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Well Jademountains readers you must have noticed I'm involved with Field of Merit website and project. Hopefully my posting here will not suffer too much. I have a couple of beach photographs from the trip Rev. Alicia and I took to west Wales lurking in the wings which am quite pleased with and thought to share here. They connect with Words of Wisdom, our most recent News post on Field of Merit. And some recumbent Welsh cows for good measure. I have been driving all day from Throssel up to Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland. It is a picture up here. The heather is bright purple at the moment. I'll hold a bunch in my mind for the chap who died here earlier in the week. All merit to his wife and all who know and love him. Read More @ Source

An IndieGogo fundraising campaign has been established to benefit Namdroling Hospital, located in Bylakuppe, India. The hospital was established in 2003 by His Holiness Pema Norbu Rinpoche, and is the only hospital in a 50-mile radius that serves the nearly 5,000 monks and nuns of the Namdroling monastery, the local villagers, and over 10,000 Tibetan refugees. After a seven-year effort, and $ 184,000 in donations, the hospital achieved registered status. Now in 2012, the Indian government is requiring further upgrades be made in order to maintain their registered status. The cost of these upgrades is $ 380,000, and the Indian government has given them until October 2012 to raise the money. If the Namdroling Hospital is unable to raise the money, they will be fined $ 15,000 and forced to close. To date $ 80,000 has been raised, and another $ 40,000 has been pledged. The Hospital still needs to raise $ 260,000 in additional funds to meet its goal plus $ 20,000 to cover the I

Our newest piece to share with you from The Under 35 Project — an initiative from Shambhala Publications to showcase younger authors writing about what they've learned from and about Buddhist practice — is by Jennifer Horton of Greenville, South Carolina. She discovered Buddhism a little less than a year ago, she says, and her world hasn't been the same since. I used to think I wanted to be a hermit. I'd live alone in the woods by a lake á la Thoreau. No one to judge me, no one to bother me, and no one to impress. I read Gary Paulsen novels like "Hatchet" with rapt interest. I watched Into the Wild , fascinated, thinking "this guy knows what he's doing. I could do that. No problem. I hate people." I always thought I was a loner. That I didn't need other people. They certainly didn't seem to need me. I was a sensitive child, and somewhere, I got the message that I wasn't enough. Perhaps I got lost as the middle child, perhaps it

Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche will be giving a special teaching on the lives of the Traleg Rinpoches at the E-Vam Institute in Chatham, New York, from September 28 to 30. Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche had a long connection with Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche, the ninth Traleg Rinpoche, who died in July . When Khenpo Karthar was training at Thrangu Monastery in Eastern Tibet, he was a student of the eighth Traleg Rinpoche, and after the Chinese invasion of Tibet in the 1950s, that connection was preserved for decades with the ninth Traleg Rinpoche. Born in Eastern Tibet in 1924, Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche is widely recognized as one of the great masters of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. He is the founder of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra and over 30 other affiliated centers throughout the Americas. The lectures are scheduled for Friday, September 28 at 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to noon and from 3:30  to 5 p.m., at the E-Vam Institute, 171 Water

The Board of Trustees of the Garrison, New York's Garrison Institute — a "non-profit, non-sectarian 501[c]3 organization exploring the intersection of contemplation and engaged action in the world" — has announced that Robyn Brentano , who previously served as  Executive Director of The Tibet Fund, has been appointed as the Executive Director of the Institute, effective September 4, 2012. "We're very lucky to have Robyn leading the Institute," says Board Chair and founding President Emerita Diana Calthorpe Rose, in Garrison's formal announcement. "She is exactly the right person to guide the Institute through the next phase of growth and raise the impact of its work to the next level." "I am honored to be stepping into this position at this point in The Garrison Institute's development," Brentano says. "By pioneering effective approaches to social and environmental change rooted in contemplative insight and practice, t

The Smithsonian, August 29, 2012 Washington, DC, USA -- Though Buddhist was not native to China, curator Stephen Allee says it wasn't a hard sell. "It's a religion of salvation, and so it had great popularity and appeal," he says. << Known as the transmitter of Chan, or Zen Buddhist, the Chinese monk, Bodhidharma, was said to have a volatile temperament. Portrait of Bodhidharma. Fourteenth century, ink on silk. Courtesy the Freer Gallery of Art. As curator of the Freer Gallery's new exhibit, "Enlightened Beings: Buddhist in Chinese Painting," Allee points out that missionaries and traders traveled across the Silk Road in the first century BCE, and over the centuries, they gained a court audience, making Buddhist an integral part of Chinese culture. The exhibit's 27 works, ranging from the 11th century to the 19th century, tell the story of both Buddhist thought and its adoption in a new land. The lens may seem wide-angle but histor

by Lee Yu Ban, The Buddhist Channel, Aug 31, 2012 Leh, Ladakh (India) -- The region of Ladakh lies tucked away in north India amidst the remote valleys of the western Himalayas. Cut off from the rest of the world for the better part of the year, it springs to life in a vibrant burst of colour through the summer when international tourists flock to this region 11,000 feet above sea level to take in its cultural delights, explore ancient monasteries,white-water rafting or trek into the green valleys hidden in the folds of the Karakoram range. Every year the Ladakh festival  takes place from September 1st to the 15th in Leh and nearby villages and stretches till late September, ending just before the winter cold begins again. The Festival highlights the sports and culture of the region, starting off with a long and colourful procession through Leh. What follows is a week of cultural performances,craft stalls, local food and sports such as archery contests, polo matches, white-w

by Emi Hailey Hayakawa, BTN, Aug 30, 2012 Seoul, South Korea -- Korean Pop music, otherwise known as K-POP, has allured many French people into Korean pop culture, and now these people have become enchanted by the Korean Temple Stay program. The Cultural Corps of Korean Meditation headed by Ven. Beop Jin, opened a 2 day Temple Stay program from August 16th to August 18th for the 40 French Tourists of the VOYAGE HALLYU group at Jeondungsa Temple in Incheon, Korea. VOYAGE HALLYU was a special package created by the Korean Ministry of Tourism and with various travel agencies for foreigners in response to the popularity of K-POP and Korean culture. During their stay in Jeondungsa Temple, the 40 participants were taught the basic customs of the Korean traditional monastic life by Ven. Haein, and experienced the monastic way of eating through balwoo gongyang (bowl offerings). On the second day, their schedule included early morning Buddhist chantings, meditation, 108 prostrati

by Emi Hailey Hayakawa, BTN, Aug 29, 2012 Seoul, South Korea -- The "Collected Works of Korean Buddhism," a 13 volume series of teachings by the three great Buddhist masters of Korean Buddhism; Wonhyo (617-686), Jinul (1158-1210) and Hyujeong (1520-1604) was published in English on August 23rd 2012. This project began in December of 2006 with the support of the Ministry of Culture and took 5 years and eight months to complete. In the Press Release released by the Jogye Order on August 21st, it stated "...Beginning from 2006, we began this project to further propogate Korean Buddhism across the globe, and selected over 90 teachings from the great masters of Korean Buddhism for the 'Collected Works of Korean Buddhism'.." And it continued to state that "This series is mainly for scholars for further research and propagation of Korean Buddhism.." Various local and foreign scholars were involved in this project including Dr. R

Ushnishasitatapatral Bodhisattva who represents the canopy of white light that emanates from the Buddha's head in the creation of the Surangama Mandala The Buddha said to Ananda, 'I will now raise for all of you a Great Dharma-banner so that all beings in all directions can gain access to what is wondrous, subtle and hidden - the pure and luminous Mind that understands - and so that they can open their clear seeing eyes.' The Surangama Sutra This is especially for those who care for their eyes and who aspire to the clear seeing eyes pointed to in this extract from the Surangama Sutra. As we know there is more to seeing than meets the physical eye! And for those of you who find this kind of devotional thing a bit of a challenge. Don't worry yourself. Open your heart and the light will come in. You might try adding that valuable little word intend to that last sentence. Intend to open your heart and the light will come in. Read More @

by Stanley Koh, FMT, August 30, 2012 The Hungry Ghost Festival is an occasion to harmonise separate dimensions of existence. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Chinese rituals to appease hungry ghosts, regardless of whether they are enacted within the Taoist or Buddhist tradition, express the desire of believers to live in harmony with aggrieved and neglected "wandering spirits". These rituals are regarded as acts of compassion from the living towards these unfortunate spirits because they enable them to "move forward" in their evolution. Zhong Yuan Jie, known in English as the Hungry Ghost Festival, begins on the first day of the seventh Chinese lunar month, which coincides this year with Aug 30, today. For one month, families pray on roadsides or at crossroads in a simple late evening ritual that feature the burning of joss sticks and offerings of food and paper money. Similar rituals conducted by business communities are often more elaborate. For example, t

by Emi Hailey Hayakawa, BTN, Aug 29, 2012 Seoul, South Korea -- The Presidential Council on Nation Branding began its research and investigation for the application of the UNESCO World Heritage Site at 7 monasteries in Korea. << Tongdosa Monastery, eyeing as UNESCO World Heritage site The seven monasteries includes Beopjusa Monastery, Tongdosa Monastery, Buseoksa Monastery, Bonjeongsa Monastery, Magoksa Monastery, Seonamsa Monastery, and Daehungsa Monastery. All of these monasteries boast a history of over 1000 years and various important historical and cultural assets within their domain. The Council met on August 10th at the Ministry of Cultural Assets for a meeting regarding the strategies for the application of the UNESCO World Heritage Site at the 7 monasteries in Korea. The Presidential Council on Nation Branding began its research and propulsion for the application of the UNESCO World Heritage Site after President Lee Myung Bak attended the council meeting i

Thebestfriend.org, Aug 29, 2012 Yangon, Myanmar -- Saffron Revolution leader Ashin Gambhira (aka Ko Nyi Nyi Lwin) has been struggling with his health since his release from prison earlier this year. In a new letter, he speaks about the current conflict in Arakan State, and the fighting between Muslim Rohingyas and Buddhist Rakhines. "I feel very sorry after reading the latest news. I don't feel so much surprised as angry because I knew something like this would happen soon. One step leads to another. It is actually not so surprising for our country Myanmar, because neither people nor politicians have good understanding." The Military relies on conflict to stay in power "The violence between Rakhines and Rohingyas in Arakan State is an example of how dictatorships all over the world use and rely on conflicts to stay in power. If all people were united, a military dictatorship could not survive. Division and enmity in the minds of the people only keep the

For a while now we've been awaiting the arrival of Ron Fricke's new movie Samsara — a spiritual sequel, of sorts, to the masterful Baraka . Now, by way of The Telegraph, comes a new short interview with Fricke and producer Mark Magidson  about Samsara , which they call a "guided meditation based on the themes of birth, death, and rebirth — with no words." Enjoy, and for more information about the film, click here . Read More @ Source

Courtyard of the Freer Gallery of Art From Saturday through February 24, 2013, the Smithsonian Institution's Freer Gallery of Art will showcase an exhibition titled "Enlightened Beings: Buddhism in Chinese Painting." Containing 27 works, this exhibit will feature paintings ranging from the 11th to 19th century. According to the Freer Gallery's website , "The exhibition focuses on four main categories of enlightened being: the Buddha himself; bodhisattvas, devoted to the salvation of all sentient beings; luohan, who protect the dharma, or teachings of the Buddha; and eccentric Chan (Zen) monks and lineage masters. Fourteen of the twenty-seven works on display date to the Song, Yuan, and early Ming dynasties (1000—1400 CE), and the remainder are from the fifteenth to nineteenth century during the later Ming and Qing." For more details on the exhibit, see "Buddhism in China: An Enduring Legacy on View at the Freer" by Leah Binkovitz, at the Smi

From Ocean of Dharma comes this quote from Chögyam Trungpa's True Perception: The Path of Dharma Art . In the experience of awareness, you do not just get hold of one chunk of mindfulness and stick with it, but you experience the mindfulness and its shadow, the environment around it. There is a tremendous appreciation of life and of how to conduct one's life. So awareness practice is not just formal sitting practice or meditation-in-action alone. It is a unique training practice in how to behave as an inspired human being, or an inspired sentient being. That is what is meant by being an artist. For more about inspiration and artistry, see our Art and Buddhism Spotlight Page . You'll also find many more teachings from Chögyam Trungpa on the Chögyam Trungpa Spotlight Page . Read More @ Source

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As the number of Tibetans to self-immolate in protest of Chinese occupation surpasses 50, the International Tibet Network is encouraging supporters to take political action to bring an end to the crisis. Earlier this month, Congressmen James McGovern and Frank Wolf sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, proposing cooperation with other countries to create a plan to get the Chinese government to improve the situation in Tibet. You can read their letter here , and you can click here to send an email to 10 world leaders, urging them to work together to put pressure on China. "Together, we can make a difference and change the political landscape for Tibet," said Alison Reynolds, executive director of the International Tibet Network. "Together, we can help Tibetans realize their dreams for freedom and for the return of His Holiness to Tibet." Reynolds is also urging supporters to spread the word about the campaign by visiting its "Tell A Frie

San Francisco Zen Center celebrates its 50th anniversary this summer, and earlier this week, California NPR station KQED hosted a discussion about Shunryu Suzuki Roshi's vision for the center, its history, and its plans for the future. Norman Fischer, Steve Stücky, and Susan O'Connell joined Forum host Michael Krasny for the panel, which you can hear below or at KQED's website . Colleen Morton Busch profiles Zen Center in the September 2012 Shambhala Sun magazine — read an excerpt of "Always Beginner's Mind" here . Read More @ Source

H.H. in Vienna, Austria (2012). On Monday, Syracuse University announced that His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama will visit the school in October for a two-day forum called "Common Ground for Peace." Scheduled for October 8–9, 2012, the Dalai Lama will give a talk at 7 p.m. on the second day. His talk will be followed by the One World Concert , featuring Dave Matthews, Counting Crows, Nas, Andy Grammer, and many others, with Whoopi Goldberg hosting. For ticket information for the One World Concert (including when tickets go on sale), see www.oneworld.syr.edu . (Photo [cropped version] via Wikimedia Commons by Wolfgang H. Wögerer using a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.) Read More @ Source

Contemplative photography is a method for working with the contemplative state of mind, seeing the world in fresh ways, and expressing this experience photographically. Each week we choose an image that's been submitted to seeingfresh.com that really exemplifies this practice. This week's photo by Angelique, shows wonderful textures, and strong forms, in the last moments of sunlight of the day. It's a fine example of fresh seeing. Read More @ Source

Chaïm Soutine (1893-1943) Le boeuf écorché (The beef carcass) Painted circa 1924 From an article by Andrew Graham Dixon: "In 1925, when he had a studio large enough in the Rue du Mont St Gothard, he procured the entire carcass … Continue reading → Read More @ Source

From foreignpolicy.org The Bangkok Post reports that Thailand's Wat Dhammakaya, the rapidly-expanding, elite-supported, proselytizing organization founded in 1978, has published a post on its website in which its leader purports to know the whereabouts of Steve Jobs in the afterlife. The Huffington Post  and NY Daily News , among others, have picked up the story. According to the post, written by the temple's abbot, Phra Thepyanmahamuni, Jobs has been reborn as "a half Witthayathorn [a knowledge-seeking angel], half Yak [the Thai word for giant]." Digital editor Rod Meade Sperry previously posted about the controversial Wat Dhammakaya and their recurring appearance as a Facebook meme in a post for Shambhala SunSpace last year. Read More @ Source

Photo: Bernard Jaspers-Fajer EU/ECHO. There is a heavy security presence in displaced persons camps in Rakhine. Voice of America is reporting today that two staff members with the United Nations and one United Nations partner have been sentenced to prison terms in Burma for their alleged involvement in the violence between Muslims and Buddhists in the Rakhine state. According to CNN , one is from the U.N. refugee agency, one is from the U.N's food program, and one is from a nongovernmental organization that works with the refugee agency. Aye Win, a U.N. spokesperson in Burma, said that the sentences were handed down on Friday, though the U.N. was never notified of the trial and the accused were been legal counsel. One was found guilty of arson and given a six-year prison term; the other two were convicted of inciting violence and promoting hatred between Muslims and Buddhists, and sentenced to two and three years in prison. All three are natives of Burma, though their identi

Browne's image of Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation, shown here on an album cover, became one of the most iconic images of the 20th century. Malcolm Browne, the Associated Press photographer who captured the image of Vietnamese monk Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation on a Saigon street in 1963, died yesterday at the age of 81 . Brown's iconic photo of the monk engulfed in flames appeared on newspaper front pages throughout the world, and prompted the Kennedy administration to re-evaluate its policy in Vietnam. Though numerous journalists had been told to be at the blocked-off intersection on the morning of June 11, 1963 for "something important," Browne was the only one to show up and document the immolation, which was a protest against South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem's persecution of Buddhists. Browne won a Pulitzer Prize for his work in 1964, and later spent 30 years working as a war correspondent for the New York Times . Browne's w

News organizations are reporting this morning that two Tibetan teens self-immolated in protest of Chinese policies outside the gates of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba, Tibet yesterday. The pair, 18 year-old Lobsang Kalsang and 17 year-old Damchoek, died Monday evening from their injuries. Before the two set themselves afire, they shouted slogans of protest (as others before them have done.) It has confirmed that Damchoek is the brother of Tenzin Choedon , a nun who self-immolated in February. Free Tibet says the two latest immolations are the 50th and 51st to happen since 2009. For all past and current Buddhadharma News coverage of the self-immolation protests happening in Tibet, please see here . Read More @ Source

Browne's image of Thich Quang Duc's fiery protest, shown here on an album cover, became one of the most iconic images of the 20th century. Malcolm Browne, the Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic image of Vietnamese monk Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation on a Saigon street in 1963, died yesterday at the age of 81 . Browne's iconic photo of the monk engulfed in flames appeared on newspaper front pages throughout the world, and prompted the Kennedy administration to re-evaluate its policy in Vietnam. Though numerous journalists had been told to be at the blocked-off intersection on the morning of June 11, 1963 for "something important," Browne was the only one to show up and document the immolation, which was a protest against South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem's persecution of Buddhists. Browne won a Pulitzer Prize for his work in 1964, and later spent 30 years working as a war correspondent for the New York Times . Browne

As you may have seen here or on my website TheWorstHorse.com, I often write about Dharma-Burgers , which occur when pop-culture and Buddhist imagery or ideas collide in advertising and marketing — arenas that many Buddhists of yore probably never anticipated. Sometimes these are inspired, sometimes inspiring; sometimes, they're ridiculous. Sometimes they're just merchandise, exhibiting full-on cultural co-optation. Usually, they're some mix of all these, and — despite or because of that, I'm not sure — they're a whole lot of fun. (Except for those who might be offended, and that happens too.) This new vinyl Homer Simpson-as-Buddha statuette, (p)reviewed by KidRobot recently, takes the cake. Some sample copy: "Long ears signify past wealth, a big head represents the disconnection between mind and body, a tuft of hair symbolizes great inner wisdom, and a giant fried dough topped with pink frosting and rainbow jimmies equals deliciousness." Check out mo

by Harpin R, Jakarta, Indonesia, The Buddhist Channel, Aug 27, 2012 In relation to your article: Buddhist organization urges the Commission leniency toward Hartati , our people in Indonesia who joined the facebook group Umat Buddha Mendukung KPK Menahan Yang Pantas Ditahan  objected to the news which does not project balanced reporting. The following is a statement from our group: 1. Walubi is only joined by some organizatiomns and is not the only and single Buddhist organization in Indonesia. Walubi has therefore no right to issue a statement on behalf of all Buddhists in Indonesia to the Corruption Elimination Commission (KPK)! 2. Siti Hartati Murdaya, being a suspect, has nothing to do with Buddhism and does not affect the implementation of Buddhism in Indonesia as a whole. 3. The Indonesian Buddhists therefore support the KPK to work professionally for law enforcement in the Republic of Indonesia, according to Article 27 in the UUD 1945 that puts

By JOSEPH S. O'LEARY, The Japan Times, Aug. 26, 2012 The Seven Scrolls Tengu: Evil and the Rhetoric of Legitimacy in Medieval Japanese Meditation, by Haruko Wakabayashi. University of Hawai'i Press, 2012, 203 pp., $ 50.00 (hardcover) Tokyo, Japan -- Residents of Japan will be vaguely aware of the long-nose impish figures known as Tengu, thinking of them as piquant figurines without deep religious significance. Tengu take many shapes in Japanese folklore, for instance as mischievous kidnappers of children or Pucks leading travelers astray. << News photo Heavenly dogs: Found throughout Japanese folklore, the tengu are a class of supernatural monster spirits. Meditation has long held they are harbingers of war. Depicted here "Tengu and a Buddhist monk," by Kawanabe Kyosai. Haruko Wakabayashi focuses on a grimmer aspect of the imp, as he appears in Buddhist thought, connected with evil forces such as the demon Mara who distracts monks from their spir

By Sarah Miller, Daily Nebraskan, August 26, 2012 Deep in the heartland of America, learning about Eastern philosophies may be easier than expected. Nebraska, USA -- Since the 1990s, a variety of groups have formed in Lincoln to give Midwesterners places to learn about Buddhist teachings. They include Jewel Heart - a Tibetan Buddhist chapter - Lotus Zen Temple and Linh Quang Buddhist Center. Lotus Zen Temple Fajiàn Michael Melchizedek, from Germany, moved to Lincoln in 1986 to be a minister at a Greek Orthodox Church. When Melchizedek first arrived, he was involved in the Lincoln Interfaith Council that accepted non-Christian faiths. "Nobody ever could find any Buddhists to join because there just weren't any," he said. "Or, at least, they were very well hidden." After decades as a minister, Melchizedek wanted to do something for himself, and Meditation always intrigued him. "It was the openness and the idea of what Buddha stood for is

Khmer Radio / Hello VOA, 27 August 2012 Bhikkhu Hoeurn Somnieng receives a degree in business management from St. Ambrose University in Iowa, USA. WASHINGTON DC, USA -- Because public management in Cambodia is still week, venerable monk Hoeurn Somnieng, is pursuing a graduate degree at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. << Bhikkhu Hoeurn Somnieng hopes to use the skills he takes from the Kennedy School to restructure the management of Cambodian Buddhist. He told VOA Khmer on Monday that Cambodia's Buddhist in particular lacks leadership and management from the monastery to the national level. Hoeurn Somnieng said everyone needs to carefully utilize their knowledge so that it benefits the nation as a whole. "If we serve individuals, it benefits individuals, but if we use our knowledge to serve the nation, it benefits the nation," he said. Hoeurn Somnieng is the founder of the Life and Hope Association and chairs a nu

The Buddhist Channel, August 27, 2012 Six Buddhist Nuns from Nepal also will participate in College Convocation HARTFORD, CT, (USA) -- Six Buddhist nuns from the Keydong Thuk-che Choeling Nunnery in Kathmandu, Nepal, have arrived in preparation for building a mandala, a sand painting used for prayer, contemplation, and healing, at Trinity College. Before the mandala making gets underway, however, the Keydong nuns will appear at the College's convocation on Thursday, August 30 at 2 p.m., at which they will recite "Words of Truth," a prayer composed by His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet. The convocation will take place on the main quadrangle, and is free and open to the public. (The rain location is the Koeppel Community Sports Center, 175 New Britain Avenue.) The Keydong nuns are among the first Buddhist female monastics to learn and practice the sacred art of the sand mandala, an ancient tradition once reserved for mon

by Kumudini Hettiarachchi, The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka), Aug 26, 2012 Based on Buddhist philosophy, Damrivi, comprising professionals and academics provides innovative services to meet the challenges of modern life. Colombo, Srfi Lanka -- Modern life is full of stress. Not only parents and children but even those living alone have a heavy workload. It is a race against time household chores, office work, school, extracurricular activity, tuition classes, each day starting early and ending late, only for the routine to begin the next day. << A counselling session at Damrivi. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara Where does one turn to, for shelter against the raging storms of life. In a small building, not away from the madding crowds but right in the midst of traffic and people is that "eye" of the storm.Right next to the Isipathanaramaya at Colombo 5, a tiny lane leads to the Damrivi Foundation where an oasis of calm prevails, extending the soothing rays of Buddhist t

By Bhavna Singh, IPCS, August 25, 2012 Lhasa, Tibet (China) -- In its Annual International Religious Freedom Report released on 30 July 2012, the US held the Chinese government responsible for the wave of self-immolations amongst Tibetans over the recent years (45 deaths so far). It identified that 'there was marked deterioration' in the government's approach in handling religious issues during 2011 and increased restrictions were placed on religious practices especially in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and nunneries. Beijing's obvious immediate reaction has been to ridicule the report as being highly prejudiced, arrogant and ignorant. However, it is beyond doubt that the concerned actors are giving up their lives to send a definite message across the international community. These are against religious repression, or for an end to the colonial style administrative set up, or against the forced patriotic education campaigns. Paradoxically, they are also cogniz

Everything is the Way: Ordinary Mind Zen By Elihu Genmyo Smith Shambhala Publications 2012; 240 pp., $ 17.95 (paper) A commentary on various Zen koans and teachings, Everything Is the Way is at heart about awakening from the delusions that cause us suffering and pain. "Buddha is never anywhere else, never anything special or extra," says Elihu Genmyo Smith. "So, this Buddha life is always being who you are in the midst of these circumstances and conditions." Smith is the resident teacher of the Prairie Zen Center in Illinois and cofounder of the Ordinary Mind Zen School. He has studied with many of the luminaries of contemporary Zen, including Maezumi Roshi and Charlotte Joko Beck. In recent years, popular media has confused the public about what Zen really is—equating it with anything enigmatic or even relaxed. A meaty text, Everything is the Way sets the record straight. In our September 2012 magazine, Andrea Miller also reviews Elana Rosenbaum's

San Francisco Zen Center celebrates its 50th anniversary this summer, and today, California NPR station KQED hosted a discussion about Shunryu Suzuki Roshi's vision for the center, its history, and its plans for the future. Norman Fischer, Steve Stücky, and Susan O'Connell joined Forum host Michael Krasny for the panel, which you can hear below or at KQED's website . Fischer and Stücky, along with Blanche Hartman and Mary Morgan, discuss Zen Center's history and legacy in the Fall 2012 issue of Buddhadharma — read an excerpt of that forum here . Read More @ Source