An Exhibition Showcasing the Buddhist World of Architecture

June 19th 2015: An exhibition on ‘Architecture of the Buddhist World: The Golden Lands,’ first volume in a series of six books by Vikram Lall was held at India International Centre. Lall is the first person worldwide who travelled to more than 20 countries to conduct in-depth research on Buddhist architecture including the Southeast Asian countries, Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos.  The week long exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan, eminent art scholar, historian and the Chairperson of IIC Asia Project.

Dr. Vatsyayan appreciated Lall’s work saying, “It is very impressive and amazing work done by Vikram Lall that takes a person through many centuries and many lands where Buddhism flourished.”

Mr. Lall said at the inauguration, “My focus in this research was the change and development in the architecture of Buddhist monuments. My research gives an analysis of the geographical and historical details associated with these temples.”

The other personalities who visited the exhibition and were spellbound by Lall’s contribution to the subject were Dr. Lokesh Chandra, President, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Dr. Subhash C. Malik, Retd. UGC Professor, Prof. Nalini Thakur, School of Planning and Architecture, and Shri. Shyam Saran (Ex-foreign secretary), Chairman, Research & Information System for Developing countries. More than 800 people visited the exhibition over the week and were mesmerized by the architectural drawings and photographs.

The exhibition consisted of 3 dimensional architectural models, drawings and photographs from his book, The Golden Lands, first book in the world that presents Buddhist architectural history in virtual reality. It was a week-long exhibition that ran from 12th till 19th June, portraying various Buddhist monuments- monasteries, stupas and pagodas from Southeast Asian countries. It also included original photographs of the various destinations that have been captured by world’s top 10 photographers. The exhibition traced the evolution of architectural form and spaces in response to changing ideas, material realities, and building traditions of Southeast Asia.

Morgan Campbell, student at Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, New Brunswick, said, “The photographs beautifully portray Buddhist architecture and the drawings vividly depict the history of architecture in Southeast Asian countries. The work is very informative and I am glad to have visited this exhibition.”

Lall’s book, which is first in the series ‘Architecture of the Buddhist World’ represents a new multidisciplinary approach showing how Buddhist thoughts and rituals have interacted with local traditions across the Asian continent to produce masterpieces of religious architecture. It reveals the history, styles, and interpretation of Buddhist temples, monasteries, and ancient monuments in Southeast Asian countries. The book was launched by His Holiness The Dalai Lama earlier this year.

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10 Enlightening Quotes by Dalai Lama on Life’s Various Aspects

1. If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito. Dalai Lama

2. Love is the absence of Judgment. Dalai Lama

3. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other. Dalai Lama

4. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it. Dalai Lama

5. The more you are motivated by love the more. The more fearless and free our action will be. Dalai Lama

6. Hard times build determination and inner strength. Through them we can also come to appreciate the uselessness of anger. Instead of getting angry nurture a deep caring and respect for troublemakers because by creating such trying circumstances they provide us with invaluable opportunities to practice tolerance and patience. Dalai Lama

7. A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals the secret of some hidden treasure. Dalai Lama

8. It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others. Dalai Lama

9. Peace does not mean an absence of conflicts; differences will always be there. Peace means solving these differences through peaceful means; through dialogue, education, knowledge; and through humane ways. Dalai Lama

10. There is only one important point you must keep in your mind and let it be your guide. No matter what people call you, you are just who you are. Keep to this truth. You must ask yourself how is it you want to live your life. We live and we die, this is the truth that we can only face alone. No one can help us, not even the Buddha. So consider carefully, what prevents you from living the way you want to live your life. Dalai Lama

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Gyalwang Drukpa's Birthday with much Fanfare and Gaiety

Followers, fans and supporters all over the world celebrated the birthday of His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa, India-born spiritual head of Drukpa Buddhists with much fanfare and gaiety. While the main birthday celebrations happened in Kathmandu in Nepal, over 2000 monastic centres across the Himalayas, and an additional 50 spiritual centres across the world, participated in the grand celebration with individually planned programs. Thiswas the first time that the Gyalwang Drukpa’s birthday, according to both the western calendar as well as the lunar calendar fell in the same week. Delegations from various countries including Bhutan, Brazil, France, Germany, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Vietnam, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the United States thronged the Druk Gawa Khilwa Nunnery in Kathmandu to pay their respects and partake in the grand celebration that was preceded by the Phowa retreat. More 15,000 participated in the grand ceremony, amongst others, all finding solace and tranquillity in the presence of their spiritual master. His Eminence Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche’s birthday was also celebrated on the same day.

Speaking on the celebrations, His Eminence Gyalwa Dokhampa said, “We are extremely fortunate to have the continued presence of His Holiness amidst us for the welfare and enlightenment of all sentient beings. With His Holiness being the reincarnation of 12th century Indian saint Naropa, we are fortunate to join together to celebrate his birthday and in the name of his birthday, had a retreat together.”

The entire birthday celebration was organised and spearheaded by the nuns of the Druk Gawa Khilwa nunnery who led the prayers, conducted religious activities, cultural performance, dragon dance, and Kung Fu demonstrations. Delegations of followers from various other countries also performed during the celebration. Speaking on the location choice, His Eminence Gyalwa Dokhampa who lives in Bhutan said, “What could be a better venue? Keeping in mind His Holiness’ unflinching focus on empowering the nuns, it was apt that the nuns lead the celebrations. This is our biggest nunnery, and thus maximum number of nuns could participate in conducting the celebrations and hosting the event.

An eye camp is also being organised as the concluding activity to the birthday celebration. Headed by Dr. Sanduk Ruit and sponsored by the Drukpa Buddhists, the 3-day eye-camp will benefit 200 cataract patients with their eyesight completely restored.

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