An Introduction to Buddhism To do no evil; To cultivate good; To purify one's mind: This is the teaching of the Buddhas. --The DhammapadaThe Buddha was born Siddhartha Gautama, a prince of the Sakya tribe of Nepal, in approximately 566 BC. When he was twentynine years old, he left the comforts of his home to seek the meaning of the suffering he saw around him. After six years of arduous yogic training, he abandoned the way of self-mortification and instead sat in mindful meditation beneath a bodhi tree.On the full moon of May, with the rising of the morning star, Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha, the enlightened one.The Buddha wandered the plains of northeastern India for 45 years more, teaching the path or Dharma he had realized in that moment. Around him developed a community or Sang
This is really startling, considering that Malaysia is a very problematic country (Hat tip: Hot Air Headlines):
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia --A Malaysian Islamic court allowed a Muslim convert Thursday to return to her original faith of Buddhism, setting a precedent that could ease religious minorities' worries about their legal rights.
Lawyers said the Shariah High Court's verdict in the northern
Yatra is the Sanskrit word for pilgrimage or spiritual journey. These visually stunning documentaries are cinematic pilgrimages to legendary places in Southeast Asia and Tibet, including the spiritual wonders of Laos, Thailand, Burma, Bali, Cambodia, Java, and Central Tibet. Journey into the living traditions and lost civilizations of this vibrant part of the world and explore the universal ideals of wisdom, compassion, and inner peace at the very heart of these ancient Buddhist cultures.The living presence of place is the primary focus of these three lyrical films which are meditations themselves. Their deliberate pacing, unobtrusive narration, indigenous music, and harmonic chants are designed to induce an inner journey while traveling to these legendary places. Viewers are invited to re
Buddhism has about 300 million followers around
the world. The word comes from the Pali and Sanskrit word "budhi,'' meaning "to awaken.''
Buddhism's origins came about 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gotama, known as the Buddha, was awakened, or enlightened, at the age of 35.
Here are some frequently asked questions about Buddhism.
Q: Is it a religion?
A: To many, Buddhism goes beyond
JAWALAMUKHI—-The two day long conference on Hinduism and Buddhism, Back to Basics, concluded here today, under the chairmanship of B K Modi. He said the main purpose of the conference was to provide an opportunity to establish a common platform for all Buddhist traditions in imparting the teachings of Buddha of global peace. Modi Chairman [...]
HT to Steve "Emergent Village Blogmeister" Knight for pointing at this very interesting blog post from Kimberly Roth on JesusManifesto.com. Kimberly makes some good observations about the two religions, and asks some even better questions. Before I get to her excellent questions, I felt I should note that this:However, there is a flip-side to Tibetan Buddhism. There is work involved, and peace comes with a price. The Tibetan people serve multiple deities, some of whom are full of vengeance. Their religious practices are in part, to appease the deities en route to obtaining enlightenment. Monks create intricately detailed mandalas to house deities and guide meditation. Followers walk the streets of Tibet endlessly spinning prayer wheels in an effort to gain the attention of the Buddha of
Soon after Buddha's death or parinirvana, five hundred monks met at the first council at Rajagrha, under the leadership of Kashyapa. Upali recited the monastic code (Vinaya) as he remembered it. Ananda, Buddha's cousin, friend, and favorite disciple -- and a man of prodigious memory! -- recited Buddha's lessons (the Sutras). The monks debated details and voted on final versions. These were
I was struck by a surprising thought as I slid open the paper screen doors: Monks make wonderful gardeners. Below me was a beautifully crafted oasis, nicely pruned pines and maples swaying gently in the summer breeze. I listened to the soothing sound of trickling water as I sipped bitter green tea. It was serene, peaceful, perfect. I had arrived at Rengejoin, an ancient Buddhist temple set atop
Tibet has always been overshadowed by other neighbouring nations. Thus, nothing much about its culture is known. Here is a brief history abouta sacred religion called Bon, Tibet’s pre-Buddhist religion, now better know as Tibetan Buddhism.
RECORDS OF human civilisation on the Tibetan plateau stretch back thousands of years. However, Tibetans are only starting to be widely recognised now. Even so
VietNamNet Bridge – A Buddhist Sangha official affirmed Vietnam’s Buddhism is in favourable conditions to promote its role and position in social life at a time when the country is pursuing industrialisation and modernisation.Most Venerable Thich Gia Quang, Vice Secretary General of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Executive Council, made the statement at a symposium on Buddhism with society and
The vast majority of Muslims do not know anything about Buddhism except its name, and that Buddha is a piece of clay that Buddhists worship! While Muslims very well understand Islam, Christianity, and Judaism -to an extent- they have fallen short of understanding the Asian and far-eastern teachings and religions merely because of [...]
BUXTON (March 6, 2008): Dr. Sunil Goonasekera, 60, is a visiting professor in his second year at Bowdoin College, where he teaches four Asian religions, including Buddhism. His specialty is anthropology of religion. He graduated from University of California at San Diego. He has taught there and at a major university in his native country, Sir Lanka. He and his wife live near San
Andrew KH TanToday I gave Alms / Dana in Buddhism of 1. 1x10kg Super Thai RiceMahindarama Buddhist Temple : Mahindarama consist of two Pali words namely Arahant Mahinda, the name of a famous Missionary Buddhist monk who was also one of King Asoka's sons, assigned by the father himself to introduce the Buddha-dhamma to the Island of Tambapanni ( Modern Sri Lanka ) some 2000 years ago.The second word, Arama basically means a holy place, a shrine, a temple (Vihara) or a place of refuge. Therefore Mahindarama, is a place where the people of the beautiful Island of Penang (Pearl of the Orient) go for their refuge to the Triple Gems (the Buddha, His teaching - the Dhamma and the Holy Order - the Sangha).,2.1x10kg Super Thai Rice to Ang Hock Si Temple on Perak Road whi
VietNamNet Bridge – Buddhism Culture Week will take place at Tu Dam pagoda, in the central city of Hue from March 1-7, with presentations by famous scholars and scientists, a photo exhibition, and meetings between senior monks and local young people.
On this occasion, 108 photos captured by Thich Minh Hien in nearly ten years will be introduced at an exhibition named “Japanese and Tibet land and
Let me start out by saying that I have no idea where this post is going.When I started studying world religions, I began with Hinduism. I had no intention of my new hobby appearing on my blog. But as I read and mulled and steeped, I started feeling things, thinking thing. Things I couldn't quite put into words, yet things I wanted to share and sort through outside of my own head. I sat down to type one day, and this came out. From then on, this has been a collective journey, and I like it better that way.But recently, I've been feeling cramped, almost as though I had deadlines to achieve or that this meandering journey of mine has become full of expectations I must meet. I've read and contemplated and learned so much in the past months; I think I need to change things up a bit. Up until no
Buddhism has been the dominant religion of the Eastern world for centuries, including China, Japan, Korea, and most of Southeast Asia.In addition, the growth of the Asian population in the U.S., has served to increase the interest in Buddhism in the United States. Statistics have shown that currently, there are well over 300,000 Buddhists in the U.S.Founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, went
To tell you the truth, women had more regulations than men. This was reflected in number of Pratimokshi rules for nuns (331 rules for women against 227 -for men). Majority of supplementary rules were regarding some slight violations like woman ornamentation and her clothes, the rules of a woman consecration into sangha, a selection of the women guru, the rules of the woman behavior in public
The main ideas of Buddhism:
Four Noble Truths:
1. Suffering exists
2. Suffering arises from attachment to desires
3. Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases
4. Freedom from suffering is possible by practicing the Eightfold Path
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Patriarchal Indian society pointed the advantage of a man towards a woman during the process of Pali canon establishment (4-2 B.C.). Humiliated status of woman was confirmed in Brahmanic literature. Is enough to recall a famous Manu `s saying: “Day and night a woman must depend on her men… Father guards her in the childhood, husband – during her youth, sons- in her old age. A woman is not able to
I am not sure if this is a first but combining religion and cell phones is certainly new for me! The Buddhist gold-plated cell phone is meant to appeal to the largely Buddhist population of China complete with jade adornments, traditional Buddhist instrumental music, and Buddha-vision which offers an always available video image of the great Buddha. The battery is even embossed with a likeness of Buddha. Fitted with a lot of fabulous tools and options this technology is certainly bridging into new territory.
In conjunction with The Nalanda Trail exhibition at the Asian Civilisations Museum, there’s going to be a conference on Buddhist interactions and practices in Southeast Asia and Asia. Check out...
Visit SEAArch to read the full story, and other stories about the archaeology of Southeast Asia.
pic:american popular culture.comYo, even religion has to move with time. On Saturday [15th Dec] about 40 Japanese monks and nuns from eight different sects, sashayed down the catwalk displaying their latest colorful robes amidst rap music. A fashion show entitled " Tokyo Bouz (monk) Collection" was held at a major Tokyo temple to promote Buddhism as reported in Mainichi Daily News. They did a rap version of a Buddhist sutra. Followed with five monks from each school walked on the runway, then chanted prayers and finished up in a grand finale with confetti resembling lotus petals. According to a chief monk, they wanted to show the young people that Buddhism is cool, and temples are not a place just for funerals. In order to reach out to the hip Japanese youths, they need to be innovative. They are not changing Buddha's teachings, but they have come up with a different presentation that they hope it can touch the feelings of the young people today.Yo, way to go, man or rather way to go
Many studies indicate that Buddhism entered southern Viet Nam by sea and northern Viet Nam by road. Monks and nuns aboard Indian merchant fleets were considered to be the first people bringing Buddhism to Viet Nam with simple practices such as worshiping Buddha, reciting the Buddhist scriptures, disease treatment, expel ing evil spirits and delivering dharma lectures to local inhabitants.
Find that you like Buddhism but you're not quite sure why? Is there something about it that just seems to 'fit' like no other religion or thought system has in the past? Perhaps it is because Buddhism is not a religion in the traditional 'god(s)-oriented' way, or maybe because it is so much more than a 'thought system' or philosophy; but rather, Buddhism is a practical way of explaining both the way the world is, and how we come to know it through our own direct experience. It is practical both because it helps soften and clarify our experience of our life, and also because it is a practice in that it asks of us mindful intention and attention to actualize and realize a life well-lived. Usually it makes the most sense to begin a discussion such as this at the beginning
Schellin described marching on Washington in protest of the Iraq war with other like-minded Buddhists earlier this year to a crowd of about 40 in Speight Auditorium in the school's art building."Engaged Buddhism maintains a non-violent approach in the tradition of Ghandi and Martin Luther King, without the attachment to the outcome," Schellin said.Buddhist practices do not get wrapped up in outcomes, Schellin explained. Buddhists are more concerned with recognizing faults and problems and accepting the world as it is.
Would the Buddha be an effective arbiter in a complicated and contentious land trust dispute or a messy divorce? For many experts, the answer is a resounding yes.While it’s impossible to actually have the ancient spiritual leader himself present in the room on such occasions, several Buddhist scholars, practitioners, and professional mediators at a panel last week (Nov. 7) said they use his practices and principles often to help facilitate interpersonal dialogue and effective negotiation.Ran Kuttner, visiting scholar at the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School (HLS), and Michael Wheeler LL.M. ’74, MBA Class of 1952 Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School and co-director of HLS’s Dispute Resolution Program, convened the group at HLS’s Pound Hall. It included Zen master (Roshi) Bernie Glassman, lecturer on Buddhist studies at Harvard Divinity School and founder of the Zen Peacemakers; Gregory Kramer, co-founder of the Metta Foundation and teacher o
Like Holy Ghost Festival Hawaii, Hungry Buddhism Ghost Festival in Thailand is also famous. The ghost festival, known as Phi Ta Khon, is a masked procession on the first day of a three day Buddhist holiday known as Boon Pra Wate. This is an annual festival that takes place either in May, June or July in a small town called Dan Sai which is situated in northeastern province of Loei. The masked procession is marked by a lot of music and dancing with the participants dressed up as ghosts and monsters. Participants in the procession wear huge masks made from coconut tree trunks. The origin of the ghost festival is unclear though folklore has it that in Buddha next to last life, he was reincarnated as Prince Vessandorn. The prince went on an extremely long trip and his subjects either forgot him or presumed him dead. When the prince returned, his subjects were overjoyed to see him and welcomed him back with a celebration so loud t
After evening prayers on Sept. 18, the abbot of a small monastery in Myanmar's largest city convened the roughly 30 Buddhist monks in his charge. The bonds between secular and religious authority had broken, the abbot said. Then he gave the monks his blessing to take to the streets in protest.That meeting, one of many held in monasteries across Myanmar in mid-September, helped turn a sputtering campaign of dissent led by secular democracy activists into a mass movement led by Buddhist clergy. The country formerly known as Burma erupted in the biggest wave of antigovernment demonstrations in nearly 20 years.
Want to learn more about Tibetan Buddhism? Here is a listing of upcoming events. For a description of each program, check www.theithacajournal.com.* 1:30 p.m., Oct. 7. Tompkins County Public Library, Borg Warner Room. Ivette Vargas, assistant professor of Asian religious traditions, Austin College — “How Prominent are Women in Buddhism?: Leaders, Teachers, and the Future of Ordained Nuns.”
EDINBURG — Government security forces in Myanmar have reportedly killed at least three Buddhist monks who were peacefully participating in massive, ongoing protests against that country’s military government. Tensions started to rise last month, when the government drastically raised fuel prices in the impoverished country. Persecution of Buddhists in Myanmar and Tibet have consistently garnered media attention and cries for justice from activist groups in the United States.
Buddhism. That bastard-child of a religion. (And I say that with a smirk on my face and a grin in my heart)
“Embrace Nothing:
If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha.
If you meet your father, kill your father.
Only live your life as it is,
Not bound to anything”
I love Buddhism. I really do. But really, Buddhism is a joke with a “groaner” punchline. Just read some more zen quotes:
The student approached the master
He asked “What is zen?”
The master picked up a club
and beat the student upside the head.
After three strokes, the student was enlightened.
Or suffered a concussion.
(Ok, Ok, that’s not really a zen quote… But it probably could be
One cannot say (or even think) of what Buddhism is. (By making that statement, and this one, and every other statement that follows, I demonstrate my lack of “enlightenment” - Oh well. Or maybe not.)
Buddhism can only be arrived it in a roundabout manner. It’s a paradox: speakin
Oh boy…I got the feeling that my post here today might create commotions in the future.SubhanAllah! What I have for you readers out there today is a very good video on Islam and Buddhism. The video is actually based upon a best selling book by Harun Yahya that carries the same title.Whatever it is, the video that I have provided down below would be great for Muslims all around the world. The video would give Muslims the opportunity to get to know Buddhism better. Muslims and Buddhists in Malaysia for an example had lived side by side for ages but Muslims here did not know much about Buddhism. It is sad to see that Muslims here in Malaysia are quite ignorant but they can hardly be blamed for it. The education and social interaction system here in Malaysia did not provide Malaysians the avenues to learn more about each others’ religions.Courtesy of HarunYahya Dot ComEnough talk, let us see and hear what this great video has to say about Islam and Buddhism. Believe me, it is very enli
TRES COROAS, Brazil (Reuters Life!) - The voices chanting the ancient Tibetan Buddhist mantras have a trace of a bossa nova lilt. Meditation sometimes has to wait until after a game of soccer. High in the mountains of Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state lies the Chagdud Gonpa Khadro Ling (Buddhist center) -- "the sacred place of the sky dancers" in Tibetan.
Tantric Buddhism is different from a number of other Buddhist forms. This school of Buddhism is known as Vajrayana, it is considered as one of the three major 'vehicles' (Yanas) of Buddhism. This is a brief introduction to Tantric Buddhism.This resembles the Tantras of Hinduism and it contains lot of different deities which are like Hindu Tantric Deities. Vajrayana Buddhism is based, to a certain extent, on the tantras, tantric techniques written in Indian scriptures. It prescribes the technique of 'use the result as the Path'. It means that a person should try to identify with the enlightened body, speech and mind of a Buddha. The form of Buddha one can best relate to is known as yidam (in Tibetan) or ishtadevata (in Sanskrit).There are lot of Tantric Buddhism symbols. Most of these symbols are said to have been taken from the Tibetan Buddhism. Major symbols of Tantric Buddhism are given below.Vajra, Bell, Mala or a rosary, Kapala or skullcup, small handdrum and the larger Chod-dr
HerukaHeruka has a blue-coloured body, four faces and twelve arms, and embraces his consort Vajravarahi. Their divine embrace symbolizes the union of great bliss and emptiness, which are one and the same essence. For a detailed explanation of the practice of Heruka see the book Essence of Vajrayana and the sadhanas Condensed Essence of Vajrayana.shaligram, thatvamassi,yogasamvit, dhyanfoundation,soundtravels, omstream, aboutastro, sivababa, Devshoppe,adayinthelight, mantra, yantra, tantra, yoga, ayurveda, healingsindia, ambientedirect, sivababa, real-mindpower-secrets, Yogahealthguide, yogabusinesscoach, absoluteyogasamui, shaligram, raja-yoga, acloset, quantumtouch,rudraksha, gemstones, temples, varanasi, shri yantra, shri chakra, japa mala, shanka, puja, astrology, numerology, vastu, jyotish
SAKYA MONASTERY, China (Reuters) - The sprawling Sakya Monastery in the remote Himalayan region of Tibet is testament to the survival of Buddhism after decades of political turmoil and repression in China. During the tumult of the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution, Maoist zealots rampaged across Tibet, smashing Buddhist statues, destroying temples and forcing monks and nuns to abandon their religious lives. With more than 120 monks under its wings, the Sakya monastery has big plans to restore itself to its former glory -- all, of course, done under the watchful eye of China's Communist Party, which has ruled Tibet with an iron grip since 1950.
China announced last month new regulations governing Tibetan Buddhism, including a stipulation that senior monks, known as "living Buddhas," cannot be reincarnated without government permission. "The reincarnation of living Buddhas must undergo application and approval procedures," the new regulations stipulate. "Living Buddha" reincarnations with a "particularly great impact," such as presumably of the next Dalai Lama, "shall be reported to the State Council for approval."
A museum has been built to protect a mini Buddhism temple, claimed to be the smallest in the world, from the harsh desert elements in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Located in Qira County, southern Xinjiang's Hotan Prefecture, the Damiku Temple covering just four square meters was built during the Northern and Southern Dynasties 1,500 years ago. The temple is made of wood and mud and has fine frescos of Buddhism scriptures on the four walls. A Buddha statue, about 65 centimeters tall, stands in the center of the temple. In the middle of the northern end stand other wide-shouldered and thin-waisted Buddha statues.
the 4th Buddhism Cultural Festival and the 18th International Tourism Month at Wutai Mountain of Xinzhou City, North China's Shanxi Province. The one-month event attracted many Buddhists and tourists. Wutai Mountain is known as one of the five most eminent Buddhist sanctums in the world and the top of China's four famous Buddhist mountains. It boasts many Buddhist statues and a great number of Buddhist classics and frescoes in its ancient temples.
Tibet boasts more than 1,700 religious sites with more than 40,000 Buddhist monks and nuns. Despite its more relaxed attitude, China has recently announced tighter controls of Tibetan Buddhism, demanding that those people deemed to be "living Buddhas" must first get government approval.
Gautama Buddha was born into a Hindu royal family in northeastern India and was named Siddhartha. When he was born, a sage told his father that Siddhartha would either be a ruler or a wandering monk. Afraid of the latter possibility, the father reared his son in the sheltered confines of his palace and endeavored to protect him from the life and the inevitable suffering that lay beyond the palace walls. Siddhartha, however, was a restless soul and would not be limited by his father's concerns.
Spirituality: Science has developed physical comfort and Spirituality or religion is for developing mental comfort. spirituality is the other name for Moral Science and without the base of Moral Science any Science may lead to disaster and destruction of mankind itself. Destruction is caused not only by natural calamities but also through despotic rulers, hegemonic powers and religious zealots. Our progress in the fields of science and technology has been breathtaking.
People looking for quick answers to the meaning of life should probably steer clear of "Answer Your Love Letters: Footnotes to a Zen Practice," by Adam Genkaku Fisher of Northampton. This collection of short essays, whose author has been practicing Zen Buddhism for 35 years, eats easy answers for breakfast."Simplicity is not so simple," Fisher writes. And elsewhere: "In order to be centered, you must stand at the center of all things and realize there is no center."
During our lifetime most of our doings lead to the manifestation of ‘sanskara’, which are of course ‘kammas’ with the potential to give ‘Karma vipaka’ or consequences later, within this life or in future births, according to the principles of Karma (‘kamma niyama’).
To our left, the Tam Dao Mountain Range swooped across the horizon, casting majestic shadows on the quiet villages underneath. Already we felt at peace even though all we could see of our goal – the recently built Truc Lam Tay Thien Zen Monastery – were the red tips of its tile-covered roof, peeking at us from a distance through the trees.
Foreign tourists from across the world are making a beeline for Dharamsala to learn and practice Buddhism and its way of living. Buddhists from across the globe, particularly Asian countries, gathered here to attend a spiritual discourse by Tibetan spiritual leader, The Dalai Lama.
Buddhism originated in India around the 5th century BC. But after flourishing here for many centuries, it declined in the land of its birth. However, it spread across Asia, winning adherents in such countries as Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Japan, Korea, Tibet, Mongolia and China.
Thailand's constitution writers have rejected a plea to name Buddhism as the national religion. This has been despite protests and hunger strikes by campaigning monks.The Constitution Drafting Assembly appointed by the junta that seized power last year voted 66-19 not to include Buddhism in the new charter.
I find the developments in Thailand barely believable. The nation that connects the land mass of Malaysia to the rest of Indochina has long been predominantly Buddhist. According to estimates, 95% of Thais consider themselves as follower of the teachings of Siddharta Gautama - the founder of the religion we know today as Buddhism. The religion focuses on the changes that one can personally do to decrease bad karma and ensure a better reincarnation. For those who have fulfilled lifetimes (!) of meditation and worthwhile endeavors, the only steps to be seen are nirvana and ultimately, enlightenment. The tenets of the religion obviously focuses on the measures that one can do to ensure his spiritual future and welfare instead of picking on other people and telling them which is which. There is much emphasis on the prerogative of people choose what they want to do as long as they believe that every act whether good or bad will have a corresponding reward or punishment in the next l
"My message is the practice of compassion, love and kindness. These things are very useful in our daily life, and also for the whole of human society these practices can be very important."Basically, universal responsibility is the feeling for other people's suffering just as we feel our own. It is the realization that even our own enemy is motivated by the quest for happiness. We must recognize that all beings want the same thing we want. This is the way to achieve a true understanding, unfettered by artificial consideration."At the heart of Buddhist philosophy is the notion of compassion for others. It should be noted that the compassion encouraged by Mahayana Buddhism is not the usual love one has for friends or family. The love being advocated here is the kind one can have even for another who has done one harm. Developing a kind heart does not always involve any of the sentimental religiosity normally associated with it. It is not just for people who believe in religions; it is f
After being spotted buying books about Buddhism at Hollywood’s Bodhi Tree bookstore, Paris is now reportedly turning to Buddhism in her ongoing campaign to avoid jail.
Tittle-tattle/Post Chronicle reports that the “Simple Life” star was spotted clutching the Bible and a self-help manual.
This is part of what reports indicate as “tactics” for her to avoid going to county jail on June 5. Lawyers for the heiress have allegedly advised her to “live like a nun”. Paris has also reportedly told friends she is quitting alcohol and partying and has replaced her skimpy outfits with a new demure look.
I think that part about quitting alcohol and partying has yet to be done since she was even reported to be out partying with Lindsay Lohan the night the latter got involved in a car accident Saturday.
Photo credit: Socialitelife.com
Several thousand tribal and Dalit Hindus in India have converted en masse to Buddhism at a ceremony in Mumbai. The ceremony was billed as the largest religious conversion in modern India, but far fewer converted than had been predicted by the organisers. The converts hope to escape the rigid caste system in which their status is the lowest. Right-wing Hindus have often opposed conversion, pushing some Indian states to restrict legal changes of faith. Read full story - Mass Dalit conversions in Mumbai via bbc newsTagsNews India Dalit Untouchables Buddhism
internet advertisingParis Hilton is trying to convince the judges that she has become a ‘good girl’ to avoid prison, she even turn Buddhist. She was spotted in the library Bodhi Tree in Hollywood while buying a Buddhist book. And a few days ago she bought a copy of the bible and a self-help book.Read ArticleTechnorati tags: Paris Hilton Buddhist Bible
CENSORSHIP: Yemeni journalists are concerned about government censorship, and Christian Science Monitor offers an interesting report on censorship by oil powers like Venezuela, Iran, and Russia.
FINANCE: GM’s finances are under scrutiny.
RELIGION: Thailand prepares to make Buddhism its official state religion.
CRIME: An LA judge rules that four plaintiffs may seek punitive damages against the Catholic Church as the investigation of sexual abuse in the LA archdiocese continues.
Ex-Gonzales aide Monica Goodling testified yesterday in front of the House Judiciary Committee, suggesting that both Gonzales and his No. 2 McNulty were less than truthful in their own testimony.
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I'm sure I've written most of this before but, as usual, something I heard on radio started me reflecting on the subject again. To me this seems so obvious that I now have trouble really get my head around why people make this mistake. However I can remember how this came as an eye-opening statement of clarity when I first came across it.Much of Western religious thinking seems to take God vs Atheism as the only possibilities. There is perhaps a fairly token nod towards pagan pantheism, and trying to find names that make God a bit more 'spiritual' and less of the old man with the long white beard (almost a sort of Merlin/Gandalf image). But this blank-and-white polarity is about as daft as saying that if a country isn't ruled by a Monarch then there must be Anarchy. If there isn't a King or Queen then there is some other form of government - it's that simple.Buddhism isn't atheistic (in the sense of denying the possibility of beings that appear to humans as god-like) but i
Reading how others are saving for travel I’ve noticed that many adopt a Buddhist philosophy towards saving, some knowingly and others not so. Of course the philosophy isn’t exclusively Buddhist, any philosophy is just that, but this one has long been associated with Buddhism.
A few months ago Brave New Traveler had an excellent article called 5 Steps To Save Money Like Buddha now I don’t know that Buddha was really into finance but I doubt he would frown upon people practising things like non-attachment and seeing things for what they are worth. I find myself looking around the house not for things I don’t have but for things I can sell. Playstation games have gone and DVDs are on the way out, I’m a bit of a miser so there isn’t much left to sell anyway but it actually feels good to get rid of these things, I can now see how pointless it is keeping them and in some cases, buying them in the first place. A while ago I also gave up buying magazines
The following journal excerpts were written in Cahuita, Costa Rica on Monday, May 16, 2005:
7:41 am
I saw some hummingbirds earlier. I was chilling in a hammock. Senses fully awake:
Sight - the palms, sky, clouds, morning sun
Hearing - the crashing ocean waves, birds chirping
Taste - the salty air
Smell - the sea air again, the plant life
Touch - the feeling of the slightly damp hammock against my back, the light breeze, warm sensation of sun on skin
I imagine this is how it’s like on the beaches of Thailand, Bali, etc. I am reawakened to the possibilities of life, travel, community, humanity, compassion, companionship, love, laughter, present moment, awareness. So much to take in. An assault on the senses. One can only surrender and breathe it all in. Tactile – touch – important in travel and exploring. Grab the earth, take off your shoes. Feel, experience.
….And me? I’m working, though, reminded of unfulfilled time in the world, backpacking – fre
King Rama IX The reign of King Rama IX, formally called King Phumiphon, began in B.E. 2489. A special hospital for Bhikkhus was built and two Buddhist Universities, in the real sense of a university, were established. These two are Mahamakuta University, situated at the temple of Bovaranives, opined in B.E. 2489. and Mahachulalongkorn University, situated at the temple of Mahadhat, opened in B.E. 2490. There two Buddhist Universities were really managed by Bhikkhus, with a subsidy from the Government and contributions f
King Rama VIII King Rama RII or King Ananda Mahidol, succeeded King Rama VII in the year B.E. 2477. The administrative system for the community of Bhikkhus was during this time altered in compliance with that for the State, so that there were Ecclesiastical ministers and prime minister. More of this alteration will be dealt with under the heading “Administrative system for the community of Thai Bhikkhus” in the following pages. Or the events worth mentioning, one was the construction of Wat Phar Sri Mahadhat by th
King Rama VII Phra Pok Klao, of King Rama VII, came to the throne in B.E. 2468. Besides preserving all the movements for the promotion of Buddhism as King Rama VI had done, he also had a Council of Bhikkhus convened under the chairmanship of the Supreme Patriarch Prince Jinavara Sirivatthana for the sake of revising and checking the contents for the 39 Tipitaka volumes printed in the reign of King Rama V with the Tipitakas from Ceylon, Burma, Europe and Cambodia. Then a re-print was done. This time the contents were divided into 45 volumes,
King Rama VI King Rama VI, the poet and philosopher, formally known as Phra Mongkut Klao, ascended the throne in B. E. 2453. In order to imbue the spirit of Buddhism into the minds of his citizens, without distinction of position, profession or sex, he organized a new branch of studying Buddhism in Thai language. This was successfully done because there has been several texts on Buddhism compiled in the reign of his royal father together with many writers during his reign [mostly by the Supreme Patriarch Prince Vajirananavarorasa].
King Rama V The reign of King Rama V, formerly called Phra Chula Chom Klao, began in the year B.E. 2411 and lasted 42 years. He was also one of the few monarchs who temporarily renounced his throne after his coronation in order to be ordained as a bhikkhu. This was because most of the Thai kings since Ayudhya period were usually ordained before the coronation day. Being no less devout to Buddhism than his predecessors, he managed to found two Buddhist Universities for the sake of increasing the progress and stability of
King Rama IV King Rama IV, or Prince Mongkut who had to disrobe himself after his brother’s death, came to the throne in B.E. 2394. He was formally known as Phra Chom Klao. During his reign bhikkhus were greatly encouraged in their study and practice of Buddhism, so that they were well-behaved as well as well-educated in the Buddha’s doctrine. Some rules and regulations for the betterment of the administration of the community of bhikkhus as a whole were laid down; a group of religious good-will mission was sent forth to Ceylon; and the
King Rama III Phra Nang-Klao, the third of the Chakri dynasty, succeeded his father in B.E. 2367. Having a natural bent for architecture besides being a pious king himself, he had more temples built both inside and outside Bangkok. The temple of Jetuvana in the reign of King Rama I became a treasure of religious knowledge for Buddhist scholars and the symbolic “Prang” of Bangkok was perfectly completed in his reign. Also two groups of good-will missionary bhikkhus, one after the other, were sent to Ceylon. His piety in Buddhism may be se
King Rama II King Rama II, formerly called Phra Buddha Lert Lah, came to the throne in B.E. 2352. Buddhist activities during his time were noted in sending a religious good-will mission group to Ceylon and organizing the research and study of Buddhism. Thus it was during this time that the course for studying Buddhism in Pali language was divided into mine grades as such had once been done in Ayutthaya period. Other activities included the repairing of the existing temples and the building of new ones. The latter included the
King Rama I The reign of King Rama 1 of Chakri dynasty began in the year 2325 BE, with the town of Bangkok as capital. Although there were some wars with outward enemy, he often managed to find time to encourage the study and practice of Buddhism. Numerous temples, both inside and outside the capital, were repaired. Of these temples, the Jetuvana Vihara (or Wat Pho, in the vernacular), which ranks among one of the most important, had undergone seven years of repair and the well-known Wat-Phra-Keo (Temple of the Emmeral Buddha), which is regarded as the most importan
There was not much to say about Buddhism in the short-lived Thonburi period (2310-2365 BE). During the prelude of fifteen years, a greater part of which was occupied in driving our the enemy and restoring the peaceful situation of the country, what could be done to Buddhism was merely a general revival of Buddhism, not to say the compiling of new texts and other measures for the propagation of Buddhism. In the reign of King Thonburi he had several temples repaired, monastic rules settled, religious texts collected and the study and practice of Buddhism revised to some degree. With regard to the texts such as the Tipitaka, Commentaries and Sub-commentaries destroyed
During the reign of Phra Borom-Kote, the thirty-first of Ayutthaya kingdom, there reigned in Ceylon a king named Kitti-Siri-Raj-Singha, who being discouraged by the decline of Buddhism in his island country and learning that Buddhism was purer in Thailand than any other country, sent forth his religious mission to the Thai King, asking a favour of some Thai bhikkhus to revive the spirit of Theravada Buddhism which had almost died out in his land. This was a good occasion when Thailand was able to repay her debt to Ceylon and the Venerable Upali, together with his followers, were sent to Ceylon. Thus the community of Ceyl;onese bhikkhus ordained by the Thai bhikkhus at
Towards the close of the nineteenth Buddhist century which witnessed the decline of Sukhothai kingdom, King U-thong of Suphunaphum, once under Sukhothai domination, proclaimed his state as independent of Sukhothai power and built up his capital at a town called Sri Ayutthaya, south of Sukhothai. This kingdom, which lasted 417 years, are ruled over by 33 kings. Through more than four centuries which marked the age of Ayutthaya kingdom, Theravada Buddhism in Thailand seemed to reach its zenith of popularity. Within and without the city of Ayutthaya there scattered innumerable temples and pagodas which served as places, thereby exerting a great in
In the following century (B.E. 2020 or 1477 AD) under the auspices of King Tilokara, the thirteenth of Chieng Mai dynasty and under the leadership of Khammadinna Thera, a general Council of bhikkhus which lasted one year was convened at the Maha Bodhivong Vihara. Practically this was the first Council held in Thailand and reflected the intensive study of Buddhism during the time. A collection of Pali texts, compiled by the Thera (Elders) of that glorious age, are now a pride of the those who wished to further their research of Buddhism in the Pali language. Some such texts were Abhidhammayojana, Mulakaccayanayojana. Vinayayojana, Vessantaradipani and Mangalathadipani.
While one of the Thai tribes of the Chao Phraya River was founding Sukhothai kingdom, another tribe in the north-western tableland, called Lanna, was also successful in driving out the Mons influence from the River Ping. In the nineteenth Buddhist century King Meng-Rai of the ancient Chiang-San dynasty was known to have defeated King Ye-Ma, the Mon king of the town of Lamphun, and later built his capital at Chiang Mai.During this time Theravada Buddhism of Ceylon had been brought from their flourishing states in the Mons country and in Sukhothai to the north-western tableland, but was not able to take its firm roots there. In the twentieth Buddhist century through the
King Si Inthrathit and King Ramkhamhaeng were both warrior kings and extended their territories far and wide. Their successors, however, could not maintain such a far-flung empire. Some of these later kings were more remarkable for their religious piety and extensive building activities than for their warlike exploits. An example of this type of Buddhist ruler was King Mahathammaracha Lithai, believed to have been the compiler of the Tribhumikatha, an early Thai book on the Buddhist universe or cosmos. The political decline of Sukhothai was, however, not wholly owing to deficiencies in leadership. Rather it resulted from the emergence of strong Thai states further sou
Sukhothai PeriodChiang Mai PeriodAyutthaya PeriodThonburi PeriodRattanakosin PeriodTechnorati tags : Sukhothai Period /Sukhothai Period /Ayutthaya Period /Thonburi Period/Rattanakosin Period /Thailand /Buddhism
Kendrapada (Orissa), April 14 (IANS) Around 1,000 Dalits in Orissa’s Kendrapda district Saturday embraced Buddhism in protest against having been denied entry into a Hindu temple by upper castes and the local administration despite a court order.
About 2,000 Dalits of Keradagarh and its nearby villages in the coastal district of Kendrapda congregated at Aul village, 30 km from here, to mark the 116th birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar, who championed the cause of the depressed classes in the country.
Around 1,000 of them embraced Buddhism in the presence of leading state Dalit leaders as some Buddhist monks performed rituals, Ashok Mallik, Dalit leader and president of Republican Youth and Students Front (RPSF), told IANS.
The Dalits embraced Buddhism saying that though they were Hindus they were not allowed to enter the 300-year-old Jagannath temple at Keradagarh village. There are around 400 Dalits in the village of 1,400.
Dalits had attempted to enter the temple several t
1. Buddhism is the fourth largest world religion, being exceeded in numbers only by Christianity, Islam and Hinduism.
2. It was founded in Northeastern India.
3. Siddhartha Gautama (”the Buddha”) - the founder of Buddhism philosophy and considered to be Buddhism god.
4. There are over 360 million adherents of Buddhism in the world.
5. Buddhism locations in China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia.
6. Buddhism has two main divisions or traditions: Mahayana and Theravada.
7. The sacred book of Buddhism is called the Pali Canon (Tripitaka). It is written in an ancient Indian language called Pali. The Tripitaka is a very large book. The English translation of it takes up nearly 40 volumes.
8. Buddah Day is the main Buddhist holiday. It is celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha.
9. Spiritual leader of Buddhism is called the monk (lama in Tibetan Buddhism). The meditation hall is a place of ritual.
10. There are 5 precepts of Buddhism: do not kill,
BuddhaNet: Buddhist Information and Education Network: "BuddhaNet™ is the result of a vision to link up with the growing world-wide culture of people committed to the Buddha's teachings and lifestyle, as an on-line cyber sangha. In this way, an ancient tradition and the information superhighway will come together to create an electronic meeting place of shared concern and interests."If you are looking for info on Buddhism this is the ultimate site. BuddhaNet is a complete resource of information on Buddhism. Buddhist centers, retreats, Buddhism classes, Buddhist art... it is all here.
I decided last weekend that it was time to sell off some of the Buddhism books I've not read for a long time, never likely to read, or could simply go to a better owner. One or two of the books are not explicitly Buddhist but do contain strong Buddhist themes.Below is a list of all the books I'm getting rid of:Buddhism booksAuthorTitleISBNPublishYear(Nagabodhi), Terry PilchickJai Bhim!: Dispatches from a Peaceful Revolution [Paperback] by Pilchick...0904766365A Irwin Switzer III D.T. Suzuki. A BiographyB000ML0RBE1985Anon.FWBO Puja Book: A Book of Buddhist Devotional Texts [Paperback] by...09047661521984SangharakshitaThree Jewels0-904766-05-51977Blakiston, HilaryBut little dust: Life amongst the ex-untouchables of Maharashtra1-85571-010-21990Ch'en, Kenneth Kuan ShengBuddhism in China0-691-00015-81972Chang, Garma C.C.The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa Volume One0-87773-095-41977Chang, Garma C.C.The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa, Vol. 20-87773-096-21977Chushin Passmore (ed)
A coworker sent this to me, presumably because of the "new zen Dara":Sayings of the Jewish BuddhistsIf there is no self, whose arthritis is this?Be here now. Be someplace else later. Is that so complicated?Drink tea and nourish life. With the first sip, joy. With the second sip, satisfaction. With the third sip, peace. With the fourth, a Danish.Wherever you go, there you are. Your luggage is another story.Accept misfortune as a blessing. Do not wish for perfect health, or a life without problems. What would you talk about?The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single Oy.There is no escaping karma. In a previous life, you never called, you never wrote, you never visited. And whose fault was that?Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.The Tao does not speak. The Tao does not blame. The Tao does not take sides. The Tao has no expectations. The Tao demands nothing of others. The Tao is not Jewish.Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in
