Indians care as much about thier own history or history generally as they care about ethics or sanitation. Worse, they prattle on about their 'great' culture and traditions, yet it was the phirangs, namely the Brits, who gave them back their own history. fact is, Indians have no social compact with their larger society - they historically have only filial loyalty - they care only their immediate family - the heck with everything and everyone else. And that's why they have no civic pride, as prior to the arrival of the Europeans, Indians had no civic associations, only religious ones.
It is a very good news for me also as I have visited this sacred tree in Bodh Gaya and I also request the Nitish Kumar and Co. to positively and sincerely protect it. The Temple at Bodh Gaya is a very marvellous structure to see and appreciate it. It was built some two thousand yrs ago and still looks like any new structure. we all must protect it. To my personal liking,it is everyone's responsibility to protect such special and unique tree. Cutting it will hurt millions of it's followers. Er.Ahmad Rais Siddiqi(Alig) International Radio/TV Commentator, Science,political,spiritual,Sports & Features Writer. Email;araissiddiqi@rediffmail.com New Delhi INDIA (M) Plus 919868390783 Dt;28.06.07
Sir, Bhagwan buddha is great eventhough i am a hindu I have high regards & respect to buddha becoz he was so compassionate and egoless. He never said to worship him and he always advised lay people to become buddha like him. My sincere pranam unto Buddha the great. I feel sad playing politics on this universal charisma.
RE:Bhagwan Buddha
by Hoodoo Hunter on Jun 28, 2007 07:15 PM Permalink
If buddah said to his followers toNEVER worship him, why do his followers worship him? Why do they disobey Gautama the Buddha ?
RE:Bhagwan Buddha
by Greeneyed Guru on Jun 28, 2007 07:23 PM Permalink
the followers who disobey their leader and worship him as god are not real buddhists !
My friends there is a huge fort in Distt. Rohtas in Bihar; Which is really in a bad shape. I wonder why our Government (Bihar/Central) never tried to protect or bring this fort in the lime light. Its really great fort built right on the top of a hill. I am sure you can see this on web site as well. There is similar name fort (Rohtas fort) in Pakistan as well which is a very famous tourist place and pakistan Government is looking after very well. I wish If our government can also save our treasure for our future generations.
RE:What about Rohtas Fort
by sanjay on Jun 30, 2007 11:31 PM Permalink
govt sinister ministers and officers are saving money for their next generations.
I some time wonder about ourself being Indians. We are moving towards destroying our own heritage sites and our culture. First they are planning to destroy the Ram Sethu which most of the hindu believes that built by Lord Rama and now they are planning to cut down tree believed to be where Lord Bhudha got enlightened. More than all these believes people should respect to the feelings of the people who believe in that. It would hurt feelings of millions of people which GOVT should respect. We should strive to retain our culture, tradition and heritage. Jai hind
Best will be to outsource this to any Chinese or Japanese or Srilankan government. These buddhists will lay down their lives to safegaurd such places..
Problem with us that we have some much of important sites of spiritual importance.
RE:Outsource
by Priyadarshan on Jun 28, 2007 03:28 PM Permalink
He is right. Buddhist nationalists r not like US or italians. They have dedication and they will protect it even at the cost of their life and that is called 'Aasta'. Eham tho bap ko bhech ke khayenge.
RE:Outsource
by Pat Thakur on Jun 28, 2007 03:32 PM Permalink
My dear friend, the Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra have already been outsourced to the Japanese long back & their management is excellent. I have visted this heritage site.
Best will be to outsource this to any Chinese or Japanese or Srilankan government. These buddhists will lay down their lives to safegaurd such places..
Problem with us that we have some much of important sites of spiritual importance. and the importnace never sinks in to the groun level who are entrusted with the work of safegaurding it...
RE:Preserver monuments
by siva kumar on Jun 28, 2007 03:06 PM Permalink
HI Guys,
I really appreciate the workdone for Taj. But i am really interested to state that todays Tajmahal was a lord shiva temple.. Pls check google for "tejo mahalaya". also, http://www.hindunet.org/hindu_history/modern/taj_oak.html we lost most of our culture during invastions.
RE:Preserver monuments
by Pat Thakur on Jun 28, 2007 03:45 PM Permalink
Taj, A Wonder Of The World will always be that, no matter what. & we too have to treat it that way, not argue brainlessly whether temple or mosque. Otherwise it will crumble to extinction because of our lack or concern. Then we will have to just drool in memories.
RE:Preserver monuments
by crazyforsense on Jun 28, 2007 05:33 PM Permalink
@siva kumar....
True, we might have lost lot of "our" culture with invasions.....so what is the solution? To reverse those losses with new conquests?
http://www.hindunet.org/....Can't think of a more neutral source for the history of Taj Mahal? Regardless of what it was 300 years ago....today it is known in the world as INDIA's gem.....not Mughals gem. See that is the big difference. INDIA's.
RE:Preserver monuments
by Pat Thakur on Jun 28, 2007 12:51 PM Permalink
And countless other monuments too. To begin with, the crown of all Indian monuments i.e. TAJ.
RE:Preserver monuments
by Neutral on Jun 28, 2007 12:55 PM Permalink
Of course no doubt. But it is pathetic to note that the Govt, which should be responsible to preserve the monument is going ahead and destroying the Ramar's Bridge despite countless number of requests from religious organization and religious heads
RE:Can a tree live for 2500 years
by Aris on Jun 28, 2007 03:28 PM Permalink
I have read after converting to Buddhism Ashoka loved Bodh Gaya tree more than anything. So her wife was jeleous & put poisen needle into the tree & tree got damaged..... This tree is from the original one or from other source .. its should be examined.
RE:Can a tree live for 2500 years
by Raj Mohan on Jun 28, 2007 12:36 PM Permalink
The oldest tree, living today, is 4600 years old. It is considered that, there could be many other trees, older than this tree but not yet identified. The Bodh tree is more than 2500 years old.
RE:Can a tree live for 2500 years
by Nishant Upadhyay on Jun 28, 2007 12:47 PM Permalink
Only a little correction... this tree is direct descendant of original Bodhi Tree associated with enlightenment of Buddha.
RE:Can a tree live for 2500 years
by Gladiator on Jun 28, 2007 12:43 PM Permalink
Amazing Raj,,, CANT IMAGINE A TREE LIVING FOR 4500 YEARS,,,, REALLY SURPRIZED ME?????? CAN YOU TELL ME RELEVANT SOURCES FOR STUDY
RE:Can a tree live for 2500 years
by joyoti sen on Jun 28, 2007 12:40 PM Permalink
Yes they can .. It is said that the sycamore tree near Jerusalem, from which the cross was made on which Jesus was crucified, is still living.
RE:Can a tree live for 2500 years
by Pat Thakur on Jun 28, 2007 12:54 PM Permalink
When bullshit customs, blind beliefs, casteism can survive for ages, what's so surprising if a tree lives for more than 2500 years?
RE:RE:Can a tree live for 2500 years
by SIMANTA MOHANTY on Jun 28, 2007 01:00 PM Permalink
Allow me to get into this. I don't know of the tree at Jerusalem, bu the oldest living thing on Earth is a bristlecone pine in the forest of California. It is named Methusaleh, and its identity is kept a secret to prevent vandalism. In the forests in eas-central California, there are many such pines, well over two thousand years old. Yes, trees can live that long.
RE:Can a tree live for 2500 years
by Billy Zane on Jun 28, 2007 01:01 PM Permalink
he guys raj is correct, that tree which is 4600 yr old is SEQUIA in north america
RE:Can a tree live for 2500 years
by Dande Waala on Jun 28, 2007 01:28 PM Permalink
here's the source http://home.austarnet.com.au/davekimble/bristlecone.htm
RE:Can a tree live for 2500 years
by durba ghose on Jun 28, 2007 01:58 PM Permalink
Not so sure about that. According to history, the original tree was burnt down by a wife of King Asoka. However a sapling from the original tree had been planted in Sri Lanka and the tree in Bodh Gaya has grown from a sapling of that tree. Trees do live for these long periods. I've heard that the oldest tree related to the Buddha is in Sravasti planted from a sapling of the original Bodhi tree by Sariputra.
RE:RE:RE:Can a tree live for 2500 years
by Rajat Ghose on Jun 28, 2007 02:04 PM Permalink
Its sad that the tree is facing abuse. But it has faced abuse down the ages so there's no need to be horrified or hysterical about this. At the same time we should do our utmost to protect and preserve the tree. The Dhamma the Buddha taught is not so easily threatened. It will endure no matter what.
Its really a bad treatment to the lone-live-witness of the enlightment of the Great Gautam Budhha...
And that is why this tree is also great in the sense that it has stood for last 2550 yrs to tell this testimony to the whole world...
Here Bihar Govt. in general and the Temple-association in particular is culprit... as they have no sense of preserving the heritage of historical value and of religious sentiments...
Moreover people overthere will have to take more responsibility in general to recognise their duties and in particular to fight againt Govt. red-tapism...
I believe this tree is assosiated with some UN-Organisation for its look after. Are they listening???
