David Rynick’s “Familiar Suspicion”
David Rynick’s “Familiar Suspicion” |
- David Rynick’s “Familiar Suspicion”
- Sangdo Palri Temple one-year construction progress report
- Forgetting Is Walking On
- Understanding the crisis in Nepal
- Karmapa addresses Khoryug Conference on Environmental Protection
- The Indian Artist Who Wants To Recreate The Past Glory Of Buddhism
- Resting a restless mind
- Thailand’s Grand Vesak Celebrations on the Occasion of Buddhajayanti, 2,600 Years of Buddha’s Enlightenment
- Thai Buddhists mark Buddha Jayanti, Vesak Day
- Chief Sanghanayaka Thera Of Great Britain Sentenced To 7 Years In Prison For Child Abuse
- Mysterious Yoga Retreat in the Desert Ends in a Grisly Death
- Review: Bright Moon, White Clouds, by Li Po & J.P. Seaton
- Take your seat in a free “virtual retreat” with Pema Chödrön
| David Rynick’s “Familiar Suspicion” Posted: 07 Jun 2012 09:00 AM PDT
"Familiar Suspicion" It's a little cool to be out on the back porch so early in the morning, but I can't resist the green suffusion of this spring morning. A blanket over my legs, I sit with my comforting cup of tea in the bouncy deck chair that used to belong to my grandmother. Birds squabble near the hanging feeder while the nearby prehistoric ferns seem to still long for the dinosaurs' return. And I wonder at the generosity of life. The generosity of sight and smell — of imagination and locomotion. My fingers moving across the keyboard demonstrate a percussive intelligence that far outweighs these simple thoughts that leave their traces in these words on the screen. I recognize the flexible pinkish tubes as "mine," yet I have no idea how each one knows the position and timing of its duty. Nor do I have any idea where and how the thoughts arise in me and how I choose one over another. I would say that I am writing, yet the "I" who is writing and how he does it, is fully hidden from me. I come back to my familiar suspicion that this one who I imagine myself to be is only the merest of coverings — a thin veneer self masquerading as prime mover. I must again confess the embarrassing truth that I appear to myself as God: from this deck chair, unless I pay very close attention, I am quite sure it is all up to me. My job is to make sure everything goes right — to think and feel the right things, to make good choices that lead to good results, and to ensure the smooth function of the universe. But this morning I catch a glimpse of the imposter and am relieved to step out of this weighty and impossible job. With no plan the squirrels delight in the free seed scattered beneath the bird feeder. And in this moment, I appreciate that the plan of each finger and the arising of each thought comes for free from the mysterious source that gives life to all. Read More @ Source True Teachings of Jesus & Buddha 
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| Sangdo Palri Temple one-year construction progress report Posted: 07 Jun 2012 08:00 AM PDT
The Temple, which will serve as a place for group practice, was originally envisioned by Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche twenty years ago, when Mangala Shri Bhuti first acquired the land in Crestone. You can watch how construction is coming along at the Sangdo Palri Progress Report Blog, their YouTube channel, or their Flickr page. The project is funded by donations, which are always welcome through the blog. Read More @ SourceSureno Guideline Syntone Remix Tribute to Bangkok Skyline Video Thailand Asia Buddha Trance 
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| Posted: 07 Jun 2012 01:00 AM PDT  Best feet... We say best foot forward. And taking the next step. And As we walk on dissections between near and far are lost. We talk about Going on, always going on. But did you ever think about Forgetting is With a bow of gratitude to the woman who inhabits her feet shown in the photograph. Read More @ SourceThich Nhat Hanh- Mindful Movements 
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| Understanding the crisis in Nepal Posted: 06 Jun 2012 07:00 PM PDT Nepal has been embroiled in a constitutional crisis since last month, when the legislature missed its fourth deadline to draft a new constitution. In response, the prime minister dissolved the legislature and scheduled national elections for November. This op-ed in the New York Times, written by two experts on the region, says that while dismissing the assembly avoided immediate disaster and violence, the elections are unlikely to bring about a stable long-term government in the impoverished nation. The piece explains the political crises that Nepal has faced for over twenty years, and it's worth a read. For more information, the Times' Nepal page collects all its stories about the country. Read More @ SourceForbidden History - Mummies of China 
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| Karmapa addresses Khoryug Conference on Environmental Protection Posted: 06 Jun 2012 06:00 PM PDT  His Holiness the 17th Karmapa participating in a tree-planting ceremony In celebration of World Environment Day yesterday, His Holiness the 17th Karmapa spoke at the first day of the 4th Khoryug Conference on Environmental Protection for Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries — a five-day conference focusing on biodiversity, climate change, and natural disaster preparedness. Representatives from forty-five monasteries throughout the Himalayas and South Asia are gathered in Dharamsala, India, this week for the conference. As part of his opening address, the Karmapa stated, "We should all try our hardest to protect the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas and preserve these ecosystems. Preserving the biodiversity and the ecosystems of our region should be like the effortless practice of dharma for us. Our basic motivation to protect the environment should come from the pure desire to benefit all sentient beings on earth." To learn more about the conference, visit their website at khoryug.org. Read More @ Source
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| The Indian Artist Who Wants To Recreate The Past Glory Of Buddhism Posted: 06 Jun 2012 05:00 PM PDT by Walter Jayawardhana, The Buddhist Channel, June 7, 2012Amarvati, India -- Amarvati is one of the greatest Buddhist civilizations in India. Mallikarjuna Rao is a Buddhist artist who has been inspired by it. He wants to be part of the great revival of Buddhism currently taking place in the country.
"The rich cultural heritage of Amaravati has gained international recognition for being the birthplace of ancient Indian art and sculpture. Recreating the glory of Amaravati on canvas with the help of acrylic colours, Joint Director of the Social Welfare department Regulla Mallikarjuna Rao has conducted a four-day exhibition at the Ambedkar Bhavan here," in the city of Kakinada said the Hindu .
A report said, "Beginning with Salarjung Museum at Hyderabad the exhibition has been conducted so far in Visakhapatnam, Guntur, Chennai and Bangalore and plans are afoot to conduct the same in London, where the remains of Amaravati sculpture were preserved in the prestigious London Museum by the British." "It is an attempt at making people understand the past glory of Buddhism and Amaravati as well. That is why I have given the title 'A Tribute to Amaravathi Glory' to this exhibition,' he says. Read More @ SourceChange 
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| Posted: 06 Jun 2012 04:00 PM PDT by Tara Khadro, The Jakarta Post, June 3, 2012Bali, Indonesia -- I want to stop wrestling with my restless mind," I said to a friend one day. He suggested a Vipassana retreat at the Brahma Vihara Arama Monastery near Lovina in Bali, and I signed up to attend an eight-day silent retreat there.
Vipassana is a non-sectarian meditation practice. Commonly referred to as "insight meditation", Vipassana cultivates an awareness of the direct relationship between body and mind, moment to moment. The technique is simple: place attention on the breath, rest in the belly and welcome and watch all thoughts, feelings and sensations that arise.
Vipassana meditation invites practitioners to take a journey into self-transformation. Daily attendees emerged out of silence for group interviews. Mealtimes proved to be challenging for the majority of retreat participants. "Greediness tends to come in as soon as a meal begins," Sayadaw said. Laughter rose up in agreement when I said: "Yes, the craving mind yells 'I want more! I want more!' when our bellies are full." "How do we get rid of that gnawing voice?" one student asked. "Observe the mind," Sayadaw said. "What state of mind are you eating with? How is the mind feeling? Is it relaxed? You can get to know this talking mind. You are observing to understand the mind as it is, not to make anything disappear." Hirok Ghosh, a Singapore businessman and 15-year Vipassana practitioner, shared a personal story: "I was teaching a university class. I saw this woman that I was attracted to speaking to a man. Anger arose. I allowed the feeling to be present and I kept on teaching. Throughout the class, I maintained a watchful awareness on my anger." Hirok watched and inquired about this anger for four days. Eventually, insight led him to the awareness of the origin of his suffering - expectations. Hirok held expectations about giving and receiving love. After realizing that, he was then able to make a conscious choice as to how to act based on knowledge and wisdom. Vipassana asks practitioners to remain with disturbing feelings, thoughts or physical sensations like a loving mother sits with a hurt child. Sayadaw cautioned to refrain from making a journey into the story of the disturbance. "If a pain from the past arises, it is not old. It is now. It is new." As we sit and observe, we cultivate a forgiving, detached view. Our restless mind begins to rest. Out of this restful view, curiosity arises. We begin to wonder and ask, "What is this?" Or, "What is happening?" These questions lead to insights about the origins of the disturbance. From insight arises wisdom, knowledge and thus understanding, naturally leading toward preventing the disturbance from reoccurring. We may encounter and welcome the disturbance many times, and have various insights before true understanding arises. Hirok said, "Once you start your journey on the path of awareness there's no turning back and saying you wish not to be aware anymore. Awareness is automatically there. That's when I chose awareness to not being aware, because awareness gave me respite from things which caused me suffering when I was unaware." Brahma Vihara Arama's voluptuous gardens, stupas and fountains are the perfect setting to nurture agitated retreat students to dissolve into a relaxed rhythm of moment to moment awareness. The monastery was built in 1970 and is the only Buddhist monastery in Bali. Mediation retreats are held throughout the year with visiting teachers from around the world, and are offered on a donation basis. There are a variety of spaces on the compound where students can get to know and understand the mind. The upper tier of this four-tiered compound is a magnificent grassy open space with stunning views of the sea and surrounding mountains. This green space sits in front of a replica of Borobudur. The Dalai Lama attended the opening ceremony for a Tibetan stupa on the grounds, and next to that stupa is a carefully maintained alcove with a statue of Gautama Buddha sitting underneath an imported bo tree - the tree that the Buddha was sitting under when he attained enlightenment. A practitioner can sit for hours cocooned in the netting of individual meditation huts set along a jungle ravine. The monastery remains open to tourists and pilgrims while retreats are being held. One afternoon, anger arose when I was hard pressed to find a quiet place to meditate. But I remained with my anger until understanding and insight dawned. I thought, "Aha! I'm seeking outside of myself for solitude. The tranquility I seek is inside of me!" Vipassana shows us how to sustain that tranquility throughout everything one might experience in our daily lives. This inner equanimity is our radiant, true nature, and expresses itself as joy. Sayadaw is an excellent example of how continual cultivation of a restful mind can enlighten us. His heartfelt teachings are transmitted on the edge of laughter. One student asked him, "What is the right attitude if we are in a love relationship?" "Laugh! Whatever happens. A relationship is a powerful practice. Keep laughing!" he replied. Read More @ Source
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| Posted: 06 Jun 2012 03:00 PM PDT NNT, June 4, 2012Pattaya, Thailand -- On the full moon day of the sixth lunar month, Buddhists in Thailand celebrate the enlightenment of the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. It is this very same day that two other most important events in Buddhism are believed to have occurred—the birth of Buddha, 45 years before his enlightenment, and his passing away 35 years later.
The Buddha attained enlightenment by discovering the Four Noble Truths about suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the path leading to the cessation of suffering. From its origin in the Indian sub-continent, Buddhism has spread to Thailand and prospered here until it is now regarded as the national religion, with the majority of Thais being Buddhists. There are many Buddhist activities and celebrations every year in Thailand to pay respect to the Buddha and remind Buddhists of his teachings. The Day of Vesak on the occasion of Buddhajayanti is a historic event celebrated nationwide by all sectors of the society since mid May 2012. The main activities taking place at Sanam Luang in Bangkok include merit-making and walks around Buddha's relics or "Wien Thien." The last walk on Vesak Day, which is on 4 June 2012, will be presided over by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. Another grand Vesak celebration is taking place at Buddha Monthon or Buddhist Park in Nakhon Pathom province, where Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will attend a "Wien Thien" ceremony on 4 June at 4.30 pm. The Buddhajayanti celebrations extend beyond the Day of Vesak. After 4 June, the International Buddhist Film Festival 2012 will be organized for the first time in Thailand at SF World Cinema at CentralWorld from 7-10 June 2012. The event features 15 films from 10 countries including Thailand, Japan, China, Korea, U.S.A. and Germany. The opening movie is "Prem Sanyas" or "The Light of Asia," a 1925 silent movie about the life of Buddha and the origin of Buddhism. The Day of Vesak on the occasion of Buddhajayanti marking 2,600 years of Buddha's enlightenment is a once in a life time event. Buddhists should take this opportunity to support Buddhism, practice his teachings, and do good deeds as taught by Buddha, as well as by the founders of the world's other religions. -------- Video (in Thai) Sam Harris: with Bill Maher 
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| Thai Buddhists mark Buddha Jayanti, Vesak Day Posted: 06 Jun 2012 02:00 PM PDT MCOT News, June 4, 2012BANGKOK, Thailand -- Buddhist Thais nationwide marked Vesak Day on Monday which this year also was in commemoration of the 2,600th anniversary of the enlightenment of the Lord Buddha, or Buddha Jayanti.
In the capital, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra led Buddhist Thais, mostly wearing white, to mark the special day of Buddhist to give alms to monks at Sanam Luang where a variety of activities including exhibitions on Buddha's life, Dharma lectures and Buddhist practices were held for Buddhist Promotion Week and the International Day of Vesak, in honor of Buddha's 2,600 years of enlightenment. Buddha relics were moved from the Grand Palace to Sanam Luang for the public to pay homage during the special occasion. Her Majesty Queen Sirikit is scheduled to attend the ceremony at Sanam Luang at 5.35pm, while HRH Princess Sirindhorn will represent the Queen at a ceremony held at Buddhamonthon in Nakhon Pathom at 4pm. Meanwhile, Buddhists nationwide also marked the occasion by making merit at temples. In Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Si Sa Ket, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Phanom, Surat Thani, people gave alms to monks in the morning and prepared for light waving rite in the evening. The United Nations declared Vesak as an International Day in 1999 and encouraged the celebration to be marked around the world. ---------------- Video (in Thai) 
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| Chief Sanghanayaka Thera Of Great Britain Sentenced To 7 Years In Prison For Child Abuse Posted: 06 Jun 2012 01:00 PM PDT The Colombo Telegraph, June 5, 2012London, UK -- The Chief Sanghanayaka Thera of Great Britain and chief incumbent of the Thames Buddhist Vihara has been convicted of four counts of indecent assault on a underage and sentenced to 7 years in prison, a judge ruled today. He is also banned for working with children for life and his name is added to sex offenders register, a court spokesman told The Colombo Telegraph.
He was found not guilty of the rape of a female under 16 between January 1,1977 and December 31,1978 at an address in Chiswick and not guilty of indecent assault on a female under 14 between January 1,1985 and December 31, 1986 at an address in Croydon. In May 2010 Child Abuse Investigation Command officers began an investigation into historical allegations of indecent assault and rape. On Tuesday, 14 September 2010 a (then) 64-year-old monk was arrested on suspicion of an historical indecent assault and rape. He was questioned at Heathrow police station and later bailed pending further enquiries
On Friday, September 23 Pahalagama Somaratana appeared on bail at Feltham Magistrates' Court charged with rape of female under 16 between January 1, 1977 and December 31, 1978 at an address in Chiswick and indecent assault on a female under 16 between January 1, 1977 and December 31, 1978 at an address in Chiswick. Pahalagama Somaratana has been charged with another eight counts of sexual abuse on Friday, November 11 the London Metropolitan police told Colombo Telegraph. According to the metropolitan police these eight indecent assaults on a female under 14 took place between January 1,1985 and December 31,1986 at an address in Croydon. The 65-year-old Pahalagama Somaratana Thero appeared on bail at Feltham Magistrates' Court on Friday, December 2 and was bailed to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on December 20, 2011. Read More @ Source
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| Mysterious Yoga Retreat in the Desert Ends in a Grisly Death Posted: 06 Jun 2012 12:00 PM PDT by Joshua Lott, The New York Times, June 5, 2012
Christie McNally and her husband, Ian Thorson, were among 39 people who had been living in the huts here as part of an extended yoga retreat. BOWIE, Ariz. (USA) -- The rescuers had rappelled from a helicopter, swaying in the brisk April winds as they bore down on a cave 7,000 feet up in a rugged desert mountain on the edge of this rural hamlet. There had been a call for help. Inside, they found a jug with about an inch of water, browned by floating leaves and twigs. They found a woman, Christie McNally, thirsty and delirious. And they found her husband, Ian Thorson, dead.
Strange tales come out of the American desert: lost cities of gold, bandit ambushes, mirages and peyote shamans. To that long list can now be added the story of the holy retreat that led to an ugly death. The retreat — in which adherents communicate only with pen and paper — was designed to allow participants to employ yoga and deep meditation to try to answer some of life's most profound questions. Mostly, though, it has only raised more questions.
When Ms. McNally and Mr. Thorson left the retreat on Feb. 20, after having participated for one year and one month, she had been its leading teacher. The monk who ran the retreat, Michael Roach, had previously run a diamond business worth tens of millions of dollars and was now promoting Buddhist principles as a path to financial prosperity, raising eyebrows from more traditional Buddhists. He had described Ms. McNally for a time as his "spiritual partner," living with him in platonic contemplation. What the other participants did not know is that before she married Mr. Thorson, Ms. McNally had been secretly married to Mr. Roach, in stark violation of the Buddhist tradition to which he belongs. Even the manner in which Ms. McNally and Mr. Thorson left the retreat adds a fresh turn to an already twisty tale. It came days after she made a startling revelation during one of her lectures: she said that Mr. Thorson had been violent toward her, and that she had stabbed him, using a knife they had received as a wedding gift. The authorities do not suspect foul play in Mr. Thorson's death. Still, the events at Diamond Mountain University, as the place that hosts the retreat is known, have pried open the doors of an intensely private community, exposing rifts among some of Mr. Roach's most loyal followers and the unorthodoxy of his practices. In an interview, Matthew Remski, a yoga teacher from Toronto who unleashed a storm online after posting a scathing critique of Mr. Roach after Mr. Thorson's death, described Mr. Roach as a "charismatic Buddhist teacher" whom he used to respect until his popularity "turned him into a celebrity" whose inner circle was "impossible to penetrate." Others spoke of bizarre initiation ceremonies at Diamond Mountain. Sid Johnson, a former volunteer who also served on its board of directors, said his involved "kissing and genital touching." Ekan Thomason, a Buddhist priest who graduated from a six-year program there, said hers included drawing blood from her finger and handling a Samurai sword, handed to her by Ms. McNally. "Should a Buddhist university really be doing such things?" Ms. Thomason asked. Erik Brinkman, a Buddhist monk who remains one of Mr. Roach's staunchest admirers, said, "If the definition of a cult is to follow our spiritual leader into the desert, then we are a cult." Mr. Thorson's mother, Kay Thorson, hired two counselors about 10 years ago to pry her son away from Mr. Roach, who was trained under the same monastic tradition as the Dalai Lama. She recalled him as "strange," someone who "sometimes connects, sometimes doesn't, but who clearly connected with people who were ready to donate and adulate." The intervention — the term she used to describe it — offered only temporary relief. Mr. Thorson left for Europe for a time, but eventually rejoined the group. "We learned of a possible offshoot to over-meditation, or meditation out of balance, or the wrong guidance in meditation; I don't know the right word here," Mrs. Thorson said in an interview. She recalled her son's "compromised critical thinking, as far as making decisions and analyzing things," and she feared Mr. Roach's technique and guidance had pushed him there, but could not get him back. Mr. Thorson and Ms. McNally, 39, married on Oct. 3, 2010, by the sea in Montauk, N.Y., almost three months before they left for the retreat and a month after Mr. Roach had filed for divorce from her. Ms. McNally and Mr. Roach had an old Dodge Durango, $ 30,000 in credit card debt and little else, according to the filing, in Yavapai County Superior Court. The marriage was a closely held secret. In writing, the only way he agreed to answer questions, Mr. Roach, who uses the title "geshe," a type of doctoral degree in theology in the Buddhist monastic system, said he and Ms. McNally "come from strong Christian backgrounds" and "wanted to do a Christian partnership ritual at the same time we did the Buddhist one, at the beginning of our partnership." (They were married on April 16, 1998, in Little Compton, R.I.) He also said he wanted her to be "legally entitled" to his possessions if something happened to him. Their success seemed interdependent: They had written books together, given lectures around the world and were the forces behind Diamond Mountain. In early February of this year, Ms. McNally and Mr. Thorson received a letter from Mr. Roach and the five other members of Diamond Mountain's board of directors, demanding explanations for the violence and stabbing she had discussed in her lesson. There was no reply. In a letter she posted online — which she wrote after their departure from the retreat, though before Mr. Thorson's death — Ms. McNally described it as an accident by a novice martial-arts practitioner rehearsing her moves. The board's president, Rob Ruisinger, said in an interview that Mr. Thorson had been stabbed three times in the torso, and that one of the wounds had been sutured by a medical professional who is among the retreat's participants. Ms. McNally and Mr. Thorson were given five days to leave. Instead, they departed without notice. In her letter, she said they simply were not ready to go back into the world, so they decided to "go camping in the cow-herding land" next to Diamond Mountain "to get our thoughts settled." When people came looking for them, they clambered uphill, she wrote, to the cave where Mr. Thorson would die. Some of the retreat participants would leave water for them, knowing they were still around. She told the authorities that at some point, she fell ill, he fell ill and they grew too weak to fetch it, said Sgt. David Noland, the search-and-rescue coordinator for the Cochise County Sheriff's Office. On April 22 at 6 a.m., Ms. McNally sent a distress signal to Diamond Mountain from a portable transmitter she had been carrying. Three of Diamond Mountain's caretakers set out to look for her and Mr. Thorson, but could not find them. Around 8 a.m., the caretakers called 911. Mr. Thorson was cremated in nearby Willcox on April 26. His mother said it was the last time she saw Ms. McNally, who could not be reached for comment. The retreat is set to end on April 3, 2014. Of its original 39 participants, 34 remain. Read More @ SourceDay 1 - Kalachakra 2012 Preliminary Teachings 
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| Review: Bright Moon, White Clouds, by Li Po & J.P. Seaton Posted: 06 Jun 2012 11:00 AM PDT  What a truly beautiful little book this is. Small enough to fit in a generous pocket, but so full of wonderful poetry that it be a companion on any long journey and not be exhausted of inspiration to its reader. J. P. Seaton has translated many excellent works from Chinese previously, including Cold Mountain Poems, The Poetry of Zen, and The Shambhala Anthology of Chinese Chinese Poetry, and here is another gem from his expertise. As Professor Emeritus of Chinese at the University of North Carolina he has decades of experience in the field of Chinese literature, and his knowledge of both Chinese language & culture make him an expert in the field of translating Chinese into English with both precision & sensitivity. Some of the poems in this collection appear in English for the first time. "Thinking of East Mountain I Long time since I turned toward East Mountain. How many times have those roses bloomed? All the white clouds of those days scattered. Whose house is it that the bright moon shines on now? II Today I came hand in hand with a little Miss Hsieh, Sighing long for all this friends no longer able… Hear me, all travelers East Mountain bound! We've opened the pass, and swept the white clouds clear." (Ibid. p.73) Li Po, the poet behind this wonderful verse was a 8th Century Chinese poet that wrote of nature, Zen, and wine. He has long been a popular poet in China, and has been considered a leading proponent of Lao Zi's Daoist philosophy for a thousand years. His life and character are steeped in legend, and this is explored in the generous introduction to the poet penned by the translator. The poems themselves deal with friendship, loneliness, drunkenness, war, pacifism, and wandering through nature. Seaton has placed the poems in this book into five parts, covering the life of Li Po. In doing so, the translator intends for the reader to glimpse the changes the poet went through in his life. "Goodbyes in a Chin-! ling Win e Shop The breeze breathes the shop full of willow fragrance, the prettiest girls in Wu press drink on us, forcing us to try… Chin-ling's best have come to see me off. I want to go, but I cannot go until every toast is answered. Life's ever-eastward flowing stream… or the loving thought that rides it, which is longer? You tell me… now" (Bright Moon, White Clouds p.38) "Jade Stairs Lament Jade steps grow white dew. Night, late, has its way with her silken hose. So let the crystal curtain fall… In its jingling glitter, gaze on many Autumn moons." (Ibid. 119) This delightful work is a superb addition to anyone that appreciates! orienta l literature. Li Po's marvelous words travel not only through the mountains of China, but also through time to us modern English speakers. And this is to the credit of J.P. Seaton, the translator, of course. Moreover, for those with a taste for Daoist and Buddhist poetry, the verses of Li Po also travel through the heart, seeking out deeper meanings to life's sometimes joyous, sometimes sad flux. This book comes wholeheartedly recommended by this reviewer, not only for the orientalist, but also for anyone keen on uplifting poetry. Title & Author : Bright Moon, White Clouds, by Li Po & J.P. Seaton Publishers : Shambhala Publications Page Count : 240 Price : $ 14.95 ISBN : 9781590307465 Web Links : Bright Moon, White Clouds at Shambhala Publications Related post: Review: Haiku, An Anthology of Japanese Poems  
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| Take your seat in a free “virtual retreat” with Pema Chödrön Posted: 06 Jun 2012 10:00 AM PDT
To gain access to the video, visit pemachodronfoundation.org. There's no cost to doing this, though donations are welcome and will go to the support of a project that is dear to Pema's heart. Incidentally, July 14 is also Pema's 76th birthday, so you're encouraged to consider your practice a gift. For more details on the retreat, visit pemachodronfoundation.org or friend them on Facebook. Read More @ SourceThe Mystic Heart - Part 1- The Supreme Identity 
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David Rynick, abbot of the Boundless Way Zen Temple in Worcester, Massachusetts, has written a new book called 
His exhibition of paintings has been named, "A Tribute To Amaravati Glory." Although all the paintings have been sold the new owners have agreed to continue the exhibition going round the country. The money earned out of the sales has been donated to Dhyan Buddha project of Amaravatiin Guntur district.
<< Stupendous: The Brahma Vihara Arama Monastery near Lovina in Bali has a variety of spaces where students can reflect, including a replica of Borobudur on a grassy open field with stunning views of the sea and surrounding mountains. JP/Budhi Arta
Venerable Pahalagama Somaratana, 65, of Dulverton Road, Croydon was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court on May 1 of four counts of indecent assault on a female under 16 between January 1, 1977 and December 31,1978 at an address in Chiswick.
The puzzle only deepened when the authorities realized that the couple had been expelled from a nearby Buddhist retreat in which dozens of adherents, living in rustic conditions, had pledged to meditate silently for three years, three months and three days. Their spiritual leader was a charismatic Princeton-educated monk whom some have accused of running the retreat as a cult.
Because Pema Chödrön will spend nearly all of 2012 in retreat, we'd like to let you know about a special opportunity for you to connect with and honor her by way of practice. Created by the Pema Chödrön Foundation, July 14th's recently announced "virtual retreat" will explore the theme of Practicing Peace, by way of an exclusive Pema teaching specially filmed for the occasion.| You are subscribed to email updates from BuddhaRocks ☸ Buddhist To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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