Myanmar has world's largest book on the Buddha: need for Indian Ocean Community based on Dhamma

[Guest guest]

HinduThought, Srinivasan Kalyanaraman

<kalyan97@g...> wrote:

A good reason why Bharat should take the initiative to set up an

Indian Ocean Community, starting with the closest neighbour,

Indonesia

and then Brahmades'a.

 

Kalyanaraman

 

Myanmar possesses world's largest book on Buddha

 

By Arun Ranjit

 

Buddhist nation Myanmar possesses a rich and vibrant cultural

tradition. Great natural beauty combines with magnificent temple

architecture.

 

Like in Nepal, Myanmar's tourism is based on culture, history and

religion as well as "Warm Hospitality" of the people of Myanmar.

 

Myanmar could also be seen as the meeting place between two of the

world's greatest civilizations, China and India, which has given rise

to a distinct Myanmar culture. South East Asia's most secretive and

most mysterious country?"Myanmar is rich in its cultural heritage.

Its

lifestyle and arts reflect a unique blend of both ancient cultures,

inter-spread with Myanmar's own native traits and characteristics.

Myanmar's arts and crafts existed even during the Pyu period of 5th

century.

 

In fine arts it has own traditional style of painting sculptures,

lacquer ware, tapestry and many more.

 

The teaching of Buddhism has dominant influence on the Myanmar way of

life. Thus, Myanmar is also well known as the best-preserved

tradition

of Buddhist country. The people have great respect for elders and

reverence for Buddhism. They are also preserving the tradition of

close family ties. Festivals also form a large part of fun loving

Myanmar's social life.

 

Situated in the Southeast Asia, Myanmar was ruled by the Britishers

and for a short term by Japanese.

 

However, the Buddhist nation of Myanmar has become a sovereign

independent state since January 4 1948. It is remarkable to note that

Myanmar is the country that regained her independence first though

she

was the last country to be colonized.

 

Spread in 676, 577 sq. miles, Myanmar has over 48 million people with

82 per cent literacy rate Over 89 per cent of the population in

Myanmar follow Theravada Buddhism and rest others.

 

Among the various cities in Myanmar, the royal city Mandalay is one

of

them, which was the last capital of Myanmar kings. It is a beautiful

city, built on the traditions and glories of Myanmar's royal past. As

part of the heritage of that royal past, Mandalay has in its proud

possession the world's largest book.

 

That book, rare and valuable, is the only one of its kind, and not

kept under lock as most other rare books are, is readily available

both to the serious students and to the casual reader. So large that

it cannot be accommodated in a conventional library, the book is

within the precincts of the Kuthodaw Pagoda close to Mandalay Hill.

It

is there in the form of 729 marble slabs made of beautiful marble

quarried from the Sagyin Hill a few miles to the north of Mandalay.

Each marble slab is housed in a shrine, indicating the sacred nature

of the book, for inscribed on the marble slabs, both front and back,

is the whole of the Tipitaka, the three baskets of the Buddhist Pali

canon. The Vinaya is on 11 slabs, the Sutta on 410 and the Abhidhamma

on 208.

 

The Tipitaka is one of the foundations on which Buddhism is sustained

and King Anawrahta (1044-1077) who, with the monk Shin Arahan, first

established Theravada Buddhism in the kingdom of Myanmar, brought

back

from Thaton to Bagan city thirty sets of the Tipitaka on thirty-two

white elephants to sustain and promote Buddhism. Later Myanmar kings

also promoted the study of Buddhism by making copies of the Tipitaka

on palm leaf and offering them to monasteries.

 

As all previous copies of the Tipitaka had been made on fragile and

perishable material, the 10th king of Konbaung dynasty King Mindon

conceived the idea of making a copy of the Tipitaka on enduring

stone,

and for his purpose, chose not sand stone commonly used by kings,

courtiers and commoners to record their deeds of merit, but the hard

and beautiful white marble of Sagyin Hill. Under the supervision of

three learned venerable monks, the work of inscribing the Tipitaka on

marble was carried out in a special hall within the palace. Begun on

14 October 1860, the work was completed on 4th May 1868, and the 729

slabs of gleaming white marble.

 

Today king Mindon's legacy has become the world's largest book left

behind a valuable gift to the people not only of the Myanmar but all

the Buddhists around the world. Not only did he bequeath a rich

cultural heritage, a pile of jewels in the royal city but he also

instilled in his subjects a spirit of devout reverence for the three

jewels??Buddha, Dhamma (law or teaching) and Sangha (monkhood).

However, perhaps his greatest gift to posterity is a lasting

embodiment of the Dhamma, the Tipitaka carved in beautiful Sagyin

marble, which is also by far the world's largest book.

 

Ever since the establishment of diplomatic ties between Nepal and

Myanmar in 1960, the relationship of two countries has been cordial

and friendly. Exchanges of political leaders, social and economical

people and other professionals from both the countries have enhanced

closer and better understanding and goodwill towards each other. Lord

Buddha's teaching of peace, compassion and nonviolence have been a

source of inspiration for the people of the two countries.

 

January 4 is the Independence Day of Myanmar. This year (Tuesday) is

the 57th Independence Day. So, this is an occasion for Nepalese to

extend their sincere greetings and wish to the people of Myanmar for

their happiness and prosperity.

 

The ties between our two countries based on five principles of

peaceful coexistence have withstood the test of time and have always

been warm and friendly. May the relation of Nepal and Myanmar reach

at

glorious height for the progress, prosperity and peace of the people

of both the countries.

 

Long live Nepal-Myanmar friendships.

 

http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/pageloader.php?

file=2005/01/02/nation/nation1

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