San Francisco is the city where the first Buddhist temple was established in 1953. San Francisco is a very diverse city with communities from all over the world. San Francisco Bay area is the hub of Buddhism because this is also the center of one of the largest publications in the world. All the major sects are all located in this part. The discovery of the inscription on the pillar erected by the Emperor Asoka in 249 BC has established the fact that the Lumbini is the authentic birthplace of the Buddha. The translation of Pali inscription on the Ashoka pillar runs as follows: 'King Piyadasi (Ashoka), beloved of devas, in the 20th year of the coronation, himself made a royal visit, Buddha Sakyamuni having been born here; a stone railing was built and a stone pillar erected to the Bhagavan having been born here, Lumbini village was taxed reduced and entitled to the eight part (only)'. However, since few years there has been a growing concern about the birth place of Historic Shakyamuni Buddha through media, publication, teaching curriculum stating that Buddha was born in India. Recently, The ZeeTV India has released a TV Serial “Buddha” trying to give some misinformation about the birth place of Buddha that sparked a growing refutation in Nepal. In response to this refutation, the Filmstar from India, Kabir Bedi immediately apologized for his remark. The Nepal waged a protest by shutting down the ZeeTV broadcast for about two hours. The recent statement by PM Modi of India in Japan is yet another concern. Those series of events and the construction of fake Lumbini just across the Nepal-India border is yet another ill-felt episode that is increasingly drawing attention of peace loving Nepalese people in Nepal and abroad. With this background, the Lumbini - Kapilvastu Peace Movement – California, a non-profit organization was established and registered in the State of California in 2014 with the following objectives:
1. To Promote Lumbini Kapilvastu, Nepal as a historic birthplace of Shakyamuni Sidhartha Gautama Buddha to the American people and abroad.
2. To attempt to give right information to the American people created by misinformation in media, publication, or elsewhere.
3. To promote Buddha Jayanti (Visaka Day) Celebration, the day Shakyamuni Buddha was born, got enlightenment and died (Parinirvana) as an inspiring source of Peace Movement locally as well globally.
4. To help to promote peace and harmony and relief measures under certain specific situations in Nepal and elsewhere.
