Opinions vary widely on Tibet’s self-immolation protests

Opinions vary widely on Tibet’s self-immolation protests
School for homeless kids to $51K donation from the Dalai Lama
Meditation by Design launches ReWire, a new meditation app for the iPhone
(Don't) Have To....
Preparation for the Time of Death: The Bardo is Now!* Workshop at the Nyingma Institute
Aung San Suu Kyi to visit the United States for the first time in decades
Dalai Lama Visits Religious Places

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 09:00 AM PDT

Photo via SFT HQ

The New York Times Belief Blog recently ran two opinion pieces on Tibet's self-immolation phenomena by Stephen Prothero, a Boston University religion scholar and writer, and Tenzin Dorjee, Executive Director of Student's For a Free Tibet. The two writers, both supporters of the Tibetan cause, show us just how strong and divergent opinions on this sensitive issue are. Please follow the links below:

Stephen Prothero: My Take: Dalai Lama should condemn Tibetan self-immolations

Tenzin Dorjee: My Take: Why the Dalai Lama cannot condemn Tibetan self-immolations

(Photo by SFT HQ via Flickr using a CC-BY license.)

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School for homeless kids to $51K donation from the Dalai Lama

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 08:00 AM PDT

San Diego's Monarch School, which offers education to children impacted by homelessness, will receive $ 51k from His Holiness the Dalai Lama today. The money comes from surplus funds raised during His Holiness' April 2012 visit to the city, an event that nearly 20,000 people attended.

Erin Spiewak, Chief Executive Officer of the Monarch School, said, "This generous contribution allows Monarch to continue to support our students growth and learning with the intention that they will follow in the example of significant leaders such as His Holiness."

Venerable Lama Tenzin Dhonden, Peace Emissary for His Holiness, will be speaking on behalf of the Dalai Lama during the gift-giving ceremony.

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Meditation by Design launches ReWire, a new meditation app for the iPhone

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 06:00 AM PDT

ReWire, a new meditation app for the iPhone, was launched this week in the App Store. It is the creation of Vincent Horn (of Buddhist Geeks fame) and Mike Redmer, and the newest project from Meditation by Design, their "design studio for contemplative technologies."

ReWire uses the player's music and videos as the object of meditation, and offers feedback and tracking tools designed to help the player "access deeper states of awareness and build your concentration muscles faster than with conventional practices." Though still in the beta-testing phase, it has already drawn a positive review from at least one prominent meditation teacher, Shinzen Young:

"There are many, many ways to acquire concentration skill. If I had to choose just one, it wouldn't be mantra or focusing on the breath, or visualizing; it would be noting vanishings. ReWire is a way to make this skill-building technique fun and interesting — a truly modern approach to mindful awareness."

You can find out more about the app here.

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(Don't) Have To....

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 01:00 AM PDT

Sheep with hair extensions - just for fun.

Have to laugh?
Have to cry?
Might die
Might not.

Chemo Therapy
Radiation
Radical
Surgery.

My thoughts
Empathy
Sympathy
Gratitude bowing.

For those who are currently dealing with cancer who are known, and loved, by me and those who are unknown, and loved too.

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Preparation for the Time of Death: The Bardo is Now!* Workshop at the Nyingma Institute

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 08:00 PM PDT

July 21,

10 AM-4:45 PM

Vegetarian buffet lunch included.

Special meditation practices in Tibetan Buddhist are associated with the bardo, the period between death and rebirth. Nyingma masters instruct us not to wait until this difficult time, but instead to see change—death and rebirth

—in every newmoment. This workshop presents practices designed to heighten our ability to make positive choices at crucial times in our lives. Lecture and discussion will include practical suggestions from the Tibetan tradition on how to maintain optimal conditions during the days that proceed and follow the time of death.

Cost: $ 80

Instructor: Sylvia Gretchen

Suitable for all levels of students.

Sylvia Gretchen, Co-Dean of the Nyingma Institute, has studied and worked with Tibetan Lama Tarthang Tulku since 1969.

Served as Co-Dean of the Nyingma Institute since 1996.
Worked extensively with Tibetan sacred art and literature under the direction of Tarthang Tulku.
Member of the Yeshe De translation team.
Teacher of Nyingma Meditation, Buddhist Studies, Nyingma Psychology and Practices, TSK, and Tibetan Art and Language at the Nyingma Institute since 1974.

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

Questions? Information? Register?

Call: 510-809-1000

Visit: NyingmaInstitute.org

Email: Nyingma-Institute@Nyingma.org

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Aung San Suu Kyi to visit the United States for the first time in decades

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 12:00 PM PDT

The Associated Press reports that Aung San Suu Kyi will visit the United States for the first time in decades this September to collect an award. The Atlantic Council will present her with its Global Citizen Award at a ceremony in New York. There are no other details about Suu Kyi's trip at this time, though the AP quoted the U.S. State Department as saying that she would be invited to meet with U.S. government officials during her trip as well.

Before her marriage to the late Oxford Tibetologist Michael Arris in the 1970s, Suu Kyi lived in New York for three years and worked for the U.N. Leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma (which won several seats in this year's parliamentary elections—including one for Suu Kyi herself). She spent 15 of 21 years under house arrest in Burma, between 1989 and 2010.

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Dalai Lama Visits Religious Places

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 11:00 AM PDT

Homepage » News » Dalai Lama Visits Religious Places »

July 18th 2012

Srinagar, J&K, India, 17 July 2012 (Press Trust of India) - The Buddhist spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, on a six-day visit to Kashmir Valley, today paid obeisance at religious places of different

His Holiness the Dalai Lama leaving the mausoleum of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, the founder of the National Conference and the grandfather of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar, J&K State, India, on July 17, 2012. Photo/OHHDL/Tenzin Choejor

faiths in the city. The Dalai Lama also visited the mausoleum of Shiekh Mohammad Abdullah, the founder of the National Conference and the grandfather of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

He visited Hazaratbal shrine, Gupt-Ganga Shiva temple and gurdawara Chatti Padshahi in the city, an official spokesman said. The spiritual leader prayed for peace and prosperity in the world, especially in the state, he said. State's Tourism and Culture Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora accompanied the Dalai Lama to the religious places.

At Abdullah's mausoleum, the Dalai Lama said the Kashmiri leader had shown "genuine concern" for the Tibetan cause. "Late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was a close friend of mine. I met the late leader several times. He always showed genuine concern for my cause," the Dalai Lama said.

The Dalai Lama appreciated the people of Kashmir for their hospitality. "I will always remember the warm welcome and excellent hospitality of the people of Kashmir which they have extended to meduring the visit," he said.

He said all religions give the same message of brotherhood, communal harmony and amity. At Gurdwara Chatti Padshahi, the Dalai Lama was honoured with "saroopa by the grand Granthi", the spokesman said.