On March 8th, 2001 at 1:15 local time in Afghanistan's Bamiyan Province, the Taliban demolished by explosion the world's two largest statues of the standing Buddha. These priceless antiquities, measuring 53 and 35 meters in height, were carved into a sandstone cliff in the Hindu Kush mountains of central Afghanistan some 1600 to 1700 years before. Both images had already been subjected to anti-aircraft and tank fire before holes were drilled in their torsos and filled with dynamite. All appeals by the international community to save these sacred art treasures from destruction fell on deaf ears, as the Taliban relentlessly carried out their plan to rid Afghanistan of "idols" they considered offensive to Islam.

This savage act perpetrated by Muslim extremists, however grievous its consequences for all lovers of art and culture, was, in the end, merely symbolic. In their misguided zeal to establish a pure Islamic state, the Taliban have produced only ugliness and have demonstrated a degree of religious intolerance that has shocked and repulsed both their countrymen and the world. But the gentle spirit of Buddha--the Indian prince who renounced all earthly possessions in his great quest for understanding and enlightenment--has by no means been diminished by this tragic perversion of spirituality.

Hymn for the Standing Buddhas of Bamiyan

On May 21, 2001, Joseph Dillon Ford composed the "Hymn for the Standing Buddhas of Bamiyan". It was intended from the beginning to be the germinal seed of a nonsectarian project requiring the voluntary participation of composers throughout the world, each of whom is invited to create a variation on this simple sixteen-measure pentatonic theme to celebrate the beauty of selfless awareness.

The above information is from the following Web Site, where you can find more information about the Standing Buddha Project.

Hymn for the Standing Buddhas of Bamiyan

Click here to listen to a MIDI file of "Variations for the Guitar on Hymn for the Standing Buddhas of Bamiyan". You can also download a PDF file of the sheet music, both guitar and tablature.