His Holiness the Dalai Lama comments on the death of Adam Yauch
His Holiness the Dalai Lama comments on the death of Adam Yauch |
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama comments on the death of Adam Yauch
- “Embracing Chance in Your Life: What the Buddhists Teach”
- Bollywood latest success story Paoli Dam says her secret is her religion - Buddhism
- Devotees mark Wesak Day with offerings and float processions
- Fewer animals released into wild on Vesak Day
- Sri Lanka celebrates largest religious festival among challenges
- Massachusetts Thai Buddhist temple celebrates construction milestone
- Buddha's Enlightenment a "non-event" in India
- Should we ‘celebrate’ Vesak?
| His Holiness the Dalai Lama comments on the death of Adam Yauch Posted: 08 May 2012 08:00 AM PDT  The Dalai Lama and Adam Yauch. Photo: Sue Kwon Following the news of Beastie Boy and Tibet activist Adam "MCA" Yauch's death, The Daily Mail quoted a spokesperson for His Holiness the Dalai Lama as saying: "Adam had helped us raise awareness on the plight of the Tibetan people by organizing various freedom Tibet concerts and he will be remembered by His Holiness and the Tibetan people." Yauch and the Beastie Boys were the organizers and driving force behind the influential Tibetan Freedom Concerts, and some of their Buddhist-inspired songs from the album Ill Communication appear in Gary Gach's anthology What Book?!: Buddha Poems from Beat to Hiphop. He also interviewed the Dalai Lama for the Beastie Boys' short-lived Grand Royal magazine. Yauch also headed up the film distributor Oscilloscope Laboratories, which in 2008 put out the Buddhist-themed films Burma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country and Unmistaken Child. Though active mostly in distribution, he was a film director as well: among others, Yauch helmed the experimental Beastie Boys concert film Awesome; I F—in' Shot That! (2006) under the pseudonym Nathanial Hörnblowér. Yauch, who was a practicing Buddhist, is survived by his wife Dechen Wangdu, who was active in Students for a Free Tibet; daughter Tenzin Losel Yauch; and parents Frances and Noel Yauch. For more about Yauch, including a Shambhala Sun interview, see the Shambhala SunSpace's post about his death. Our condolences to Yauch's friends and family, and all our fellow fans. Read More @ Source"Superstitions" - dhamma talk by Ajahn Brahm 
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| “Embracing Chance in Your Life: What the Buddhists Teach” Posted: 08 May 2012 06:00 AM PDT
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| Bollywood latest success story Paoli Dam says her secret is her religion - Buddhism Posted: 07 May 2012 04:00 PM PDT By Walter Jayawardhana, The Buddhist Channel, May 7, 2012Mumbai, India -- Bollywood screen's latest success story, actress Paoli Dam coinciding with Vesak or as the Indians call it Buddha Purnima told the Times of India that the reason for her success is her religion Buddhism.
Many leading actors and actresses of Hollywood during the last decades have become Buddhists following the preaching of the Dalai Lama. Films depicting Buddhism was one of the result of their close association with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader. But the spiritual leader of Paoli Dam has been the Japanese Buddhist leader Dr. Daisaku Ikeda.
The newspaper quoted her as saying, "Buddhism has been a huge support in my life and whatever I have done till date has only been possible because of my mentor Dr. Daisaku Ikeda and by chanting Nam Myoho Renege Kyo. (Glory to the Sutra of the Lotus of the Supreme Law) It brings out my true spirit from within" Paoli has been so affected by this wonderful philosophy that she's even introduced her brother to Buddhism! .the Times said. The IANS news service wrote on her recently, "She is as bold as one can get. But Paoli Dam, who did a full frontal nudity scene in her Bengali movie "Chatrak" last year, says boldness is all in the head. "What is bold for you may not be bold for me. Boldness is a state of mind," Paoli, now the lead actress of Bollywood film 'Hate Story', said to be topped with dollops of sex and violence, told IANS in an interview The 31 year old Paoli Dam who has completed her post graduate studies in a Bengali university in Chemistry says her parents have approved of her bold acting in the films. "I want to do good cinema with good directors and banners. Script matters to me. I am a newcomer and different people have their own way of growing. I don't want to compare myself with anyone. For me bold is beautiful in its own way," she added Read More @ SourceAlan Watts: The Nature of Conciousness (Part 1 of 6) 
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| Devotees mark Wesak Day with offerings and float processions Posted: 07 May 2012 03:00 PM PDT The Star, May 6, 2012KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Buddhists throughout the country marked Wesak Day by thronging temples and offering prayers, as well as with colourful float processions.
Ceremonies included the chanting of verses, blessing and sprinkling of holy water by monks, dana (offering of food to monks and nuns) and also the bathing of young Prince Siddhartha's image. In PENANG, the Mahindrama Buddhist temple in Kampar Road was a hive of activity as devotees brought milk to be offered at the temple's Bodhi tree. "Buddha is in fact a supreme being and not to be mistaken for God. When he attained enlightenment (nirvana), the beams of light were said to be seen by the blind and also those in hell," said temple management committee chairman Kung Kok Chye.
This was to observe the "Metta Round the World" initiative for world peace, harmony and stability. A similar event was also held at the Malaysian Buddhist Association in Burmah Road. At the Kek Lok Si temple, visitors from the Netherlands, Ted van der Linden, a software engineer, and his wife Jessica, both 32, were seen bathing the young Prince Siddhartha's image with floral scented water. "We were married on April 20 and we're on our honeymoon now. There are so many things to observe here the people, the culture, the food and we don't think there is any other country as unique as Malaysia," said Jessica, a legal adviser. Wat Chaiya Mangalaram Thai Buddhist temple chief monk Phra Kru Phothitummawat @ Archan Nui led hundreds of devotees in the observance of the eight precepts and the Buddha puja. He is also the founder of Phra Palad Nui in Scotland Road, where devotees and monks lit up more than 4,500 pineapple lamps. In KUALA LUMPUR, the Buddhist Maha Vihara temple in Brickfields saw a large crowd with joss sticks praying while others brought flowers. Among them was Briton Gerry Long, 73, a Buddhist who is here under the Malaysia My Second Home programme. Accounts officer M. Ambiga, 47, her husband M. Raju, 47, and two children Saanjeev Raj, 17 and Tora Raj, 12, were each seen holding a bunch of daisies. "We came here to present flowers to Buddha," said Ambiga, who was also accompanied by her cousin Jai Ganesh, 17. Wesak Day is held to commemorate the birth, enlightenment (nirvana) and death (parinirvana) of Lord Buddha. The year 2012 marks the 2,556th Buddha Era. Read More @ Source
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| Fewer animals released into wild on Vesak Day Posted: 07 May 2012 02:00 PM PDT Today, May 5, 2012SINGAPORE -- An increase in awareness has led to fewer people releasing animals into the wild, according to the National Parks Board (NParks).
Birds and rabbits are some of the animals commonly released into the wild on Vesak Day. It is a common practice on this day and some believe it is an act of kindness. Fifty-seven-year-old Goh Juan Hui, a volunteer with the NParks, has spotted many such cases in recent years. "Over the years, I've seen some people who are ignorant about animals, especially the pets," he said. "I've seen rabbits being released in the Lower Peirce Reservoir area, and also... bullfrogs in the reservoir. And you notice that they are not able to survive in that sort of environment, and eventually they die.
For the ninth year in a row, NParks is advising the public against releasing animals on Vesak Day. The message appears to be working: There were 10 cases in 2009, five in 2010, and none last year. NParks conservation director Wong Tuan Wah said: "We are happy to note this declining trend. And this could also be [because] people are more aware that releasing the animals will actually cause them more harm than good." This year, NParks is working with 30 volunteers, including 20 primary school students from CHIJ Our Lady Queen of Peace, to conduct an Outreach Ambassador session to patrol the nature reserves and reservoirs over the weekend. They will look out for any case of animal release and educate the public on the harm of releasing animals into the wild. The Buddhist Fellowship said the practice of releasing animals may encourage vendors to increase the supply of animals for this very purpose. Buddhist Fellowship president Angie Chew Monksfield said: "Some people think that by releasing animals on Vesak Day, they get extra merits and I think that is probably the wrong perception." "The alternative to releasing animals is to eat less meat. That way, the demand is reduced, the supply will reduce automatically," she said. Under the law, it is an offence to abandon pets in Singapore. Offenders can be sentenced to a year's jail, fined up to S$ 10,000 or both. Read More @ SourceDocumentary About Buddha Boy (2 of 5) Ram Bahadur Bamjan 
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| Sri Lanka celebrates largest religious festival among challenges Posted: 07 May 2012 01:00 PM PDT By Uditha Jayasinghe, Xinhua, May 6, 2012COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Light sparkles on lanterns and lamps strung on the roadside and in homes as Sri Lanka celebrates its most popular religious festival Vesak here on Sunday.
At times informally called "Buddha's Birthday", it actually encompasses the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Gautama Buddha. Since it celebrates the "enlightenment" of the Buddha the predominant emphasis is on the symbol of light in the celebrations. Lantern skeletons made of bamboo sticks tied together sit stacked into piles on the edge of the road while vendors do brisk business. People are scrambling to buy colored paper to make the lanterns and for most children this is the most enjoyable time of the year.
With some lanterns being as much as 640 rupees (5 U.S. dollars) most families are finding it expensive but tradition prevails and each home will have several lanterns of varying sizes and Buddhist flags with their distinct coloring fluttering their faith. Since over 75 percent of Sri Lanka's population is Buddhist, Vesak is arguably the most celebrated religious festival with thousands of Buddhists garbed in white worshipping at temples and giving alms. The exact date of Vesak varies according to the various lunar calendars used in different traditions. In Theravada countries such as Sri Lanka following the Buddhist calendar, it falls on a full moon day, typically in the 5th or 6th lunar month. The date varies from year to year in the Western Gregorian calendar, but usually falls in April or May. In Sri Lanka long before the government has given extra holidays for the event, people in villages will visit homes and collect donations for "dansal"that will be offering food and drink to people during Vesak. "We are having a coffee dansala," says an enthusiastic Supun de Silva from the shelter of a makeshift shed where his friends have gathered to make the beverage and distribute to all passersby. Hundreds of dansal distributing everything from ice cream to fully fledged rice meals are open during the two days of Vesak with people all too pleased to wait in line or stop their vehicles to help themselves. This form of social service is done with much enjoyment and organizers as well as beneficiaries have much fun. Hygiene is not much worried about and while government health inspectors are deployed to test some dansal the great majority is not policed but this does not bother most citizens. Dansal are also held by the armed forces and interestingly can be seen in profusion in the once war torn north and east of the country. With dansal is another uniquely Sri Lankan tradition pandols. These are large paintings depicting the past 550 lives of the Buddha, believed to have been lived before he became enlightened, displayed on a large structure and festooned with mesmeric patterns of light bulbs. Every year dozens of these pandols spring up around the country, each vying to be larger and more colorful than the next, reminding the people of the sacrifices that need to be made on the path to nirvana and passing on the legends to the next generation. After worshipping at the temple and lighting the lanterns at home most people of all religions take to the streets to see elaborate lanterns, pandols, eat street food and enjoy themselves. However, high electricity costs have motivated the Power and Energy Ministry to ask people to reduce consumption. This together with overall cost of living has resulted in fewer pandols than the 2011 celebrations. On the eve of Vesak the government increased gas, milk powder and cement prices causing a shock to consumers. President Mahinda Rajapaksa was quick to deflect dissent in his Vesak message that called on people to, "joy in the Buddha and his teachings that abide in the minds of all Sri Lankans.. We must be aware that all who are of wrongful mind and thinking cause many divisions and clashes that close the doors to our progress." Principal celebrations will be carried out at the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, which is the most revered symbol of faith among Buddhists. Over 200 Buddhist monks will converge for a special ceremony which will be addressed by Rajapaksa on Sunday. Over 10 000 monks and people will also be given a massive alms giving by the temple. Vesak has also encompassed the north and east with 20 pandols being constructed in the former war torn areas and Buddhists giving alms to their Tamil neighbors. Elsewhere it is a common sight to see people of other faiths lighting lanterns and participating in the celebrations. As the third Vesak after the end of the three decade war is celebrated the optimistic light has dimmed but people are still hopeful of a better tomorrow. Read More @ SourceDilgo Khyentse Rinpoche 2/5 
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| Massachusetts Thai Buddhist temple celebrates construction milestone Posted: 07 May 2012 12:00 PM PDT  Photo courtesy of arcusa.com Wat Nawamintararachutis NMR Meditation Center, a Thai Buddhist temple under construction on 50 acres of land in Raynham, Massachusetts, celebrated a construction milestone on May 3 with the addition of the highest structural steel element (the 183-foot high golden chedi). The 10,000-square-foot, $ 50 million temple, which will be the largest Thai temple constructed outside of Thailand, broke ground in September and is set for completion in June of next year. The construction of the royal temple commemorates the 60th anniversary of the coronation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was born in Massachusetts in 1927. The Theravada temple was established in 2002 and moved to its current location in 2006 to allow for the construction of a temple complex "with facilities for monks, a meditation center, and a cultural center for Thai arts and learning." Click here for more information and architectural renderings of the new temple. Read More @ SourceRelaxation music 
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| Buddha's Enlightenment a "non-event" in India Posted: 07 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT by Walter Jayawardhana, The Buddhist Channel, May 7, 2012
Times of India complains Buddha's 2,600 years of Enlightenment not an event in many Indian states New Delhi, India -- While most Asian countries are planning to exploit the occasion of 2,600 years of enlightenment of Buddha, seven Indian states having Buddhist heritage have not spent anything substantial to tap tourists from Buddhist-majority Asian tiger economies and China, during the last two decades .complained the Times of India in a signed editorial by Sanjay Sharma.
The article criticized Uttar Predesh saying, "Regions of Uttar Pradesh had played important roles in spread of Meditation as Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath near Banaras." Times of India attacked the state of Bihar as the state "where Buddha got enlightenment 2,600 years back, has failed to protect, maintain, promote and equip three sites under its jurisdiction. Taradih site, close to Bodh Gaya temple, is a picture of utter neglect to the extent that it has become a waste dump site. Similar is the position of Parvati Hills site." The newspaper categorically stated: "The apathy of states towards Buddhist heritage is surprising in the wake of the fact that the enlightenment event could have been used by India, where Buddha achieved liberation, instead of Thailand and Sri Lanka cashing on the biggest event in the history of Meditation."
The Buddhist Forum's main force, Siddharth Gauri, told The Times of India that Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, New Delhi and Rajasthan were asked 12 questions related to how much they spent on protection, excavation, preservation, fencing, security, tourism promotion and propagation, providing toilets, drinking water, pathways and lighting of ancient Buddhist sites between 1990 and 2011 under each individual state's jurisdiction. The forum also sought information on how much of total budget was spent on all sites under each state, the listing of such sites, expenditure on exploration, documentation of loose sculptures and research in various institutions. The shocker of information came from Uttar Pradesh, till recently ruled by a Buddha admirer-chief minister Mayawathie, saying that no site was found under state jurisdiction despite the fact that Mathura's Gobindnagar appears to be a site under state's jurisdiction. The state did not spend even a single rupee on this count. Gauri, however, showed the picture of a signboard declaring that Gobindnagar site is under state archeology department and a fine of Rs 5,000 may be slapped if somebody is found causing harm to the site. Regions of Uttar Pradesh had played important roles in spread of Meditation as Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath near Banaras. Bihar, where Buddha got enlightenment 2600 years back, has failed to protect, maintain, promote and equip three sites under its jurisdiction. Taradih site, close to Bodh Gaya temple, is a picture of utter neglect to the extent that it has become a waste dump site. Similar is the position of Parvati Hills site. Punjab, Himachal, Delhi and Rajasthan have drawn a blank in terms of spending money on these twelve counts. Rajasthan said it did not have any site, but failed to carry out any exploration at Kama and Au sites. Punjab handed over Sanghol site to Archeological Survey of India in 2000. The only states that spent some money on Buddhist sites are Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. Haryana spent Rs 75,84,448 (US$ 145,000) between 2005 and 2010 for preserving Chaneti stupa in Yamunangar district, but could not even stop encroachment of a site where a great culture of Sugh flourished at the time of Buddha. The state did not promote its Buddhist heritage and failed to undertake exploration at Aherwan, Badhas, Amin, Sandhay and Mewat. Jammu and Kashmir has spent just Rs 2.57 lakh (US$ 4,850) on Parhaspora Pattan site in Baramulla district and the budget came down to just Rs 3,500 (US$ 66) in 2008-2009. There are many unattended sites in the state. The apathy of states towards Buddhist heritage is surprising in the wake of the fact that the enlightenment event could have been used by India, where Buddha achieved liberation, instead of Thailand and Sri Lanka cashing on the biggest event in the history of Meditation. As per a UN estimate, around 300 million to 330 million people across the globe go on religious tourism and Asia is best placed to benefit from it. Read More @ Source
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| Posted: 07 May 2012 10:00 AM PDT by Daya Dissanayake, The Nation, May 6, 2012Colombo, Sri Lanka -- Buddhist is the most environment-friendly religion on Earth, and Vesak is the most important day for the Buddhists. How should we spend this day? Every year this topic is discussed, written about over and over again, and after Vesak till the next year, we forget about it. This article is an attempt to look at all the issues once more, but from a different angle.
A person who observes the Five Precepts is the most eco-friendly person among us. The first precept ensures that no living creatures are hurt or killed. The person who observes the first precept will not spray pesticides and insecticides on plants. This would save ecosystem including lives of animals big and small as well as indirectly stop poisoning the people who consume such food. When we do not kill or consume meat, we become more peaceful and kind.
The third precept ensures our abstention from sexual misconduct. When we follow it, our women and children will be safe from abuse, molestation and AIDS. Then including those and other STDs will disappear from the face of the Earth. The fourth precept ensures our refraining from incorrect speech. Due to correct speech, no one will mislead us telling us lies for their personal gain. No hate-speech occurs any more to put brother against brother. When we follow the first three precepts, we automatically follow the fourth precept. The fifth precept ensures peace at home and in the village. The first four precepts are usually violated by those who violate the fifth, and those who keep to the other four precepts never violate the fifth. If all our Buddhists follow Five Precepts that they recite day in and day out, the government does not have to ban selling meat and alcohol on Vesak and other Poya days. Both these businesses would never open in such a situation, except to serve the few non-Buddhists in the country. Likewise, if all employers follow the second and the fourth precepts, no need arises to hold May Day rallies. If all of us could keep our promises, as we recite the Five Precepts, what a beautiful and wonderful country this could be, and what an inheritance to leave for our children! Re-reading the Tripitaka, specially Aggana Sutta and Cakkavatti Sutta, trying to understand how man's greed led to his own destruction over the ages, is a need of our time. To make this more feasible, it is high time to translate the Tripitaka into modern day Sinhala so that all lay people could read and understand what the Buddha said. Today most of us cannot understand easily the officially available Sinhala translation of the Tripitaka published 56 years ago on the Buddha Jayanthi unless we have a good knowledge of Pali and old Sinhala. Because of this handicap, 'Evam Me Sutam' we have to hear from third or fourth persons, and we are hampered with "Ehipassiko". Today our country has achieved such a high literacy rate and therefore, our people are highly educated and very intelligent. Really, they do not need to hear bana day and night to understand what is right. Instead of preaching bana, people should be encouraged from their young age to start reading and learning the Buddha Dhamma themselves. Enough books are available now both in Sinhala and English languages including pioneer books such as Ven. Walpola Rahula Thera's 'What the Buddha Taught' (Budun Vadala Dharmaya). It is the only way to educate our people. We cannot blame them today for going after meaningless practices, which we have borrowed from other cultures and religions alien to us. They are also so harmful to our environment.
The most environmentally damaging act we find on Vesak day is the illuminations all over the country. A Vesak pandal would have around 50,000 bulbs. Around the country we have several hundred such pandals on a Vesak day. This is in addition to the illumination of buildings and streets. Whether the power is drawn from the national grid or from private power generators, we consume fossil fuel. We are burning money, polluting the atmosphere and contributing to global warming. A really pathetic report in a recent news item was that the CEB expects power piracy to increase during Vesak, Does it mean our Buddhists, after reciting the second precept, are stealing more on Vesak Day?! If we need illumination we could light just one clay lamp, because what is we should do on this great day is not to illuminate the surroundings but to illuminate our innerself. Pandals were a necessity when most people were illiterate, when they could not read and understand the teachings of the Buddha. Then they had to be shown the Narakadiya and enacted Jataka stories. Most of the Jataka stories depicted in the pandals today are very familiar to almost all the people in the country. Is there any need to spend colossal sums to show them repetitively things that they already know? Giving Dansala by the road side everywhere in the country is another act we should rethink. There was a time when people traveled on foot or by cart from villages to the city to see the pandals and Vesak decorations. It would have been a meritorious deed to provide food and drink to these people. Today the Dansala has become a mere farce. Sometimes it only reminds us of NGO's distributing food to people in Ethiopia. Though there are a few misguided people among us who would want our country to become an Ethiopia, we are a fortunate country where people have not reached and would never reach starvation levels. Instead of spending money on Vesak Dansala, if we forego a meal from a high class restaurant at least once a month, we can feed a needy family for a whole month. Instead of spending millions on wedding receptions to feed people who are already overfed and overweight, we can offer a simple meal to the wedding guests and feed a whole village for one month. I would like someone to explain to me and to all the readers how the serving of manioc, ice cream, coffee or a fruit drink could earn us merit, or appease the thirst and hunger of a starving child. My understanding is that offering of alms is to be made to those who are in need, and it has to be with good intentions, with a loving heart and without expecting anything in return. We also offer flowers in millions and make aloka puja by lighting millions of lamps. By the time we collect one million flowers, most of them are withered. In addition, we have deprived nature of most of the flowers on trees. How much coconut oil is burned on these lamps need to be considered too. Do we earn merit million times more by this act? Can't we light just one lamp and offer one flower instead? Let us all live in harmony with the nature. Let us be satisfied with what we have and not to have lust for what others have or enjoy. Let us open our eyes to realize that 'Small is Beautiful', not because Schumacher reminded us about it, but because it is a lesson we have learnt from the Buddha. Let us be peaceful and useful for all lives on Earth. Vesak is not a day for 'celebrations'. It is a day for contemplation, for meditation. Read More @ SourceInterconnectedness by Ajahn Brahm 
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In an interview she said, "I have been following this Buddhism for seven years now. Within the initial years of my practice, my life changed completely and new opportunities in my career suddenly opened up. Through Buddhism, I am able to maintain peace and balance in my life. It just feels so good."
<< Act of faith: Devotees bathing the young Prince Siddhartha's image with floral scented water at the Hong Hock See Temple in Penang.
But NParks is still urging members of the public not to release animals into the wild this Vesak Day.
Vesak is a holy day observed traditionally by Buddhists in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the South East Asian countries of Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, and Indonesia.
<< The Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, Bihar, site of Buddha's Enlightenment
Among all the teachings of the Buddha, we cannot find a single word that goes against nature, that would hurt or harm any living thing on Earth, or that would cause any disruption of the natural ecosystem. Today our people call themselves Eco-Buddhists - an unnecessary prefix - as Buddhist naturally cannot be eco-enemies but eco-friendly since they are a prominent part of that very eco-system.
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