embrace the middle eastern faith but the concept that a uniformly Hindu nation became in part Muslim is a falsehood. The very word for ‘idol breaker’ is but shikan – (lit- breaker of the Buddha) a tragic reference to the obliteration of the once widespread Buddhist faith from the lands of its birth and beyond. In contrast – though suffering terrible pain the Hindus resisted, regenerated and in parts expanded showing clearly that the values of Dharma are essential not only for survival but for the very future of mankind

Eight Killed at Football Game in Thailand by Muslim Militants

Editor — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 04:47:13 +0000

Football is a common sport in Thailand

(CHAKRA) In Thailand’s restive south, eight Buddhists have been killed by Muslim militants, according to police reports.

Police Lieutenant General, Kong-att Suwannakham says insurgents detonated a homemade bomb in a football field in the province of Pattani which resulted in four policemen being killed and another dozen being wounded. They had all just met at the field to play a friendly game of football knowing little that their lives were at stake in a few minutes time.

In the province of Yala, police say that insurgents set off a roadside bomb and shot at an army patrol, killing three soldiers and wounding two. Additionally two men on bicycles, fatally shot at a formal local official in his pick up truck, in the province of Narathiwat.

In Thailand’s three Muslim-dominated provinces, more than 4,300 people have been killed in the predominantly Buddhist regions. These killings have all happened since the Islamist insurgency erupted in the country in 2004

Delhi: Tibetan Buddhist Monks Protest Against China

Editor — Fri, 06 May 2011 20:10:40 +0000

A group of Tibetan Buddhist monks praying

By Tan Ong

New Delhi, India (CHAKRA)– Hundreds of Buddhist monks gathered to protest against the lock down of the Kirti Monastery in Tibet by the Chinese government. The protest too place in Delhi where hundreds of Buddhist monks along with Tibetan activists took part in a peace rally.

The message of universal brotherhood, peace and harmony was the highlight at the cathedral in New Delhi, where the monks and activists prayed for peace.

The monks are demanding immediate withdrawal of troops from the monastery so that an end can come to the continuous abuse of their human rights–something they are deeply concerned about.

Ishi Dolma, a Tibetan activist reported that 300 monks have gone missing and the situation at the monastery is very tense. He further explained that the Chinese officials are capturing any monks they come across, the food supply is short, and any movement across the Kirti Monastery is cutoff leaving the area completely restricted from the public. The forces have surrounded the monastery from every side so no one can get in or get out.

Dolma is also urging governments across the world to step in and help their cause as well as their people who have done nothing but practiced peace in a non-disturbing way.

Dolma also sent out a specif message to the world, but especially the Indian government and its people to help solve the long-standing conflict affecting the Tibetan people.

At a protest, after Chinese troops took hold of the Kirti Monastery, it was reported that Phuntsok, a 20-year-old monk committed self-immolation.

About 17 monks from the Kirti Monastery and about 20 other local Tibetans have been arrested.

Tibet has been under Chinese control ever since the Chinese army invaded Tibet in 1950.

Proceeds from Asian Buddhist Film Festival Will Go to Japan

Editor — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 02:54:25 +0000

By Tan Ong

: The Japan earthquake and tsunami disaster in 2011

Japan (CHAKRA) — After a four year interval, the Asian Buddhist Film Festival (ABFF) returns and this time around a portion of its proceeds are set to go to Japan earthquake and tsunami victims.

Ambassador K. Kesavapany, director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) said that helping people is in line with Buddhist teachings of compassion and giving to the Japanese victims will do just that.

A part of the money will also go to the Children’s Cancer Foundation.

This years films will be screened at Great World City’s Golden Village cinema from May 5th to May 8th, as a prelude to Vesak day which will take place on May 17. Eight of the total films being featured will be Singapore premieres.

The opening film will be a film that won Best Picture in children’s category at the Berlin Film Festival last year. The film is called Echos of the Rainbow, directed by Hong Kong director, Alex Law.

Acclaimed American filmmaker Jennifer Fox, will be participating at the festival for the first time in which she will offer a masterclass for film-making.

The themes of love, peace and compassion will be visibly prominent at the festival this year as every year. Mr. Billy Lee, co-founder and chairman of ABFF said there is something there for everyone to see and enjoy especially because the themes are so universal and at the core of humanity’s values.

The festival has been collaboratively organized by the Asian Buddhist Film Festival and the Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre, which is a part of ISEAS.

Mr. Lee stated that the main purpose of the festival is not to bring new films to Singapore but rather the core focus is to showcase good film-making skills along with a focus on promoting themes of love, peace, and compassion.

The last edition of the film festival, which took place four years ago, the organization raised a total of $40,000 for charity.

Preservation of Buddhist Sites is Made Priority by the Gujarat Government

Editor — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 01:16:50 +0000

By Karishma Patel

: The CM of Gujarat Narendra Modi with the Tibetan leader Dalai Lama

Ahmedabad, Gujarat (CHAKRA) – The BJP government of Gujarat has prioritized its efforts to preserve sites that are going to be apart of the Buddhist tourism circuit in the Central Gujarat region. The tourists sites are going to include the caves of Saurashtra as well as the remains of the Buddhist monastery.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been excavating the ancient Buddhist caves and surrounding sites. In response to this the Gujarat government has expedited its work on the preservation of such sites although it is still waiting for approval from the central government to go ahead with the planning of the Buddhist tourism circuit proposal.

The Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Narendra Modi, has eagerly taken interest in this in these activities and as a result visited the excavation sites in Vadnagar of Mehsana district in North Gujarat to take a look at the work being done at the sites.

During his visit, Mr. Modi spoke highly of the excavation activities taking place. He brought to light the visits made in the past by Buddhist monks who came in search of spiritual knowledge and their influence in the eastern belt of India. He further stated that because the eastern belt of India is so influenced by the Buddha, the Buddhist relic findings serve as an opportunity to study his influence on the western belt.

According to an official of the Department of Youth and Cultural Affairs, they plan to build a shed made out of special fibre to protect the excavation site from rain and other damaging materials.

The official at the site also stated that the plan is to build a cultural wall to display the relics found at the site, for which 40 lakh rupees has been set aside. Furthermore, there is a long-term plan to build the area into a museum in Vadnagar because of the number (7000) of relics they have discovered since over five years ago. Most of these findings are from the Ghaskol Darwaja excavation site in the town of Vadnagar.

Some of the findings include clay utensils, beads, ornaments, silver coins, sculptures, tablets, plaques depicting Buddha and parts of a vessel with descriptions relating to Buddhism.

The Tourism Secretary, Mr. Vipul Mitra, said that the Buddhist caves found in various locations of Saurashtra region will also become part of the circuit.

Security has been dispatched in all areas of the site along with signs up displaying information charts about the history of the caves.

The caves are located in various places including, in the Shiyot village of Lakpat taluka, in Kutch district, the Ranpur village of Jamnagar, in Sana, in Prabhas Patan, in the Savangiri villages of Junagadh, and in Gondal taluka or Rajkot.

Many in the international community have praised this initiative by the Narendra Modi government after many ancient Buddhist monuments have been destroyed by Islamic extremists in countries such as Afghanistan and Bangladesh in recent years.

Buddhism Conference to be Held in Kandy

Editor — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 23:13:43 +0000

Statue of Lord Buddha

(CHAKRA) In March, India will hold an international Buddhism conference in Kandy to celebrate the 2600^th year of Lord Buddha’s enlightenment. A meeting was held between a visiting Lok Sabha Speaker, Meira Kumar and President Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss the upcoming conference as well as the commissioning of the 16-feet high Buddha statue of Lord Buddha for the International Buddhist Museum in Kandy.

Prime Minister, Manmohan Singhs plan to arrange an exposition for the sacred Kapilvastu relics in Sri Lanka, were also discussed at the meeting. He was personally invited to the exposition by the president of Sri Lanka, according to a statement made by the High Commission of India.

During the meeting, future parliamentary exchanges between the two countries were also discussed. Meira Kumar said that she is looking forward to the future meetings that will be held in India in the next several months.

Rajapaksa happily welcomed these initiatives and is also looking forward to many developmental projects in Sri Lanka including the housing project as well as the rehabilitation of the railway network in the north.