By  Shyamal Sinha

Yarchen Gar officially known as the Yaqên Orgyän Temple, is located in Baiyü County , Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture , in Sichuan province, China. It lies in an isolated valley 4000 m above sea level. The monastery is associated with the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism . With more than 10,000 Sangha members now, it’s the largest concentration of nuns and monks in the world. Most of the Sanghas are nuns.
In the wake of state-ordered action to reduce the monastic population of the world-famous Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in western China’s Sichuan Province, recent media reports indicate that the local authorities have begun a similar exercise at the nearby Yarchen Gar monastic community, with 2,000 residences reportedly targeted for demolition and a corresponding number of monastics to be expelled by the end of the year.

“[The] Chinese authorities ordered the demolition of 2,000 houses of monks and nuns at Yarchen Buddhist Center . . . [by the end of] this year,” Washington, DC-based broadcaster Radio Free Asia (RFA) quoted an anonymous source as saying. “The demolition began on 8 August and the work is said to be ongoing at Yarchen Gar, while the same number of monks and nuns [2,000] are also to be expelled from the Buddhist center this year alone.” (Radio Free Asia)

Situated in a remote valley in Baiyu County, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in the traditional Tibetan region of Kham, Yarchen Gar is home to an estimated 10,000 nuns, monks, and lay practitioners. The monastery and educational institute was established in 1985 by the abbot, Achuk Rinpoche (d. 2011), a Dzogchen practitioner and one of the most senior Nyingma masters in Tibet.

A Tibetan source quoted by RFA said the demolition order had placed “tremendous stress and hardship” on Yarchen Gar’s Buddhist community. “The demolition will cause a great amount of stress, as many monks and nuns will lack accommodations and be forced to leave,” the source said. “Yarchen monks and nuns are solely focused on Buddhist practice and not involved in any form of politics.” (Radio Free Asia)

Like the better-known Larung Gar Buddhist Institute in a valley to the northeast, Yarchen Gar is associated with the Nyingma school of Vajrayana Buddhism. Indeed, Yarchen Gar’s monastic population has been bolstered by the arrival of evictees from Larung Gar in recent decades. In June, a senior abbot at Larung Gar said that 4,725 monastic dwellings had been torn down over the course of a year, with more than 7,000 demolished since efforts to reduce the population began in 2001, noting that more than 4,828 monks and nuns had been expelled since 2016. Larung Gar Buddhist Academy was founded in 1980 by the respected teacher Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok (1933–2004), and is widely considered to be the largest center of Buddhist learning in the world.

“About 2,000 houses will be demolished this year and around same number of monks and nuns will be asked to leave the complex . . . ” said a senior lama at Yarchen Gar about a week after the demolition work began. (Radio Free Asia)

“Most important is to remain humble and adhere to proper conduct, and things may get better. Also, it is important for all monks and nuns to take care of their health,” the lama is quoted as saying. “The monks and nuns should exercise patience and tolerance under the stress of the demolitions and expulsion orders—this is crucial.” (Radio Free Asia)

In June last year, the government of Sertar County ordered a major reduction of the resident population of Larung Gar monastic college, stating that by October 2017 only 1,500 monks and 3,500 nuns would be permitted to remain. The order followed similar moves in 2001, when the authorities organized a mass eviction of residents from the institute, and in late 2015, when further expulsions were accompanied by an order to reduce admissions to curb the rapid growth of the monastic population, which is believed to have reached as high as 40,000 at its peak. Earlier this year, a local government official stated that the demolitions were carried out to improve safety and public health at the sprawling monastic complex. “The purpose of the renovation is to improve the living standard of the residents there and eliminate fire hazards,” said county government spokesman Jiang Zhiming. (The Globe and Mail)

Due to the remoteness of the institute and the bad condition of roads leading there, Yarchen Gar sees very few tourists. In the past years officials have often prevented foreigners from entering the institute or staying there overnight.

By  Shyamal Sinha

Wat Arun “Temple of Dawn” is a Buddhist temple (wat) in Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, Thailand, on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The temple derives its name from the Hindu god Aruna, often personified as the radiations of the rising sun. Wat Arun is among the best known of Thailand’s landmarks and the first light of the morning reflects off the surface of the temple with pearly iridescence.
The recently completed restoration of one of Bangkok’s most famous landmarks, the Buddhist temple commonly known as Wat Arun, has been the target of some criticism on social media, but officials in charge of giving the more-than-300-year-old monument a major facelift insist that the work was carried out in line with the original design of the structure.

Responding to online critics, who say the restoration—the biggest such project for the temple in 100 years—has changed the original design and iconic architectural features, the head of the Fine Arts Department, insisted that the original 120 decorative designs dating back to the reign of King Rama II (r. 1809–24), who commissioned the temple’s distinctive spires that stand today, had been carefully studied before the renovation. However, Anandha conceded that due to the poor condition of the spires, as much as 40 per cent of the original design had required completely new redecoration.

Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan, better known in English as the Temple of Dawn, was built during Thailand’s Ayutthaya period (1351–1767) and has become one of the Buddhist kingdom’s most well known icons and a popular tourist attraction. The temple is best known for its five graceful spires that tower majestically over the Thonburi bank of the Chao Phraya River.

Originally named Wat Makok, the temple was renamed Wat Chaeng (Temple of the Dawn) by Taksin the Great (r.1767–82), who is believed to have reached the temple by river at sunrise when he came to establish his new capital in Thonburi after the fall of the kingdom of Ayutthaya. Following a series of restorations over the next 100 years that included increasing the height of the central tower, the temple received its current name from King Rama IV (r.1851–68), who initiated further renovations. The latest major restoration began in 2013.

“The Fine Arts Department made careful examinations before starting the restoration. We replaced the damaged parts but still retained the original designs,” said Anandha Chuchoti, director-general of the Fine Arts Department, which was in charge of the renovation. “The main purpose was not to preserve the old features, but rather to maintain the original condition as much as possible.” (The Nation)

Anandha said the department had surveyed the stupas, recoding details of the patterns and colors on the decorative tiles with a view to preserving the the original design and look as possible. He noted that about 120,000 of a total of 300,000 pieces had to be replaced during the restoration. “But we can’t deny some surfaces had to be reworked, which may have affected the original patterns, which has left certain exterior spots visibly unclear,” he added. (Bangkok Post)

The temple’s iconic stupa is an architectural representation of Mount Meru, the center of the world in Buddhist cosmology. The four-corner prang, which house images of the guardian deities of the four cardinal directions, reinforce this mystical symbolism. The main tower, which stands 82 meters tall, is made up of several ornate tiers that represent worlds within worlds.

Wat Arun’s assistant abbot, Phra Sakkaya Puttiyawong, explained that the spire’s former greenish hue was a result of “stains left by moss,” which was removed during the extensive restoration revealing the white exterior of the stupas. “They cleaned moss-tainted stupas and restored the surface,” he added. “This whitened the stupas, returning them to their original beauty.” (Bangkok Post)

A celebration to mark the completion of the restoration program is scheduled to take place for 10 days from 27 December–5 January 2018, featuring a ceremony to pay homage to King Taksin, sound-and-light shows, cultural performances, and a royal barge procession.

Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country, with 93.2 per cent of the nation’s population of 69 million identifying as Theravada Buddhists, according to 2010 data from the Washington, DC-based Pew Research Center. The country is home to approximately 38,000 temples and some 300,000 monks.

Wat Arun can be easily accessed through the Chao Phraya River, and ferries travel across the river towards the Maharaj pier.

By  Shyamal Sinha

The Angkor Archeological Park, a world heritage site, contains the remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, dating from the 9th to the 15th centuries, and is Cambodia’s most popular tourist destination.
A team of archaeologists excavating an 800-year-old site in Cambodia’s famed Angkor Archaeological Park have unearthed fragments of a rare Medicine Buddha carving and a two-meter-tall guardian statue that they believe date back to the 12th century. The Cambodia Daily newspaperdescribed the unexpected discoveries as “like something that only happens in the movies.”

The 13-day excavation near the northern entrance to the former imperial capital of Angkor Thom, which wrapped up last week, yielded a veritable treasure trove of ancient artifacts from the grounds of a hospital built by King Jayavarman VII (r. c.1181–1218). Alongside the rare statues, the archaeologists also discovered traces of smelting, which might have been for bronze casting, as well as porcelain, roof tiles, and Khmer and Chinese ceramics.

Covering an area of some 400 square kilometers in Cambodia’s northern province of Siem Reap, Angkor Archaeological Park is one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia, containing the remains of several capitals of the Khmer empire that flourished from the 9th–15th century—among the landmarks the celebrated Angkor Wat complex. A protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, the area also includes Angkor Thom, the last and most enduring capital of the Khmer empire. At its height, the city complex and hundreds of temples were home to more than a million inhabitants, making it one of the most populated pre-industrial centers in history. Large areas of the park have been excavated over the decades, creating an immersive archaeological wonder that draws more than 2 million visitors each year.

The researchers said the recently unearthed two-meter sandstone figure likely depicts a guardian deity that stood at the entrance to an ancient hospital.

“Jayavarman VII’s reign was truly remarkable in terms of social programs,” said Tan Boun Suy, deputy director-general of the Apsara Authority, the government agency that manages Angkor Archaeological Park and is conducting the excavation. “The hospital consisted of wooden buildings and a chapel erected in stones. What is left is the chapel . . . as wooden structures have long disappeared.” (The Cambodia Daily)

Found buried just 40 centimeters below the surface of the ground and weighing about 200 kilograms, the statue is missing both feet, with the right leg ending just before the ankle and the left leg near the bottom of the thigh. Both arms are missing just below the shoulders. However, the Apsara Authority said the body and head remained well preserved. Im Sokrithy, the dig’s scientific supervisor, observed that had the figure been whole, it would have stood at least 2.1 meters tall.

“Door guardians were symbols of protection,” said Apsara Authority spokesman Long Kosal. “The guardians used to stand in front of the doors of the temples or other ancient places.” (The Phnom Penh Post)

The second major find at the excavation were fragments of a Medicine Buddha. Although inscriptions from the era note that a Medicine Buddha image stood in the chapel of every Jayavarman VII hospital, this is the first example that has ever been found.

“This truly is a find,” said Tan Boun Suy, adding that the hospital is believed to be one of 102 that the 12th century king is said to have built throughout his empire. (The Cambodia Daily)

“We identified him because of an object in the palm of his hand . . . whose form is similar to a very small pyramid,” said Im Sokrithy. (The Cambodia Daily)

“With this discovery, we have finally proven that Buddhist medicine was practiced during the reign of Jayavarman VII under the blessing of the Medicine Buddha,” said Dr. Rethy Chhem, an authority on Angkorian hospitals and medicine, and an adviser on the dig. “I had said we would hit gold if we found the statue of the Buddha,” he added. “This is it, we hit gold.” (The Cambodia Daily)

The Apsara Authority, which has been working with experts from Singapore’s Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, said the discoveries would be placed on public exhibition in the nearby Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum.

The Apsara agency said the sandstone statue’s arms and legs had broken off but the carving on the body and head “remain beautiful” despite the passage of time.
They said the statue was likely to have been a symbolic guardian of the hospital.

By Shyamal Sinha

Buddhism is a religion which teaches people to ‘live and let live’. In the history of the world, there is no evidence to show that Buddhists have interfered or done any damage to any other religion in any part of the world for the purpose of introducing their religion. Buddhists do not regard the existence of other religions as a hindrance to worldly progress and peace.
From 5–6 August, 135 religious leaders and diplomats from 32 countries gathered at Sitagu International Buddhist Academy (SIBA) in Yangon, Myanmar, for an interfaith dialogue to promote global peace, harmony, and security. Notable participants included government officials such as Thura U Aung Ko, Myanmar’s union minister for religious affairs and culture, Ramachandra Damodar Naik, governor of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, and Nobuo Kishi, Japanese state minster for foreign affairs.

The event, titled “Samvad II: Dialogue for Peace, Harmony, and Security – A Global Initiative for Conflict Avoidance and Environment Consciousness,” was organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture in association with the Japan Foundation and the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) in India. In 2014, the fist Samvad dialogue, attended by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, was held in Tokyo.

U Thaung Tun, Myanmar’s national security advisor, delivered the opening address on behalf of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi: “In a 2003 UN General Assembly resolution, the nations of the world affirmed that inter-religious dialogue is an integral part of the efforts to translate shared values into action. This is why we are here today, and it is fitting that we do this in Yangon. The city was founded as Dagon, but, to mark the end of conflict, it was renamed Yangon, which means ‘end of strife’. This is our aspiration: to end strife and suffering for all people.” (Mizzima)

“All the great religions of the world share the goal of a peaceful world. All their founders taught tolerance and non-violence. All the sacred scriptures call for harmony between peoples. We all believe in peace, friendship, and respect. It is incumbent on leaders to preach these principles so that followers may see that they are the right path—not the ideals spread by those who hate.” (Mizzima)

This belief was reiterated by Venerable Sitagu Sayadawgyi, the chancellor of SIBA. In his speech, he emphasized how, despite religious and cultural differences, all those present were gathered for the common goal of achieving peace, stability, and security in a world too often lacking just these characteristics due to various religious, political, and racial conflicts.

In recent years, the host city of the dialogue, Yangon, has been the site of various religious clashes between members of the Buddhist majority and the Rohingya Muslim minority. Participants and speakers expressed hope that the dialogue would serve as an example of religious harmony to all religious groups in conflict.

U Thaung Tun observed: “Our constitution clearly states that every citizen is equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess and practice religion. We are proud to make this commitment, just as we are proud to dedicate ourselves every day to building peace and lifting hardship and suffering. . . . Every day we fight against extremism, and we fight the spread of fabricated stories meant to foment hate. Whether these problems originate abroad or at home, they cause the same atrocious problems. This has no place in our society, which is a rich tapestry of peoples.”

As Myanmar’s national security advisor, building interfaith relationships is one of U Thaung Tun’s core duties. “When people hear security, they think mostly of physical aspects of defense,” he contimued. But it is so much more than that. . . . Building relationships across faith is how we build peace. It is how we create harmony. It is how we maintain security.”

The 14th Dalai Lama has done a great deal of interfaith work throughout his life. He believes that the “common aim of all religions, an aim that everyone must try to find, is to foster tolerance, altruism and love.