Article: Religious roots of Buddha's birthplace

[Dosho]

Hi all,

Interesting article about archaeological research being done in Lumbini, Nepal:

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/religious-roots-buddhas-birthplace-traced-back-2-600-years-2D11648772

Gassho,
Dosho

[Kyonin]

Very interesting and exciting!

This will shed more light about traditions and real history surrounding Buddhism.

I wonder if they'll be able to find human remains... that would be cool since rest of utensils, food and clothing could help even more to set the historic background.

Thanks for sharing, Dosho!

Gassho,

Kyonin

[Oheso]

. . .angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold-

[Myosha]

Great catch!

Thank you.


Gassho,
Edward

[Mp]

Great article Dosho ... good share. =)

Gassho
Shingen

[Jundo]

Buddha is also born right now and right now and right now, right here and right here and right here.

The True Lumbini Temple is in one's heart.

Gassho, J

[Jinyo]

Thanks Dosho - very interesting,

Gassho

Willow

[Shokai]

When was Buddha Born

This article suggests the 600BC date. A new documentary slated to view in February details the latest findings

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/religious-roots-buddhas-birthplace-traced-back-2-600-years-2D11648772

gassho, Shokai

[Jundo]

Right now.

Gassho, J

[Ishin]

Thank you Dosho for the interesting post. Thank you Jundo for the teaching.

Gassho
C

[Shokai]

I was just a tad late seeing that

thanks and gassho

[Mp]

Right now.

Gassho, J

Gassho
Shingen

[Jundo]

Ven. Shravasti Dhammika, a very scholarly and sensible Western born Theravada monk, offers this balanced assessment of the story ... I feel he is right ...

Until recently 563 BCE was thought to be the more likely date of his birth. However, in 1988 an international conference was held at Gottingen University in Germany to review all the evidence pertaining to the Buddha’s dates and there was wide consensus among scholars that he was born later than 563, perhaps as much as a 100 years later. More research is needed before we can be sure. All the papers read at the conference can be read in Heinz Bechert’s 1995 When Did the Buddha Live?
Of course, uncertainty about the Buddha’s dates has no bearing on the veracity of his Dhamma. Nonetheless, a certain date would allow us to have a better understanding of the forces that influenced the Buddha’s teaching and how he presented it. I have not read the archaeological report that contains these new findings and the press reports of it so far give very few details. The main evidence seems to be this; that digging under the foundations of the Maha Maya Temple in Lumbini where Prince Siddhattha was born has revealed the remains of what appears to be a tree shrine and wood from this shrine has been carbon 14 dated at aprox. 600 BCE. Siddhattha’s birth took place under a tree and the assumption is that the actual remains of the tree have been located. There are more than a few problems with these conclusions. Is there any evidence that the tree was worshipped by Buddhists? The tree around which the shrine (if that’s what it is) was built could have been alive for several hundred years before Buddhists started worshiping it. Etc, etc, etc.
Some scientists and researchers nowadays are in the habit of announcing headline-grabbing accounts of their discoveries long before they have actually been confirmed. Before we start getting too excited about these new discoveries let’s wait until the jury is in.

http://sdhammika.blogspot.jp/2013/11...t-lumbini.html

Gassho, J

[Sekishi]

Right now.

Gassho, J

Deep bows.
Eric

[Risho]

Very interesting.

Gassho,

Risho