Buddha s Birthday Education Project

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1 Buddha s Birthday Education Project THROUGH THESE DOORS: Connecting Past and Present, East and West Second Meeting of Volunteers Nantien Temple 2 February 2013

2 Before we begin Someone to take minutes Turn mobile devices to silent mode

3 Checking In

4 Agenda About Nan Tien Temple US exhibits Logistics Team leader presentations Team discussions Next steps Lunch

5 Venerable Jue Ning About Nan Tien Temple

6 Agenda About Nan Tien Temple US exhibits Logistics Team leader presentations Team discussions Next steps Lunch

7 Welcome to a unique journey and educational experience

8 Meet the main character

International Journal on Humanistic Ideology Chattopadhyay, Madhumita. Lord Buddha and Buddhism seen through the eyes of Rabindranath. International Journal on Humanistic Ideology 3, no.

9 International Journal on Humanistic Ideology Chattopadhyay, Madhumita. Lord Buddha and Buddhism seen through the eyes of Rabindranath. International Journal on Humanistic Ideology 3, no. 2 (Autumn 2010): ,187. Lord Buddha and poet Rabindranath Tagore are the two great personalities who may be regarded as the cultural icons of India, presenting before the world the true spirit of India.

Rabindranath Tagore (1861 1941) It was Buddha who

10 Rabindranath Tagore ( ) It was Buddha who had conquered the world, not Alexander Ghare Baire

11 A Special Birth has.org/?page_id=1538 Paradeofthebuddhas.org Buddha s birth Literature

An Unusual Career http://www.paradeofthebu ddhas.

12 An Unusual Career ddhas.org/?page_id=1722 Paradeofthebuddhas.org Buddha s birth

13 The fascinating journey of Buddhism from India to China through the voyage of the celebrations of Buddha s birth US Exhibits

14 Spatially speaking

16 Chronologically speaking BIRTH OF BUDDHA, C. 566 BCE DEATH OF BUDDHA, C. 486 BCE

17 BUDDHISM FLOURISHES UNDER KING AŚOKA, c BCE THIRD COUNCIL OF BUDDHIST MONKS AT PATNA, c. 250 BCE

18 FIRST CARVING OF MONUMENTAL SHRINES AT BIJAR, c BCE BUDDHIST SETTLEMENT AT BACTRIA, CE

19 MAHĀYANA SCHOOL DEVELOPS AT GANDHĀRA, CE WHITE HORSE TEMPLE AT LUOYANG, c. 68 CE

20 GRECO-ROMAN ART STYLE INTRODUCED AT GANDHĀRA, 100s CE KUṢĀṆA RULER KANIŚKA DISSEMINATES BUDDHISM, CE

21 AN SHIH-KAO CHINESE SCRIPTURE TRANSLATIONS, 148 CE BUDDHIST SHRINES AT GIAUR KALA (MERV), 200s CE

22 c. 300s CE - 53 METER BUDDHA CARVED IN BAMIYAN CLIFFS, AFGHANISTAN BUDDHIST ART FOUND IN KABUL VALLEY TARIM BASIN, 300s CE

23 MOGAO CAVES BEGUN BY MONKS AT DUNHUANG, 366 CE KUMĀRAJῙVA AT TEXT TRANSLATION BUREAU, CHANG'AN, CE

24 FAXIAN'S SILK ROAD PILGRIMAGE TO INDIA, CE BUDDHISM TRANSMITTED TO KOREA, 400s CE

25 BUDDHIST CAVES ESTABLISHED AT KIZIL, CE LONGMEN CRYPTS BEGUN AT LUOYANG, 494 CE

26 BUDDHA'S BIRTHDAY IMAGE PROCESSIONS IN LUOYANG, CHINA, CE BUDDHISM MIGRATES FROM CHINA AND KOREA TO JAPAN, 600s CE

27 BUDDHISM IN TIBET TAKES ON LOCAL TRADITIONS, CE MARCO POLO INTRODUCES BUDDHISM TO EUROPE, CE

28 IMMIGRANTS BRING BUDDHISM TO SAN FRANCISCO, NORTH AMERICA, 1899 CE

29 Courtesy of Dr. Nancy Cowardin The Land-Based Silk Road

BUDDHISM S JOURNEY ON THE SILK ROAD Besides cloth, paper and other goods, the Silk Road carried another important commodity which was equally significant in world history: Buddhism.

30 BUDDHISM S JOURNEY ON THE SILK ROAD Besides cloth, paper and other goods, the Silk Road carried another important commodity which was equally significant in world history: Buddhism. Along with trade and migration, the world's oldest international highway was the vehicle which spread the religion throughout Central Asia. Transmission was launched from northwestern India, spreading to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Central Asia, Xinjiang (Chinese Turkistan), China, Korea, and Japan. Buddhism not only affected the lives and cultures of those regions, but also left us with a world of wonders in arts and literature.

31 GANDHĀRA Once the center of the Kuṣāṇa empire ( CE) which spread across northwestern India and Pakistan, the Buddhist settlement of Gandhāra was known for producing early manuscripts in Gandhāri, a language derived from Sanskrit. These works included the first full-length biography of Śākyamuni Buddha (the Buddhacarita). Thanks to European forays into India from the time of Alexander the Great, artisans in the ancient kingdom developed a blend of classic Greco- Roman and local styles. The resulting art movement furthered the transmission of Buddhism along the Silk Routes.

32 KHOTAN An oasis town lying in the Tarim Basin, Khotan is strategically located at the junction of the southern Silk Road and one of the main routes to ancient India. As such, it was a convenient meeting place where not only trade goods, but philosophy and religion were exchanged. Circa 399 C.E., the Chinese pilgrim, Faxian traversed the entire region on foot in order to collect and translate Buddhist vinayas and sūtras. After returning to China in 414 C.E., he wrote vivid accounts of his journey, including the image processions in celebration of the Buddha's birthday which he witnessed in Khotan.

33 KUCHA As a Central Asian metropolitan center on the northern Silk Road, Kucha played a major role in trade economy. By the end of the third century, the kingdom had fully embraced Buddhism, establishing nearly 1,000 temples and stūpas in the immediate vicinity. At this time, Kuchean monks such as Fotucheng ( ) began travel to the east, furthering the dissemination of the religion. Exotic Kuchean music and dance forms that blended Indian, middle, and far eastern flavors were introduced to China via the Silk Road and memorialized in the cave art at nearby Kizil.

34 DUNHUANG The Silk Road forked at Dunhuang, an oasis situated amid the Gobi and Taklimakan Deserts, forcing merchant caravans to choose between the northern and southern routes. Over time, these and other pilgrims began constructing cave shrines to insure divine protection or in thanks for completing the desert journey. This tradition inspired Buddhist monks to begin work in the nearby Mogao Caves, circa 366 C.E. The exquisite murals and statuary that developed are still preserved in these Buddhist grottoes, along with a walled-up library that housed a comprehensive collection of ancient manuscripts.

35 CHANG'AN (XI'AN) Revived to its cultural peak in the 4th and 5th centuries, Chang'an became a flourishing center of Buddhist learning. Many important Buddhist pilgrims and scholars translated sūtras there, among them, Faxian (c ) and the scholar Kumārajīva ( ). Chang'an was one of the richest cities in the world at this time due to the bustling trade of the Silk Road. Accounts told of caravans tethered outside the city walls in traders' camps of colorful tents. Here, in preparation for the western journey, camels were loaded with bundles of exotic spices and seeds, metal and ceramic utensils, painted scrolls, and cascading piles of silk fabric in all colors and textures.

36 LUOYANG Situated east of Xi'an on the Yellow River, the Northern Wei capital of Luoyang is considered a cradle of Chinese civilization and the peony capital of the world. It was also the eastern beginning of the ancient Silk Road. Acceptance of Buddhism by reigning emperors circa 500 C.E. led to the establishment of more than one thousand temples and monasteries in the region, all of which joined in creating image processions commemorating the Buddha's Birthday. These joyous annual celebrations are the subject of our triptych painting.

37 Buddha s Birthday Parades in medieval China

38 Buddha s Birthday Parade in Later Zhao Between 334 and 349 Shihu liked to glorify the Buddha with incalculable extravagances. He commissioned an altar-carriage. In breadth, it was more than a zhang (approximately 10 feet), in length two zhang, with a golden Buddha image on top of a flat four-wheeled cart and nine dragons above that. A wooden figure of a monk was placed before the Buddha, and all round the Buddha were more than ten monks, each a bit more than two feet in height, all wearing white kaṣāyas. When the cart moved, the nine dragons would spew water over the image of the Buddha, and the monk standing in front of the Buddha would rub the area between the Buddha's heart and his abdomen, as if washing a newborn. The other ten-odd monks would circumambulate the Buddha. As each would come just in front of the Buddha, he would do obeisance, then, taking incense in his hand, deposit it in a censer. When the cart stopped, so would the activity. Records from the Region of Ye

39 Later Zhao ( ) Founding king Shile (274 - r ) Fotucheng, Shile s adviser Zhangbin, Shile s adviser

40 Telling sign: Dragons 3 rd century, Lalitavistara The two Naga kings, Nanda and Upananda, remaining in semi-developed form under the sky, bathed the Bodhisattva by pouring two streams of water, one hot and the other cold Śakra, Brahma, the guardians of regions, and the Devaputras by hundreds of thousands, who had come there, bathed the new-born Bodhisattva with scented water and well-blown flowers, and sprinkled the same about him. Two chamaras, and a jewelled umbrella became manifest in the sky. 308 普曜經天帝釋梵忽然來下, 雜名香水洗浴菩薩, 九龍在上而下香水, 洗浴聖尊, 洗浴竟已身心清淨

41 Animation and Architectural Designs Paradeofthebuddhas.org Art Projects Later Zhao Animation

49 Buddha s Birthday Parade in Northern Wei Between 503 and 528 The Ching-Ming Monastery [Bright Prospect Monastery] At the time, the nation liked to pray for happiness, [so] on the seventh day of the fourth month all images in the capital were assembled in this monastery, numbering more than one thousand, according to the records of the Office of Sacrifices, Department of State Affairs. On the eighth day, the images [were carried] one by one into the Hsüan-yang Gate, where the emperor would scatter flowers in front of the Ch'ang-ho Palace. At this moment, goldcolored flowers reflected the dazzling sunlight, and the bejeweled canopies [over the carriages] for the images floated in the clouds. Banners were [as numerous as trees] in a forest, and incense smoke was [as thick as] a fog. Indian music and the din of chanted Buddhist scriptures moved heaven and earth alike. Wherever variety shows [were performed], there was congestion. Renowned monks and virtuous masters, each carrying a staff, formed a throng. The Buddhist devotees and their "companions in the law" holding flowers resembled a garden in bloom. Carriages and horses choked [traffic] and jostled each other. A foreign monk from the Western Regions saw it, and he chanted and said it was [the same as the Buddha's land as he had witnessed it]. A Record of Monasteries in Luoyang

50 Origin of the Tuoba Xianbei people Gaxian Cave in Inner Mongolia

51 By 439 CE

As part of his sinification program, Emperor Xiaowen placed great emphasis on

52 Ironically, the sinification program that revived Luoyang also caused the downfall of the empire. As part of his sinification program, Emperor Xiaowen placed great emphasis on Confucianism. His successor, Emperor Xuanwu, favored Buddhism. Decision to Relocate capital in 494 Pingcheng Emperor Xiaowen (r ) Luoyang

53 The Glory of Northern Wei Luoyang

54 The Northern Wei Triptych

55 Paradeofthebuddhas.org Art Projects Music Music and Song

Tour Guide / Docent Resources Generic docent skills Specific BBEP details http://www.

56 Tour Guide / Docent Resources Generic docent skills Specific BBEP details Paradeofthebuddhas.org About Volunteer Training

57 Agenda About Nan Tien Temple US exhibits Logistics Team leader presentations Team discussions Next steps Lunch

58 Needed from each Team Docents Display Arts and Crafts Merchan dise IT Writers Marketin g Food Meet and greet, Tour guide Setup Producti on, Training, Facilitati on Producti on, Sales Infrastru cture Writing, video producti on Channel s, public relations Samples, Producti on, Facilitati on 29/3 5/5, 11/5 12/5 25/3 27/3 29/3 1/4, 11/5 12/5 29/3 1/4, 11/5 12/5 Before March Now till 31/3 29/3 1/4, 11/5 12/5

59 Coordination for Teams Siena: Marketing Venerable Miao You will send out VIP invitations for the launch of the entire program (including but not only for BBEP exhibition) Juewei: other teams Venerable Miao You and Venerable Zhili will put together a program for the launch of the Festival on 31 March 2013 Venerable Zhili will help to coordinate all art & crafts and food booths

60 Agenda About Nan Tien Temple US exhibits Logistics Team leader presentations Team discussions Next steps Lunch

61 Agenda About Nan Tien Temple US exhibits Logistics Team leader presentations Team discussions Next steps Lunch

62 Write-up Needed Why is the BBEP mascot an Elephant? Complement Paradeofthebuddhas.org About About our Logo To be placed in our Merchandise and Arts and Crafts areas

She thereafter bore Prince Siddhārtha who matured to become Śākyamuni Buddha, the

63 Meet the Sam Family Sam Our logo playfully depicts the yellow-white, 6-tusked elephant that appeared to Queen Maya in a dream. She thereafter bore Prince Siddhārtha who matured to become Śākyamuni Buddha, the founder and spiritual leader of Buddhism Baby Karma Sara "Sara," Sam's companion, is shown as a helper elephant in our triptych mural.

Rhapsody of the Western Capital, ZHANG Heng, Eastern Han found

64 Use of Mascot 東漢張衡西京賦 : 白象行孕, 垂鼻轔囷 A pregnant white elephant walks with her nose curled into the shape of a wheel. Rhapsody of the Western Capital, ZHANG Heng, Eastern Han found in an Eastern Han tomb in Luoyang Artifact in Hsilai Temple, California, USA

65 Write-up Needed Introduction to the BBEP Exhibition Significance of BBEP Contents of Exhibition Website information

66 Significance Among the first of its kind the world (Buddha s birthday exhibition supported by academic research) Put together by a global team of volunteers Demonstrating how art can be created from literature Connecting people today with the festive and religious spirit of a historical period Buddha s birthday festival is the oldest international and extant celebration of the birth of a historical figure Buddhism introduced birthday celebrations to China and a Fun and Educational Experience

67 Needed Buy or borrow a globe / world map Mapshop.com.au Distribute postcards Pricing for merchandise (so that we can test the market first)

68 In Dropbox (accessible by team leaders) The Sam Family (colored and uncolored; t-shirt and balloon specifications) Handouts of copyrighted materials (not suitable for website publication) Photos of our meetings What else is needed?

69 From now till 12:10pm Finalize team proposal (plan, budget, samples) for me to present to NTT management on 4/2 Less is More, Quality is more important than Quantity Output is EDUCATION Process is TEAMWORK

70 Agenda About Nan Tien Temple US exhibits Logistics Team leader presentations Team discussions Next steps Lunch

Next Meetings Today, 1:30pm Coordination meeting among team leaders (all are welcome) 9 March (Sat), 10am Training on NTI and local art pieces Package craft and merchandise

71 Next Meetings Today, 1:30pm Coordination meeting among team leaders (all are welcome) 9 March (Sat), 10am Training on NTI and local art pieces Package craft and merchandise 28 March (Thu), 4:30pm or 7pm, Hai Hui Exhibition Hall Gallery walk 25 May (Sat), 10am Review meeting Depending on demand, special seminars and workshops for BBEP volunteers

Make your mark Roster Duties Docents (tour guides and meet-and-greet team) 29-3, 30-3, 31-3, 1-4, 2-4, 3-4, 5-4, 6-4, 7-4 9-4, 10-4, 11-4, 12-4, 13-4, 14-4 16-4, 17-4, 18-4, 19-4, 20-4, 21-4 23-4,

72 Make your mark Roster Duties Docents (tour guides and meet-and-greet team) 29-3, 30-3, 31-3, 1-4, 2-4, 3-4, 5-4, 6-4, , 10-4, 11-4, 12-4, 13-4, , 17-4, 18-4, 19-4, 20-4, , 24-4, 25-4, 26-4, 27-4, , 1-5, 2-5, 3-5, 4-5, am, 11-5 pm, 12-5 am, 12-5 pm Arts and Crafts, Merchandise 29-3, 30-3, 31-3, am, 11-5 pm, 12-5 am, 12-5 pm Volunteer application form

73 Agenda About Nan Tien Temple US exhibits Logistics Team leader presentations Team discussions Next steps Lunch

THROUGH THESE DOORS: CONNECTING PAST AND PRESENT, EAST AND WEST. Docent Training Workshop Buddha s Birthday Education Project March 25, 2012

THROUGH THESE DOORS: CONNECTING PAST AND PRESENT, EAST AND WEST Docent Training Workshop Buddha s Birthday Education Project March 25, 2012 Agenda T-shirts & buttons Welcome Workshop Module-by-module presentation