Anmerkung der Redaktion: Auf Wusch von Rev. THICH HUYEN DIEU, Indien, veröffentlichen wir folgende Dokumente:
                       1) Brief vom Hochwürdigen Herrn Dr. Thich Huyen Dieu
                       2) Brief vom Reporters´Club Nepal.

Ref:  0100/VP/04                                                                                Date: 12/06/2004

Subject:    Proposed peace process in Lumbini

To:      -     H.M. King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, Royal Palace, Kathmandu

-          Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba, Prime Minister

-          Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala, President, Leaders and Members of Nepali Congress Party, Teku, Kathmandu

-          Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba, President, Leaders and Members of Nepali Congress Party (Democratic), Maharajgunj, Kathmandu

-          Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal, General Secretary, Leaders and Members of Nepal Communist Party (UML), Balkhu, Kalimati, Kathmandu

-          General Secretary, President, Leaders and Members of Nepal Communist Party (Maoist)

-          Mr. Pashupati Shumsher Rana, President, Leaders and Members of Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Kamal Pokhari, Kathmandu

-          Mr. Narayan Man Bijukchhe, President, Leaders and Members of Workers and Peasants Party, Bhaktapur

-          Mr. Amik Sherchand, President, Leaders and Members of United People’s Front, Sanepa, Lalitpur

-          Mr. Hridesh Tripathy, General Secretary, Leaders and Members of Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi), Tripureswor, Kathmandu

-          And all other political parties in Nepal

Your Majesty the King, Hon. Prime Minister, Leaders and Members of all Political Parties:

At the beginning of the spring of 1969, after having gone through many difficulties, I was lucky enough to visit Lumbini, Nepal -- the place where the Lord Buddha Sakya Muni was born.  At first, I was deeply shocked and saddened to see Lumbini faded into a state of disarray and ruin.  I was so confused that I even wept.  Yet I soon regained my confidence as I still believed this to be the holy land in which Buddha had chosen to be born. So I made a wish to Lord Buddha: “If this is really the exact place where the Lord Buddha was born, I would like to see Lumbini restored and developed before I die.”  Miraculously, at the beginning of the spring of 1993, I was the first foreigner to be invited to build a monastery in Lumbini.  At that time we began to construct Lumbini’s first international temple and monastery, Viet Nam Phat Quoc Tu.  In those days, my life was really a struggle, and everything was so difficult. I had to live under a plastic tent for six and a half months and few believed that Lumbini would be developed as it is today.  However, ten and a half years later work has begun on 19 international monasteries, stupas and cultural projects; some of them have already been completed. The miraculous development of Lumbini has been witnessed by the very eyes of the late H.M. the King Birendra, H.M. the present King Gyanendra, different Prime Ministers, Ministers as well as many Nepalese citizens.

One morning in my second year at Lumbini, I spotted a couple of Himalayan Sarus Cranes, who had built a nest near my thatched hut.  I immediately recognized the presence of this rare and endangered species as a good omen for this truly holy place.    Throughout many Asian traditions and cultures, cranes are sacred and revered.  Many friends and I have undertaken efforts to protect the birds and now Lumbini’s Himalayan Sarus Crane population has increased dramatically.

One day as I was walking to observe and protect the Sarus Cranes, I observed a moving sight.  With my own eyes, I saw many people struggling to cross a rushing river on the East side of Lumbini’s garden during the monsoon season.  When I learned of the number of people lost every year to this river, I prayed and wished for the ability to make a bridge for ease and freedom.  The bridge has now been completed and many lives have been saved.  Within a few months, many wonderful works began happening, including the construction of a hospital and school.  Many thousands of jobs have been created for the people.  This series of events has given me the belief that if one does a good deed, many more good deeds are sure to follow.  Seeing this authentic miracle occur has been a wonderful experience for me in Nepal, your lovely country. 

When I first arrived in Nepal, everyone lived in peace.  Suddenly the war came and many people were killed.  I am incredibly sad to see the war still happening today in this serene land.  I always pray for the end of the war.  I pray that all of the political parties and the Maoists will make mutual concessions for permanent peace and can stop the horrible scene of war between brothers.  If we can share our true love for one another, everyone will be able to live happily in peace.

The auspicious festival of the Lord Buddha’s birthday is one of the most holy days for Nepal and for all human beings.  A Nepali was born 2628 years ago in Lumbini, and later became the Buddha.  In the holy land of Lumbini, I myself have witnessed many other miracles as well.  I was lucky enough to be able to build Viet Nam Phat Quoc Tu, the first international monastery in Lumbini.  We are proud that Nepal has produced one of the greatest teachers in the history of the world.  It is to him whom thousands of millions of people around the world bow their heads, showing enormous respect and genuine desires to follow his teachings. 

Lumbini was the land to birth such a touching outpouring of peace, freedom and the light of wisdom to the world.  We are proud that Lumbini has a sacred garden, which attracts millions of international pilgrims every year. In September 1997, UNESCO finally agreed to inscribe Lumbini in the World Heritage List, recognizing the importance of the teaching of Lord Buddha. This has futher enhanced the importance of Lumbini in the world community.  

As a student of Lord Buddha, I will always be ingrained with his teachings of compassion, loving kindness, goodhearted happiness, safety and peace, not just for this present life but for many lives after.  That is why I feel so very sad and hurt when I see brothers and sisters fighting and killing in this holy land.  I am worried that all humans in the world will look at Buddha’s land, now blanketed in war.

The Lord Sakya Muni Buddha himself mediated and resolved many conflicts and wars.  The Rohini River marks the site of one compromise that he helped negotiate.  Since Buddha’s passing into Nirvana, many kings and leaders have accepted and followed his philosophies of loving kindness and compassion.  These leaders have been able to stop fighting, building monasteries and Ashoka Pillars as remaining historical evidence.

Therefore, I, Thầy Huyền Diệu, Ven. Dr. Lam, President of The International Buddhist Federation and also the Founder of Viet Nam Phat Quoc Tu, the first international monastery in the land where Lord Buddha was born, do hereby sincerely and respectfully invite H.M. the King, Prime Minister, the leaders and members of all political parties in Nepal to come to Lumbini for starting the process of true peace.  On the occasion of the Buddha Anniversary of this year, let us follow in the footsteps of our greatest Kings and Heroes of the past.  Please drop the weapons.  Please stop speaking of hatred and criticizing each other.  Please get together sincerely and generously and find a reasonable solution for peace in Nepal.  If this peace occurs, many Nepali people will be rescued from deep misery.  In peace, the Nepal economy certainly will grow and everyone will gain a better life and Nepal will be able to walk abreast with our neighbor countries and the world.

Viet Nam Phat Quoc Tu, Lumbini, many other monasteries in the holy land and I would be very honored to welcome you all to begin this historical peace process. Viet Nam Phat Quoc Tu, Lumbini, a gift from Lord Buddha, is the ideal place for this historical conciliation.  I strongly believe in Lord Buddha’s teachings of meta (compassion), karuna (loving kindness) and pranna (wisdom); this wonderful philosophy comes from this country, Nepal. This is the good medicine that would certainly cure the present conflict and many troubles in the world. In life sometimes there are conflicts and misunderstandings that create war among the people.  But my personal philosophy is that we can solve the problems through mutual respect and understanding with goodwill.  I pray and hope that you all will accept my sincere invitation. I hope to meet all of you in Lumbini.

Thank you very much for your kindness.  My blessing to you, all of your family members as well as all people of Nepal.

With best regards and respects,

Thầy Huyền Diệu

(Ven. Dr. Lam), the President, International Buddhist Federation

- Founder Viet Nam Phat Quoc Tu, Lumbini

P.S. I do not have the addresses of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) Leaders and Members. I request of those who’ve received this letter to please copy and deliver it to the Leaders and Members of the Maoist Party. Thank you very much for your kind co-operation for peace.