“Buddha born in Nepal”

A documentary film, titled “Buddha born in Nepal,” was previewed at the auditorium of the Jogye Temple in downtown Seoul Sunday (Mar. 11). The film was produced as part of ‘Buddha Nepal campaign’ to publicize the fact that Buddha was born not in India but in Lumbini, Nepal. The campaign is managed by Non-Resident Nepali Association Korea (NRNA-Korea).

Those who attended the event include Rev. Hye-Kyeong, head of the Social Affairs Division at the Jogye Order, Raja Ram Bartaula, Nepali deputy ambassador  to Korea, K. P. Sitoula, president of NRNA-Korea, Lee In-jeong, president of the Korea Alpine Federation, Lee Sang-ki, founder of the Asia Journalist Association (AJA).

Below is the message written in a form Buddha sends directly to the attendants on the significance of the event:

I am glad to be able to correct my birthplace from India to Lumbini, Nepal, thank to you. I would like to deliver my heart-felt gratitude to the concerned people of the NRNA-Korea and the Embassy of Nepal in Seoul, who supervised the campaign, as well as Saroj Mahato who directed the film.

I was particularly impressed with the fact that there had been no conflict or collision with the people of India in the course of solving the matter. Peace and happiness are something you all want to achieve in your life. I am sure that you have attained contentment and happiness through peaceful resolution of this matter. It was possible because no harmful or coercive means has been applied to anyone.

I heard that UN Secretary-General Ban ki-moon and Secretary-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova have a plan to visit Lumbini, already selected as a World Cultural Heritage Site. It is indeed a wonderful news. How nice it would be if Lumbini is declared as a ‘World Peace City’ on this occasion. I also hope that Lumbini could be settled as a place where serious and profound discussions can be made  for world peace.

My dear friend, I remember hearing a song from this film which said ‘Don’t divide the upper and lower class by skin tone. Black goats also give you a white milk. Beautiful world is a place where all people can live in one heart regardless of being poor or rich, being literate or illiterate.’ 

I wish the ‘Buddha Nepal Campaign’ would serve as an occasion to sprinkle the seeds of hope and courage on those suffering from hunger, disease, war and conflict. That would be the very world I and all of you have long wanted to live in.”