玄奘纪念堂缘起碑

　　玄奘纪念堂缘起碑

　　玄奘法师者，佛教高僧,翻译家，和平使者，世界文化伟人也。中印两国政府和人民为扬其志业，故于那烂陀寺旧址，建玄奘纪念堂，并树贞石，叙其胜缘。
　　一九五四年，两国总理周恩来、尼赫鲁互访，共倡和平共处五项原则，推动两国友好往来。佛教界亦为之欢喜振奋。于其时,那烂陀学院院长迦叶波首倡共建玄奘纪念堂，缅怀先驱，中国佛教界代表赵朴初居士访印积极回应。此举获两国政府大力支持，总理亲自多次过问。一九五六年，中国政府委派宗教界人士应邀访印，一九五七年在那烂陀向印度政府赠送一份玄奘顶骨舍利、一千三百三十五卷玄奘译著、一部《碛沙藏》，一份玄奘纪念堂设计草图，并三十万元人民币以作修建之资。思昔译讲之盛况，今反哺送舍利。盼旧墟起伽蓝，重现雄都之风。
　　二OO五年，两国总理温家宝与曼莫汉?辛格会晤，发表联合声明，揭开历史新篇。修缮玄奘纪念堂列入两国文化交流项目，再续前缘。时年十一月，中国国家宗教事务局代表团访印，与印度玄奘纪念堂修膳委员会，商谈修缮之事。作壁画、立展柜，示现大师之生平；塑铜像，树碑铭，建钟亭，唱响和平之声。受大师风范之感召，华夏各方响应，中国西安大慈恩寺，成都文殊院、大慈寺、洛阳白马寺、赵州柏林寺、无锡灵山实业有限责任公司、上海康宇铜门设计工程有限公司、上海华港国际船舶代理有限公司等，齐聚净资，共襄盛举。
　　二OO六年四月，三十七个国家和地区之佛教高僧大德、专家学者，会聚中国，成就“首届世界佛教论坛”之盛会，共同发表《普陀山宣言》，其文曰“世界和谐，人人有责；和谐世界，从心开始”。今日，玄奘纪念堂落成，盖“从心开始”之落实于具体行动也。 故勒石溯源，以昭先德，以策来贤。

　　中华人民共和国国家宗教事务局
　　二OO六年十一月

　　Origin of Xuanzang Memorial Hall

　　Ven. Xuanzang was a Buddhist dignitary, a translator, an envoy of peace, and a giant of world culture. To carry forward and promote his aspirations and cause, the governments and peoples of China and India have built the Xuanzang Memorial Hall, and now erected this stele at the former site of Nalanda Temple to recount that great episode.
　　In 1954, Chinese premier Zhou Enlai and India prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, exchanged visits and jointly initiated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence to promote the friendly intercourses between the two nations. The Buddhist circles were delighted and inspired. The rector of Nalanda Institute J. Kashyap was the first to propose a joint effort to build a Memorial Hall to cherish the forerunner Xuanzang. Mr. Zhao Puchu, a lay Buddhist representating the Chinese Buddhist circle visited India in active response. The preparatory efforts were vigorously supported by both governments, and the premiers personally looked into the matter many times. In 1956, the Chinese Government sent religious figures to visit India, and in 1957 presented to the Indian Government a relic of Xuanzang’s skull, 1,335 volumes translated by Xuanzang, a set of Qisha Tripitaka, a draft design map of the Memorial Hall, and RMB 300,000 Yuan as funds for the construction program. The spectacular scene that the master translated and lectured there was vividly recalled in such a contrast that the relic of the master had to be presented as a payback. It was hoped that a new temple could be built at the site of the ruins to revive the shrine.
　　In 2005, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and India Prime minister Manmohan Singh, held talks and released a joint statement, opening a new chapter in the annals of bilateral relations. The construction and maintenance of the Xuanzang Memorial Hall were enlisted into the programs of cultural exchanges between the two countries as a continuation of the previous predestined relationship. In November the same year, a delegation of the State Administration for Religious Affairs of the People's Republic of China visited India to discuss matters related to the construction and maintenance with the Indian construction and maintenance committee of the Xuanzang Memorial Hall. Murals were painted and exhibition shelves installed to depict the life stories of the master; a bronze statue was moulded, steles erected and bell pavilions built in praise of peace. inspired by the model role of the master, people all over China responded actively，and many organizations in China donated funds to the great understanding, among which were the Great Ci’en Temple in Xi’an, the Wenshu Temple, the Daci Temple in Chengdu, the White House Temple in Luoyang, the Bailin Temple in Zhaozhou, wuxi Lingshan Industrial(group)CO.LTD ,Shanghai Kangyu copper gate design engineering CO.LTD and China ports international shipping agency LTD.
　　In April 2006, Buddhist dignitaries, experts and scholars from 37 countries and regions gathered in China and successfully held the First Word Buddhist Forum. Together, they issued the Mount Putuo Declaration, which says that “Everyone is responsible for the world harmony; and a harmonious world begins in the mind.” Today, the Xuanzang Memorial Hall is completed, which means the principle of “begins-in-the-mind” has been translated into reality. Hence this stele is erected to trace the source, cherish the previous worthy, and encourage the coming ones.

　　State Administration for Religious Affairs of P.R.C

　　November,2006