Buddha’s message

The teachings have also been translated into a number of non-Asian languages such as German,Italian and Greek. “When I think about how many Buddhists must have endured tremendous adversities to protect and transmit the Lotus Sutra over countless centuries,I could not help but think that they looked happy to have survived the trials and tribulations and to be able to meet with so many people,” says Dr Daisaku Ikeda,president of exhibition organisers Soka Gakkai International. “The Lotus Sutra is an effort to develop a means for the contemporary society to confront the rampant suffering of our age and to make the social and cultural diversity of our world a source of creativity and joy for all.”

One of the exhibition’s main sections is devoted to the Chinese Mogao Cave paintings that depict famous scenes in the Lotus Sutra. “Each painting portrays the Lotus Sutra’s key messages to humanity such as the sanctity of life,women’s rights,the power of the people and the eternity of life,among others.”

The inauguration ceremony on Friday was attended by Mumbai Sheriff Indu Shahani and National Gallery of Modern Art director Dr Saryu V Doshi. Performances by children on some of the parables on display were a highlight of the ceremony.The exhibition,co-hosted by The Institute of Oriental Philosophy,will be on till September 21.