Lotus Trail - India's Buddhist Linkages with South-East Asia and East Asia countries.

India, the land with a rich and glorious past that is over 5000 years old, has been the convergence point of the world for several years. ‘Vasudhiva Kutumbakam’ is the essential spirit of India; we believe every human being on this earth is our family. Spreading its message of peace, salvation, harmony and a higher path to live life, India has shared its numerous gifts of culture, philosophy and religion with the world since time immemorial.

This is the place where three of the world’s oldest religions were born. Among these three, Buddhism is a religion practiced not only within India but by more than 450 million people in numerous countries across the world today. A significant concentration of these countries is to be found in East Asia and the South East Asian countries of the ASEAN.

Through the centuries, Inia has been a source of inspiration for art, architecture, religion and socio-cultural norms in countries belonging to the present day ASEAN—as well as other East Asian countries. Since the ancient times, Indian sailors, led by adventurous kings and nifty traders, scouted the high seas even before recorded history, building bondages with South East Asian nations like Thailand and Myanmar, advancing up and around the Malaysian islands, Java, Sumatra, Bali, Laos, Cambodia– building vibrant trade posts, sharing culture, learning from the people and learning with the people there.

Buddhism spread to these lands through these routes, through direct contact or through texts and cultural practices—and were imbibed and nurtured by the kings and populace through generations and over vast periods of time. Today, as a firmly institutionalized religion in many of the ASEAN countries, Buddhism is an important element of India’s multi- lateral and bilateral relations with these countries.

Our film is an attempt to follow the journey of Buddhism to the ASEAN and East Asian countries, tracing the common elements of Buddhist culture and r

By Indian Diplomacy | 915 views