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https://epaper.thehindu.com/ccidist-ws/th/th_international/issues/106263/OPS/GCBDH4794.1+GACDI1STS.1.html

Context: 

Recently President Murmu inaugurated the first Asian Buddhist Summit (ABS) organised by the Union Culture Ministry and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

About Buddhism:

Rise: 6th century BCE in India’s Gangetic plain.

Founder: Siddhartha Gautam

Birth: 563 BCE into the royal family of the Sakya clan who ruled from 

Kapilvastu, in Lumbini, is situated near the Indo-Nepal Border.

Married life: At a very young age got married to Yashodhara and became the father of Rahul and Priyanka.

Mahabhinishkramana (the great departure): At the age of 29, he left the palace as well as his royal lifestyle and accepted asceticism.

Gurus (Teachers): Alarakama and Rudraka. They taught him Sankhya and Yoga philosophies.

Bodhi (enlightenment): At the age of 35, he went to Bodh Gaya where under a Bodhi tree, after 48 years of meditation he got enlightenment.

Dharmachakrapravartana: It was the first sermon given by Buddha to his 5 disciples at the Deer Park at Sarnath.

Mahaparinibban: The death of Buddha at the age of 80 at Kushinagara, Uttar Pradesh.

Various sects of Buddhism: Emerged due to the division of doctrines created by Buddha’s disciples interpreting his teachings.

• 1st division: During the 2nd Buddhist Council at Vaishali 

• • • Sthaviravadins: More strict disciplines

• • • Mahasanghikas: More relaxed norms
• 2nd division: After the 4th Buddhist Council under Kanishka
  • • Mahayana: Image worship

• • • Hinayana: No image or idol worship

• 3rd division: After the spread of Buddhism via trade networks
  • • Vajrayana: Tantric branch. Its localised adaptations are Tibetan, Chinese and Zen.

Four noble truths

Eight Fold Path:

Five Sins:

How did Buddhism spread?

• Sanghas (organization of Buddhist monks/bhikshuks) spreading Buddhist teachings.
• After the death of Buddha, his followers took his path of meditation and roamed throughout the country
• Emperor Ashoka dispatched various Buddhist missions to different areas such as Gandhara, Kashmir, Greece, Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar), Egypt, and Thailand.

Contribution of Buddhism to Indian culture:

• Ahimsa or non-violence
• Art and architecture like Sanchi stupa, Bharut, Gaya
• Proper education in universities like Taxila, Nalanda
• Development of Pali and other local languages
• Promotion of Indian culture at the international level

Initiatives taken to promote Buddhism in India:

• Buddhist Circuit: The Ministry of Tourism has identified it as one of the thirteen thematic circuits for development under the Swadesh Darshan scheme.
• PRASHAD Scheme: Holistic development of identified pilgrimage destinations including Buddhist sites.
• Iconic Tourist Sites: Buddhist Sites at Bodhgaya, Ajanta & Ellora have been identified
• Dekho Apna Desh Initiative: Encouraging tourism

UNESCO’s heritage sites related to Buddhism:

• Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar
• Sanchi stupa, Madhya Pradesh
• Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya, Bihar
• Ajanta Caves Aurangabad, Maharashtra

Factors leading to the decline of Buddhism:

• Structural and ideological differences within the sanghas and too many divisions.
• Revive of Hinduism holding the hands of monks like Adi Shankaracharya.
• Loss of royal patronage due to the decline of Buddhism following dynasties.
• Foreign Invasions of non-buddhists like Huns.
• Corruption among the monks.

Read more about Buddhism: https://www.iasgyan.in/ig-uploads/pdf/info_Buddhism_in_India.pdf

About Asian Buddhist Summit:

Origin: By the Government of India (Ministry of Culture) and IBC to promote Buddhism and cultural dialogue across Asia.

2024 theme: “Role of Buddha Dhamma in Strengthening Asia.”

Aim: 

• Promoting cultural unity by strengthening ties on the line of Buddhism across Asia.
• Spiritual development through promoting values of Buddha-like mindfulness and yoga.
• Encouraging Buddhist pilgrimage tourism to support the local economy and boost the tourism industry.

Source:

THEHINDU