Tibetan calligraphy comes to the United Arab Emirates

Tibetan calligraphy comes to the United Arab Emirates
It’s Groundhog Day — for some Buddhists, a day that keeps giving
Opening the Heart Workshop
Informed by Buddhist, rock band The Cult choose their “Weapon”
Weekend with Roshi Joan Halifax
Meet the University of Cincinnati’s social worker monk

Posted: 02 Feb 2012 09:00 AM PST

By Adam Tebbe

Tashi Mannox, an English-born artist who deals with Tibetan Buddhist iconography and scripts as a subject matter, has been invited to participate in the 2012 Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial. His work will be showcased at the Sharjah Calligraphy Museum in the United Arab Emirates this coming April.

The Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial features some of the best contemporary Islamic calligraphy out there, making Tashi's invitation a rare honor. He's the only Tibetan calligrapher invited to this year's event.

Mannox became a Tibetan Kagyu monk at age 22 and was given the name Tsering Tashi, though he eventually left monastic life in 2000. As a monk, Mannox studied art under Tibetan thangka master Sherab Palden Beru; part of his training was in temple decoration, the traditional entryway to the Tibetan arts. He spent four years in retreat as a scribe, copying ancient Tibetan manuscripts with precision and care. Now living in London, Tashi is connected with a number of skilled tattoo artists from around the world, being frequently called upon to translate or create Tibetan tattoo designs.

For more information on the artist and his work, please visit his website. See also this link from Tashi's blog on the Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial.

Below are the works that will be featured in the 2012 Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial:

Primordial Purity, Golden World

The absolute and Relative Truths

The Great Perfection of Aa

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Jesus & Buddha.

If Jesus and Buddha were to meet, they would recognize one another as fellow prophets because they were teaching the same truths. Both stayed in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights and were tempted by evil, Jesus by Satan and Buddha by the demon Mara and his daughters. Jesus's original teachings promoted peace and turning the other cheek, passive resistance rather than armed insurrection. Marcus Borg, a Christian and Jesus scholar, focuses on this basic aspect of Christianity by selecting a range of quotations from the Gospels and pairing them with parallel sayings by the Buddha. For example, whereas Jesus said, 'Blessed are the poor, for yours is the kingdom of God,' Buddha said, 'Let us live most happily, possessing nothing; let us feed on joy, like the radiant gods.' It is surprising, to a reader familiar only with the Bible, to find how similar the words of the two religious leaders actually are. When we compare two ancient spiritual traditions like Buddhism and Christianity, what we see is a striking similarity between the narratives of the founding masters: in the case of Christianity, Jesus Christ, and in the case of Buddhism, the Buddha. I see a very important parallel: in the very lives of the [founders] the essence of their teachings is demonstrated. For example... the essence of the Buddha's teaching is embodied in the Four Noble Truths: the truth of suffering, the truth of the origin of suffering, the truth of the cessation of suffering, and the truth of ...

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It’s Groundhog Day — for some Buddhists, a day that keeps giving

Posted: 02 Feb 2012 03:00 AM PST

With his 1993 film Groundhog Day, Harold Ramis ended up not just making a classic comedy, but an underground Buddhist favorite. Perhaps that's not such a surprise; as Buddhist author/teacher and comedian Wes Nisker says,"Harold Ramis should be considered a revered lineage holder in the crazy wisdom tradition of the Tibetans." So, what's the Buddhist/Ramis connection? Find out in this Shambhala Sun article by Perry Garfinkel.

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OUR SHARED HUMANITY - SGI DOCUMENTARY - PART 1

An introduction to Nichiren Buddhist (Part 1). Documentary produced by SGI. For more info. about this buddhsm and SGI, visit: www.sgi-usa.org

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Opening the Heart Workshop

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 03:00 PM PST

Opening the Heart
February 4, 9:45 AM-4:45 PM

$ 80, 20%discount to couples attending together

Includes vegetarian buffet lunch

"We need to encourage our warm and positive feelings… a genuine openness that is felt as a deep warmth in the center of the heart, which is our inner sanctuary, our own home." Tarthang Tulku, Gesture of Balance.

The heart holds the key to living in harmony and in loving accord with others. Kum Nye practices open the heart to deep levels of feeling and appreciation. Movement exercises presented in this workshop help loosen physical tension in the chest and upper back, enhancing the flow of positive feeling in the area of the heart.

Instructor: Jack van der Meulen.

Weekend workshops offer fresh insights in a gentle, meditative atmosphere.

Workshop participants may arrange to stay overnight at the Institute for an additional $ 40 per night. If no prerequisite is listed, then the workshop is open to students at all levels of experience.

This workshop meets the qualifications for continuing education credit for MFT's and LCSW's as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Provider: Nyingma Institute #2513.

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The Heart Sutra 般若波罗密多心经by Anita Mui 梅艷芳

Buddhist Dhamma Talk, Pali Chanting, Sanskrit Chanting & Song,MP3,Audio,Video free download Malaysia, Petaling Jaya Tibetan Han version Hong Kong

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Informed by Buddhist, rock band The Cult choose their “Weapon”

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 02:00 PM PST

I've written about them before (like, here), but this not-unimportant post-punk turned full-on rock band is back (again) and referring to Buddhist in the press for the coming release of their new album, Choice of Weapon. As I say, this isn't the first time; The Cult's last album had some Buddhist themes, and singer Ian Astbury has spoken about his affinity for Tibetan Buddhist before, even writing a piece called "The Buddhist Way" for SPIN back in '09.)

And The Cult's weapon of choice? The dorje – in Buddhist, a symbol of enlightenment. In a new Rolling Stone article, we're told the "shamanic figure" on the LP's cover, seen here, is holding a dorje… but I must confess I'm not quite able to make it out. (Perhaps in full-size?) Anyway, Astbury talks about the dorje, and a lot more — really, worth the quick read — in the interview, here.

And if you wanna hear "Lucifer," the lead single from the record, you preview it via the Rolling Stone link above, or download it via the band's website.

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Teaching of the Buddha

A short movie adapted from the Clear Vision Trust, society that promotes understanding of Buddhist. This clip can be found at www.clear-vision.org Enjoy!

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Weekend with Roshi Joan Halifax

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 01:00 PM PST

Saturday February 18 – 7:30 – 9pm
Sunday February 19 – 9am – 4pm

We are proud to welcome Roshi Joan Halifax in this special weekend to celebrate Against the Stream's 4th Anniversary. Roshi Joan will talk about taking spirituality from the monastery into the streets as we live a practice of Engaged Meditation which includes fierce compassion, radical wisdom and fearlessness. Stay tuned for more info on registration and weekend details. To read more about Roshi Joan, check her website upaya.org

This weekend will be held at 1001a Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90401.
Email:service@againstthestream.org
Website:www.againstthestream.org/programs/joan-halifax-weekend

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Meet the University of Cincinnati’s social worker monk

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 11:00 AM PST

Bhante Aluthgama Chandananda stands out on the University of Cincinnati campus, donning the saffron robes of a Buddhist monk while running to classes. Students and teachers often refer to him as "Chan." The Sri Lanka born monk is currently a resident at the Ohio Buddhist Vihara while also pursuing a master's degree in social work at the University of Cincinnati. Upon graduation, Chan will likely be the first Buddhist monk to graduate from UC with his Ph.D.

Bhante cites his mother as being the one who influenced his calling to service.

"I remember her collecting food, clothes, and other essential items to distribute to the poor. People in trouble or in need often came to our house hoping for some money and a little food."

Bhante, a monk of the Theravada sect, wants to help those suffering from mental afflictions, particularly children. A recently published article featured in Connections magazine (published by the University of Cincinnati's College of Allied Health Services) spotlight's Chan and his work—the publication is currently available in print form only.

"Well-trained social workers are rare in my country, though I now recognize that the services and skills of just such professionals are badly needed."

Before coming to Cincinnati, Chandananda didn't even know that a professional social work degree existed; he received his bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati back in 2010 and is currently pursuing his master's there. Before that he was a high school teacher in Sri Lanka, teaching Buddhist and history, and he also started a scholarship program (still running today) for kids of low economic means.

"During that long period working in a high school I learned to recognize and appreciate the problems, attitudes, and interests of youth, and I gradually found out a lot about dealing with people this age."

In 2010, Chandananda returned to Sri Lanka, putting his newly developed social work skills in to action by starting a housing program. With the help of friends in Cincinnati, they've already had one home built for a family, with another one underway. In 2011 he traveled Japan to help raise funds for tsunami victims and their families. While there, Bhante gained invaluable experience in working with victims of trauma—experience that is sure to come in handy in his chosen line of work.

Wanting to continue his education, he returned to Cincinnati and entered their master's degree program, set for graduation in 2012. He plans to work in the United States for two or three years before returning again to Sri Lanka, where he knows his services and knowledge are now needed.

"My most cherished dream would be to a establish a scientifically-grounded center for mentally disturbed children in Sri Lanka where, so far as I am aware, it would be one of the first such facilities to come into being. It is my sincere hope that my training as a social worker, my previous experience as a high school teacher and my life-long vocation as a Buddhist monk may all coalesce, rendering me a person not only able to fulfill such dreams, but worthy of doing so as well."

Bhante's scholarship and housing project is called "Sri Lankan Scholarships and Shelter Fund" (SSSF). Tax deductable contributions can be made payable to "Georgia Buddhist Vihara". Checks must be marked "SSSF" in the lower left corner in order to insure that every cent collected is expended entirely on modest school stipends and shelter for needy Sri Lankans. All contributors will receive a receipt.

Donations can be sent to:

Rev. A. Chandananda
C/O Georgia Buddhist Vihara
3153 Miller Road
Lithonia, GA-30038

Aluthgama Chandananda became a Buddhist monk in 1981, ordained at Ubhayavapikaragama Temple in Bandaragama, Sri Lanka. He's earned an M.A. degree at Kelaniya University, Sri Lanka and a Diploma of Education from Colombo University, also in Sri Lanka. He served as a Dharma teacher for seven years at Vidyaratna College and was Vice Principal there until March 2003.

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David Suzuki & Thich Nhat Hanh

hoggan.com David Suzuki, Zen Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, and David Suzuki Foundation Chair Jim Hoggan sat down to discuss mindfulness, climate change and how to bring about the collective public awakening needed to restore health to the planet. For more information about David Suzuki please visit - davidsuzuki.org For more information about Thich Nhat Hanh please visit - www.plumvillage.org

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