Famous Abbot Takes Up Monastery Dispute
Famous Abbot Takes Up Monastery Dispute |
- Famous Abbot Takes Up Monastery Dispute
- Tibetan monk self-immolates in Ngaba, dies from injuries
- What makes us behave compassionately?
- August 9-11: Buddhist Geeks conference to be livestreamed for free
- Pak police seize 2,000-year-old Buddhist relics worth millions
- Obon Festival at Buddhist temple offers a taste of hospitality
- Meditating Buddhist monk saddles up for London
- Taiwan to stage first same-sex Buddhist wedding
- Samye Monastery reborn
- Japanese minister visits Shrawasti, assures support
- Buddhist order spreads temple cuisine
- Movies, music, and more: The Wu-Tang’s “Abbot” speaks
- China to build ‘Tibetan theme park’ in Lhasa
- Digital Dharma at the Rubin Museum
- Practices Derived from Buddhist Meditation Show Real Effectiveness for Certain Health Problems
- Buddha Ear
- Buddhist Geeks conference to be livestreamed for free
| Famous Abbot Takes Up Monastery Dispute Posted: 17 Jul 2012 09:00 AM PDT |
| Tibetan monk self-immolates in Ngaba, dies from injuries Posted: 17 Jul 2012 08:00 AM PDT  Lobsang Lozin via tibet.org The Central Tibet Administration is reporting that 18 year-old Lobsang Lozin of Kirti Monastery self-immolated at noon today in the Ngaba region of Tibet. Before setting himself afire, Lobsang shouted in protest of Chinese rule in Tibet, dying from his injuries on the spot. Chinese security forces are reported to be moving in to the area now following the incident, though locals have blocked access to a bridge to keep forces out. Read the original news release from the Central Tibet Administration by visiting here. For past coverage of the self-immolation phenomenon from us, see here. Read More @ Source
|
| What makes us behave compassionately? Posted: 17 Jul 2012 07:00 AM PDT This weekend, The New York Times reported on two new studies that help explain what makes people behave compassionately. Regardless of what happens to another person, David DeSteno writes, simply finding similarities between ourselves and other people, is enough to greatly increase the compassion we feel, and increase social harmony. And the similarities don't have to big — tapping out the same rhythm as another participant was enough to increase empathy in one of the studies. See the Times' report on the studies here. For more ways to develop compassion, see Thanissaro Bhikkhu's "I Want to Be… Loving," and Judy Lief's "I Want to Be… Skillful," both from the current, July 2012 Shambhala Sun magazine. And consider adding your name to religious historian Karen Armstrong's Charter for Compassion, a call to action that transcends religious and ideological beliefs and encourages people around the world to campaign for a more compassionate global community. Read More @ Source
|
| August 9-11: Buddhist Geeks conference to be livestreamed for free Posted: 17 Jul 2012 06:00 AM PDT
The videos will be available live during the conference (check the schedule here), and if you can't make any live events, don't worry—the recorded videos will be available by August 14. You can register for your free video pass here. Read More @ Source
|
| Pak police seize 2,000-year-old Buddhist relics worth millions Posted: 16 Jul 2012 10:00 PM PDT DNA, Jul 8, 2012Karachi, Pakistan -- Pakistani police have seized a large number of 2,000-year-old Buddhist artifacts and relics dating from the Gandhara era and arrested two men who were allegedly trying to smuggle the items out of the country.
Police first seized artifacts and relics on a tip off when they stopped a container in Awami colony in Korangi on Friday while on Saturday they raided a warehouse in a residential area of Korangi and recovered more artifacts and relics. "The seized items contain statues of Gautam Buddha, life sized idols, plaques and utensils," a senor police official said. The haul included 10 statues of the Lord Buddha. Some heavier artifacts were damaged due to handling and careless unloading of items at a police station. The government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, which was home to the Gandhara civilisation, has demanded that the items should be handed over to it by police in Karachi. The Gandhara civilisation evolved in the Peshawar Valley and parts of eastern Afghanistan over 2,000 years ago. Qasim Ali Qasim, an official of the Sindh culture department, said that the artifacts enjoy protection under the Antiquities Act of 1975. The law restricts digging of and trade in protected objects, prescribing long prison terms and heavy fines. Ali said the goods were being transported to Sialkot when the police intercepted the container. He said the raid on the godown was conducted on information provided by the arrested driver and the cleaner of the container. According to police, the two identified the owner of the contraband consignment as Arif Butt. National Museum chief Mohammad Shah Bokhari said an inventory had been made of 38 artefacts and some more items were yet to be examined. Qasim said the artifacts included a statue of a "Boddhisattva" or Buddha before achieving nirvana and a "Jataka" or a stone panel depicting the scene at the time of Buddha's birth. Among others was a "Hariti" (a witch who, as the legend goes, used to kill children, but after meeting Gautama Buddha repented and was transformed into a protector of children) "Probably the smugglers intended to smuggle these out of the country through Karachi port or airport, but after failing to do so, they decided to send the consignment to Sialkot dry port for eventual shipment overseas," Qasim said. A good number of the sculptures were three to four metres long and very heavy. Police had to arrange for lifters to start moving the artifacts and relics from the godown in Korangi and bring them to the police station. This is not the first time that a large haul of artifacts has been seized. A few years ago, over 1,500 items, including more than 400 Gandhara sculptures and pre-historic and Islamic era relics, were seized by authorities at Karachi port. Read More @ Source
|
| Obon Festival at Buddhist temple offers a taste of hospitality Posted: 16 Jul 2012 09:00 PM PDT by Anne Kallas, Ventura County Star, July 14, 2012Ventura County, CA (USA) -- The annual Obon Festival put on by the Oxnard Buddhist Temple celebrates generosity — and generously fat, slurpy udon noodles and other foods are among the main attractions.
With dancing, martial arts and bonsai demonstrations in addition to the food, Saturday's festival at the temple, 250 South H. St., was a way to welcome the community, organizers said. "Buddha practiced kindness and appreciation. This celebration gives people a fun experience and a taste of Japanese hospitality," said the Rev. Henry Adams, minister at the temple. "The temple was originally for those of Japanese heritage, but now it's opened up to others. I'm not Japanese-American, and neither are many of the people here. When people are exposed early, they can transcend the cultural and linguistic boundaries that separate us."
"People come here for the tradition," he said. Festivalgoers who are hungry can enjoy large sushi rolls, teriyaki chicken dinners, gyoza, snow cones and the udon noodles. While the temple is known for its noodle booth at the Ventura County Fair, which offers an alternative to deep-fried dining options, those in the know say the noodles at the Obon Festival are better. "Here, we have the space to make them in a professional kitchen," Adams said. "We're on our home turf here, so the noodles are better." A highlight of each festival is the Bon Odori dance, which Beverly and Larry Fiery of Oxnard were looking forward to joining as participants. Beverly Fiery said she isn't a member of the temple, but she has been coming to the festivals over the years. She decided to join in the traditional dance, which is an "expression of joyful gratitude" honoring the dead. Larry Fiery said he especially enjoys the food at the festival. "It's always interesting to experience another culture. We like the size. It's not overwhelming," he said. The Fierys said they had been practicing the dance for the past month. Maile Kuo, 10, of Newbury Park, was dressed in a bright orange kimono, with her hair carefully arranged in an elaborate hairstyle decorated with flowers and ribbons and makeup, as part of the Azuma Dance studio, which presented a traditional dance. " I like the dances. I don't like the kimono. I get really hot," Maile said. Her mom, Jennifer Kuo, said it took her 45 minutes to create the hairstyle and 15 minutes to apply the makeup. Getting dressed with the help of the dance troupe leader took another half hour. "I saw a dance demonstration once and said I wanted to do it," Maile said. Other features of the festival included a bonsai demonstration, which was announced by Nathan Revard of the Bonsai Club of Oxnard and featured many of the plants of master Sumi Arimura, who donated about 70 percent of the specimens on display. Masako Mock, also a member of the club, was explaining the intricacies of the bonsai on display. "We are looking to get more young people to join the club. We want to introduce the next generation to bonsai," Mock said. "It takes patience and it's hard to get young people to take over. We're here to plant the seed so they get the idea to do bonsai later on." Also at the festival was the Sasaki Kenpo karate group, which offered a high-spirited choreographed martial arts display to music, including Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire." There were also judo demonstrations, as well as other dance styles and a dharma service. Another highlight each year is the farmers market, with area farms and produce companies donating everything from cherries, berries and other fruit to corn, lettuce, avocados and lettuce. Lori Usuki said the fruits sell out fast, noting that all of the proceeds from the market go to the temple, as do the proceeds from the food. Call 483-5948 or go online to http://www.oxnardbuddhisttemple.org for information about the temple. Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/14/obon-festival-at-buddhist-temple-offers-a-taste/ 
|
| Meditating Buddhist monk saddles up for London Posted: 16 Jul 2012 08:00 PM PDT AFP, July 10, 2012
OGAWA, Japan -- He'd prefer enlightenment to a medal, but when Japan's horse-riding Buddhist monk Kenki Sato saddles up for London 2012, he'll be representing one of the Olympics' more unusual families.
And his father, Shodo, who heads a 460-year-old temple and adjacent horse-riding club, was a member of Japan's equestrian team before the 1980 Games in Moscow - only to have his Olympic dream dashed when Japan boycotted. Kenki Sato is on extended leave from the Myoshoji temple in mountains near Nagano, where his father is the 25th master, to train for London where he will compete in eventing, which combines dressage, cross-country and showjumping. Among his team-mates is Hiroshi Hoketsu, 71, the oldest competitor in any sport at Beijing 2008, who is entered in the separate dressage category.
"I may learn something as a human being when I encounter various people with different religions and languages abroad," says the diminutive Sato, 27. "I want to feed it back into my path to Buddhist enlightenment." Four years ago, while his brother competed at the last Olympics, Sato was serving a year's apprenticeship for the priesthood, secluded in a prestigious Zen temple. "My old master secretly showed me a newspaper clipping about my younger brother. I was so happy I shed tears," he remembers. "Somewhere in my mind, I didn't want to be outdone by my brother. This turned into enormous energy for me to continue as a sportsman." In 2010, Sato claimed team and individual eventing golds at the Asian Games and finished 35th at the world championships. His journey to London began at the age of seven, when he started training for competition under his father. "I think it was largely because my father could not become an Olympian," he admits. Sato senior, 61, paired the disparate worlds of Buddhism and equestrianism after growing up around horses in the mountains of Nagano, where they were still the main mode of transport when he was a child. He practised horsemanship while attending a Buddhist university in Tokyo and opened an equestrian park next to the temple in 1979. The facility's clubhouse overlooks the riding ground from a hillside dotted with tombstones. When his children were young, he would carry them around on horseback. Asked about his disappointment of 1980, when Japan joined a boycott over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the elder Sato is philosophical. "I don't dwell on the past," he says softly. "It was all due to the circumstances of the times." His son, who stands just 163cm (5ft 4in) tall, has been training with reigning world and European eventing champion Michael Jung at a stable near Stuttgart. But a vital part of his preparation is meditation, especially at home before competition. "When I cross my legs, it somewhat calms me and makes me feel like going all over again," he says. However, Sato does not rely on the power of prayer alone. "In principle, my sect doesn't recommend reliance on others," he smiles. "But for a moment when the competition is over, I think it is very important to give thanks to my horse, groom and family. Read More @ Source
|
| Taiwan to stage first same-sex Buddhist wedding Posted: 16 Jul 2012 07:00 PM PDT by Benjamin Yeh, AFP, Jul 10, 2012TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Two women plan to tie the knot next month in Taiwan's first same-sex Buddhist wedding, as gay and lesbian groups push to make the island the first society in Asia to legalise gay marriage
"We decided to get married last year," Huang told AFP Wednesday. "After being together for six years, we feel we need to make a life-long commitment to each other." As a group of Buddhist monks and nuns chant sutras, the couple, both wearing white gowns, will declare their love for each other in a ceremony expected to be witnessed by dozens of close friends. Huang, a social worker at a Buddhist cultural foundation, said her mother had promised to attend the event but her father remained undecided. "My father likes Ya-ting, and he says the marriage will make him feel like he has one more daughter," Huang said.
You's parents are still reluctant to agree to the planned marriage even though it will have no legal force, Huang said. Taiwan is one of the most culturally liberal societies in East Asia, and gay and lesbian groups have been urging the government for years to make same-sex marriage legal. In an event aimed at creating awareness about the issue, about 80 lesbian couples tied the knot in August last year in Taiwan's biggest same-sex wedding party, attracting about 1,000 friends, relatives and curious onlookers. The island's cabinet in 2003 drafted a controversial bill to legalise same-sex marriages and allow homosexual couples to adopt children. However, President Ma Ying-jeou has said public consensus was needed before the government can move ahead with the law. Master Shih Chao-hui, who will perform the ceremony and is seen as a liberal on social issues, said her act would reflect the spirit of Buddhism. "I would like stand up to give blessings to the couple because I hope my step can embody the spirit of Buddhism spreading compassion throughout the world," said Shih, who is also a professor at Buddhist Hsuan Chuang University. "As a matter of fact, Buddhist teachings do not discriminate against gays and lesbians and do not consider human desires as a sin although they do call for restraint." However, there is no consensus among Taiwanese Buddhist clerics about the issue, as reflected in the words of Master Huei Kai, a professor at Fo Guang University in the south Taiwan's Kaohsiung city. "True, no ancient Buddhism scriptures mention gays, but that does not necessarily mean that Buddhism agrees to them," he told the United Daily News, a Taipei-based newspaper. Given lingering resistance, Taiwan LGBT Family Rights Advocacy, a Taipei-based non-government group that is organising the upcoming ceremony, said Master Shih Chao-hui's involvement was significant. "As a respected Buddhist master, her move may somewhat change the biased attitude of lots of people," Wu Shao-wen of the rights group said. Read More @ Source
|
| Posted: 16 Jul 2012 06:00 PM PDT by Liu Xiangrui and Dachiong, China Daily, Jul 16, 2012Lhasa, Tibet (China) -- The best place to enjoy Samye Monastery's ingenious layout, a mini version of the Buddhist concept of the universe, is on the top floor of its grandiose and central Wuzi Hall.
Situated by the Yarlung Zangbo River, in Shannan prefecture, Samye Monastery is highly respected by Tibetans, most of whom are devoutly Buddhist. It is also known for its rich collection of Buddha statues, sutras, murals, stone inscriptions, and religious buildings that combine Tibetan, Chinese and Indian styles. Every year some 200,000 pilgrims and tourists descend on Samye Monastery to see them. In 2011, renovations to the building - its drainage, electrics, fire safety and the frescoes - were begun, says Phuntsogwangdus, head of the monastery's management committee. Funded predominantly by a 70 million yuan ($ 11 million) central government grant, about 15 million yuan was spent in 2011, and the rest is scheduled to be paid out in the next two years.
In the past, the monks' livelihoods and the operation of the monastery depended mainly on alms and a monastery-run passenger transport company, of which Tsering is the manager. "The monastery had no extra money for major renovation projects," he says. Before 2011, the only significant building work was a central government financed facelift of the "golden roof" and the third floor of Wuzi Hall, in 1989. Now Samye's 13 Buddha halls, a tower displaying a Buddha, and other major buildings are being renovated. Among them, the Hall of Safeguarding Buddha will cost about 50 million yuan. The monks have also helped with the renovations. "We'll be the most direct beneficiaries when our monastery gets fixed and its environment improved," says Phuntsogdorje, one of those who is overseeing the project. Previously, the 99 monks of Samye Monastery lived in cramped conditions. Phuntsogdorje, for instance, shared a 16-square-meter room separated down the middle from another room by a board. "We cooked, slept, studied and worshipped Buddha in the same room. Of course, that would disgrace Buddha," he says. "Now the conditions are much better and we can focus more on our Buddhist studies." Samye Monastery is home primarily to monks of the Ningma Sect. But all the monks are included in the social welfare system, Phuntsogwangdus says. Monks in Tibet often suffer health problems like hypertension and renal diseases, so the management committee has called on doctors to provide medical consultations and keep health records. Meanwhile, the local government has gifted body-building equipment to the monastery. And it is not just the buildings that are being improved. Since the area surrounding the monastery is affected by desertification, since 2011 there have been efforts to make it greener. The prefecture government also plans to invest about 60 million yuan to make Samye Monastery into a comprehensive tourist destination, by improving its landscaping. Phuntsogdorje is confident the changes will make the monastery more pleasant and attract more visitors, thereby bringing in more income. Read More @ Source
|
| Japanese minister visits Shrawasti, assures support Posted: 16 Jul 2012 05:00 PM PDT Times of India, Jul 15, 2012BAHRAICH, India -- In a bid to explore opportunities of development of Buddhist tourist places in Uttar Pradesh, the Japanese finance minister Navkaju Takemoto along with the speaker of UP assembly Mata Prasad Pandey and state minister Balram Singh Yadav visited the International Buddhist places in Shrawasti. The delegation also visited Jetwan Vihar, Denmahamkol and the huts of Maheta. The Japanese minister added that his visit to India is to explore the opportunities of these developments. On this occasion Mata Prasad Pandey said that action plan for the development of Buddhist tourist places of UP including Shrawasti is being prepared and very shortly the developmental schemes of roads and electricity would get underway at Buddhist places with the assistance of Japan. The state minister Balram Singh Yadav said that schemes are being made to convert the Buddhist tourist places of Uttar Pradesh into an eco-tourism circuit. The Japanese minister said that a medical college-cum-hospital would be constructed on the land of Lord Buddha. He said a medical college would be built at Kapilvastu and Shrawasti. The Japanese minister also said that his country makes every possible effort for the development of Buddhist places. He said that he is feeling himself blessed to have visited the land of Lord Buddha. The Japanese minister said that Uttar Pradesh is just double in size from Japan, but it is far behind as far as electricity and development is concerned and his government wants to set up a power plant in UP and co-operate in development. 
|
| Buddhist order spreads temple cuisine Posted: 16 Jul 2012 04:00 PM PDT by Do Je-hae, The Korea Times, Jul 10, 2012Seoul, South Korea -- Korea's Buddhist temple cuisine is becoming more popular among healthy eaters within and outside Korea.
Reflecting the trend, the main theme of the largest Korean Buddhist order's visit to New York last month was food. It organized a two-week promotional campaign to highlight and raise awareness about temple cuisine, one of the highlights of the templestay program which marks its 10th anniversary this year. The Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhist, an affiliate of the Jogye Order, has tried to modernize the recipes and make them more accessible to the public here and abroad.
Temple food, referring to what monks and visitors eat at temples, is basically vegetarian and prepared with natural ingredients without artificial seasoning. At temples, eating is a part of the meditative discipline. Ven. Beopjin, director of Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhist, was in New York to oversee the activities. Small groups of 20 to 50, spanning from chefs, food specialists, and media to travel industry consultants, were invited to the Astor Center in Manhattan to taste various Korean temple food dishes for luncheon and dinner events over three days. Travel consultants received a detailed introduction to the templestay program, available at over 100 temples all over Korea. Food specialists had a chance to taste Korean soy sauce and fermented soy bean paste made using traditional methods in the temples. "In the future, we will publish recipe books and develop promotional material on temple food, while expanding opportunities for the general public to come to temples and make the cuisine themselves," Ven. Beopjin said. Although Korean temple cuisine is vegetarian, in which meat, poultry and fish are forbidden, its practice is closer to vegan, as eggs are also not eaten and dairy is used sparingly. Five pungent vegetables - chives, leeks, garlic, onion and scallion - are prohibited for the reasons of causing hindrance in spiritual practice and to avoid an attachment to strongly flavored spices. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the templestay program, which made more people familiar with Korean Buddhist including non-believers and foreigners. The programs usually include monastic formal meals made up of healthy, vegetarian dishes; tea ceremonies; morning and evening chanting; and "Seon" or Zen meditation. The communal Buddhist meal or "balwoo gongyang" is a unique way of eating in Korean temples, where food is consumed in total silence and not a single grain of rice is wasted. Since it was first adopted 10 years ago, it has become one of the most popular tourist activities Korea. "The popularity of the program among Koreans and foreigners stem from different reasons," Ven. Beopjin said. "A recent survey showed that Koreans were most interested in templestays for relaxation. For foreigners, they were most interested because they wanted to learn more about Korea's traditional culture and Buddhist culture." The Jogye Order has tried to make templestay programs more attractive to non-Korean participants. It has designated 15 temples that specialize in templestay specifically for foreigners, where they have professional interpreters. There are three in Seoul, including Geumseon Temple, Myogak Temple and Bongeun Temple. A full list is available at www.templestay.com Read More @ Source
|
| Movies, music, and more: The Wu-Tang’s “Abbot” speaks Posted: 16 Jul 2012 03:00 PM PDT
The RZA has discussed his spiritual path with the Shambhala Sun, and you can check it all out in this Q&A and this audio interview. Watch a trailer for The Man with the Iron Fists, which comes out in November, after the jump. Read More @ Source
|
| China to build ‘Tibetan theme park’ in Lhasa Posted: 16 Jul 2012 02:00 PM PDT
Last week the Chinese government revealed plans to build a £3bn Tibetan theme park in the outskirts of Lhasa, an act which critics fear will be "ruinous for Tibet's environment and culture." Of course, a writer for the Global Times (viewed primarily as a communist party propaganda outlet), has a more rosy outlook, writing, "The latest grand tourist project will further fuel the local economy and provide more opportunities for direct interaction between locals and visitors. Economic growth and cultural prosperity are not in opposition." The piece, however, did not appear to impress opponents of the plan. Stephanie Brigden, Director of Free Tibet, said, "We are not opposed to development per se but this type of [large-scale] tourism will not benefit Tibetans and will actually further marginalise [them]. Any kind of development within Tibet has to be inclusive of an informed by the opinions of Tibetans." For more information on the proposed project, you can read the original piece by Tom Phillips for The Telegraph here. Photo by Michael Lieu via Flickr using a CC-BY license. Read More @ Source
|
| Digital Dharma at the Rubin Museum Posted: 16 Jul 2012 01:00 PM PDT
In addition, this Wednesday, July 18, Tibetan folk musician Techung is performing at the museum at 7 p.m.; tickets are $ 18 in advance and $ 20 the day of. Read More @ Source
|
| Practices Derived from Buddhist Meditation Show Real Effectiveness for Certain Health Problems Posted: 16 Jul 2012 12:00 PM PDT The Chakra, Jul 15, 2012New Delhi, India -- According to a report in the July Journal of Psychiatric Practice, mindfulness practices including Zen mediation have helped to resolve mental and physical health problems.
Mindfulness based therapies or exercises show clear results of health benefits. Mindfulness is described as "the practice of learning to focus attention on moment-by-moment experience with an attitude of curiousity, openness, and acceptance. In other words a part of practicing mindfulness is simply experiencing the present as it is rather than trying to change anything.
As a result of Dr. Marchand's study it has been revealed that MBSR is effective in reducing stress and promoting general psychological health in patients with various medical or psychiatric diseases. These practices in addition help to affect mental and physical health in that they impact brain function in structure, which they believe is the reason for the practices helping decrease stress levels as well. The use of such mindfulness practices are promising and overtime should be used consistently in clinical settings. Read More @ Source
|
| Posted: 16 Jul 2012 11:00 AM PDT  Buddha statue, Wat Pah Nanachat, Ubon, Thailand Above is a picture of a Buddha statue: observe the really long ears. Attractive, aren't they? Such ears are a sign of a Buddha according to Buddhist tradition, and are said to indicate both the heavy earrings that he wore as a prince prior to becoming a buddha, and that as a buddha he is all-hearing. Such symbolism can be used wisely as a subject for reflection, contemplating the wondrous qualities that the Buddha possessed, and being thankful that he taught the Dharma to "those with little dust in their eyes" - or should that be ears?! Those ears can be a source not just of inspiration, however, but they can encourage us to practice, too. For, apart from looking pretty, what are ears for? Well, listening! Just as the Buddha is considered to be all-hearing, so can we learn to listen more carefully, cultivating precious wisdom in the process. And this can work on at least three important levels. Firstly, if we listen like a buddha, that is with attention, we will become better listeners, improving our relationships with others, as well as enabling us to understand the world just a little bit better. Secondly, ! we can u se the faculty of listening to develop mindfulness, a useful tool in both worldly activities and in meditation practice. Thirdly, if we use our ears to listen in the opposite direction to that which they usually do, we will discover something truly amazing!  Buddha statues, Wat Tai, Ubon, Thailand Looking at the first benefit of being good listener, we can examine the example of the counsellor. Counsellors need to be good listeners. They need to be able to create a welcoming space around what is being said to them, so that the speaker feels that they can reveal their fears, worries, and mistakes without being jumped on. The speaker should feel that they are not going to be judged by the counsellor, but instead be listened to in an attentive & open manner. This has been evident in this writer's role as counsellor for the students in an international program in which he works, where it became apparent that if really listened to, the students would be more likely to express their true feelings. Then, there is a starting point from which these problems could be discussed and hopefully some positive conclusions reached. < /div> Although we do not all work as counsellors, good listening skills can be of use to us in our everyday lives. We can have more fulfilling relationships with this around us if we are truly listening to them, for they will feel more appreciated. Moreover, if we really listen to others, we are actually able to hear what it is they are getting at; then, if we are inclined to do so, we can respond in ways that are pleasing to them. We will benefit from this by being appreciated more ourselves, and people will be more favorable to our requests. Everyone's a winner!  Buddha statue, Wat Pah Nanachat, Ubon, Thailand The second point above was that we can become more mindful through developing our listening skills. Here, another aspect of this writer's experience can be used for the purpose: language learning. Both as a teacher of English language & learner of Thai, listening has been central to any success. Reading books about a language that we are learning certainly helps in its acquisition. The learning of reading & writing skills are largely dependent upon the usage of text books and other written materials, as is grammar.! Speakin g & listening skills are equally important for those wishing to be fluent in the language that they are learning, and being able to listen well is crucial to both. Indeed, much study is dependent upon listening to a tutor - how many difficulties have students caused themselves by not paying attention in class? Such lessons can be applied to many skills that we learn in our lives, whether in education, at work, or elsewhere. Mindfulness is made much of in Buddhist. Whole sutras (discourses) are devoted to it, such as the Satipatthana Sutta, in which instructions are given by the Buddha on how to cultivate mindfulness to the point of enlightenment itself. Meditation, of course, plays a central role in Buddhist approach to awakening, and being able to 'listen' with the mind is an important ability in this regard. If we can really hear what is going on in the body, we can understand it. Ditto the mind, and it is then that real peace & the wisdom that comes out of it can be experienced. Now we come to the main point of this article: that of the third remark regarding listening made above, which was that if we reverse the direction in which we normally focus our listening, an incredible discovery awaits us. This is no idle talk, either, merely written to gain your attention - it is the plain, unadulterated truth of the matter. For, on the whole, we direct our listening faculty outwards not inwards. Along with all the other four physical senses, we grow up aiming it at the world around us - after all, that's where all the interesting stuff happens, right? Wrong! This is what we are taught, what we come to believe and assume. But in truth, if we are resourceful enough to about-face with o! ur atten tion, we can bring to light something absolutely fantastic and probably completely unexpected. And listening is a powerful way to do so.*  Buddha statue, Wat Tai, Ubon, Thailand What on earth could this 'something' be? Well, if the word 'something' were to be replaced with the somewhat more satisfying 'no-thing,' would that help? Possibly not as yet! The trouble is, that what's being written about here is not easily discussed. This isn't because its highly complicated or involved; quite the reverse. The problem here is that it is so simple, so utterly obvious what we're going to reveal, that it's rather easy to overlook it. In fact, this is what we do on a daily basis. We'd be buddhas otherwise! But, in fact, each of us possesses what might be dubbed 'Buddha Ear,' and conducting a simple exercise can reveal what all this prattle is about. Hopefully, the above waffling has whetted your appetite, rather than spoilt it. So, without further ado, it's time for us to actually do some 'reverse listening,' and hear what we hear. To this end, there are some instructions below, which this writer humbly requests that you carry out. If you do, it will surely be worth your while! It will be worth your while remembering the main points of this exercise so that you don't have to keep reopening your eyes, which will distract from the exercise somewhat. In a comfortable, quiet place, sit or lie down (the former is preferable if you think you might fall asleep!). Close your eyes. Listen to the sounds arising at this time, noting each one in turn. Next, turn your attention around to the listener. What can you hear right where you are, now? Take at least a few moments to really focus on that, before opening your eyes. At first, you may have thought that there weren't many sounds, or even that it was completely silent. This is rare, however, even if you live in the countryside. But, when acclimatized to your audio environment, you may have become aware of many more sounds than you ever dreamed of. Birds, insects, or other animals, the wind in the trees, running water or falling rain. Apart from natural sounds, there's a multitude of human-made noise that we aren't always aware of: voices, traffic, TVs or radios, music, fans, air con, heaters, cookers, ringtones, washing machines…you get the picture. All this sound is coming from the usual direction, however - 'out there.' Right now, we're more interested what we can hear in the opposite direction. So, when you'd exhausted all the sounds that you could identify, what could you hear where you were? Your breathing, perhaps? Well, technically, that's still part of the external world, and not right where your ears are. Listening to the listener, what did you notice? Here, I notice…silence. An awake, alert, open silence…full of the external noises that it's aware of. Is it the same where you are? If you're not sure, or even if you are, please take your time doing the following exercise, carefully noticing what! you can hear. Again, it will be worth your while remembering the main points of this exercise so that you don't have to keep reopening your eyes. Close your eyes. Listen to the sounds that you can presently hear, one by one. This time, note the particular characteristics of each sound, rather than simply labeling them. Are they loud or quiet, rhythmic or erratic, pleasant or unpleasant, near or far, fast or slow? When you've done this with every noise that you're aware of, turn your attention around to the listener. What qualities can you ascribe to the that which is hearing all of this? Is it loud or quiet, rhythmic or erratic, pleasant or unpleasant, near or far, fast or slow? Or, is it completely without audible characteristics? Now, do you feel cheated? After all this talk of 'Buddha's Ear' and discovering something amazing, are you disappointed? If so, please don't give up just yet! So, what did we find out? That the heart of the listening experience is silence. But, as mentioned above, it's not mere empty silence, is it? It's full of outer sounds, and, more importantly for our purposes here, it is full of awareness. It is an awake silence, alert to its contents. It is the emptiness at the centre of being, and it is not self; it is impersonal. Sound familiar? For any Buddhist, they should do, for emptiness and not self are the core teachings of Buddhist. Of the two main branches of Buddhist, Theravada tends to emphasize not self (anatta), whereas Mahayana stresses emptiness (shunyata), but they are different ways of describing what is essentially the same experience. 'Buddha' means 'awakened one.' Awakened to the way-things-are & the no-thing that lies at the hear! t of all things. Silence is not a thing, and yet all (audible) things arise in it. Furthermore, the silence that we can experience within ourselves is alert to what's going on. This is the Buddha's Ear: awakened silence.  Buddha statue, Wat Pah Nanachat, Ubon, Thailand If we spend time with Buddha's Ear, listening to the alert silence as well as the noise that occurs in it, the benefits are potentially fantastic. There's the worldly pluses mentioned above, from being a good counsellor to being a great student. But, more impressive than these, is the realization of our true nature within; silent awareness. And this is where it gets really tasty. If we live from this silence, which is impersonal and beyond suffering, then there is no suffering. Contentment is realized, not based on external conditions - the likes and dislikes of the individual - nor arising from manipulations of the personality. But instead coming from this inner emptiness. As mentioned earlier, any of the six senses can be used, and then we might label this experience as 'Buddha Mind' or 'Buddha Eye' (both of which which have been used historically by Zen masters), 'Buddha Body,' 'Buddha Mouth,' and 'Buddha Nose.' Admittedly, some of these sound a little daft, but if we actually experiment with these senses, we may well find that they are as ! valid de scriptions of our inner reality as 'Buddha Ear.' Keep listening! *In fact, any of the five physical senses can be used for the purpose, and so can what Buddhist deems the sixth sense, the mind. But, listening will do the job for us now, as it is a particularly striking sense for many of us, closely following vision (which has featured on these pages previously).  
|
| Buddhist Geeks conference to be livestreamed for free Posted: 16 Jul 2012 10:00 AM PDT
The videos will be available live during the conference (check the schedule here), and if you can't watch the events live, don't worry—the recorded videos will be available by August 14. You can register for your free video pass here. Read More @ Source
|
The Shambhala Sun is proud to partner with the second annual 
<< Photo by Richard Quinn, Special to The Star
Shaven-headed Sato, who starts each day with a morning prayer, is following his younger brother Eiken, who also trained as a priest and rode at the Beijing Games. His sister, Tae, 24, is a five-time national showjumping champion.
Fish Huang and her partner You Ya-ting, both 30, will receive their blessings from Master Shih Chao-hui at a Buddhist monastery in north Taiwan's Taoyuan county on August 11.
It is also a good spot to watch as the 1,200-year-old building is rejuvenated with a facelift.
<< A spread of temple food is shown in this 2009 file photo taken at a temple food restaurant in Seoul. More health-conscious Koreans are enjoying the benefits of the cuisine. / Korea Times file
In a 
"An extensive review of therapies that include meditation as a key component - referred to as mindfulness-based practices - shows convincing evidence that such interventions are effective in the treatment of psychiatric symptoms and pain, when used in combination with more conventional therapies," according to Dr William R. Marchand of the George E.
The second annual 
| You are subscribed to email updates from BuddhaRocks ☸ Buddhist To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
