Novice monk of bangladesh
Old Lavani told
Agudenba: "When you come to Bangladesh, you should know about Rang-kut
Village in Bangladesh. Because most of the ethnic minority villages in Rang-kut
Village in Bangladesh are Buddhists. They are very happy It can encourage young
sons to participate in novice ordination activities jointly organized by
Bangladeshi and Thai monks.”
Accompanied by old
man Lavani, Agudengba went to Rang-kut village. Along the way, the old man
Lavani said to Agudengba: "Before novices become ordained, they will
confess to their parents the mistakes they have made before and ask for their
parents' forgiveness. After being ordained, novices will become a blessing for
the public and go out. Begging for alms and asking parents and villagers to
provide food.”
Along the way, the
old man Lavani also talked about the history and status of Buddhism in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is
located in the northeastern corner of the Indian peninsula. It is bordered by
India to the east, north and west, and the Bay of Bengal to the south. It has
the highest population density in the world. Bangladesh is the former East Pakistan.
It was renamed Bangladesh after gaining independence from Pakistan in 1971.
From its geographical location, we can understand that Bangladesh Buddhism is
almost as old as Indian Buddhism itself, and both were once the center of
Buddhism. In the seventh century, Buddhism in Bangladesh was quite prosperous.
In the capital alone, there were 200 monks and 30 monasteries.
The four hundred
years from the Kaja dynasty in the seventh century to the fall of the Bala
dynasty in the late twelfth century was the golden age of Buddhism in
Bangladesh. Venerable Atisha and Venerable Jiexian were two sages during this
period. They both once preached Buddhism in the local area. From the 13th
century to the 19th century, it can be said to be the "dark age" of
Bangladeshi Buddhism. Only Master Mahasthapil initiated the Buddhist reform
movement, corrected long-standing religious heresies, reorganized the
Bangladesh Sangha, and established Buddhism in Bangladesh. The country is
slowly regaining its vitality.
At present, 85% of
the people in Bangladesh believe in Islam, 14% believe in Hinduism, and
Buddhists account for only 6% of the total population and belong to Theravada
Buddhism.
Bangladesh
currently has more than 600 Buddhist temples and more than 600 monks. Some temples
are ancient and are sacred places of worship for local Buddhists and centers of
religious, cultural and social activities. There are also many archaeological
sites in Bangladesh, such as the Papur ruins in Lachishahi and Miyaina Madi
near Gomera. When antiquities were unearthed, the remains of huge viharas with
a stupa built in the middle were discovered. The Dharmarachigarbha Temple is a
glorious monument of Bangladeshi Buddhism and a strong fortress of the
"Bangladesh Buddhist Association". The establishment of this
organization is mainly in line with the ideals and policies of the Republic of
Bangladesh, for the benefit of Buddhists across the country, and is responsible
for promoting charity and social and religious activities.
There are one
hundred and fifty Buddhist colleges affiliated with monasteries in Bangladesh,
all of which are funded by the government. Under the direct management of the
government, there are also Pali and Sanskrit committees.
In terms of social
and cultural activities, the Bangladesh Buddhist Association, its branches and
the Youth Association are fully committed to social welfare. Other important
Buddhist groups include the "Bangladesh Bhikkhu Training Center" and
the "Japanese Bangladesh Vedanta Association" which founded a home
for orphans and widows. The people of Bangladesh are increasingly interested in
discussing Buddhism, and Buddhism has also attracted the attention and
attention of intellectuals of various religions.
Buddhist programs
are broadcast on Bangladesh radio and television stations. Local Buddhists
enthusiastically participate in religious activities passed down from
generation to generation, such as Vesak Full Moon Day, Summer Retreat Full Moon
Day, Wishing Tree Festival, Kasaya Donation Day and other celebrations.
Bangladeshi Buddhist tradition stipulates that every male Buddhist must become
a monk for at least seven days to learn the precepts of monkhood.
Old Lavani smiled
and asked Agudemba: "Although Buddhism is a weak religion in Bangladesh,
it still has a strong force, whether it is in purifying people's hearts or in
promoting the unity of Buddhism in the world, it has certain importance."
At this time,
Rang-kut Village in Bangladesh was holding novice monk activities. The
Buddhists and the young novice sang a Buddhist song, "Ode to the
Six-Character Mantra":
Take refuge devoutly in the Three Jewels of
the Father
Sincerely pity the loving mother sentient
beings
The Buddha is the teacher and the Dharma is
the right path
Monks are good companions and saviors at the
same time
Climbing stairs, river crossing, boating
The lantern drives away foolishness and
wisdom, driving away dangerous passes and smooth roads
Recite mantras and pray in your heart
The fire of hell will be extinguished
Sing six words and make a wish in your heart
The ice and snow in the cold prison melt and
become warmer
Chanting and holding the six words is
extremely powerful
Eighteen hells become paradise
There is no real cause and fate in the world.
Doing good deeds is the most important thing
in the cycle of life and death
All things are impermanent, good and evil
alternate
Be persistent in pursuing good deeds
A human life full of time is a rare treasure
It would be a pity to waste this life
Greed, endless desires are all in vain
Give up the bad karma and follow the good
deeds
The source of all evil troubles and sins
Always beware of ordinary people’s obsessions
A strong body enters the wilderness
Drive away the god of death, the master leads
the way
Pay homage to Guanyin Bodhisattva sincerely
Eliminate sins and quickly attain Buddhahood
The Buddha Tathagata guides the way with
compassion
All living beings are reborn in the Buddha
Land of Ultimate Bliss
Taking the legendary wise Agu Demba as the protagonist, I started to create the Chinese-English version of "Snow Land Fable" using the traditional fable creation method that combines poetry and prose. Writing fables makes me feel like a child again. Studying snowy culture is my prescription to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
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