Bamiyan Buddha of Afghanistan

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Kusala
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Bamiyan Buddha of Afghanistan

Post by Kusala »

Hello Dhamma friends. Ever wonder what the Bamiyan Buddha might have looked like?

I came across this interesting video on youtube... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNYLTWCP ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Image
"He, the Blessed One, is indeed the Noble Lord, the Perfectly Enlightened One;
He is impeccable in conduct and understanding, the Serene One, the Knower of the Worlds;
He trains perfectly those who wish to be trained; he is Teacher of gods and men; he is Awake and Holy. "

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"The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One,
Apparent here and now, timeless, encouraging investigation,
Leading to liberation, to be experienced individually by the wise. "
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cooran
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Re: Bamiyan Buddha of Afghanistan

Post by cooran »

Hello Kusala,

And the latest research, showing it may be possible to restore the smaller of the statues:

Researchers Say They Can Restore 1 of Destroyed Bamiyan Buddhas
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/01/resea ... n-buddhas/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


with metta
Chris
---The trouble is that you think you have time---
---Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe---
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Kusala
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Re: Bamiyan Buddha of Afghanistan

Post by Kusala »

cooran wrote:Hello Kusala,

And the latest research, showing it may be possible to restore the smaller of the statues:

Researchers Say They Can Restore 1 of Destroyed Bamiyan Buddhas
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/01/resea ... n-buddhas/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


with metta
Chris
Hello Chris,

Thanks for sharing.
"He, the Blessed One, is indeed the Noble Lord, the Perfectly Enlightened One;
He is impeccable in conduct and understanding, the Serene One, the Knower of the Worlds;
He trains perfectly those who wish to be trained; he is Teacher of gods and men; he is Awake and Holy. "

--------------------------------------------
"The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One,
Apparent here and now, timeless, encouraging investigation,
Leading to liberation, to be experienced individually by the wise. "
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Skeptic
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Re: Bamiyan Buddha of Afghanistan

Post by Skeptic »

When the Bamiyan Buddhas were blown up by the Taliban, reaction of China surprised me very much. China condemned the destruction of Buddhist heritage and plans of the construction of the Spring Temple Buddha were announced, which is now the tallest statue in the world. I was very surprised because China is officially an atheist country and was also pursuing destruction of Buddhist heritage, especially during the Cultural Revolution, but obviously things have changed.

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Spring Temple Buddha
Justsit
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Re: Bamiyan Buddha of Afghanistan

Post by Justsit »

China destroying Buddhist sites in Afghanistan, here.

Nothing has changed, IMO, except that the Chinese government wants even tighter control on the citizens of Tibet. They are attempting to control the Buddhist religion, especially through legitimizing succession of their candidates for Dalai Lama, Panchen Lama, et. al., in order gain absolute mastery in Tibet. Monasteries there are now filled with government approved monks. Appearing to support Buddhist activity in China itself is only a political ploy.
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Skeptic
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Re: Bamiyan Buddha of Afghanistan

Post by Skeptic »

Justsit wrote:China destroying Buddhist sites in Afghanistan, here.


What a hypocrisy, they have condemned the destruction of Bamiyan Buddhas and now they are going to destroy them completely.
Nothing has changed, IMO, except that the Chinese government wants even tighter control on the citizens of Tibet. They are attempting to control the Buddhist religion, especially through legitimizing succession of their candidates for Dalai Lama, Panchen Lama, et. al., in order gain absolute mastery in Tibet. Monasteries there are now filled with government approved monks. Appearing to support Buddhist activity in China itself is only a political ploy.
You're right about Tibet, but in other parts of China things have changed. Many Buddhist temples and statues are being built under government sponsorship. Also Chinese government has planned to make large investments in Lumbini and make some kind of 'Buddhist Mecca' there, but Nepalese government was against it. Chinese government is not against Buddhism in general anymore, they are only against Tibetans.
Justsit
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Re: Bamiyan Buddha of Afghanistan

Post by Justsit »

Skeptic wrote: Also Chinese government has planned to make large investments in Lumbini and make some kind of 'Buddhist Mecca' there, but Nepalese government was against it.
Yes, hopefully the Nepalese government realizes what the Chinese government is up to...great to have "Buddhist Mecca," but at what cost?
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Langundo
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Re: Bamiyan Buddha of Afghanistan

Post by Langundo »

Disputes damage hopes of rebuilding Afghanistan’s Bamiyan Buddhas

It is always a shock reaching Bamiyan, coming face to face with the two huge cavities in the cliff face. The upright tombs stare out over the valley, a splash of vegetation surrounded by wild mountains. The town straddles the Silk Road, close to the point where it used to enter Persia, dwarfed by two massive mountain ranges, the Koh-i-Baba and Hindu Kush. The void left by the two destroyed Buddha figures is appalling, it rouses an emotion almost more powerful than their once tranquil presence did for centuries.

Image

To understand what happened you must go back to the beginning of 2001. The Taliban-led regime was on very poor terms with the international community and increasingly tempted by radical gestures. The decision to destroy the two monumental Buddha figures at Bamiyan was just part of the drive to destroy all the country’s pre-Islamic “icons”, an act of defiance to the outside world.

Demolition work at Bamiyan started at the beginning of March 2001 and lasted several weeks, the two figures – 58 and 38 metres tall – proved remarkably solid. Anti-aircraft guns had little effect, so the engineers placed anti-tank mines between their feet, then bored holes into their heads and packed them with dynamite. The world watched this symbolic violence in impotent horror.

Now almost 14 years on, reconstruction work has yet to start as archaeologists and UNESCO policy-makers argue.

Read more at: http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot. ... Lc1ucltMZw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


The article continues on talking about how some local Shi'ites had forgotten they were Buddhas and made up a folklore that the statues were lovers and might rebuild one for tourism and leave the other as a remembrance of the Taliban's ways. Just thought some here would find the article interesting and be worth posting.
There's no bliss in ignorance for me.
SarathW
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Re: Bamiyan Buddha of Afghanistan

Post by SarathW »

When I saw the Bombing of Dalada Maligawa in Kandy Sri Lanka by Tamil terrorist I thought they have begun their own destruction.
Few years after they were defeated by the Sri Lankan government.
It appears Talibans going to have the same fate one day.
Is there an unwritten law in this world? Perhaps that may be the Karma.

By the way this may interest you. Please extend your support by sending some donations to this project.

http://www.samadhibuddhastatue.lk/story.html#creation" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
SarathW
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Re: Bamiyan Buddha of Afghanistan

Post by SarathW »

Story of 1000 feet Buddha.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi1N9JYEKJg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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