Confession of a Lapsed Non-meat-eater

Posted: 20 Jun 2013 09:00 AM PDT

Once upon a time, I was a vegan. That lasted maybe three months, max. I did better with vegetarianism — something like sixteen years or so. But I had a hard time with depression, and so started I started eating fish, so long as it was rich with Omega-3s. Then the circle widened to more fish, and then shellfish. Then, after some years, I started eating turkey, and so on…. Not a good vegan, no, but one hell of a backslider.
If you're like me — an animal lover who's trying to lessen suffering and cultivate a more compassionate mind — you might find that this all starts to feel more and more untenable. And so yesterday morning I said to my wife that I wanted to turn things back around, whatever that might ultimately mean. (Being the wonderful and supportive person she is, she's game.) I know it's not going to be easy. But then, later in the day, I saw this article, titled "On Becoming a Vegan," written by my friend the good Dr. Nicholas Ribush and published by Mandala magazine. As he writes there,

My attachment to meat prevented me from looking at the issue objectively. I hid behind my ignorance. But since the advent of YouTube, there's really no excuse, nowhere to hide. Search for videos with the terms "meat cruelty," "animal cruelty," "beef cruelty," "pig cruelty," "chicken cruelty" and so forth and you'll see.
The experience of watching these was what I imagine a realization must be like. Of course, I have no Dharma realizations; this was kind of a worldly one. A sudden, deep, life changing understanding that led me to declare to my wife, Wendy, "I'm never eating meat again. I want no part of this entire process." I defy you to watch these videos and not be moved.

And: he's stuck to it, even going all the way to veganism.
Much of what Dr. Nick is saying comes from his Tibetan Buddhist perspective — which you may or may not relate to, but the main thing is that it's born of A) facts about the very ugly truth about meat and animal-products, and B) a truly positive motivation. It's inspiring, and he includes a couple of helpful links for those who want to explore alternative ways of feeding themselves.
You can check it all out here.

More on animals, meat-eating, and vegetarianism here on ShambhalaSun.com:
The Accidental Vegetarian, by Noa Jones
k.d. lang talks "inner conflict" on the subject of meat eating; What about you?
and lots more.

Bangkok Post, June 17, 2013

Bangkok, Thailand -- The lifestyle of some of Thailand's more "successful" monks is again drawing criticism. The National Office of Buddhism says it has received many complaints about monks riding in luxurious cars and using brand-name items even as they are supposed to live a life of restraint and simplicity.

Nopparat Benjawatananun, director-general of the National Office of Buddhism, said on Sunday that many people have complained about seeing monks living a lavish lifestyle, which is in contrast to the basic anti-materialistic teachings of the religion.

Recently, a video clip of three Buddhist monks riding in a private jet was uploaded to the YouTube video-sharing website. In the video, the monks were wearing brand-name ear phones and sunglasses and a Louis Vuitton bag can be seen next to one of them.

The viewer comments posted under the video are overwhelmingly negative, some using harsh language.

"I've instructed officials to keep a close eye on the monks and if they're found to violate Buddhist teachings they'll be punished accordingly," Mr Nopparat said.

He said there were also complaints about monks in many renowned temples in Thailand collecting luxurious cars and using expensive items.

Even if the monks said the cars were given to them by their pupils, it was still not appropriate for them to own dozens of sports cars in their temples, he said.

"There are also monks who do not teach Buddhism correctly because they focus more on black magic and try to commercialise religious activities in order to build faith. The pupils of these monks are famous celebrities.

"I cannot tell you which temples or who the monks are but the National Office of Buddhism has verbally warned them," Mr Nopparat said. Read More @ Source

A Buddhist Festival with a Twist: "BuddhaFest" - June 20-23

Posted: 20 Jun 2013 12:00 AM PDT

by Janet Fitzgerald, The Examiner, June 18, 2013

Rosslyn, VA (USA) -- BuddhaFest, the only festival in the country to feature films, spiritual talks, meditation and live music, returns June 20-23 to Artisphere in Rosslyn, VA. BuddhaFest presents a unique blend of voices from various wisdom traditions, offering practical ways for people to live a healthy, meaningful and connected life in this increasingly complex world.

<< Robert Thurman and Sharon Salzberg will be speaking at "BuddhaFest"
In its fourth annual celebration of mindfulness, meditation and compassion, this year's festival opens to voices beyond Buddhism to include a teacher of ancient Toltec wisdom, a charismatic young yoga guru from India, and a retired Unitarian Universalist minister. These new and diverse voices will be teaching alongside popular and highly-regarded Buddhist teachers such as Robert Thurman and Sharon Salzberg.
Named one of Time magazine's 25 most influential Americans, Buddhist scholar Robert Thurman joins New York Times best-selling author Sharon Salzberg on Saturday, June 22 for a keynote talk, "Buddhism: A Joyous Science of Kindness and Wisdom." Thurman has written numerous books on Buddhism, Tibet, arts, culture and politics. The New York Times has called him the leading American expert on Tibetan Buddhism. He is the father of actress Uma Thurman.

New at this year's festival is Tibet Fest, a family-friendly event on Saturday, June 22, featuring the food, dance, music and spirit of Tibet. Children are admitted free, and kids' activities include making birthday cards to send to the Dalai Lama. Tibet Fest is inspired by Tibetan Buddhist culture and the global concern for its survival inside Tibet. It is presented in partnership with the International Campaign for Tibet and The Capital Area Tibetan Association. Speakers at this year's BuddhaFest are brought together by a similar approach to higher consciousness, and a commitment to the principles of mindfulness and compassion. HeatherAsh Amara, author of The Toltec Path of Transformation, shares the ancient wisdom that she learned from her mentor, The Four Agreements author don Miguel Ruiz. Anand Mehrotra is a young guru from Rishikesh, India who has created his own branch of yoga - Sattva Yoga. He appears in person with the film, THE HIGHEST PASS. Screening on Friday, June 21, the film is about a harrowing motorcycle ride that he and his students take into some of the highest areas of the Himalayas - a ride that forces them to deeply confront their fears, and better understand courage.
Former Unitarian Universalist minister Marilyn Sewell closes the festival on Sunday June 23rd as she accompanies the film, RAW FAITH. This documentary is a moving and unflinchingly honest story that traces her personal journey as she learns to care for herself as passionately as she has cared for others.
ADDITIONAL FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
• Opening Night Film: ONE TRACK HEART -- THE STORY OF KRISHNA DAS. This film tells a compelling story of transformation as it traces the life journey of Grammy-nominated artist Krishna Das, one of the most popular kirtan musicians in the world. The film is introduced by director Jeremy Frindel and is followed by a live kirtan music performance by Gaura Vani.
• Former United Nations peacekeeper and human rights advocate Marianne Elliott, author of Zen Under Fire: Finding Peace in the Midst of War, tells a compelling story of working with yoga, meditation and compassionate action in the war-torn battlefields of Afghanistan.
• The GuruGanesha Band performs in concert on Saturday night, June 21. The 6-member band features a unique blend of kirtan, raga, rock and deeply meditative folk music.
• Other films include THIS DEWDROP WORLD. Jeff Goodell of Rolling Stone says, "THIS DEWDROP WORLD is a beautiful, courageous, intimate film about love and loss. It may also be the deepest meditation on climate change that I've ever seen."
See full schedule and descriptions of all films and events at: www.buddhafest.org.
BuddhaFest is dedicated to presenting events that promote spiritual awareness, compassion and peace in the world. Festival partner is Tricycle.com, a hub for groups and movements dedicated to exploring how universal Buddhist values can help to alleviate suffering, and benefit others in this increasingly interdependent, networked world. The festival's founding sponsor is Insight Meditation Community of Washington, a group committed to deepening individual meditation practice and the growth of spiritual community.
Confirmed Speakers:
Robert Thurman, Sharon Salzberg, Khen Rinpoche Lobzang Tsetan, Venerable Pannavati Bhikkhuni, Rev. Marilyn Sewell, Ruth King, Anand Mehrotra, Marianne Elliott and HeatherAsh Amara
Most speakers are available for press. We would be happy to facilitate interviews.
Festival tickets and information at: www.buddhafest.org
Individual events $ 10-$ 30, Friday pass $ 25, Saturday pass $ 85, Sunday pass $ 75, 4-day pass $ 185.
Free admission to Tibet Fest for children 12 and under.
Festival events are at three Artisphere venues:
Spectrum Theatre
1611 N. Kent St.
Arlington, VA 22209
The Dome at Artisphere and the Ballroom at Artisphere1101 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22209
FREE PARKING at Artisphere
Public Transportation:
Rosslyn Metro (blue/orange) is two blocks away.
DC Circulator Dupont/Georgetown/Rosslyn line drops three blocks away.
Festival Hours:
Thursday, June, 20: 5:30pm – 9:30pm | Friday, June 21: 7pm - 11pm
Saturday, June 22: 10am – 10:30pm | Sunday, June 23: 10am – 9:30pm

Read More @ Source

Buddhist monk receives diploma at Mt. SAC

Posted: 19 Jun 2013 11:00 PM PDT

SGV Tribune, June 18, 2013

San Gabriel, CA (USA) -- He may not mean to, but Bowala Rakkitha stands out among his fellow students at Mt. San Antonio College. He dresses differently, his values are unusual, and he speaks with a distinctive accent.

<< The Venerable Rakkitha, a Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka, graduated from Mt. SAC. (Photo courtesy of Mt. SAC)
When the Venerable Rakkitha, a Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka, walked at graduation last week during Mt. SAC's 67th commencement, it was to be yet another leg of a most improbable journey.
"I never thought I would come to the United States and I never thought I would attend a university here," said the 37-year-old monk, who is receiving associate degrees in psychology and liberal arts and will transfer to UCLA next fall.
During his time as a student at Mt. SAC, Rakkitha has generated a certain amount of curiosity, if not celebrity. The first question is usually related to the most obvious distinction.

"Everyone wants to know why I dress like this," he said, patting down his red robe, his day-to-day attire and more importantly a symbol of the vow he made to live a simple life as monk. Then there are the more curious peers. "I have also frequently had groups of student who wish to interview me about Buddhism and about pursuing secular learning," he said. "Although I feel that my English may not be very good, I share my experiences with others and I let them know that I am learning alongside them."
Rakkitha's journey began in Sri Lanka where he was raised while the country was in the midst of a civil war. He decided to become a monk at 14 to help the people in his community.
And because the war closed down most schools, the temple was the one place to get an education. He went on to earn two college degrees in Sri Lanka.
He came to the U.S. in 2005 to help a fellow monk at the Landarama Siri Lankarama Meditation Center in La Puente, his current home. He teaches the equivalent of Sunday school and helps out in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program.
"When I was growing up in Sri Lanka, I really couldn't imagine coming to the United States," he said. "It was just unthinkable."
Once here, Rakkitha worked at the La Puente temple. He registered Mt. SAC in 2009 to learn English after temple members encouraged him to enroll.
"The devotees at our temple always talked about Mt. SAC and after a few years here, I thought I better learn English."
But the vow to live a religious life and renounce the materialism of society hasn't always fit neatly into his new world.
"It's not easy to be a Buddhist monk. You have to make a lot of sacrifices and give up a lot," he said.
For example, the monastic rule that allows breakfast and lunch, but no food between noon and dusk could be problematic for a student who takes classes from morning to noon. Then there are the conflicts with the gadgets of the modern age that can make being a monk in a material world difficult. Learning to drive was a major hurdle.
"I have no attachments to conveniences like air conditioning or computers or cell phones. I could give them up at any time," he said. "Rather, they enable me in my work. Having a computer is helpful for temple work as well as school work."
Buddhism, he said, realizes that change is inevitable and is flexible in some regards.
"I feel as though I have to regularly justify my educational goals to myself and to others," he said.
While many students naturally may think of their education and earning a diploma in terms of future financial gain, Rakkitha thinks of it much differently. He justifies his pursuit of education in terms of how it will help others.
"I will use the knowledge I've gained here to help with my work in the community as a Buddhist monk."
When he transfers to UCLA in the fall, Rakkitha plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in religious studies and to teach. He already has a bachelor's in Buddhist culture from Sri Lanka's University of Peradeniya and a national diploma in teaching from the Sariputtha National College of Education.
"I feel the necessity to develop a wider range of religion education, especially living in such a diverse country."
So when the Ven. Bowala Rakkitha graduates with Mt. SAC's Class of 2013 on June 14, he'll have one more leg of his journey completed and be one step closer to his goal.

Read More @ Source

Plans lodged for 22m high Buddhist temple on Salisbury Highway

Posted: 19 Jun 2013 10:00 PM PDT

by Duane Schultz, News Review Messenger, June 19, 2013

Salisbury, Australia -- A PLAN to build the tallest Buddhist temple in Australia has been lodged with Salisbury Council.

<< Oan Ahn from the Khmer Buddhist Association has submitted plans with Salisbury Council to build a 22m high temple on Salisbury Highway Source: News Limited
The Khmer Buddhist Association of SA wants to build the 22m-high temple at its existing site at 376 Salisbury Highway, Parafield Gardens.
Association president Oan Ahn said it would cost about $ 3 million and eclipse a 17m-high temple in Queensland.
The development would also include 15m-high ornamental gates, a new carpark, landscaping and improvements to the association's community hall.

It would replace the 4m-high temporary temple at the back of the site. Mr Ahn said his group needed a permanent temple to cater for about 1000 people each week.
"We have raised the money through the community and our Buddhist monks need somewhere to meditate," said Mr Ahn, 45, who migrated to Adelaide's northern suburbs in the 1980s.
"It will look good and it will symbolise and represent our culture.
"We are hoping the plans will be approved as it is not just for Buddhists, but the Cambodian community as a whole and it will contribute to multiculturalism.
"Anyone will be able to visit."
About 2000 Cambodians live in the Salisbury Council district according to the 2011 Census.
A Salisbury Council spokeswoman said the development was under assessment and no time frame had been set for making a decision.
The council rejected the association's plan to build a giant Buddha statue atop a 10m-high entrance to the site in 2011.

Read More @ Source

Priest uses eraser carving as a path to spread Meditation

Posted: 19 Jun 2013 09:00 PM PDT

By RYOSUKE YAMAMOTO, Asahi Shimbun, June 19, 2013

OJIYA, Niigata Prefecture (Japan) -- With a cutter in his right hand and a 4-centimeter-square eraser with a paper pattern overlaid in his left, Kojun Asada starts carving.

<< Kojun Asada, a priest at Gokurakuji temple in Ojiya, Niigata Prefecture, makes eraser stamps with his favorite knife. (Ryosuke Yamamoto)
Moving the knife back and forth in small motions across the eraser, he creates a rubber stamp with an image of a smiling Buddha in just five minutes.
Asada, a Buddhist priest at Gokurakuji temple in Ojiya, has been traveling across the country, holding a Meditation workshop combining eraser stamp carving and a lecture. He is hoping these sessions attract those who have been strangers to Meditation.
Even before he started using erasers, Asada had another item he used as his canvas.
"I would carve Buddha images on the surface of a pencil while studying sutra," he said.
Asada first learned about eraser carving seven years ago, when he was preparing for an eco-bag making event for a free market to be held at his temple grounds. He came up with the idea of using erasers for a decoration with the help of his wife, who taught him how to make them.

He bought relatively large erasers and began carving, and got hooked. Asada honed his craft by reading a how-to book by Tomoko Tsukui, an Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture-based eraser stamp artist. He began to teach eraser stamp carving at local events and made stamps upon the request of participants.
In late January 2012, when he acted as a volunteer to deliver relief materials and demolish disaster-stricken houses in Watari, Miyagi Prefecture, which was devastated by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, he found the time to make eraser stamps for survivors.
Eraser stamps helped survivors open their minds and release their feelings, and they started talking about the March 11, 2011, disasters.
"What we made was just small talk, but their stories were from deep inside--something I could not have possibly heard if I had asked, 'Do you have any troubles or worries?' " Asada said. He was convinced eraser carving could help people connect, he said.
When he met Tsukui last summer, he proposed they jointly hold a workshop of her eraser carving and his preaching, which the artist agreed to participate in.
They formed a duo called "Shogyo Mujos" (All things are transient and impermanent), derived from a Buddhist term.
The first classes were held in Tokyo's Asakusa and Kamiyacho districts in December, followed by sessions in Kyoto, Osaka and Hyogo prefectures in March. Each event was almost filled to the seating capacity of 30 people, most of whom were women in their 20s and 30s.
At each session, participants carve a Buddha image of Tsukui's design.
After the craft class by Tsukui is over, Asada starts talking about the Buddha's teaching, in calm and simple terms.
"Even if you are using the same sample, your works slightly differ from each other," he said. "There is no superior or inferior work. Everyone's work is equal."
One participant said, "I felt (calm) as if I was transcribing sutras."
Another added, "I wish I could take more time to listen to the lecture."
Asada was hopeful about his new endeavor.
"Many priests want more people to come visit their temples," he said. "Eraser carving can play a role in connecting both sides."

Read More @ Source

Mayor to seek return of Buddhist statue in South Korea

Posted: 19 Jun 2013 08:00 PM PDT

The Japan Times, Jun 15, 2013

TSUSHIMA, NAGASAKI PREF, Japan -- The mayor of Tsushima in Nagasaki Prefecture has vowed to directly ask South Korea to return a Buddhist statue that he claims is the property of a temple on the island.

In an interview Wednesday, Yasunari Takarabe said he will submit a petition seeking the return of the statue of the Kanzeon Bodhisattva to Kannon Temple, and that it will bear the signatures of around 17,000 residents of the Sea of Japan island. It might be submitted to the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea as soon as July.

"The island's residents protected the statue for centuries," Takarabe said. "My mission is to meet with senior officials of the cultural heritage entity and convey their feelings."

The Tsushima board of education said Takarabe in late April launched a campaign to collect residents' signatures and that as of Tuesday, more than 16,800, or half the island's population, had signed the petition.

The seated statue, designated an important cultural property by Nagasaki Prefecture, has remained in South Korea following a provisional ruling by a district court in the city of Daejeon.

An inscription indicates the statue was made in Korea in 1330 at Buseoksa Temple in what is now Yeongju, North Gyeongsang province. The board of education said it may have been sold to Kannon Temple when anti-Buddhism movements began spreading on the Korean Peninsula in the 14th century.

A South Korean temple, however, claims the statue was plundered from the peninsula by Japanese pirates between the 13th and 16th centuries.

Last February, the Daejeon District Court said that the statue should not be returned to Japan until it is confirmed that the temple on Tsushima acquired it lawfully.

Xinhua, June 19, 2013

Beijing, China -- The Shaolin Temple, known as the cradle of Chinese kung fu, is preparing to stage its first cultural festival in the United States as part of efforts to expand its global clout.

<< The Shaolin Temple [Photo by Wang Zirui/Asianewsphoto]
The first North America Shaolin Cultural Festival is scheduled to be held from Oct 8 to 14 in Los Angeles, according to Shi Yongxin, abbot of the Buddhist temple in the city of Dengfeng in Central China's Henan province.
The temple has successfully hosted an annual Shaolin Temple Day in California for nine consecutive years, Shi said.
He added that the temple has over a million followers in North America.
"We're working to build a platform to support exchanges between Shaolin disciples and kung fu lovers across the world," he said.

Over the last two decades, Shi and his disciples have visited more than 60 countries and regions, mainly to stage kung fu shows. The abbot regularly spends two months a year conducting overseas trips. In September, Shi will lead a delegation to take part in an international martial music festival to be held in Russia. The "Shaolin fighting monks" will demonstrate their kung fu skills in Moscow's Red Square, according to Shi.
Shaolin kung fu has gained worldwide popularity through the success of Chinese kung fu movies, particularly those filmed in the 1970s.
Shi said training for the inheritors of Buddhism has been crucial to the 1,500-year-old temple's development.
"We encourage our young monks to travel overseas to expound scriptures and pursue their practice. We also welcome people all over the world to learn kung fu and practice Zen Buddhism," he said.
The temple, which has more than 300 locally registered monks, also has more than 40 overseas culture centers, mostly in the United States and Europe.
Shi said he expects a boom in Buddhism's popularity in the west and believes that the religion can blend well with western culture.
"Buddhism can win respect from the world because it can peacefully co-exist with other religions. It focuses on the purification of the soul," he explained.
In order to bring Shaolin martial arts to a wider audience, Shi has joined hands with a Beijing-based film company to shoot a 3D kungfu movie -- a remake of the 1982 blockbuster "Shaolin Temple".
Born in East China's Anhui province, Shi became abbot of the Shaolin Temple in 1999. He has courted controversy in recent years for developing business operations, such as profitable kung fu shows and online sales, and has subsequently been referred to as China's "CEO monk".
However, Shi said he always insists on making time to meditate, despite his tight schedule.
"How wonderful it would be if I could sit in my meditation room for dozens of days at a time," he mused.
"That's what I hope for my life from the bottom of my heart," he said.

Read More @ Source

Buddhists believe in outer space: Shaolin abbot

Posted: 19 Jun 2013 06:00 PM PDT

Xinhua, June 13, 2013

Henan, China -- As China's successful launch of its fifth manned spacecraft marks another step in realizing the country's space dream, Chinese monks regularly ponder how space is related to their own life.

"Buddhism believes there are aliens. They not only exist, but there are many," said Shi Yongxin, abbot of the Shaolin Temple in central China's Henan Province.
Buddhists believe the existence of many different worlds and their end-results do not exclude other celestial bodies, said Shi in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.
According to the 48-year-old monk, those who have a good practice of Buddhism can go to other worlds, including outer space.
With a history of more than 1,500 years, the Shaolin Temple is famous for Buddhist teaching and Chinese martial arts, particularly Shaolin kungfu. It was enlisted as a world cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2010.

Shi, the temple's 30th abbot, is known as the "CEO of Shaolin" for his pursuit of commercial development. He became abbot in 1999. Shi's business moves have sparked controversy, but he maintains the temple's core functions are to organize religious activities.
"The core soul of the Shaolin Temple has always been the cultivation of followers," stressed the abbot. The temple has more than 300 monks, half of whom were born after 1980.
Shi said they had not been to other celestial bodies and did not know whether Buddhist doctrines can be practiced on other planets.
Life is not eternal in the real world, but some other worlds are described to have eternal life with no pains nor troubles, said Shi, adding this is what Buddhists pursue.
The religious meditation of monks is a state of deep calm, active thinking and high concentration of the sober mind, according to studies conducted by Liu Tianjun, a professor of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.
Shi, who is no stranger to modern technologies such as the mobile phone said brain waves of monks with good cultivation are different from those of ordinary people. This seems to indicate modern monks possess qualities of astronauts.

Read More @ Source

5th Annual Drukpa Council from Aug 29-Sept 5, 2013

Posted: 19 Jun 2013 05:00 PM PDT

The Buddhist Channel, June 19, 2013

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The 5th Annual Drukpa Council has been scheduled for 29 Aug to 5 Sept 2013, at the Hemis Monastery, Ladakh, India. This is likely to be the last time that Ladakh will play host to the world's largest assembly of Drukpa Masters.

The Annual Drukpa Council (ADC) is a yearly event for the masters and followers of the Drukpa Lineage to come together, exchange views and spiritual knowledge. Both the experienced and young Rinpoches of the Drukpa Lineage would be requested to give teachings and share their wisdom and experience during the ADC. A brainchild of His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa, the spiritual head of the Drukpa Lineage, ADC aims to provide a platform for building and nourishing inter-group relationships within the Drukpa Lineage as well as to introduce and share the richness of its spiritual legacy with others. It also provides an annual gathering for the masters and the followers of the Drukpa Lineage to meet once a year, thus providing opportunity to receive teaching, empowerment, oral transmission, from accomplished Dragon masters of Tibet, Bhutan, India and Nepal.
ADC includes not only traditional rituals and practices, but also open discussions and exchange of views regarding the practical use of spirituality to resolve today's difficulties. It also functions as a forum to increase our ability to work more productively together in a harmonious way.
One of the key driving forces of the ADC is to promote Live to Love which is the practical aspect of inculcating loving-kindness and compassion in the world today.
About The Drukpa Lineage
The Drukpa Lineage or Lineage of the Dragons has the legacy of guiding countless beings on the path of Dharma and ultimate enlightenment for more than 800 years.
Yet with the passage of time, several important teachings and traditions of the lineage, such as the Yogini tradition within the Drukpa Lineage have been lost.
The teachings of the three mad yogis: i.e. Tsangnyon Heruka (1452-1507), Druknyon Kunga Legpa (also known as Drukpa Kunleg, 1455-1529) and Unyon Kunga Sangpo (1458-1532) are almost disappearing.
Many Drukpa followers neither know much about the Three Divine Madmen nor about other enlightened masters of the Drukpa Lineage such as Gyalwa Yangonpa (1213-1258) and Gyalwa Lorepa (1187-1250), even many of the monks and nuns do not know their biographies.
Those who are interested in attending the ADC, please email to contact@drukpa-hk.org for preliminary registration. Further details will be provided once available.

Read More @ Source

Buddhist nun dies after setting herself ablaze in eastern Tibet

Posted: 19 Jun 2013 04:00 PM PDT

by Yeshe Choesang, The Tibet Post International , 11 June 2013

Dharamshala, India -- Emerging reports coming out Tibet say, a Tibetan Buddhist nun has set herself ablaze on Tuesday evening, June 11, 2013 (5pm local time) in Tawu county, Karze, Kham province of eastern Tibet, in an apparent protest against Chinese repressive rule in Tibet.

Latest sources coming out Tibet on June 15 stated that the Tibetan nun has been identified as Wangchen Dolma and a 31-year old.
The authorities have surreptitiously cremated her body at the hospital and kept the family members of the deceased under house arrest.
"Now Chinese authorities shut down communication networks completely and putting heavy restrictions on the movement of local Tibetans," sources further confirmed.
The details of the nun were not known as the authorities have immediately imposed a heavy restriction shortly after the incident.
Dolma who set himself on fire to protest the Chinese repressive policies in Tibet, has succumbed to her burn injuries, while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dartsedho county on 14 June.
"Immediately after her self-immolation protest, she was taken to a hospital in Dhartsedho county, eastern Tibet, but it is not mentioned whether she was taken by Chinese police or local authorities," Yama Tsering, a monk from Gaden Monastery in Soutt India told The Tibet Post International (TPI), citing sources in the region.

"She set herself on fire near Nyatso Monastery, Kham region of eastern Tibet, where over 3000 thousands of Buddhist monks from over 50 monasteries in Kham region are currently holding a 10-day annual Buddhist debate meet, started on June 10," Tsering added. "The Buddhist debate meet is still going ahead this evening, not been affected so far by the incident," he said.
Since 2009, at least 119 Tibetans have self-immolated reportedly to protest Chinese hardline and repressive rule in Tibet and of them 102 were reportedly passed-away due to their severe injuries.
Most of them have called for the return of the spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama to his homeland and freedom for Tibetans.

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Thai Buddhist temple serves Hmong in St. Paul

Posted: 19 Jun 2013 03:00 PM PDT

by David Zander, Ahmay Ya, and Chung Yang, Asian American Press, June 9, 2013

St Paul, MN (USA) -- From the outside, nothing distinguishes Watmongkhool-Khunaram from the family residences on the block.

The temple operates out of a two story grey house surrounded by a grey cyclone fence. But when you leave your shoes at the door, step inside and you find a small prayer hall with statues and pictures of Buddha on the wall and a low dais where Ajan Phra Khrupras- itthamrha Kosam, the resident Thai Buddhist monk sits during services. The lay people coming there are not Lao or Thai. They are Hmong.
Traditionally the Hmong in Laos and Thailand believe in shamans or have been converted to Christianity. I had not heard of Hmong practicing Buddhism. It was therefore a surprise when I learned that a group of Hmong had provided the finances to start a Buddhist temple in St. Paul.
My first thought was that they might be Hmong from the last wave of Hmong refugees who had lived in Wat Tham Krabot under the protection of Thai Buddhist monks until the closing of that last unofficial refugee camp. But Chung Yang, a key founder member, has been here in Minnesota since 1991, He had not learned much about Buddhism in Southeast Asia, but his interest was piqued when his brother was healed by a Thai monk who came to his home.
The monk was then living at a Lao Buddhist temple in Anoka. This led to Chung and a few others inviting the monk to form a temple closer to the Hmong in St Paul.
Ajan Kosam, the resident monk, is quiet, reflective and thoughtful in all his answers to our questions. He has an air of natural calmness around him. He was born in Thailand December 6, 1968.
Like many Thai boys he became a novice while still a young boy. He served four years. Later at the age of 22 he became a monk. His teacher came to America and then invited Ajan He first lived in Anchorage Alaska, but has also lived in Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin before coming to Minnesota. He was first contacted by the Hmong when he was at a temple in Anoka County.
I asked Ajan Kosam what he would like to say to readers. He said his mission is to serve the community and help keep them strong in Buddhist principles. He explained some of the core principles of Buddhism – don't kill, even animals: don't say bad things, don't speak badly of other people. It is his mission to try to help people maintain a Buddhist mind awareness, to maintain Buddhism here in the west.
The Wat opened in October of 2012 and is now serving about fifteen Hmong families who have been drawn to Buddhism. The house is leased by a Hmong benefactor with substantial financial help from four other Hmong and donations and community support. The members are currently in the process of obtaining a tax free status. The Wat is located at 697 St Anthony Avenue, St Paul, MN 55104, just west of Dale. Visitors are welcome and visits can be arranged by calling Mr. Yang at 952-594-9582.
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Seeing Fresh: the Contemplative Photograph of the Week

Posted: 19 Jun 2013 01:00 PM PDT

This week's Contemplative Photograph of the Week, provided by seeingfresh.com, is by Mark Bessoudo. As Seeing Fresh's curator Andy Karr puts it, "It shows what happens when the universe aligns perfectly with your perception. It's a great example of fresh seeing."

Contemplative photography is a method for working with the contemplative state of mind, seeing the world in fresh ways, and expressing this experience photographically. For more, see all our previous Contemplative Photography posts. And don't miss this video or this article, which help explain the basics of practicing contemplative photography.
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Teachings on the ‘Heart Sutra’ and ‘Eight Verses for Training the Mind’ at Quang Minh Temple

Posted: 19 Jun 2013 12:00 PM PDT

Homepage » News » Teachings on the 'Heart Sutra' and 'Eight Verses for Training the Mind' at Quang Minh Temple »

June 19th 2013
Melbourne, Australia, 19 June 2013 - This morning His Holiness the Dalai Lama drove about 12 kilometres out of Melbourne to the Quang Minh Temple, a centre for the Vietnamese Buddhist community, overlooking the Maribyrnong River. He was invited by Geshe Sonam Thargye, Director of the Drol Kar Buddhist Centre, to give an explanation of the 'Heart Sutra' and 'Eight Verses for Training the Mind.' Well-wishers, among them Tibetans, Vietnamese, Chinese and Australians, crowded the temple's halls to greet him and listen to him speak.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his teachings on the "Heart Sutra" at the Quang Minh Temple in Melbourne, Australia on June 19, 2013. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

As His Holiness was taking his seat, surrounded by monks of several Buddhist traditions, respects were paid to the earlier Aboriginal inhabitants of the land and a representative offered words of welcome and good will. His Holiness began by expressing his pleasure to be there:
"I am very happy to come to this Vietnamese Temple to give an explanation of the Buddha Dharma," and, noticing Christian brothers in the audience, "pleased to see spiritual brothers from other traditions joining us here. We'll begin with a recitation of the Mangala Sutta in Pali, the Heart Sutra in Vietnamese and some subsequent verses in Tibetan.

"Usually, when I give a talk about Buddhist nowadays, I like to talk first about religion and what the Dharma is."
He said that faith in the Dharma is something we only find among human beings. Once we understand the value of religion we develop faith in it. All religions offer us hope, sustaining us in the face of tragedy. If we believe in a creator we trust that whatever happens has some meaning. Buddhists see it as the unfolding of causes we have created. Those with no faith simply have to be realistic. Religion is helpful in helping us sustain our peace of mind.
His Holiness said that his first commitment, as one of the 7 billion human beings alive today, all of whom want to follow a happy life, is to the promotion of human values. He said that our experience of pain and pleasure is in the mind and that we have two levels of consciousness, sensory and mental. When we see a flower, we employ a sensory consciousness, but our recognition that it is beautiful is on the level of mental consciousness. The sensory level acts like an informer, while our experience of happiness is on a mental level. Sensory consciousness depends on sensory input, so when the music ends, that's it. We deal with religion on the deeper level of mental experience.
As Pope Benedict aptly remarked, reason and faith should go together. When they do they provide inner strength and self-confidence. When we face obstacles on the way, we need tolerance, forgiveness and self-discipline. We also need to strengthen our feelings of love, otherwise our faith becomes dry. We can readily do this because we are equipped from birth with an ability to show and respond to affection.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking during his teachings on the "Heart Sutra" at the Quang Minh Temple in Melbourne, Australia on June 19, 2013. Photo/Rusty Stewart/DLIA 2013

His Holiness mentioned that his second commitment is to fostering inter-religious harmony. He acknowledged that there are big differences in philosophy and practice between religious traditions, but asserted that they share a common message of love, compassion, tolerance and forgiveness. He recommends that the attitude to adopt is faith in your own religion combined with sincere respect for others. He also suggests that we think in terms of one truth, one religion in terms of our own personal practice, but that in the context of the world in which we live, we acknowledge the existence of several truths and several religions.
The Buddha probably spoke Magadhi, the dialect of Magadha, the Indian kingdom where he lived, but the scriptures recording his teachings were originally written down in Pali. This tradition spread to countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma and Vietnam. The Buddhist Sanskrit tradition arose with the emergence of the great monastic centres of learning like Takshashila (Taxila) and Nalanda. This tradition spread first to China and from there into Korea and Japan, as well as Vietnam. His Holiness usually points out that the Buddhist established in Tibet by the Indian Master, Shantarakshita and his disciple Kamalashila was the pure lineage of the University of Nalanda.
What is known as the first Turning of the Wheel of Dharma includes the explanation of the Four Noble Truths preserved in the Pali tradition. In the 'Heart Sutra' there is a discussion between the Arhat Shariputra and the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara who appeared in the form of a deity. To ordinary people unable to see the Bodhisattva it might have appeared that Shariputra was talking to himself. From this we understand that the second and third Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma did not take place in public. The second Turning of the Wheel, which concerns the Perfection of Wisdom teachings, elaborates on the third Noble Truth, cessation, while the third Turning of the Wheel expands upon the fourth Noble Truth, the! path.
Turning to the text of the 'Heart Sutra' His Holiness noted that it states the Buddha is absorbed in a concentration called profound illumination when Shariputra puts a question to Avalokiteshvara, to which he answers that the five aggregates, the psycho-physical components of a person, are empty of any inherent existence.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama offering a ceremonial scarf during a meeting with local Tibetans, Mongolians, Bhutanese and Sherpas during his visit to the Quang Minh Temple in Melbourne, Australia on June 19, 2013. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

Vietnamese members of the temple had worked since early morning to produce a delicious Vietnamese vegetarian lunch. After eating, His Holiness met with a gathering of Tibetan, Mongolians, Bhutanese and Sherpas who live in the vicinity. He talked to them about their shared Buddhist culture of which they can be justly proud. He recalled the low point for Tibetans when they escaped into exile 54 years ago and how much has been achieved in terms of education and preservation of Tibetan language, culture and identity. He made a point of stressing Tibetans' reputation for resilience, honesty and integrity, and that it is in these values that their enduring wealth lies.
Resuming his teaching, His Holiness explained that the gist of the Perfection of Wisdom teachings to which the 'Heart Sutra' belongs is that things do not exist in the way they appear. He compared this to the comments made to him by American psychologist Aaron Beck that when we are overwhelmed by anger, for example, the object of our anger appears to be completely negative and yet 90% of this misconception is our own projection. He said the essence of the 'Heart Sutra' is: "Form is empty, but emptiness is form. Emptiness is not other than forms and forms are not other than emptiness."
He explained how the mantra at the end of the Sutra can be seen as a summary of the entire path to enlightenment. The words 'gate gate' meaning 'go, go,' can be seen as indicating the paths of preparation and accumulation; 'paragate,' meaning 'go beyond,' can be seen as indicating the path of seeing; 'parasamgate,' meaning 'go completely beyond,' indicates the path of meditation, while 'bodhi svaha' meaning 'awakening attained' indicates the path of no more learning and the achievement of complete enlightenment.
He then proceeded to give a brisk explanation of the 'Eight Verses for Training the Mind,' the first seven verses of which relate to the method aspect of the path, w! hile the final lines of the final verse refer to wisdom. The text consists of a series of aspirations or objectives for training the mind: to cherish all sentient beings; to see yourself as the lowest of all; to forcefully stop disturbing emotions as they arise; to regard ill-natured people as like a treasure; to accept defeat and offer victory to others; to regard those who spurn your help as spiritual friends, and to practise the visualisation of 'giving and taking,' imagining giving happiness to sentient beings and taking away their sufferings while observing the breath.
Lastly there is a caution to avoid the eight worldly concerns, especially a wish for admiration for doing this practice. The last two lines contain the final aspiration - just as clouds disperse in the sky, find liberation in the empty sphere of the mind.

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