Inaugural “Buddhism and Australia” conference a model for Canada

Inaugural “Buddhism and Australia” conference a model for Canada
Saffron Revolution leader U Gambira charged with “repeatedly breaking Buddhist monks’ code of conduct” in Burma
Review: Zen Sourcebook, by Addiss, with Lombardo & Roitman
Tibetan Year of the Water Dragon arrives; for many, a “solemn occasion”

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 04:00 AM PST

Earlier in February, 2012, Australia hosted its first international Buddhist conference. It appears to have been a great success, to the great credit of the organizers. Here is the web link: www.buddhismandaustralia.com./

Would something of this nature perhaps be worth organizing in Canada?

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Saffron Revolution leader U Gambira charged with “repeatedly breaking Buddhist monks’ code of conduct” in Burma

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 12:00 PM PST

We've previously brought you stories about U Gambira, the embattled Burmese activist monk who helped to lead 2007's "Saffron Revolution" — stories about his imprisonment by the Burmese government, recent release from prison, and brief arrest last week. Following last week's incident, the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee (SSMNC) has charged U Gambira with "repeatedly breaking the Buddhist monks' code of conduct." Mizzima, the Burmese multimedia news organization, offers a special editorial on the incident this week that helps put into perspective the relationship between the SSMNC and the historically military-controlled government.

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Buddha Gayar Tayar Music

Video Rating: 4 / 5

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Review: Zen Sourcebook, by Addiss, with Lombardo & Roitman

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 11:00 AM PST

If you want a general introduction to Zen literature, or you're a seasoned Zennist, this book's for you. It's an incredible collection of Chinese, Korean and Japanese texts from many of the most important masters and teachers of Zen, from Bodhidharma, the founder of the sect in China, to Kyong Ho, a more recent exponent of this intriguing school of Buddhist. The three authors, Stephen Addiss, Stanley Lombardo, and Judith Roitman deserve immense gratitude from the English-speaking world for this unique compilation. Not only have they chosen such central texts from the history of Zen, but they have also translated many of the texts themselves, with both Buddhist sensitivies and literary finesse. Some of the works contained are not translated by the authors, with extracts from John Blofeld's rightly applauded rendition of Huang Po's sermons a fine example.

So, with such a wide-ranging and varied selection of writings, where to begin? Well, the beginning is as good a place as any to start, and that's where we'll look first. The Introduction is written by Paula Arai, Associate professor of religion at Louisiana State University. She gives a lucid account of both the history of Zen Buddhist, as well as an account of its practices, such as the koa! n, a dev ice that features extensively in the book, not least in the wonderful (and complete) translation of Wu-men's Gateless Barrier, rendered into English by Stephen Addiss. Let's take quick peek at Addiss's efforts:

"Wu-tsu said, 'Suppose a water buffalo passes by a window. The head, horns, and four legs go past - why can't the tail pass by?'

Wu-men's Verse

If it passes by, it falls in a ditch;

If it goes back, it is destroyed;

But this little tail,

How wondrous it is!"

(Zen Sourcebook, p.107)

The translation here is clear and to the point, even if the koan itself may be somewhat more confusing! This is a feature of the translations featured in the book; easy to comprehend (at least intellectually!), and yet at the same time, not without an awareness of the importance of the value of the writings as pieces of literature. Other translators whose work appears here include J. C. Cleary (Tai-hui, Swampland Flowers & T'aego, Collected Sayings), Anne Dutton (The Awakening of Mugai Nyodai), James Green (Chao-chou, Recorded Sayings), and Norman Waddell (The Ryumon-ji Se! rmons). Now, even if, like the present reviewer, you already posses some of these translations, the collection as a whole has so many different works included that there's bound to be much that's new to you. One example of this for the reviewer is 'The Biography of Miao-tsung' by Miriam Levering:

"At the time Ch'an master Chen-hsieh was living in a small cloister at I-hsing. Miao-tsung went directly to see him there. Chen-hsieh was sitting upright on a rope mat. The instant Miao-tsung was inside the door, Chen-hsieh said: 'Are you ordinary or a sage?'

Miao-tsung said: 'Where is the third eye?'

Chen-hsieh said: 'The real thing appears right in front of your face - what is that like?'

Miao-tsung held up her kneeling and bowing cloth.

Chen-hsieh said: 'I did not ask about that.'

Miao-tsung said: 'Too are - it's gone!'

Chen-hsieh shouted: 'Ho!'

Miao-tsung also shouted: 'Ho!'"

(Ibid. pp. 127-128)

The sheer scope of the book is something that should be noted here also. It starts with two importa! nt texts chanted in Zen monasteries the world over: the Heart Sutra & the Kanzeon (Guan Yin) Sutra, translated by Addiss & Lombardo. Next, comes the early Zen figures Bodhidharma, Seng-ts'an, and Hui-neng (Sixth to Eighth Centuries AD). Other Zen greats not already mentioned include Lin-chi, the P'ang family, Dogen, Ikkyu, So Sahn, and Hakuin. Another important personage featured is the Korean monk Chinul (1158 - 1210), translated by Lombardo:

"Where everything is empty, luminous awareness is not obscured, and this empty, calm, luminous mind is your original face. It is also the Dharma-seal transmitted in direct succession by all the Buddhas, Patriarchs, and enlightened beings of the past, present, and future. If you awaken to this mind, there are no steps in between, no stairs to climb. You go directly to the stage of Buddha, and with each step you transcend the three worlds.You will return home, all doubts resolved. Filled with compassion and Wisdom, you will be the teacher of Heaven and Earth. It will be as if gods and humans offered you thousands of gold coins every day, with the promise of more. You will indeed have finished the great work of life and death."

(Ibid. p.139)

Such priceless teachings are abound in this book, and personally having little knowledge of Korean Zen, the works from Korea such as the one above are of particular interest. The clarity of both Chinul's Zen and Lombardo's translation are dazzling. The description of the "empty, calm, luminous mind" is enough to spark a direct experience of the original face. 'Zen Sourcebook' is chockablock ful! l of wri tings designed by expert Zen masters to inspire our awakening. We are privileged to have access to them, and the way that Addiss, Lombardo & Roitman have worked to assemble them together for our enjoyment and enlightenment is worthy of much praise. I wholeheartedly recommend this wonderful book, for in its 275 pages are such words as split heaven asunder and leave the light of the Buddha shining in our minds.

The above book is published by Hackett Publishing Company, and is available from their website at:
Zen Sourcebook

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Tibetan Year of the Water Dragon arrives; for many, a “solemn occasion”

Posted: 21 Feb 2012 10:00 AM PST

PM Lobsang Sangay

Losar, the Tibetan New Year festival which falls on Wednesday this year, is ordinarily a time of celebration and laughter for ethnic Tibetans and Tibetan Buddhists. The state of affairs inside Tibet today, however, is no laughing matter. Amid the many acts of self-immolation and protest that are happening, Tibet's government in exile is asking that people not celebrate Losar this year.

This was the request of Tibet's Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister), Lobsang Sangay, who wrote in his recent open letter to Tibetans and her supporters, "…please do not celebrate Losar this year, but do observe traditional and spiritual rituals by going to the monastery,making offerings, and lighting butter lamps for all those Tibetans inside Tibet who have sacrificed and suffered under the repressive policies of the Chinese government." The full letter can be read at the Central Tibet Administration's website by clicking here.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will preside over this year's official Losang ceremony at Tsug-la Khang temple in Dharamshala, followed by a day-long hunger strike. According to Tendar Tsering of Phayul.com, "The day long hunger strike will begin at 10 am IST with the rendition of the Tibetan National anthem and a minute's mourning for the victims of police firings and self-immolations in Tibet." The hunger strike will conclude in the evening with a candlelight vigil.

Tibetans and friends of Tibet from around the world have heard the call to cancel celebrations, choosing instead to use the occasion to acknowledge the sacrifices being made for the Tibetan cause. In an email sent out by the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), Director of Development Melissa Jimison writes that this year's Losar "…will be a more solemn occasion." She continues, "In observance of Losar, we invite you to send a gift to support our Private Partnership for the Sustainability of Tibetan Communities, which funds projects that directly support and empower Tibetan communities to thrive." To make a donation, please visit their call to action here.

The Tibetan Association of Washington (TAW) and the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC) have organized a "March for Tibet" this February 22nd outside Gompa on NW 83rd Street. In a message from the TAW President, "As our brothers & sisters in Tibet fight against Chinese occupation, it is our responsibility to galvanize international support for Tibet's struggle. Every small effort that we do will not only bring awareness on issue of Tibet but will also send strong message of solidarity with our brethren in Tibet and give them moral support."

Activities will begin at 9:30 am with a prayer service, followed by Sangsol at 10:45 am, a scarf offering for H.H the Dalai Lama and Sakya Dagchen Rimpoche at 11:00 am, a speech by by Avi Rimpoche at 11:10 am, and the March for Tibet, which begins at 11:30 am. Marchers will make their way from Gompa to downtown Seattle to gather at Westlake Mall, where protests and prayers will commence from 2:00 to 5:00 pm.

In the Shambhala Buddhist community, the beginning of the Tibetan New Year is also known as Shambhala Day, and in acknowledgement of that, Shambhala SunSpace has created a video, a curated tour of the ""Great Eastern Sun: The Shambhala Community of Nova Scotia" exhibit now showing at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in our hometown of Halifax. Look for that on Shambhala SunSpace today. In the video, Carolyn Rose Gimian gives viewers a curated look at some of what can be found at the exhibit from now until April 21st. You'll see treasures and personal effects of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, and contributions from the Nova Scotian Shambhala Buddhist community.

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