Clergy Letter Project seeks support
Clergy Letter Project seeks support |
- Clergy Letter Project seeks support
- Alive And Well - Photographs As Evidence
- THIS Buddhist Film Festival Singapore returns with a bigger and more exciting movie line-up
- Buddhist monk encourages athletes at the 2012 London Olympics
- Comment on An Open Letter from the Buddhist Community on Islamophobia
- Look inside the new, September 2012 Shambhala Sun
- Dharma
| Clergy Letter Project seeks support Posted: 02 Aug 2012 06:00 AM PDT  Charles Darwin (public domain) In an effort to continue supporting religious clergy who understand and appreciate the importance of evolution, the Clergy Letter Project is inviting Buddhist clergy to sign its open letter on religion and science in education. The letter reads: "If scientific analysis were conclusively to demonstrate certain claims in Buddhism to be false, then we must accept the findings of science and abandon those claims or adopt them as metaphor." From The Universe in a Single Atom — Tenzin Gyatso, the Dalai Lama Buddhist Clergy Letter "As the above quote indicates, the Buddhist tradition is primarily a rational religion. The earliest Buddhist teachings are intended to help all sentient beings to live a life of integrity in harmony with reality. While the specific science of evolution is not explicitly taught in our faith, it is implicit in the core teaching of interdependent origination, which demonstrates that all things are interconnected and contingent upon one another for their form and development. Likewise, a creator deity is not relied upon for a creation story. The ancient Indian fables of the Buddha's various incarnations from animal to human are readily understood not as a literal history but as metaphor describing the evolving nature of life. In fact, the concept of Buddha itself is best understood as a symbol for humanity's evolutionary potential. For all of these reasons we admonish public school boards to affirm their commitment to teaching the science of evolution. We understand the role of public schools is to educate students in the established principles of science and in other subjects of general knowledge." The Clergy Letter Project is an initiative started by biologist Michael Zimmerman in Wisconsin in 2004, working with clergy to draft a statement supporting the teaching of evolution in our public schools — a response to "anti-evolution policies passed by the school board in Grantsburg, WI." So far, this open letter has been undersigned by Ven. Dr. Anthony Stultz of the Blue Mountain Lotus Society, Harrisburg, PA. Stultz wrote the following to us in an email this morning: "Enclosed is a letter for the Clergy Letter Project. It is a movement to get clergy to support the teaching of science-based curriculums in our Public Schools. I have written the Buddhist version and my Sangha is the first to sign. Michael Zimmerman and I are looking for more Buddhist Clergy to sign on. I have been very involved in this since the Dover Supreme Court case where I was a speaker on behalf of the ACLU, the teachers and parents against the creationist agenda and debated a professor from Messiah College in a televised event. We would love to have more signers and hoped that you would be willing to promote this important historical document." If you would like to add your name to this open letter as one who supports the statement, please email Michael Zimmerman or Anthony Stultz. Read More @ Source
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| Alive And Well - Photographs As Evidence Posted: 02 Aug 2012 02:00 AM PDT Yes, there are modern day hermits. Here are photographs to prove it. The photographer apparently spent time with each hermit along the way sampling the life. All not for me. And here is the interesting thing about the photographs themselves that emerged after the article was published. The New York Times editor was not amused:
It would seem that public sentiment around photographs as evidence are alive and well. Read More @ Source
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| THIS Buddhist Film Festival Singapore returns with a bigger and more exciting movie line-up Posted: 01 Aug 2012 10:00 PM PDT Film Festival set to engage audience and open minds  Film still from The Gatekeeper of Enmyoin, a detective documentary about a 95-year-old nun in Japan The Thus Have I Seen (THIS) Buddhist Film Festival 2012 will return this September 22-29 at Shaw Theatres Lido, Singapore, and it is set for another spectacular edition with a bigger and more exciting movie line-up from around the world. Themed "Open your mind", the festival presents specially selected films that reflect the cultural, social and religious aspects of Buddhism, and seek to open minds with thought-provoking stories told through the silver screen.
THIS Buddhist Film Festival debuted in Singapore in 2009 with 11 unique films, and more than 5,000 tickets (more than 93 per cent) were taken up over the week-long event. This year, the film festival will present 16 films from 11 countries, selected by a dedicated panel from the organiser, Dharma In Action Limited. The suite of films will all be screening for the first time in Singapore, giving moviegoers an excellent opportunity to catch some of the most dazzling productions yet.
 Headshot, a crime noir by Pen-ek Rataranuang The chairman of the organising committee, Teo Puay Kim, said, "This year, the 16 films selected are varied in their depiction of Buddhism and Buddhist cultures. Some films will challenge our perception of Buddhist films while others will provide us with more insights into Buddhist cultures and practices worldwide. We are deeply excited by the films selected."
The programming process was full of surprises, said the festival's programmers, led by Cell Lim. He explains, "Although we have now entered the second edition of THIS, the variety of Buddhist films available still amazed us. Moreover, we found many films that challenge the audience to rethink their perceptions on themes such as life, death, justice and impermanence. We discovered provocative films like Headshot and The Outrage, rare biographies of eminent Buddhist personalities like The Coming of Tulku and Crazy Wisdom, insightful documentaries like The Gatekeeper of Enmyoin and Schooling the World, and short films such as Angin and Bamiyan - just to name a few. We also held an Open Call for the first time to reach out to more filmmakers and to discover new works. We were most encouraged by the number of entries sent from around the world, and pleased to say that Souls of Zen, a documentary about the Buddhist response to the March 2011 tsunami in Japan, was selected from our Open Call."
The Outrage (U Mong Pa Meung), a captivating Thai adaptation of Rashomon, will open the festival this year, with an intriguing tale of truth and morality. The story, told through different perspectives by four characters, possibly with their own respective agendas, will capture the audiences' attention with its compelling script, its star-studded cast, and fight scenes choreographed by Ong-Bak stunt master Panna Rittikrai. The film won the Best Costume Design and Best Special Effects at the 21st Thailand National Film Awards 2011, and Best Art Direction and Best Supporting Actress at the 20th Bangkok Critics Assembly Awards 2012.
Closing the film festival will be One Mile Above, based on an incredible true story about a young Taiwanese man's attempt to cycle from Lijiang, Yunnan to Lhasa, Tibet, in a bid to fulfill his late brother's dream. His quest brought him through the most magnificent and hostile terrain in the world, and in the process, he discovered his true self during this solitary, 2,000 mile trip. One Mile Above won Best Artistic Contribution at the 24th Tokyo International Film Festival 2011 and Audience Award at the 14th Udine Far East Film Festival 2012.
Dates: 22 – 29 September 2012 Venue: Shaw Theatres Lido, Singapore Tickets: S$ 11 excluding SISTIC charges For more info, please visit http://thisfilmfest.com Read More @ Source 
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| Buddhist monk encourages athletes at the 2012 London Olympics Posted: 01 Aug 2012 04:00 PM PDT
Many of the athletes visiting the Olympic Village Buddhist shrine come from traditionally Buddhist countries — Korea, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Sri Lanka and China. In a piece run by the BBC today, Ven. Seelawimala Nayaka Thera points out, however, that not everyone who visits is Buddhist. No matter who finds their way to his shrine, the Ven. Seelawimala Nayaka Thera welcomes them all, discussing their problems and suggesting that they do a bit of meditation (which he says will help balance and relax their minds). Speaking to the BBC, he said, "As they are under immense pressure sometimes they are stressed due to their competitions so following meditation technique I do a chanting to confer blessings to them. My aim is to give them strength in their search of Olympic medals." Ven. Seelawimala Nayaka Thera is the only Buddhist monk in the Olympic Village. He was appointed as the Buddhist chaplain for the games in London following an arduous screening process. Expressing his gratitude for the appointment, he said, "I am very proud about that. As a monk this is a great opportunity for me being able to extend my religious services is a great privilege and opportunity for me. I am very fortunate." Be sure to read the full article by Saroj Pathirana over at the BBC website. (Photo by Anuradha Dullewe Wijeyeratne via Wikipedia, using a CC-BY license. Read More @ Source
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| Comment on An Open Letter from the Buddhist Community on Islamophobia Posted: 01 Aug 2012 03:00 PM PDT For the past few days I've watched the discussions of many members of the Buddhist community in the United States, Canada and Europe about events happening in Burma regarding the persecution of a particular Muslim minority. Like all situations of … Continue reading →  Read More @ Source 
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| Look inside the new, September 2012 Shambhala Sun Posted: 01 Aug 2012 02:00 PM PDT
The special section Real Peace in Times of Stress includes Judy Lief's "The Middle Way of Stress," explaining what Buddhist wisdom teaches us about stress — where it really comes from, how it manifests, and why we may need it on the spiritual path. Plus, several other Buddhist teachers and mindfulness experts — including Sister Chan Khong, Diana Winston, Michael Carroll and many more — offer stress-relieving techniques for stress at home, at work, in our relationships, and more. Always Beginner's Mind: Colleen Morton Busch profiles the San Francisco Zen Center as it celebrates its fiftieth anniversary. Pure Fiction: Mystery, suspense, science fiction — Andrea Miller profiles three Buddhist-inspired novelists who make up stories to tell deeper truths about life. Playing With Buddha: At age seven, Ira Sukrungruang believed that the Buddha was more than just a bronze statue. The Buddha was his best friend. Plus, Chögyam Trungpa on mahamudra, Karen Maezen Miller on the virtues of boredom, Andrea Miller's latest book briefs and much, much more. Browse it all online here. Read More @ Source
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| Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:00 PM PDT  He is teaching the Dharma; do you understand? The word Dharma lies at the heart of Buddhist. It is the way-things-are, the nature of existence according to the Buddha, and it is the Buddhist teachings themselves, first taught by him, and then developed and expanded on by generations of Buddhist teachings. In the Buddhist scriptures, the Buddha states that the Dharma exists whether it is taught or not, as it is fundamental to the workings of the universe (Dhamma-niyama Sutta, AN 3.134). The Buddha, however, totally identified with his role as teacher of the Dharma, and therefore declared that whoever sees the Dharma sees the Buddha, and vice versa (Vakkali Sutta, SN 22,87). The Dharma, then, is the natural order of things, and the teachings that encapsulate it. As such, it is the second of the three refuges of Buddhist, along with the Buddha & the Sangha (the community of the enlightened). But, what exactly is it? The Dharma has been formulated into collections of scripture known as Tipitika in Pali and Tripitika in Sanskrit. The former is generally considered the older of the two, and therefore nearer the actual teachings of the historical Buddha, and is usually called the Pali Canon in English. In this monumental collection of ancient Buddhist texts there can be found descriptions of the nature of the Dharma, that is to say, ways ! of recog nizing it. This is important, for it's one thing to study Buddhist teachings and understand them intellectually, but another thing entirely to apply them to our lives. Knowing how the Dharma is to be approached and digested will help us in this endeavor, and the following description of it taken from the Pali Canon is the perfect place to start: svakkhato bhagavato dhammo, sanditthiko, akaliko, ehipassiko, opanayiko, paccattam veditabbo vinnuhi. Svakkato bhagavato dhammo can be translated as 'Dhamma is well expounded by the Blessed One.' Dhamma is the Pali equivalent of the more widely known word Dharma, and the Blessed One is another name for the Buddha. So, what this phrase is telling us is that the Buddha taught the Dharma really well. So, if we explore his teachings as found in Buddhist scriptures, we will have a source of teachings that we can use for reflection that will lead to the ultimate goal of Buddhist: the ending of suffering. In the scriptures, alongside the Buddha, there are other accounts of the Dharma just as valid, spoken by his disciples. Moreover, subsequent teachings by Buddhist luminaries over the past two-and-a-half millennia are also extensions and variations on the Blessed One's teachings. All of this can be considered 'well expounded' and worthy of our attention. Sanditthiko means 'apparent here and now.' The Dharma is not mere abstraction. It is not a philosophy designed as a neat summing up of existence: it is to be known existentially, in our lives, right now. The three characteristics of anicca, dukkha, & anatta (impermanent, unsatisfactory, & not-self) are central Buddhist teachings to be experienced, not only u! nderstoo d. If we look around us, we can observe the impermanent nature of everything. But, how many of us have observed the ephemeral nature of the mind? Thoughts & emotions are also impermanent phenomena, aren't they? The Dharma, therefore, is 'apparent here and now,' and waiting for us to discover it. Akaliko means 'timeless,' and indicates that the Dharma is not bound by time. It is a set of truths that remain the same whether encountered now, in the ancient past, or in the distant future. In this sense, the Dharma is like the laws that govern the universe, and to which we are all subject. The Dharma is timeless in another sense as well, which harder to grasp as it is not with the intellect that we do so, but purely through experience. When we penetrate to the heart of the Buddhist teachings, existentially speaking, we discover a timeless zone. This zone is without any characteristics, and is not only ageless but also deathless (amata); to experience it is to achieve the awakening (bodhi) also known as nirvana. Ehipassiko means 'inviting investigation.' The Buddhist teachings do not exist as mere doctrines to be believed in. Neither are they a logical philosophy to be intellectually accepted.Rather than dogmas, the Dharma invites us to examine it, only accepting as true what we find satisfies our experience. It is upaya (Pali & Sanskrit), which can be rendered 'skillful means' or 'expedient means' in English. In the famous analogy of the raft (Alagaddupama Sutta, MN 22), the Buddha describes Buddhist teachings as being useful only as far as they lead us to nirvana. Like a raft, we should not cling to them after we have 'reached the o! ther sho re,' but rather let others use them to realize their own enlightenment. So, rather than having blind faith in the Dharma, we should investigate it, question it, reflect it, and in conjunction with other skillful means, use it to realize nirvana. Opanayiko means 'leading inwards.' Humans tend to look outwards. We study the world, try to understand it, and attempt to lead happy lives in it. We do not often, if ever, turn our attention around and examine ourselves for any decent length of time. According to Buddhist, this is exactly what we need to do if we wish to discover the cause of suffering (dukkha) in ourselves and then end all suffering through following the Buddhist Path (magga). An integral part of that path is what is termed 'meditation' in the English language. In such practices, we learn to look within, and see that suffering is caused by our own desire (tanha) & clinging (upadana). It is our inner reactions to outer phenomena that create suffering around them, not the other way around. The Dharma leads us inwards to realize this truth. Paccattam veditabbo vinnuhi means 'to be experienced individually by the wise.' There is a discourse of the Buddha found in the Pali Canon called the Dhamma-viharin Sutta (AN 5.73). In it, the Buddha contrasts on the one hand the Dhamma-viharin ('one-who-dwells-in-the-Dharma') with those keen on studying the Dharma (with the intellect), describing the Dharma (to others), reciting the Dharma, and thinking about the Dharma. Those that meditate & experience the Dharma with mindfulness are extolled above the others. The Buddha described such people as Dhamma-viharin, or 'Dharma-dwellers.' Such p! ersons w ill develop wisdom as opposed to knowledge, and though they may indulge in the other activities as well, it is by experiencing the Dharma individually that they really benefit from their practice. These six attributes of the Dharma are chanted by Buddhists the world over every morning & evening. If only they were investigated as often as they are uttered, there would be so many more noble persons (ariyapuggala) around! The importance of the Dharma in the life of a Buddhist cannot be overestimated, nevertheless. For, even if one is not a 'Dharma-dweller' just yet, the Dharma is that which one believes, studies, teaches, recites, and ponders over. This is with regards the Dharma in the form of Buddhist teachings; as the 'way-things-are,' it affects us all, Buddhist or not, and reflecting upon it can only benefit ourselves and the world at large. Furthermore, if reflected upon wisely, the Dharma may be revealed as none other than the Buddha, the 'Awakened One,' and we may become members of the noble community of the enlightened (Ariya-Sangha). May it be so!  
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