Buddhist Celebrities

Buddhist Personality - Trong Tan

2012-01-27T15:53:00.000+08:00

Name : Trong Tan
Country : Vietnam
Date Of Birth : 1976
Profession : Singer

Buddhist Personality : Mike

2012-01-21T07:21:00.001+08:00

Name : Pirat Nitipaisalkul
Country : Thailand
Date Of Birth : December 19, 1989
Profession : Singer ( He is one half of the popular duo, Golf % Mike )

Buddhist Personality - Ryuho Ikeguchi

2012-01-15T07:45:00.002+08:00

In the final days of 2011, Buddhist monk Ryuho Ikeguchi knelt before about 20 young people at a yoga event in Osaka. Sweating along with the participants as they went through a set of exercises, he spoke to them, though perhaps not in the manner one might expect from a monk.

I'm approaching things from a different place, asking the people if they would like to talk to this monk facing them, but outside the structure of Buddhism, says Ikeguchi, a 31-year-old monk at Chion-in temple in Kyoto's Higashiyama Ward -- head temple of the Pure Land sect. I want to better the image of Buddhist monks.

Ikeguchi, originally from Hyogo Prefecture, had been following the life path tread by many of his family before him, studying Buddhist scripture at Kyoto University's graduate school and helping at the family-run temple. As part of his duties there he visited elderly temple parishioners, who invariably talked to him of the weather and their aches and pains.

There's no need for me, in particular, to do this, he thought. After all, Buddhist texts had nothing to say on the subject of joint pain. With this in mind, he began to shift his studies from scripture to the relationship between Buddhism and society. Against the express direction of his academic supervisors, Ikeguchi began to write his thesis on the subject. His supervisors fought his new direction furiously, and in the end he quit graduate school.

Ikeguchi joined Chion-in temple in 2005, but despite the company of some 100 monks, he felt no energy, no drive there. The label funeral Buddhism -- Buddhism as a religion practiced only as ceremonies for the dead -- had been slapped on the temple for some time, and even the funerals themselves were becoming simpler by the year. Visitor numbers were falling, and Ikeguchi began to wonder if people even thought of him and the other monks as superfluous. He began studying computer programming in preparation for a career change.

However, Ikeguchi hit upon a different sort of change. Hoping to make Buddhism relevant to society again, he decided to start a free magazine. And so began Free Style-na Soryo-tachi (Free Style Monks), written and edited by a staff of monks all in their 20s and 30s, some of whom came into the project through Twitter connections.

The magazine often features members of different sects as well as experts in the sociology of religion. There are also stories on monks doing support work for the homeless or the surviving families of suicides, discussions among young monks and academics on the future of Buddhism in Japan, pieces on the appeal of temple lodgings and even vegetarian recipes. Ikeguchi and the troupe behind the magazine believe that the way Buddhism is being communicated to young people is all wrong, and the free publication is part of their solution. So are the yoga events.

Ikeguchi has not faced an entirely warm reception, with many around him questioning what there is to gain from associating with different sects. However, Even regular companies should study the competition, he says, adding that understanding of what he's trying to do is growing as his efforts inspire positive responses from young people and attract increasing media attention.

The Free Style magazine is run out of just a single room in an apartment, packed with audio equipment, Buddhism-themed manga and even a small Buddhist altar. At present, each issue runs 10,000 copies, distributed at cafes in Kyoto and Tokyo.
People who were raised with their hands pressed together in prayer have a core, a center to the way they live, says Ikeguchi. But speaking to people who are confused about god or the Buddha, well ... That's where we have to do our absolute best. If everyone runs away from religion, our society will not improve.

Buddhist Personality : Dieu Huong

2012-01-01T07:21:00.000+08:00

Name : Dieu Huong
Country : Vietnam
Profession : Actress

Nepal Requests Korea To Change The Name Of Buddha's Birth Place

2011-12-29T05:56:00.001+08:00

Nepal’s Ambassador to Korea Kamal Prasad Koirala has written a letter to President Lee Myung-bak requesting him to change the erroneous information in South Korean textbooks regarding the birth of Lord Buddha.

The four-page letter The Korea Times has obtained exclusively states that Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini and that Lumbini is a part of Nepal. “Most humbly I beg to bring to your kind notice the factual accuracy about the birthplace of Lord Buddha Shakyamuni which has been for many years and by many scholars has been (factually mistaken). Being aware of its significance and magnanimity of the sentiments of its large (body of) believers I take this opportunity to state the facts with humble request subsequently for its correction.”

The letter further states that when India was under the British rule, some British writers had written that Buddha was born in India and this is still believed to be true in many parts of the world.

The Shakyamuni Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini, which at present is in Nepal, the ambassador writes. This place is at a distance of 32 kilometers north of the border of the Republic of India and while writing chronicles about Buddha the facts are in the ground.

“But many scholars mistakenly mention it following the old British archive. It seems many people are confused even today while answering the birthplace of Buddha,’’ he said, citing the colonization of India by Britain as the main reason. “With colonization of India British historians began to write its history in English. In these English histories it was written that Buddha was born in India. This mistake was done without any wrong motive. Until the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries the exact location of Lumbini remained unknown to them.”

Amb. Koirala also said that General Secretary of United Nations Ban Ki-moon has shown keen interest in the development of Lumbini, as it is the birthplace of Lord Buddha. He also stated that even the British Museum changed the birthplace of Lord Buddha to Nepal on Nov. 7.
He said President Lee would pay heed to the plea.

Amb. Koirala has also sent a copy of the letter to Lee Sang-ki, a founding member of the Asia Journalists Association and the publisher of The Asian. Praising Koirala’s attempt, Lee said the South Korean government would definitely pay heed to it.

“My humble request to Your Excellency is that the Korean children and college students should be given the opportunity to read the facts on the life of Shakyamuni Buddha. The fact known to His Excellency Ban Ki-moon and thousands of Koreans should be made known to children, students and young people of Korea as well,” the diplomat said in his letter.

A South Korean primary school textbook, ``Ethics Part One,’’ states that Lord Buddha was born in Khapila Castle in India. Similarly, another secondary school book, ``World History,’’ states that Lord Buddha was born in a Royal Brahmin family and his birthplace has been stated as India.

Indonesian Buddhist Population

2011-12-27T19:40:00.005+08:00

According to the national censes conducted in 2010, the population of Indonesian stands at 237,641,326 and of this figure the number of Buddhist numbers 1,703,254 which is 0.72% of the total population.

Facts about Buddhist in Indonesia

- 1,500,475 reside in cities while 202,779 come from villages/rural areas
- DKI Jakarta has the most number of Buddhist with (317,527) or 3.30% of the
city's population
- North Sumatera comes in 2nd place with 303,546 followed by Western Kalimantan and
Banten with 237,741 and 131,222 respectively
- Number of Buddhist in the most western part of Indonesia, Acheh = 7062
- Number of Buddhist in the most eastern part of Indonesia, Papua = 1452
- Province that has the least number of Buddhist is Northern Maluku = 90
- Number of Buddhist in the age group (0-4 year old) = 117,323 or 6.89%
- Number of Buddhist in the age group (5-10 year old) = 132,162 or 7.76%
- Number of Buddhist in the age group (10-14 year old) = 129,950 or 7.63%
- Number of Buddhist in the age group (15-19 year old) = 135,442 or 7.95%
- Number of Buddhist in the age group (20-24 year old) = 143,362 or 8.42%
- Number of Buddhist in the age group (25-29 year old) = 153,338 or 9.0%
- Number of Buddhist in the age group (30-34 year old) = 131,651 or 7.63%
- Number of Buddhist in the age group (35-39 year old) = 115,180 or 6.76%
- Number of Buddhist in the age group (above 60 year old) = 207,550 or
- Male Buddhist (869,097), female Buddhist (834,167)

Rock Music In Upcoming Buddhist Festival

2011-12-26T06:57:00.001+08:00

The youth rock Band Dhamma Wings is ready to electrify the audiences with their mystical performance at the Buddha Festival 2012. The contemporary trend of rock music will be blended with the Buddhist culture and heritage in a three-hour show in the four-day Buddha Festival at Nagpur.

Nagpur Buddhist Centre ( NBC), a unit of Triratna Boudha Mahasanga is organizing the festival from January 26 at Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur. The attraction for this festival's archaic ambience would be a 50-feet high structure, which is conceptualized by artist and stage designer Digambar Bagde. The structure will resemble the statue of Buddha in Bodhgaya, Bihar.

The chief coordinator of the fest, Ritayush said, "The teachings of Buddha are very relevant in the contemporary age, hence this festival is an attempt to propagate peace, harmony and compassion in the society. Also attempt is being made to promote principles of Buddha through rock singing, as there was a very good response from youth in attending the gala in 2011."

The theme for the event runs around life of Buddha, based on which artists from Mumbai, Lucknow and Ujjain will present cultural programs. Scintillating collection of paintings and sculptures of Buddha by Dilip Wankhede will be exhibited.

Taiwan's New Buddha Memorial Hall

2011-12-26T06:41:00.007+08:00

A Buddha memorial hall built by the Fo Guang Shan Monastery was unveiled December 25,2011 in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, attracting more than 20,000 visitors eager for a peek at one of the grandest Buddha halls in Taiwan.

With funding entirely from the private sector, the five-story memorial hall was unveiled earlier in the day after nine years of construction.

The 4,000 ping (13,240 square meter) establishment, which has eight stupas, 48 underground palaces and the world's tallest Buddha statue at 108 meters high, drew hundreds of tourist buses and cars that jammed traffic on Provincial Highway No. 21.

Many were stuck in jams for more than 30 minutes, prompting the Kaohsiung City Police Department to issue an apology and give an assurance that more effort will be devoted to providing better traffic controls during similar events in the future.

President Ma Ying-jeou, who took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the hall, praised the humanitarian aid provided by the monastery around the world, adding that the charity group does not get any funding from the government and in fact donates funds to the government to assist with disaster-relief efforts.

Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the founder of the Fo Guang Shan Monastery, said the memorial hall is free entry, adding that it was established to provide visitors with peace of mind.

He also urged people to not get too involved in the upcoming elections, saying too much of anything does not benefit the peaceful development of a society.

Buddhist Concert

2011-12-24T05:26:00.101+08:00

Photos gallery of a Buddhist concert held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on December 21st 2011.

Just Photo - Oldest Temple In China

2011-12-18T07:52:00.011+08:00

Baima Temple located in Luoyang, China was established in 68 A.D after Buddhism was introduced in China. It is the oldest Buddhist temple in China. Today an exposition zone of worldwide Buddhist halls, including that of India, Thailand, Nepal, Japan etc, are being constructed in the temple.

The front gate of the temple

The Thai-style Buddhist hall which is adjacent to the main hall

The Indian Hall which is adjacent to the main hall

The interior of Indian Buddhist hall of the temple

Carved painting in the Indian hall of the temple

Thaksin Visits Lumbini

2011-12-18T07:39:00.002+08:00

Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra visited Lumbini, the birth place of Gautam Buddha, and performed worship as per the Buddhist tradition on December 17, 2011. The former Thai leader arrived in Kathmandu a day earlier on a chartered flight from Myanmar.

Shinawatra visited the Mayadevi Temple, where a marker stone has been kept at the place where Siddhartha Gautam was born, and observed the archaeological and historical sites including the Ashoka Pillar.

He visited the Thai Royal Monastery built by Thailand and distributed blankets to the common people there.

Along with his group, the Thai leader who is currently living in exile after he was removed from power in 2006 spent two hours in Lumbini. Officials of the Lumbini Development Trust informed Shinawatra about the site.

A team of Nepal Police officials led by a deputy superintendent of police is providing security to the Thai group.

An 11-member team including Sinawatra and Thai ambassador to Nepal Maria Sangiampongsa reached Lumbini yesterday evening. The visitors used two vehicles of the Thai Royal Monastery.

Secretary member of Lumbini Fund Rajendra Thapa Magar said he did not know about Shinawatra’s visit. Shinawatra returned Kathmandu at 3:10 am on Saturday by an Yeti Airlines to fly back to Myanmar

Mr International 2011

2011-12-17T07:56:00.006+08:00

Mister International 2011 contestants visit Buddhist temple in Bangkok, Thailand

Buddhist Personality : Chen Xing

2011-12-10T07:21:00.002+08:00

Name : Chen Xing
Nationality : China
Date Of Birth : 7th July
Height : 170cm
Profession : Singer

Buddhist Personality : Nguyen Tien Cong

2011-11-26T07:38:00.006+08:00

Nguyen Tien Cong, a primary 3 school boy lives in a small village, Cau Dien in Tu Liem, Hanoi. Despite his young age, Cong has been a strict vegetarian since the age of 3.

When he was still in kindergarten, the teacher used to serve the kids meals with meat but Cong, who was already a vegetarian then always found tricks to avoid eating the food served. He was adamant in not eating the food despite being caught several times and punished by his teachers.

Initially his parents were worried that their boy did not want to eat meat. His mother used every means to coax him to eat meat but Cong still did not want to touch them. When asked by his parents why he did not want to eat meat, at age 3, the boy answered that eating meat is not a compassionate act but a murder. After learning the reason behind their son's stand to be a vegetarian, the family finally accepted and respected his decision. These days, his daily food contain only vegetable, tofu, salt, sesame, roasted peanuts, soy milk and fruits. Cong added that everytime he goes to the market, he would feel sick at the sight of meat.

In a village Buddhist temple, Cong is often seen chanting and meditating with his grandmother. His parents are happy to see that their son has grown up to be a good boy, thanks to his early interest in Buddhism.

Flood : 420 Temples Affected In Ayutthaya

2011-11-09T18:56:00.001+08:00

Office of Buddhism in central Ayutthaya province revealed today that recent flooding situation has affected 420 out of 505 temples across the province.

The office initially estimated that about 915 million baht (29. 8 million US dollars) would be needed for reconstruction and repairs of those temples.

Landscape improvements and paintings may take two to three months to finish but repairing some buildings may take up to one year, according to the office's official.

Ayutthaya, the former capital city of Thailand, was inscribed as the world historic city in 1991 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The province which is also a home to several industrial estates has been severely ravaged by heavy floods since September. Thousands of factories including Honda and Toyota were submerged under floodwaters.

In October, UNESCO offered to allocate 25,000 US dollars of emergency assistant fund for restoring ancient sites in the province.

Although it continues to prevail in 24 provinces, the inundation in Ayutthaya has begun to subside.

Bhutan Star

2011-11-05T11:53:00.007+08:00

Bhutan Star is Bhutan's version of American Idol. It is a contest where contestants take to the stage to belt out the fading Bhutanese traditional songs. The immensely popular show was initiated by Nidup Dorji, a 37 year old writer, actor, composer and singer who wanted the youngsters to embrace their culture but with a modern twist.

He appropriated the format of "Idol," which he had seen on satellite TV. He then used Bhutan's pop genre known as rigsar to lure kids into watching the folk music called boedra and the more complex zhungdra, classical, high-pitched religious songs composed by Buddhist lamas and reminiscent of Chinese opera.

Conservative grandparents, Buddhist monks, rebellious teens and almost everyone else with a TV gather every Saturday and Sunday to watch contestants belt out classical Buddhist compositions. Jaded youngsters have started humming folk tunes in the street.

The contest, in its first edition was eventually won by Sonam Yangden from Trashigang who took home a Maruti Swift car and a year long music contract.

Each week, the contestants perform one rigsar song with a modern band on one side of the stage and one song of either boedra or zhungdra with a traditional band on the other playing the dramnyen lute, the yangchen dulcimer and the fiddle-like chiwang. There are two sets of judges as well

Jambhala The Photographer

2011-11-01T16:06:00.000+08:00

As a Han Chinese photographer, he preferred to be called Jambhala, a Tibetan name he received from his Tibetan Buddhism master and also God of Wealth.

Jambhala developed an interest in photographing because of his father in early 1980s and worked as a journalism photographer, advertisement photographer, and freelancer before his current job - a photography teacher at Shanghai Art and Design Academy.

Believing in Tibetan Buddhism for 15 years, he says the religion influenced him a lot and attracted him to the depth and profundity in culture as well as humanity.

"Travelling in Tibet and Qinghai impressed me deeply and challenged my definition and purpose of photography,” said Jambhala in a telephone interview.

Jambhala believes the essence to a successful photographer lies on their attitudes towards life and the world particularly in contemporary China, where he sees rapid economic growth entangled with increasing capriciousness in the public mindset.

In teaching photography, Jambhala emphasized on the accumulation of experiences and urged his students “to be able to endure the loneliness” before their talents can sparkle. Photography is in some way similar to Buddhism because both echo the belief that “constant effort yields sure success.”

While being satisfied with his life, Jambhala is also concerned about the loss of culture and a lack of sense of responsibility in Chinese photographers who struggle to gain sensational attention in the fiercely competitive market.

"Society is becoming diversified. More people now know photography and show the individual angles of their observation. In this environment, the basic principle is to respect the diversity."

Butter Sculpture Festival

2011-10-15T02:40:00.000+08:00

Every year a butter sculpture festival is held in Tar monastery, located in the northwest province of Qinghai in China to celebrate the Tibetan New Year. During the this period which normally runs from mid February to early March , Tibetans and tourists alike throng the Tar temple to witness butter sculptures of various shapes and colours and skillful embroidery arts.

Butter sculpture originated from Tibet and was introduced to the Tar Monastery, also known as Kumbum Monastery, in the early 17th century. Many monasteries in China make butter sculptures, but those of Tar excel in technique and scale.

Legend says that in 641, when Princess Wencheng arrived in Lhasa to marry Songtsen Gampo, king of Tubo, she brought a statue in the shape of Sakyamuni, founder of Buddhism.

Following the Buddhist tradition, flowers must be offered as a tribute to the Buddha statue. But it was deep winter and no fresh flowers could be found. So people made a bunch of flowers with butter as an offering.

In 1409, founder of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, who was born in today's Huangzhong County where the Tar Monastery was founded, held the Grand Sermons Ceremony in Lhasa.

He dreamed of thorny bushes turning into bright lanterns, weeds bursting into blossom amid numerous shiny treasures.

When he woke up, the great master immediately asked his followers to make the treasures and flowers as he had dreamed and offered them to the Buddha.

With pure yak and goat milk butter as the raw material, the sculptures are painted with mineral dyestuff. Often the sculptures are part of a series which depict a story, such as the life of Sakyamuni.

As the butter sculpture art entered the Tar Monastery in 1603, two academies devoted to its creation and study have been established. Every year, when the Grand Sermons Ceremony is held here during the Lantern Festival, the two academies bring out their best works

How the scultpures are made

The making of butter sculpture is a daunting task. As butter made from yak or goat milk melts in warm weather, butter sculpture has to be made in the coldest months of the year.

To sculpt butter, lamas must dip their hands in icy water. Only with numb hands can they begin the sculpting.

Over the past centuries, the art of butter sculpture has become very specialized: Making people, animals and flowers has each become a tradition requiring different techniques.

In sub-zero temperature rooms, the elderly lamas and their students first prepare the frame of sculpture with bamboo sticks, ropes and others. Then they mix old butter sculptures with wheat ashes to form black mud, which is used to make the primitive body of the sculptures.

After modifying the base, the lamas will apply colourful butter onto it. The figurines are outlined with gold and silver powder. Finally the small parts are fixed onto the frame with iron wire.

As the creation lasts some three months in winter, many lamas have found their fingers deformed by the time a grand display is prepared

Nepal Boy 'God'

2011-10-07T10:22:00.008+08:00

A five-year-old Nepali boy, worshipped by many as a god, sits cross-legged with a stuffed teddy bear in his brick-and-cement home in Kathmandu.

Sambeg Shakya was hailed last year by Buddhist priests as Ganesh, or the god of good fortune, since when he has led several processions of Nepal's better-known 'living goddesses', also known as Kumari.

Today, skinny Sambeg, his eyes rimmed in black kohl and wearing a gold brocade dress, walked at the head of a line of nine tiny girls to another girl believed to be the bodily incarnation of Taleju, the goddess of power.

The centuries-old ritual, once used by now-toppled kings who thought it would make them stronger, was the climax of the annual Hindu festival of Dasain, which lasts for two weeks and has become a major tourist attraction in Nepal.

Sambeg will continue in his supporting role until he is big enough to fit in a chariot pulled by men, after which he must return to real life.

"I want to become a doctor," Sambeg, his long hair tied in a bun on top with a peacock feather planted on it, told Reuters.

He is in grade one, the first of ten years in high school.

His father Bishwo Prakash said his family will help the boy pursue the studies he chooses.

"He is very bright and good at learning. He does not forget what is told to him once," Prakash said. "I am very happy that my son plays the divine role."

Prakash said his son likes porridge, biscuits, goat and buffalo meat, but must not eat chicken or eggs.

The government pays US$63 a month to meet Sambeg's living costs, but his family said the money was not enough.

"The government must increase the allowances to cover the living costs and education of the child who plays a culturally significant role," Prakash said

Buddhist Practice A Secret To Longevity

2011-10-05T08:15:00.000+08:00

A 112 year-old nun who lives in central Taiwan's Nantou County, one of two oldest people in Taiwan, said that the secret of her longevity is her lifetime of Buddhist practice.

Liu Ching-huan, who was born in China's Sichuan Province, arrived in Taiwan with the remnants of the late President Chiang Kai-shek's forces as a young girl and was ordained at a Buddhist temple in 1965 in the county's Puli Township.

Although the centenarian is confined to a wheelchair, she is in good overall health, according to the caregiver who has been taking care of Liu since August last year at a government-funded nursing home.

Last month, Liu also traveled on the Taiwan High Speed Railway to attend the Face of Changing Phase, a photo exhibition highlighting Taiwan's centenarians and the Republic of China centennial, the caregiver said.

Liu, who has spent her life devoted to Buddhist practices, still likes to read the classics and religious books, the care center said.

"Chanting Namo Amitofo" is the secret to a long life, Liu told Nantou Magistrate Lee Chao-ching, who presented the centenarian with a cash gift, a gold pendant and a peach-shaped "Shoutao," a bun of longevity traditionally used to celebrate the birthdays of elders.

Lin Jung-sen, director-general of the county government's department of social affairs, said the other oldest living woman -- coincidentally the same age as Liu -- lives in Hulaien County, eastern Taiwan.

There are currently 42 centenarians -- 13 men and 29 women -- in Nantou

Japan's Ex PM On Pilmigrage Journey

2011-10-04T23:05:00.004+08:00

Japan's unpopular former prime minister Naoto Kan has swapped high politics and power suits for a Buddhist pilgrimage of 88 ancient temples on the island of Shikoku.

Armed with a pilgrim's peaked straw hat, white shirt and walking stick, the former leader was spotted visiting Enmeiji temple, the 54th spot on the pilgrimage route, according to reports.

It is not the first time Mr Kan has swapped politics for pilgrimages: he followed the same path in July 2004, when he was forced to step down as leader of the Democratic Party of Japan over a scandal relating to unpaid pensions premiums.

On that occasion, he shaved his hair, donned his pilgrim's outfit and dutifully embarked on the same temple route in Shikoku, an ancient 1,200km loop which is among the most famous of Japan's pilgrimages.

During his current pilgrimage – taking off from where he finished before – Mr Kan is travelling solo aside from security officers and is most likely staying in spartan rural temples and blending in with other crowds of Buddhist pilgrims.

When asked what was on his mind, Mr Kan gave no indication that he was seeking repentance for his political performance and plummeting popularity during his one-year tenure as prime minister.

Digitized Deities

2011-09-30T17:34:00.004+08:00

The statues and frescoes of Buddhist deities at Mogao Grottoes are being digitized to preserve their images for future generations.

The caves were discovered in the early 1990s by Europeans, though they were first dug in AD 366 and have been a place of Buddhist worship since then. They are the principal attraction of Dunhuang, a small city on the Silk Road in West China's Gansu province.

Inevitably, however, the frescoes are fading away due to the passage of time, environmental degradation and human activity.

Every day in late summer, thousands of tourists from all over the world come to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site to admire the inspired art works.

Since most of the caves were initially designed for domestic use, they are generally smaller than 25 square meters. Carbon dioxide exhaled by the legions of visitors is disturbing the temperature and moisture balance of the caves, which is causing discoloration and damaging the frescoes and statues made of earth, wood, straw and mineral pigments.

Other factors causing the art works to be damaged include the sandy environment, wind, floods, rain and occasional earthquakes.

Inevitably, however, the frescoes are fading away due to the passage of time, environmental degradation and human activity.

Every day in late summer, thousands of tourists from all over the world come to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site to admire the inspired art works.

Since most of the caves were initially designed for domestic use, they are generally smaller than 25 square meters. Carbon dioxide exhaled by the legions of visitors is disturbing the temperature and moisture balance of the caves, which is causing discoloration and damaging the frescoes and statues made of earth, wood, straw and mineral pigments.

Other factors causing the art works to be damaged include the sandy environment, wind, floods, rain and occasional earthquakes.

"We hope the grottoes will last forever, but they are changing every minute," says Fan Jinshi, curator of Dunhuang Academy, which was established in the early 1940s,

"If we create digital images of these works and store them appropriately the hope is they could last forever."

Buddhist Personality : Paul Pattarapol

2011-09-23T15:58:00.000+08:00

Name : Pattarapol Silapajarn
Country : Thailand
Date Of Birth : May 9, 1978
Height : 180cm
Profession : Actor

Squabbling Monks Shock Faithful

2011-09-23T11:13:00.002+08:00

Buddhists living around Wat Bang Khun Thian Nok in Chom Thong district have reacted angrily to a row involving monks and their morning alms round.

A dispute has broken out between one monk who regularly followed a particular route to collect alms and two others who he alleged scared him off, reportedly because adherents offer money.

Residents of the area say the unseemly row was threatening to jeopardise the integrity of Buddhism.

The row came to light on Wednesday when Phra Jirawat Pasanno, 44, filed a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) against two other monks from the same temple.

Phra Jirawat accused Phra Auan, 70, and Phra Phit Papassaro, or Phra Jo, 26, of assaulting him and threatening him with a gun after an argument over their overlapping alms routes.

Phra Jirawat has now moved to another temple in Samut Sakhon province.

The two other monks yesterday denied the accusations and met with police to check their report into the incident.

No charges have yet been laid against the two as an investigation has to be carried out.

Suthep Thongsai, a 54-year-old motorcycle taxi driver, said the row was "unacceptable and improper".

"It hurts the feelings of Buddhists," Mr Suthep said.

A 67-year-old resident who asked not to be named said she heard about the quarrel from a television report.

"I don't think this should happen as people do not select monks to give alms to.

"I often give alms to monks regardless of where they come from," she said. "These monks are tarnishing the image of Buddhism."

She said it was possible the conflict erupted because many people make merit by giving money to monks.

"Every morning I see many people stopping their cars to give money to monks before going to work," she said.

A 51-year-old merchant who did not want to be named said Phra Jirawat had questioned why she gave so little money to the temple.

"I was unsure whether the monk was joking with me or not, but in my opinion I think it is inappropriate to say something like that," she said. As a result, she no longer made merit at the temple.

She said she was unaware of the overlapping morning alms routes at the temple.

Phra Jo told the Bangkok Post that there was no concession on morning alms routes as claimed by Phra Jirawat.

"The accusation made by Phra Jirawat is not true. No monks here have been beaten up and threatened with a gun," he said.

Phra Jirawat claimed he collected morning alms on the same route from Wajjana Road leading to Rama II Road and received 300-600 baht every day and up to 1,000 baht on Buddhist holy days. He said Phra Jo and Phra Auan collected morning alms on the same route, resulting in the argument.

Phra Jo said he usually collected alms at Chom Thong Soi 3/3 where his family house was located, and Phra Auan had not left the temple to collect alms for five years because of old age.

He said in fact Phra Jirawat was the only one from the temple to go a long distance to collect alms.

Many residents had lodged complaints with the abbot of Wat Bang Khun Thian Nok accusing Phra Jirawat of using the temple name to seek public donations.

The abbot had sent him a warning but nothing changed.

"Phra Jirawat normally goes out to collect alms earlier than other monks at the temple. He comes back with lot of alms in 4-5 sacks," he said.

Phra Jo said Phra Jirawat had once persuaded him to collect alms together with him.

He said as far as he knew Phra Jirawat earned up to 30,000 baht a month.

Phra Jo said he would talk to the media today about his decision whether to file a counter-charge against the complainant.

Troops Outnumbered Monks At Thai Temple

2011-09-21T15:26:00.000+08:00

Transportation Of World Largest Buddha Bell

2011-09-21T05:07:00.000+08:00

Photo taken on Sept. 20, 2011 shows workers loading the world's largest Buddha bell in Wuhan City, capital of central China's Hubei Province, to transport it to the Xilai Temple of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The bell, with height of nine meters, diameter of 6.06 meters and weight of 109 metric tons, is made of Tin-bronze by Wuhan Heavy Industry Casting & Forging Co., Ltd. The Buddhist scripture including 92,306 words has been inscribed on the bell.

Auction Of Buddha Stopped By Pakistan Claim

2011-09-20T05:22:00.000+08:00

Pakistan has claimed a fasting Buddha statue put up for auction by Christie with a starting price of $4.45 million and wants it back.

Dawn has learnt that at UNESCO’s intervention, the world famous fine arts auction house has stopped the planned auction and has asked the Pakistani authorities to prove their claim. Sources in the Capital Administration Development Division (CADD) a sharp-eyed UNESCO official in Paris raised alarm after seeing a Christie advertisement about the auction.

The advertisement described the grey schist figure of the emaciated Siddhartha, or ‘Fasting Buddha’, as the most fascinating 3rd/4th century Gandhara piece in Christie’s entire collection. It came to the auctioneer from a private collector who acquired it in Germany back in 1981.

The UNESCO official’s alertness, made Islamabad’s Department of Archaeology and Museums (DOAM) look deeper for Pakistan-origin artifacts that might have reached the auctioneer surreptitiously for sale.

Indeed search revealed 60 more relics of Gandhara period lying with Christie with price tags from $2,000 to $200,000.

A DOAM official called them Pakistan’s cultural property, excavated illegally from Buddhist sites in Gandhara region and smuggled out in early 1980s.

“We have checked all the sculptures on the (Christie) website. It is difficult to ascertain the authenticity and origin of all the sculptures from the photographs but some definitely look original. They can be certified only after physical and scientific examination.

“Nonetheless, it is quite clear that all artifacts belong to the ancient Gandhara region of Pakistan,” said the official.

Relief works, heads, busts, figures and stupa basis made up the collection. It includes a 3rd century grey schist relief of
Buddha, price tag $182,500; a 7th/8th century bronze figure of seated Buddha from Swat Valley, price tag $122,500; a 4th/5th century Gandhara large stucco head of Buddha, starting auction price of $80,500, and a 2nd/3rd century grey schist figure of a pensive Buddha for going price of $68,500.

Other pricey relics in the collection include a 2nd/3rd century grey schist relief of Buddha and another grey schist head of Buddha from the same period for $30,000. Several more had the price starting from $2,000 upwards.

Pakistan is demanding that these artifacts be returned to the country of origin under UNESCO convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property 1970. It obliges UNESCO to take appropriate steps to recover and return any cultural property to its country of origin at the request of a State Party.

Toby Unsik of the Communications Department of Christie, responding to a Dawn e-mail said: “We take our responsibilities in relation to the sale of cultural property very seriously and abide strictly by the laws in the countries in which we operate.

We have invited the Pakistan authorities to provide us with full details of the grounds for any concerns they may have in relation to the sale of this lot and await hearing from them.”

He declined to comment further until Christie heard from the Pakistan government.

If this collection does return to Pakistan, it will be the second time that the country gets back its cultural property. The first time was when the USA returned a lot of more than 40 relics in 2008-09.

Thief Inside Buddhist Temple Caught On CCTV

2011-09-19T23:15:00.000+08:00

With the start of the Christmas season, the Philippine National Police (PNP) expects a rise in the number of crimes against property.

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz said syndicates take advantage of an increase in the volume of people in crowded places like malls and restaurants.

People also have more shopping money with them during "-ber" months, according to police.

Just last week, a thief struck at the Ocean Sky Monastery in San Juan.

The thief took cellphone units and wallets of students while they were in meditation class.

Based on footage of a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera in the Buddhist temple, a woman aged 20 to 25 years old was seen rummaging through cabinets and lockers where students left their bags while they were meditating in a separate room.

The suspect pretended to be one of the students involved in the meditation class and registered under an alias.

After surveying the different floors, she stayed for 5 minutes getting her loot from the lockers on the third floor.

She was later shown on the CCTV footage hurriedly leaving the room.

Police Officer 3 Marcelo Marinas said his investigation revealed that the temple had been under surveillance by a syndicate.

"Pag ganitong Christmas season kasi, walang sinasanto ang mga sindikato, kaya pati yung monasteryo hindi pinatawad," Marinas said.

He admitted that this was the first time they handled a case wherein a monastery was victimized by a thief.

San Juan police have sent a photo of the suspect to other law enforcement

Mother In The Dream

2011-09-19T00:48:00.002+08:00

Just to share a video - a touching performance by a 12 year Mongolian boy

Buddhist Personality : Nic Jiang

2011-09-15T21:39:00.000+08:00

Name : Chiang Hong En
Country : Taiwan
Date Of Birth : October 30, 1970
Height : 176cm
Profession : Actor

Dalai Lama In Argentina

2011-09-15T14:22:00.004+08:00

The spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina on September 13, 2011, after flying for nine hours from Mexico City. He was received at the airport by the protocol officers of the Ministry of External Affairs of Argentina as well as by Prof. Horacio E. Araujo (Lama Sangye Dorye), Lama Rinchen, and other members of the Kagyu Thekchen Choeling, one of the two hosts of the visit in Argentina.

On the following morning, His Holiness had an hour long meeting with the Argentinean media. More than 25 media people, representing various media agencies attended the press meet. His Holiness told the media that he has come to Argentina at the invitation of many of his friends and his main purpose of the visit was to share his two commitments in life - to promote basic human values as a fellow human being and to promote harmony among various religious traditions, as a spiritual person and Buddhist.

In the afternoon, His Holiness depart for Coliseo Auditorium, where he delivered a lecture on ‘Transforming the Youth for a Better World' for 2,000 people. Majority of audience turned out to be young people. In his lecture, His Holiness said that the 21st century belongs to youth, particularly those who are currently in the age group of 30s and lower. In order to make the 21st century more peaceful, more stable, more harmonious, His Holiness said that the responsibility falls on the young people. He warned that education alone might not bring inner peace and happiness and added that warm-heartedness and compassion are crucial to bring inner peace and happiness.

In order to make a significant contribution to the development and progress of a society, he said, an individual youth should take more serious responsibility. He added that no one from outside was going to come to clean the society and therefore, one must take personal initiative in this direction. His Holiness answered questions posed by people through Internet as well as by others who were present in the auditorium.

Korean Monks Take Up Fire Fighting

2011-09-14T18:06:00.009+08:00

Haeinsa Buddhist Temple located on Gaya Mountain in Gyeongsang province, South Korea is one of the country's most treasured temples. It house the complete copy of the Buddhist scriptures, the Tripitaka Koreana. The fully wooden temple was built in the 9th century but was rebuilt in the 19th centrey after it was devastated by a major fire in 1817. The temple's library together with the woodlocks of the Buddhist Scriptures it houses were designated as a Korean national treasure in 1962 and a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1995.

To protect the entire wooden temple and it's woodlocks of Buddhist Scriptures from fire, recently a fire fighting truck was donated to the temple and the resident monks were taught fire fighting skills.

Just Photos - Mid Autumn Festival In Czech Republic

2011-09-12T23:35:00.000+08:00

Photos of Vietnamese community celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival in a Buddhist Temple in Svaty Krir, Czech Republic

Buddhist Train

2011-09-12T23:17:00.000+08:00

A special Buddhist train, carrying some 100 delegates from 25 countries, arrived at the Cantonment railway station on Monday.

According to regional tourist officer Dinesh Kumar, it was was the first of total of 17 visits that would be made by delegates belonging to Pacific Asia Travel Association ( PATA) till April 9 next year. "The Government of India is sponsoring the visit to explore the tourism potential especially at the Buddhist sites in the country," he informed.

It may be mentioned here that the delegates include tour operators, travel agents and mediapersons from 25 countries. As per programme, the special train would leave Safdarjung station (New Delhi) to reach Varanasi the next day, making a total of 17 visits in the next nine months (nearly two visits in a month).

Meanwhile, the delegates visited Sarnath and nearby areas in the day. Later, they also visited the Urban Haat and Cultural Complex (Sanskritik Sankul), where UP Tourism organised a cultural programme in the evening. After witnessing the world famous Ganga Aarti on Dasaswamedh Ghat, the train was scheduled to leave Cantonment railway station in the late night

Buddhist Personality : Trong Phuc

2011-09-12T10:25:00.000+08:00

Name : Trong Phuc
Country : Vietnam
Date Of Birth : 1972
Profession : Actor/Singer

Buddh International Circuit

2011-09-12T04:23:00.000+08:00

The Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India will host the first Formula One Indian Grand Prix on October 30, 2011. The recently completed racing track is 5.14km in lenght with sitting capacity of 96,636. The main grandstand can sit 30,000 spectators. The circuit originally named, Jaypee International Race Circuit after it's owner Jaypee Sports International had its name changed to Buddh International Circuit in April 2011. The name Buddh is derived from Buddha and represents peace and calm. It is also in reference to the Gautam Buddh Nagar district in which the circuit is located, itself named after the Gautama Buddha

Designed by the renowned German architect and racetrack designer, Herman Tilke, who also happens to be the man behind tracks such as Malaysia, Bahrain, China, Turkey, Indonesia, and UAE to name a few, the Indian circuit is touted to be one of the fastest circuits. Highlights include a long straight with a small dip, a long corner where the cars can drive at speeds in excess of 250km/h as well as a blind curve created by elevation changes. The track also features wide stretches to allow for overtaking and to ensure an entertaining race. Drivers who have tested the track on the simulators have said that it is one of the most exciting tracks and that they are looking forward to racing on it next year. Incidentally, the drivers have been able to complete a lap on the circuit in about 82 seconds while testing on the simulator, so it sure is a fast track

On the coming Grand Prix, an estimated of 150,000 spectators are expected to attend over the 3 days period. The tickets, which are fast selling out, cost Rs. 6,000 to 35,000. The cheapest, priced at Rs. 2,500, were sold out within hours after booking opened. Each of these is valid for all three days of the event. But, the high-profile after parties cost extra. An average table at one of these star-studded dos, being organised by the official F1 party partner Amber Lounge at Hotel Claridges in Surajkund, costs Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 10 lakh.

Buddhist Personality : Yan Kun

2011-09-11T13:32:00.016+08:00

Name : Yan Kun
Country : China
Date Of Birth : January 6, 1983
Height : 176cm
Profession : Actor

Buddhist Personality : Alice Tzeng

2011-09-09T10:41:00.000+08:00

Name : Tzeng Kai Xuan ( Alice )
Country : Taiwan
Date Of Birth : April 22, 1984
Height : 163cm
Profession : Actress

Bhutan Gets Royal Wedding Fever

2011-09-07T18:02:00.002+08:00

The royal dress weavers are at work and excitement is building in Bhutan ahead of next month's royal wedding that will see the young king of the Himalayan nation wed in a fairy-tale ceremony.

The Oxford-educated mountain-biking fanatic Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 31, who was crowned in 2008 at the start of democracy in the Buddhist-majority country, is set to marry student Jetsun Pema, a commoner, on October 13.

Organisers have promised a low-key affair from a royal family that is famed for its common touch, but the Bhutanese are gearing up to mark a momentous occasion in the life of the reclusive kingdom between China and India.

In their apartment in the capital Thimphu, weavers Kelzang Choden and her mother are hurriedly working on an outfit for the future queen, an intricately patterned dress of geometric shapes dominated by gold thread and yellow.

Pema, 21, has ordered numerous "kiras," the elegant national dress for women made from raw silk that takes months to finish and can cost up to 3,000 dollars.

Several famed weavers are competing for the honour of clothing her on the big day.

"It would be the biggest privilege," said Choden, whose mother Kuenzang Wangmo has designed outfits for the previous king and his four wives, as well as the younger sister of the present king.

Bhutan, famed for its invention of "Gross National Happiness" to measure progress and its citizens' well-being, is one of the most remote and insular places on Earth.

It had no roads or currency until the 1960s, allowed television only in 1999 and continues to resist the temptation of allowing mass tourism -- preferring instead to allow access to only small organised groups of well-heeled visitors.

The main wedding ceremony will take place in a stunning fortress and monastery in the town of Punakha, set in a steep valley at the confluence of two fast-running mountain rivers.

The giant building, accessible by footbridge and intricately decorated with wall paintings and carvings, is being spruced up for the occasion, with work underway in the gardens and fresh paint in evidence.

King Wangchuck, a keen basketball player and Elvis fan, and four of his forebears have ruled Bhutan since 1907 when the royal family took over and brought stability to the previously war-ravaged nation.

The monarch lives in a cottage in Thimphu rather than a palace, and is famed for inviting his subjects to tea. Among his most recent guests were members of the Thimphu weight-lifting club.

The main celebration will be held in the capital on October 16 where members of the public will get the opportunity to glimpse the newly weds in a ceremony at the city's sports stadium.

It promises to be a spectacle of traditional dance and music, but the Bhutanese themselves will be part of the show as they wear their finest traditional clothing, which is compulsory in government offices.

Many choose to wear the dress -- kiras for women and "ghos" for men -- in everyday life as a statement of national pride, but a royal wedding calls for even more elaborate dressing-up.

At The Traditional Boot House in central Thimphu, manager Tshering Tobgay says average daily orders have doubled since the king announced his intention to marry in May.

Tobgay and his half-dozen team are working frantically in a bid to clear the backlog for their colourful knee-length boots which are worn on special occasions.

"Everyone is working overtime until 09:00-10:00pm at night," he said.

The king was crowned in 2008 after his father, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, abdicated to introduce democracy, arguing that the country could not depend on the benign dictatorship of the royal family forever.

Though feted for this magnanimous gesture, the former king was in charge during the major blackspot in the country's recent history: the expulsion of more than 100,000 ethnic Nepalese in the early 1990s.

Just Photos - Beauties At Buddha Bar And Buddha Spa

2011-09-05T05:55:00.001+08:00

Contestants of ongoing Miss Universe 2011 visitng Buddha Bar and Buddha Spa in Sao Paolo, Brazil last week.

At Buddha Spa

Buddhist Personality : Nawong Khechog

2011-09-04T17:09:00.016+08:00

Nawang Khechog is a Grammy nominee and one of Tibet's formost world music composer and musician. He is also one of the first Tibetan musicians to be able to break into international world music scene with his original and authentic musical compositions (solo and collaborative albums) to be distributed around the world through different record label. In 2007 Nawang received Tibetan Music Award ( Special Recognition , similar to Life Time Achievement Award) and International Civil Golden Award , The highest civilian award of Nepal.

Nawang was a monk for 11 years and studied Buddhist philosophy and meditation with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and many other Tibetan masters. He also lived as hermit, meditating in the Himalayan foothills for several years under the guidance of His Holiness

Nawang was born into a nomadic family in Eastern Tibet, on a high mountain plateau, where trees can not grow and the wind whispers through the grasslands. He learned about life's lessons and survival at an early age. When he was only three years old, a yogi meditator convinced his father that it would be devastating for their family to remain in Tibet, so they fled the land. the family travelled thousands of miles to India on the backs of yaks. Following a treacherous three year journey, the yogi's prediction came true in 1959, when China took over Tibet. Nawang's family still suffered - most of his family, including his two younger sisters perished in the hot climate of India

Later, he emigrated to Australia, where he heard the soundtrack to the film, "Silk Road," by Japanese synthesizer musician Kitaro. After moving to the United States and launching his own performing career, Khechog was thrilled when Kitaro asked him to perform together for a benefit concert.

"Then he asked me to join his world tour. I said yes. I had been his fan since I heard the 'Silk Road' music," he says.

He then moved from New York to the Boulder area to be near his new musical collaborator, who lived for many years in the mountains in nearby Ward.

"I love Colorado so much. I said, 'Hey, this is it.' I never went back to New York," Khechog says.

Since coming to the United States, he has performed with a veritable who's who of contemporary musicians, including Philip Glass, Trey Anastasio of Phish, David Bowie, Michael Stipe of R.E.M., R. Carlos Nakai, Beastie Boys, U2, A Tribe Called Quest and Pearl Jam.

In 2008, he suffered a severe brain injury in a car accident in India in which his niece was killed. And upon returning to the United States, the 57-year-old experienced a heart attack, He also gives workshops in "Awakening Kindness" around the country.

This month, Nawong will hold a concert to commenmorate the September 11 terrorist attack. Due to his brain injury and heart attack, he hasn't performed in years. For his Sept. 11 concert (see box for details), he'll use instruments from around the world -- a South American flute, Tibetan wind instruments, ocarinas, a "nose flute" from Hawaii, an Australian didgeridoo

Still a practicing Buddhist, Khechog dispels the notion that a non-violent way of living entirely precludes the necessity for fighting. The Sept. 11 attacks, he says, are one example.

"For Buddhism we believe in Buddhist, compassionate, non-violent approach. But we also believe that you can't sometimes just totally be non-violent and peaceful. Sometimes you have to be a little bit tough," he says. Osama bin Laden, Khechog says, deserved compassion, but also "he had to die; he can't be alive."

But, he says, the hurt and horror of Sept. 11 should not become fuel for vengeance, anger or hatred. Just the opposite, in fact.

"The most important lesson to learn out of Sept. 11 is to become more kind and compassionate and loving," he says

Buddhist Personality : Ernie Garcia

2011-09-02T13:15:00.003+08:00

Ernie Garcia or Ernesto Garcia in real life, was born on August 12 in Caloocan City, Philippines. His father, Artemio Garcia, is a Caviteno but grew up in Masbate, and his mother, Marina Sta. Maria is from Bulacan, a pure Tagalog. He started schooling at San Sebastian College. He was a former University of Santo Tomas Architecture student. He is known as the Bold King of Philippine cinema due to his many daring scenes in movies that he starred in. Before becoming a movie actor, Ernie started his showbiz career on television in the ‘70s. At age 16, he was known as a singer rather than as a movie actor. His singing repertoire would range from popular ballads to upbeat numbers.

Ernie started his acting career when he substituted for Eddie Peregrina in the soap opera “Aliw ng Buhay” with Gina Alajar as his partner. This was the time when Eddie was at the height of his popularity as a singer. His singing engagements required him to leave his TV show, which became a break for Ernie who was at that time starting his TV career. The role in “Aliw ng Buhay” was offered to him. That was the start of Ernie’s exposure to TV drama. His appearance in the TV drama caught the attention of producers, which eventually paved the way for his entry in the movie industry

In 1982, he did the movie, “Virgin People,” a Celso Ad Castillo obra. Ernie could not forget the applause given by the audience when the movie was premiered at the Folk Arts Theater.

He took a break from acting in the ‘80s in order to shed his sexy image. He decided to resume his love for singing and performed in the United States and Japan. When he came back to the Philippines, he was glad to learn that movie fans as well as his friends in showbiz still remember him for his performances in movies. He was no longer the Ernie who appeared in sexy roles, but instead, he started doing roles in movies that would identify him as an “actor”, and not simply as a movie celebrity.

He eventually ventured on painting and entered the world of theater. Ernie did a lot of stage work like “Noli Me Tangere,” and “El Fili.” He did “Hamlet” for the late Rolando Tinio in which he garnered an Aliw Award for best actor on stage in 1988. He received the FAMAS best supporting actor the following year (1989) when he made the movie, “Bukas Sisikat Din Ang Araw” He also received the Best Supporting Actor for the same movie given by the Star Awards.

While he was busy acting on stage, Ernie discovered and harnessed his love for the visual arts. He started painting and experimented on the canvas and eventually explored other art mediums like tiles and fiberglass.

Today, from time to time, Ernie would accept offers from TV networks to appear in their telenovelas. He would also accept offers from the Indie film circuit, although he is quite selective on the roles he accepts. For him to accept a movie offer, he has to like the story and the role.

Ernie, a Roman Catholic converted to Buddhism end of last year.

Ernie was involved in an entertainment promotion business a few years ago. When the government banned the practice of bringing Filipino talents to Japan, business activity slowed down and he lost all his possessions. He lost millions and didn't know where to start again. He was devastated until a friend introduced Buddhism to him.

Buddhist Flower Discovered In A Convenience Store

2011-09-01T16:38:00.006+08:00

Korean news outlets are reporting that an udumbara -- a legendary flower in Buddhist literature believed to bloom once every 3,000 years -- has sprouted at a humble Family Mart in Seoul, South Korea

Store manager Kim Jong-woo was cleaning when he spotted the 17 tiny flowers growing on the window.

( Mr Kim Jong-woo in his family mart )

He recognized the flowers, he said, from images on television.

One of the most-searched keywords on August 31, 2011 was "udumbara," and Family Mart reports that the foot traffic to the Mapo Joongang branch has been explosive.

In the Lotus Sutra, the udumbara flower is used to reference how rare it is to meet a Buddha, and is also discussed in the context of enlightenment.

Ever ones to dispel any hint of romanticism, however, snarky netizens are asking if the threadlike stalks aren't simply some kind of mold or fungi.

All Buddhas come into the world but rarely, and are hard to meet ... like the udumbara flower, in which all take delight." (from the Lotus Sutra)

Buddhist Personality : Khantidharo

2011-09-01T04:21:00.001+08:00

Indonesian Buddhist monk, Khanthidharo Mahathera was christianed as Djamal Bakir, was a staunch Muslim and had a loving wife before he decided to lead a monastic life 24 years ago.

He was born on July 17, 1931 in a small village located on the Merbabu volcano in Magelang, Indonesia. The 5th of 9 siblings in the family , he was known to be the more sociable and intelligent one among his siblings. In 1952, he became a teacher in a secondary school in Medan, Sumatera but returned to Jateng near his hometown two years later to continue his study while teaching part time in a secondary school There he met a fellow female teacher Sri Hartini and got married to hear on July 17, 1955. Djmaal continued his studies and was awarded a doctorate degree in Economics in 1963. He became a banker in the morning and taught at a school in Magelang in the evening. During that period of his life, he came in contact with Buddhism and was fascinated with the teachings of Dhamma. He encouraged his wife to read books on Dhamma and together, the couple became active devotees in a temple, Dhammadipa Arama. In 1971, he was appointed to lead the Perhimpunan Buddhis Indonesia (PERBUDHI) a Buddhist based association. This appointment marked the turning point of his life as a Buddhist as he learned more on Buddhism and became a writer of the Dhamma for a montly Buddhist magazine from 1971 to 1977. Later, he travelled to Myanmar, became a staff of the Indonesia Embassy there while furthering his knowledge in Buddhism. In 1982, he went for a religious journey with his wife to India and upon his returned worked as the General Director of the Education and Cultural Department for 5 years, travelling extensively to all 27 provinces in the country. Despite his respectable position in the government service, he started to comtemplate to dedicate his life follow the Dhamma path. Finally on Decebmer 6, 1987, he was ordained as a monk and adopted a monastic name of Khantidharo

Today he is the chief monk of the Dhammadipa Buddhist Vihara in Malang, Jawa, Indonesia and recently celebrated his 80th birthday.

Real Story - A Kind Hearted Man And His Handicapped Pig

2011-08-31T12:39:00.010+08:00

This is a real story about a man and his handicapped pig. The sow born with two legs and named Zhu Jianqiang, literally means brave and strong in Chinese belongs to a villager, Mr Wang Xihai who lives in Henan Province in China.

When Zhu Jianqiang was born almost 18 months ago, Mr Wang's wife had wanted to throw her away but was stopped by Mr Wang. He told his wife that despite the piglet's handicapped, she deserved to be given a chance to live on. The kind hearted Mr Wang however admitted that he didn't expect Zhu Jianqiang to live long and healthy as she is today.

Zhu Jianqiang was one of nine piglets born and she was the only handicapped one, born with two legs. A few days after she was born, Mr Wang decided to teach her to walk by lifting her by the tail. She was trained to walk for a short period everyday and by 30 days she was able to walk upside down.

Not long after that, the news about Zhu Jianqiang became the talk of the village and Mr Wang's house was visited by many people, some of them even offered hefty prices to purchase the pig but was flatly declined by Mr Wang.

Mr Wang said that Zhu Jianqiang determination to live despite her handicapped reminds us not to give up on our lives no matter how difficult our lives are and it is because of this that he would never sell Zhu Jianqiang to anyone.

Moral of the above story - When the world whispers to us " give up " and " not impossible ", our little heart shouts " you can do it ".

Buddhist Personality : Ah Hua

2011-08-30T07:49:00.001+08:00

Name : Ah Hua
Nationality : China
Date Of Birth : 18th October 1981
Profession : Singer

Buddhist Population Of The World

2011-08-29T05:04:00.000+08:00

The number of Buddhists around the world is grossly underestimated. The statistics found in nearly all encyclopedias and almanacs place the number of Buddhists at approximately 500 million. This figure completely ignores over one billion Chinese people who live in the People's Republic of China. China is officially communist (although many free market conditions are already in place) and does not keep records on religion statistics of adherents. Also, many western reference sources refuse to accept that a person can belong to more than one religion. In Asia it is quite common for one person to have two, three, or more religions. In China, it is common for a family to have a shrine in their home with statues and icons from Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism.

Currently there are about 1.3 billion Chinese living in the People's Republic. Surveys (Gach-Alpha Books, U.S. State Dept. report on China, Global Center for the Study of Contemporary China, BBC News, China Daily, and a report by Christian missionaries in China) have found that about 8% to 91% identify with Buddhism as one of their religions. If we use a percent near the upper end of this estimate, of about 80% it works out to about 1.1 billion Chinese Buddhists. To ignore over one billion people as if they do not count is a terrible mis-count and very misleading in the reporting of adherents. A Chinese Buddhist forum (bskk.com) currently has over 150,000 registered members and over 4 million posts, which is more than ten times the amount of the largest English language Buddhist forum (which also has Chinese Buddhists participating in the discussions). But to be fair, a more conservative estimate is also shown (see below).

Here are some studies that have analyzed or counted the number of Buddhists in China and the percentage found in the study:

U.S. State Dept. report Approx. 8% to 40% (the report lists 8% but then states that there are "hundreds of millions" of Chinese who practice various religions together, which includes Buddhism).
BBC News, 2007 Approx. 16% to 23%
ChinaDaily.com, 2007 Approx. 16% to 21%
Seanetwork.org article by Dr. A. Smith, 2004 Approx. 50% to 80%
Global Center for the Study of Contemporary China Approx. 23% to 98% (the report lists 23% but states that as many as 98% follow more than one religion, which includes Buddhism).
Buddhist Channel article, July 7, 2009 Buddhism thrives in China
Gach, Alpha Books, 2001 Approx. 91%

The counting of Buddhists in America is also a little problematic since the U.S. Census Bureau does not ask religious affiliation. There are studies that suggest the percentage of Buddhists in America is as low as 0.5% and others that suggest over 3%. Some of the lower estimates claimed that about half of all Buddhists in America are white, European ancestry, which shows that the study was flawed. Any personal observation survey of Buddhism in America by attending meditation groups and temples will demonstrate that the vast majority of Buddhists in the U.S. are still predominantly Asian or Asian ancestry. Immigration to the U.S. from Asia has been very high due to favorable economic opportunities and more open immigration for those with technical skills, such as in the medical fields. Immigration from Asia ranges from about 0.5 million to 7 million per year and certainly a sizeable percentage of these immigrants are Buddhist. See Asian immigration to the US

Some other reports at the low end are going by official statistics from Buddhist organizations that count and in many of these estimates it is based on counting only one group, The Buddhist Churches of America (which is one of the few that counts their members). The BCA is just one sect inside the Pure Land school of Buddhism, which is a further sub-set of Mahayana, which is a sub-set of Buddhism in general. As far back as 1995 a study showed that 1.6% of the U.S. is Buddhist. Only a few years later the number of Buddhist centers doubled, which suggests that the actual percent of Americans who are Buddhist is from 2% to 4%. See: R. Baumann, Univ. of Hannover Professor C. Prebish, Ph.D. has stated that 2% of the U.S. population is Buddhist and that most, about 80% of American Buddhists are of Asian descent (about 4.8 million out of 6 million American Buddhists), See: Utah State Univ., 2007
A conservative estimate of 2% is used for the number of Buddhists in America in the table below.

March 2007 update: Due to the debates and discussions that have occured, some reference books and encyclopedias are finally recognizing that there are Buddhists in China. Some have stated that the survey suggesting that 91% are Buddhist is exaggerated, but at least some are now showing a sizeable percentage, such as over 60% over at wikipedia. Therefore, included below is a liberal estimate using 80% and a more conservative estimate using a 50% figure.

Here is the Wikipedia estimate, which is compatible to the numbers shown here: Wikipedia List of religious populations

July 2009 update: The percentage and numbers for Buddhists in India has increased dramatically over recent years because there have many recent mass conversions of the dalit (untouchables) from Hinduism to Buddhism. See one of several mass conversions of over 50,000 and also this report: Newsweek 2008 India has 3.25% Buddhist

See also this article at The Dhamma encyclopedia for more statistics, links and sources: The appeal of Buddhism

The following is the more accurate listing of Buddhists around the world with the inclusion of the above-mentioned people (percentage of the total population who are Buddhist is shown in parentheses):
China, liberal estimate (80.00%) 1,070,893,447
China, conservative estimate (50.00%) 669,308,405
Japan (96.00%) 122,022,837
Thailand (95.00%) 62,626,649
India (3.25%) 37,913,134
Sri Lanka (70.00%) 14,933,050
Burma (90.00%) 43,323,967
Cambodia (95.00%) 13,769,578
Laos (75.00%) 5,126,207
Other Asian countries (16.00%) 213,492,875
Total Buddhists in Asia, liberal estimate 1,584,101,744
Total Buddhists in Asia, conservative estimate 1,182,516,701

USA (2.00%) 6,135,071
Canada and N. Amer. islands (1.10%) 368,447
Total Buddhists in N. America 6,503,518

Germany (1.10%) 905,657
France (1.20%) 773,215
United Kingdom (1.20%) 733,395
Other European countries (0.15%) 785,700
Total Buddhists in Europe 3,197,966

Total Buddhists in Latin America and S. America (0.15%) 868,929

Total Buddhists in Australia and Oceania (1.80%) 618,752

Total Buddhists in Africa (0.02%) 194,550
_______________________________________________________
Total Buddhists in the world, liberal estimate 1,595,485,458
(about 1.6 billion)
Total Buddhists in the world, conservative estimate 1,193,900,416
(about 1.2 billion

The current number of Buddhists is therefore, about 1.2 to 1.6 billion which places it nearly equal with each of the two largest religions of Christianity and Islam. Even with the conservative estimate, it is still much higher than the 300 to 500 million still being placed in many references. It is important to know the true number to provide an accurate history and to know that we are not “alone” in our thinking and our practice. What we really strive for is not more Buddhists, but more “buddhas” (enlightened ones) so that we can have true peace inside and for the world.

Vanished Buddhist Site Found In Pakistan

2011-08-28T00:30:00.001+08:00

A Gandhara Buddhist site, which was lost to the world due to neglect after it was excavated more than a century ago, has been rediscovered in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar.
Officials of Directorate of Museums and Archaeology in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province and Tourism Corporation managed to identify and re-ascertain the exact location of the famous Shahjiki-Dheri Gandharan Buddhist site, local media reported.

An official said, located outside the Gunj Gate of the old Walled City of Peshawar is a site of extraordinary archaeological importance where an imposing 'stupa' – a structure than contained revered Buddhist relics – once stood.

The now urbanised area, known as Akhunabad, presents a sorry picture of a once renowned historic site said to be was one of a kind in Asia.

The stupa is said to have been built during the reign of Kushan Emperor Kanishka in the first century AD.

A Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang visited the site during 629AD-645AD and called it the 'tallest architectural building' in this part of Asia. It is estimated that the stupa was equivalent to a present day 13-storey-tall building.

With the decline of Buddhism in the region, the traces of the stupa and monastery faded away.

An official said that subsequent excavation work yielded priceless Gandharan statues and other objects which are on display in museums around the world. When the excavation work stopped, the significance of the area was forgotten.

Buddhist Personality : Hoang Nhat Minh

2011-08-27T08:15:00.000+08:00

Name : Hoang Nhat Minh
Country : Vietnam
Date Of Birth : 1982
Profession : Singer

Indonesian Buddhists To Visit Sri Lanka

2011-08-27T07:37:00.001+08:00

After a quarter-century of civil war ended in May 2009, Sri Lanka is back on track to lure investors and tourists. More than 100 Buddhist pilgrims from Indonesia will visit the island state this weekend, a Sri Lankan envoy says.

“For the first time, a large number of Indonesian Buddhists are going to visit Buddhist shrines in Sri Lanka. This tour was arranged by Hadaya Vatthu Foundation president Charles Hardono,” Sri Lankan Ambassador to Indonesia Maj. Gen. Nanda Mallawaarachchi told The Jakarta Post on August 26, 2011.

“The Sri Lankan Tourism Promotion Bureau has made special preparations to welcome them in Sri Lanka. I think it’s the right time, as Buddhists all over the world are celebrating the 2600th Sambuddha Jayanthi this year”.

Buddhists constitute around 1 percent of the population in Indonesia. Home to the world’s largest Muslim population, Indonesia also boasts the world’s largest Buddhist temple, Borobudur, a UNESCO world heritage site.

From the political point of view, Ambassador Nanda said, now was the right time as well.

Buddha's Life Story

2011-08-26T10:05:00.035+08:00

Rice Of Love

2011-08-26T08:10:00.000+08:00

On August 21, 2011, volunteers from Tzu Chi Foundation, Taiwan, held a rice sharing event in Tambora , Jakarta Barat, the capital city of Indonesia.

In her letter dedicated to Indonesians, Master Cheng Yen, the founder of Tzu Chi said that sharing of rice will end at one point ( when all rice have been distributed ) but the blessings and love in them shall remain forever.

The Governor of DKI Jakarta, Fauzi Bowo thanked Tzu Chi for it's noble act of sharing the "rice of love" with people of Jakarta. Fauzi had participated in events organized by Tzu Chi Indonesia in the past.
.
Distribution of rice started at 8am. The scorching morning sun did not dampen the spirits of the 178 volunteers on duty that morning but instead they continued to distribute a total of 3027 bags of rice and cooking oil with smiles on their faces. Recipients were given coupons to be exchanged with rice prior to that, on August 14, 2011. Besides rice and cooking oil, volunteers also handed essential items to families nearby whose 9 houses were burnt down on August 13, 2011.

One of the recipients was a 83 years old woman, Liem Lit Nio who lives in a house repaired by Tzu Chi in 2003 with 36 of her family members. Back then while going round surveying the area, Tzu Chi volunteers discovered the dilapidated house of Liem and found that it was not in a good state and decided to help her repair her house. Madam Liem thanked Tzu Chi continously for not only rebuilt her house but also shared the "rice of love" with her family.

In the spirit of sharing, in return Madam Liem gave away her fully filled money saving container made from bamboo to Tzu Chi. She said that even though the amount was not big but she shared it with the others a big heart referring to the quote by Master Cheng Yen that " sharing with the others allows us to feel blessed and satisfy with what we already have "

Madam Liem's making her own contribution

Buddhist Personality : Bhutia Baichung

2011-08-25T14:45:00.001+08:00

Name : Bhutia Baichung
Country : India
Date Of Birth : December 5, 1976
Height : 173cm
Profession : Footballer

Retired Bhutia, was a captain for Indian national football team. He has been in the indian football team since over a decade. He is the first and only Indian to play for an English club and is hailed as one of the best players India has ever produced.
Baichung announced his international retirement on August 24, 2011 after failing to recover from a recurrent calf muscle injury, drawing curtains on an illustrious 16-year-long career.

Bhaichung started playing football in St.Xavier's school in sikkim. Obvious talent saw him get offers from various school clubs. When bhaichung was sixteen he joined the East bengal club in kolkata. Bhaichung then went on to become the team captain in the 1998-99 season. Finally bhutia got a dream call from overseas. He was called for training sessions with english clubs like Fulham and Aston Villa. After unsucessful attempts with both, Bhutia joined Bury FC in the UK. After a three year stint, Bhutia returned to india to play for Mohum Bagan FC. Bhutia returned to his former club the next year to help them win the ASEAN cup. Bhutia's achievements have gone to that extent that he also got the chance to play alongside one of the sports best player;Clarence Seedorf in a match in Munich. Bhutia scored twice in that game.

Inspite of the prowess of such an able national captain bhutia has failed to deliver on the international circuit. Football pundits argue that the game is a team game and so bhutia is always excused. But this buddhist's contribution to the sport cannot be ignored. He once said that it would be his dream if he could help india qualify for the world cup finals

Nature Threat To Buddhism In Nepal

2011-08-25T06:24:00.000+08:00

An ethnic community in Nepal's remotest Himalayan district bordering Tibet says it has been struggling to save its unique Buddhism culture from being uprooted by floods from a glacial lake.

The locals of Halji village in Humla district of western Nepal practise the Drikung Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism which has an 11th century monastery at its heart.

They are very worried that the Rinchenling monastery - one of the oldest in Nepal and highly revered in Tibet - could be swept away or damaged by floods and mudslides caused by the outburst of a glacial lake on the mountain overlooking their village.

For the past five years, Halji has been hit by glacial lake floods almost every summer and the last one nearly two months ago damaged two

Several crop fields were washed away and many remain covered with sands, rendering them barren for many years to come.

Villagers say the historic monastery now stands only around 15m away from the river bank that has been eroded by flood waters.

They fear the next time the Tak Tsho lake bursts out like it did this year, it may hit the 1,000 year-old sacred site.

"It is our identity," says Kojuk Objang Tamang, the head of Halji village. "We cannot even imagine about our community without the monastery which is the base of our religious culture," he told the BBC.

So strong is the community's creed on the monastery that they are convinced that it has saved them from the floods and mudslides so far.

"It is because of the blessings of the monastery that the village is hit by floods at day time only and so there is no loss of human lives because we can run to safety during daylight," says Tamang. "Had it happened in the night when we are asleep, god knows how many of us would have been dead by now.

Astrid Hovden of the University of Oslo, who has been conducting her PhD research in Halji, has witnessed how central the monastery is to the community of around 100 households.

"At the night of the flood (last June), after the water level in the river started to get back to normal, the monks performed an elaborate ritual in the monastery to pray for the safety of their village.

"Since the villagers got aware of the problem they have invited important lamas (priests) from outside to perform rituals to protect their village

Prayers apart, the villagers have also done whatever they could to save the monastery and their settlement.

Although almost all of them are uneducated, they have knocked on the doors of the prime minister's office in the capital Kathmandu, the local authority and the national planning commission.

Those efforts had secured some funding which they used to build defences using rocks and gabion wires to tame the flood waters.

"Every family in our village worked free of cost for the constructions of those infrastructures," says Tamang.

But villagers say every year the floods and mudslides hurtling down from the glacial lake at the height of around 5,300m on the Gurla Mandhata mountain become increasingly dangerous.

"Our effort to save the village is proving to be no match for the force of the floods," said Mangal Lama, a social worker from the region

Lama and other locals said they hiked up to the area where the Tak Tsho glacial lake is located and found that it is hidden behind a hanging glacier.

"And we saw huge cracks on the glacier, and that explained why we used to hear big sounds around the same time in June every year before we were hit by floods.

"Apparently, it appears that the huge pieces of ice sheet from the cracked parts of the glacier might have fallen into the glacial lake which then overflowed, causing floods and mudslides downstream."

Some scientists say climate change has accelerated glacial meltdown in the Himalayas, creating many new glacial lakes and filling up existing ones to dangerous levels.

Most of the 4,000 or so glaciers and their lakes in the Nepalese Himalayas are not monitored, like the one above Halji in Humla district.

The National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) Nepal has prepared under the United Nations climate convention has rated the district's vulnerability to glacial lake outburst flood as "very low" - something which has been disputed.

Social worker Lama said some villagers are so frustrated that they are considering going to Tibet across the border to become refugees.

"Because it takes five days walk to reach the nearest local authority of Nepal while Taklakot (the nearest Tibetan market) is only 12 hours away and moreover the villagers speak the Tibetan language and follow all traditions of Tibet."

Locals say they cannot also move the monastery and their settlement to a safe place.

"The moment we move the monastery, its religious and historic value will drop to zero," says Tamang. "And that, in turn, means our century old intact religious and cultural community will break and it will all be over"

Buddhist Personality : Jimmy Ni

2011-08-24T08:36:00.008+08:00

Name : Ni Qi Min ( Jimmy )
Nationality : Taiwan
Date Of Birth : 24th December 1964
Height : 180cm
Profession : Actor ( mostly in Minnan dialect dramas )

Buddhism & Homosexuality Forum

2011-08-24T06:24:00.002+08:00

The Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM) and Buddhist Research Society of Malaysia (BRSM) held a seminar titled "Homosexuality: The Controversy in the Midst of Morality and Social Value" on Aug 19 in Kuala Lumpur.

about 200 people attended the open forum which had three panelists: Venerable Miao Jan, the coordinator of Prajna Meditation Association of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor; Datuk Ang Choo Hong, the president of the Buddhist Research Society of Malaysia; and Yap Hock Heng, a registered and licensed counsellor. The forum was emceed by YBAM secretary general See Chan Wing.

The news of the traditional Chinese wedding of Malaysia’s first lesbian couple and the upcoming same-sex marriage of Malaysian Christian Pastor, Rev. Ouyang Wen Feng to be celebrated in Malaysia has caused a stir in Malaysian society, drawing criticisms particularly from Christian groups. However, the coordinator of Prajna Meditation Association of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, the Venerable Miao Jan, encouraged gay people to face their own sexual orientation honestly and openly, urging them to come out bravely and not live in the closet [literally dark corners].

Ven. Miao Jan pointed out that she was not promoting the gay culture. But in her opinion, if gay people did not live honestly with their sexuality, they would fall in love with the wrong person someday, which would lead to pain not only for themselves, but also for their loved one(s).

“Let gay people talk about their love life. We could only respect them and learn how to get along with them.” “I have a lot of gay friends too. Don’t treat them as though they are horrible people. They are also fun to be with and they are such lovable people. Besides, how does this present a problem to non-gay people?”

When asked whether gay people adopting children would create social problem, she did not answer the question squarely, but turned the question around and asked: “How much happiness can straight families today guarantee their children? The divorce rate is high these days, and this should give us room for thought."

She feels that many people in society create too many assumptions about homosexuals/homosexuality, speculating that if everyone is homosexual, human kind will become extinct. She retorts: Do you think everyone will want to become a monk/nun/ordained ? Once homosexuality becomes recognised/accepted, will everyone become homosexual?

Datuk Ang Choo Hong said he treats gay people as normal. Gay people have long existed since the time of Buddha. He said if people could not bless Rev. Ouyang’s marriage, then they should keep quiet.

Yap Hock Heng was more concerned with the attitude that people have towards a gay person. Are they friendly? Are they willing to be in a gay person’s company? Are they willing to listen to their story and guide them?

He said that the fact that the media reported heavily on same-sex marriage would not encourage the gay culture [turn more people gay]. Rather, it would cause people who are already gay to come out of the closet.

Activist Monk Banned From Pagodas

2011-08-23T19:20:00.002+08:00

Buddhist institutions in western Cambodia are ordered to close their doors to a monk who protested forest development.

A prominent Cambodian environmental activist monk has been barred from entering pagodas in his home province after he participated in protests against rainforest destruction in the country.

Chum Kemleng, the highest-ranked monk in Siem Reap, ordered the ban on August 19, 2011 in an open letter to the monastic community, preventing all Buddhist temples in the province from hosting Loun Sovath, who has also been an ardent campaigner for land rights.

In April, he was banned from entering pagodas in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh for participating in land protests.

Pagodas customarily host traveling monks who are in need of a place to stay.

In the letter, Chum accused Loun Sovath, 30, of violating the laws of Buddhism and his sangha (monastic order) when he joined 100 villagers in a demonstration defending Prey Lang forest from development on August 18, 2011 in Phnom Penh.

The villagers, joined by monks and environmental activists, wore dress and make-up inspired by the blockbuster movie "Avatar," which depicts the destruction of a forest on an alien world and its inhabitants' bloody fight to protect their home from miners.

According to an unnamed official from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia, Loun Sovath is now hiding in an undisclosed location because he fears for his safety.

The same agency had helped Loun Sovath after he was slapped with the ban in April.

The UN official said yesterday that Buddhist authorities in Siem Reap province contacted by the world body had confirmed the ban and that it would only be lifted if the monk agreed to end public support for protesters and “confess his wrongdoings” to the official Buddhist Sangha Council.

Loun Sovath told RFA after he was informed of the ban that he had done nothing wrong.

“I participated with the people to help them seek justice and to share the hardships of those who have suffered human rights violations such as the loss of their homes and land at the hands of private companies,” he said.

“[But], we distributed leaflets that revealed social issues which are relevant to politics.”

Indian Designer Introduces Buddha Bag

2011-08-23T12:42:00.002+08:00

Kolkata-based designer Shagufta Quamar has created a range of unique and colourful bags, depicting Indian god Krishna and the Buddha, to spread the message of inner peace in this fast-paced world.

Quamar, who showcased at the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Winter/Festive 2011 here, aims to glorify the message of ‘moksha’ (spiritual liberation) through her line.

‘My theme for this collection is inspired by the Buddha and Krishna and it is all about attaining moksha,’ Quamar said in an interview.

‘The main concept of my show is to search your inner peace. In today’s time, everyone is running behind materialistic things. So from my collection I want to convey the message that there is no point in only running behind material things. One should be spiritual so that you can find inner peace,’ said the staunch believer in spirituality.

‘I personally believe in the concept of mukti (freedom) – mukti from all the negative things in your life – because then life becomes worth living. That’s why I decided to design this collection, taking inspirations from the Buddha and Krishna,’ she added.

Quamar’s collection is an eclectic mix of big and small bags, each priced between Rs.2,000 and Rs.9,000.

The quirky and attractive range is made of viscose material and includes different styles like handbags, clutch and sling bags. The colour palette is predominantly in orange and blue for special reasons.

‘Orange is used in abundance because according to me that’s the colour of spirituality. I have also used blue because that’s the colour of Krishna and pink has been utilised since that’s the colour of lotus, a sign of the Buddha,’ said Quamar, who started her line of accessories last year, after training in leather designing.

The designer’s collection has been on display at the exhibition area of the event, and is already attracting a lot of buyers.

‘The collection is hitting out with many, from youngsters to elders. I have already got some orders on consignment basis and also one-to- one orders placed by visitors,’ she expressed.

Buddhist Personality : Trung Hau

2011-08-23T07:31:00.000+08:00

Name : Trung Hau
Country : Vietnam
Date Of Birth : 1983
Profession : Singer / Actress

Zen Farming

2011-08-22T16:03:00.002+08:00

Masanobu Fukuoka, the writer of the book "The One-Straw Revolution: An Introduction to Natural Farming" believes that natural farming is tied to the spiritual health of the individual, and his growing methods are influenced by Zen Buddhism, Taoism and the Bible. He developed his method of "do-nothing" farming over 30 years. A man after my own heart, he believes weeds are beneficial to the crop, and that reliance on chemicals and poisons is anathema to healthy plants or humans.

His way of farming is based on two main observations:

•Japan grew food for 1,500 years without artificial fertilizer or deep plowing or chemical herbicides, insecticides or other poisons on the same land with excellent results, but these fields "have now been laid waste by the exploitive farming practices of a single generation";

•Left on its own, soil will always be replenished by nature: weeds, animals, brush and trees. There is no need for fertilizer or chemicals to kill insects or weeds.

The success of his method is based on seeing agricultural practices strictly for their utility.

For example, he grows rice on dry land, rather than flooded fields, because he found that he can produce as much without the greater effort. The reason fields had been flooded when the practice began 1,500 years ago was to reduce weeds. He can do the same by planting white clover, with the beneficial result of adding fertility to the soil.

His four principles are:

•No cultivation. It stirs up weed seeds deeply buried and promotes erosion and loss of topsoil.

•No chemical fertilizer or prepared compost. "Left to itself, soil maintains its fertility naturally."

•No weeding by tillage or herbicides. Weeds balance the biological community.

•No dependence on chemicals. "Nature, left alone, is in perfect balance."

World's Tallest Bronze Statue Of Guan Yin

2011-08-22T12:30:00.004+08:00

A Buddhist group overseeing the construction of the world's tallest bronze Guanyin statue in Tai Po says the surrounding monastery will be a non-profit- making complex that will help followers reflect as well as promote Buddhism to the general public.

The Rev Sik Kwok-kwong, who chairs the board of directors of Tsz Shan Monastery Ltd, said there will be no niches for the dead in the temple and that no individual is involved in the project.

But Sik, who is also chairman of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association and one of eight venerables who proposed the world's largest Buddhist forum in 2004, said yesterday that an allegation in a Chinese newspaper about the use of the monastery for one of the donors, Li Ka-shing, has ulterior motives.

The accusation "has seriously damaged the reputation of Tsz Shan Monastery and Li Ka-shing," he said, adding that the monastery reserves the right to sue Apple Daily, which made the allegation.

According to the report, Li, who is chairman of Cheung Kong (Holdings), and his eldest son, Victor Li Tzar-kuoi, launched a company and secretly ordered the construction of a private monastery for the 82-year-old tycoon.

It was alleged that the monastery would later serve as a final resting place for Li as the Lands Department did not require the site to be open to the public.

Li, the richest man in Hong Kong, members of his family as well as three managers of Cheung Kong sit on the board of Tsz Shan Monastery Ltd, which was set up in 2009.

Construction plans were submitted in 2003 after a HK$1 billion donation from Li and his charity fund.

The bronze statue of the goddess Guanyin - the tallest of its kind - in the 50,000 square-foot monastery near Ting Kok Road is expected to become a tourist landmark along with Lantau's Big Buddha when it is unveiled in 2013.

The Goddess of Mercy will be 76 meters tall - more than double the height of the Big Buddha.

The monastery, with its front facing Plover Cove and with the Pat Sin Leng mountain range as a backdrop, spells good luck to the people there, according to fung shui masters

Buddhist Personality : Gordon Chan

2011-08-22T06:50:00.000+08:00

Name : Chan Ka Seung ( Gordon )
Date Of Birth : January 16, 1960
Profession : Movie Director

陳嘉上

Buddhist Personality : Jody Chiang

2011-08-20T10:21:00.013+08:00

Real Name : Chiang Shu Hui
Stage Name : Chiang Hui ( Jody )
Country : Taiwan
Date Of Birth : September 1, 1961
Height : 165cm
Profession : Singer ( very popular in the 80s till now )

Buddhist Personality : Lawrence Ng

2011-08-17T08:25:00.000+08:00

Name : Ng Wai Kwok ( Lawrence )
Country : Hong Kong
Date Of Birth : July 13, 1952
Height : 178cm
Profession : Actor ( drama )

First Thai Buddhist Temple In Louisiana

2011-08-16T17:10:00.003+08:00

Dressed in flowing orange robes and with a haircut cropped so close to the scalp it might as well be shaved, he possesses no property and never eats after noon.

He lives a life of celibacy and doesn't dare touch a woman. "We dedicate our lives to avoiding desire," he said.

Phrakhrupalad Wutthichai Phothachai, or "Monk Wutti, " is a Buddhist missionary monk living in Mobile who helped build Louisiana’s first Thai Buddhist temple in Algiers, Louisiana, which celebrated its grand opening on August 14,2011. He is also the abbot of the new temple, named Wat Wimuttayaram.

The temple is comprised of a raised cottage of ordinary Western style. Inside are sleeping cells for the monks and a large gathering room with a bronze Buddha.

Monk Wutti agreed to help build the new temple on newly acquired land outside New Orleans. Until Sunday he lived at a Laotian Buddhist temple in Mobile. A native of Thailand, he entered a Buddhist monastery at 12 and was ordained at 21.

More than 200 people assembled to celebrate the opening of Wat Wimuttayaram on that day in an undeveloped area of Algiers. The site was decorated with hundreds of small Thai flags, while local Thai restaurants provided food.

That day celebration was the end of a process that began 3 years ago when the community founded the organization that would build the temple.

Until the construction of the temple, Monk Wutti said local Thai Buddhists would gather at members’ homes. But the new temple provides the community with a new center to stay in touch and seek guidance from resident monks.

Monk Wutti and those celebrating the opening of the temple practice Theravada Buddhism, a conservative school in the Buddhist tradition. Theravada Buddhism is most popular in the southeast Asian countries of Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.

However, life isn’t all work and no play for a Buddhist monk. Monk Wutti enjoys a good joke and isn’t afraid of technology — not only does he own an iPhone, he manages the temple’s email and computer correspondence.

Buddhist Personality : Lee Ka Kit

2011-08-13T06:36:00.000+08:00

Name : Lee Ka Kit
Country : Hong Kong
Date Of Birth : 1963
Profession : Businessman.

Lee Ka Kit is the elder son of Lee Sau Kee, the chairman of Henderson Land Development. He is the Vice Chairman of his father's business empire. Despite his wealth, Lee Ka Kit is a low key person and rarely gets into negative scandals. His father, Lee Sau Kee wealth's is estimated at USD19 billion and is listed as the 28th richest man in the world by Forbes in its 2011 list.

News on him were mostly on his business and the numerous charitable events that he undertakes. He is a devout Buddhist and a firm believer of Feng Shui and has keen interest in traditional Chinese tea ceremony. Being a devout Buddhist, he believes compassion is a very important trait that a person should have. His belief in compassion prompted him to get involve in charities to help the people and has set up a multi million charity fund for this purpose.

Lee Ka Kit is still unmarried but being a filial son, he wants to produce heirs to his family as well as grandchildren for his father who is already in his 80s. Last July, his wishes came through when his triplet sons were born by an American surrogate mother.

His triplet sons

The eldest - Lee Chi Shun

The second - Lee Chi Yan

The youngest - Lee Chi Yung

The proud grandfather with his three grandsons

Thich Nhat Hanh Offers Path To End Pain,Anger

2011-08-12T13:16:00.012+08:00

One of the world's most famous Buddhists on August 9, 2011 led about 1,500 people on a walking meditation across the expansive University of B.C. campus.

Thich Nhat Hanh, a tiny 84-year-old Zen monk who was exiled from his native Vietnam for four decades, was wearing a brown monk's robe and toque as he headed the slow parade of silent walkers.

Earlier, the noted Vietnam War protester told an enraptured audience inside the War Memorial Gym that happiness can be found through the popular meditation technique called "mindfulness," which he said will help people overcome their pain, anger and suicidal tendencies.

The monk's one-hour morning "dharma talk" was the public part of a six-day meditation retreat Hanh is leading at UBC for more than 800 people.

Zen Buddhism Inspired Drumming Session In Taiwanese Prison

2011-08-12T01:25:00.019+08:00

Twenty inmates pound barrel-sized drums in a Taiwanese prison courtyard until they are so drenched with sweat that colorful tattoos show through their thin cotton T-shirts.

The convicts range in age from 18 to 25 and most of their records include violence or serious drug abuse. They beat out their energetic rhythms under a blazing summer sun during their midday session at the Changhua Prison.

The prison, 150 miles (250 kilometers) south of the capital Taipei, is one of the latest proving grounds for rehabilitation programs involving dance or other performing arts. Prisons in Japan, the U.S. and several other countries have experimented with them in recent years. A Philippines prison wowed the world when a YouTube video went viral in 2009 with 1,600 of its inmates dancing to Michael Jackson.

None of the programs are quite like the one led by Taiwan's U-Theater Ensemble of drummers and Chinese operatic dancers. It leverages the spirituality of Zen Buddhism and Tai Chi Chuan exercises to try to instill a new sense of equanimity among the convicts.

Ensemble dancer I Bau spends one day a week working in the prison, and is convinced she's making headway with the troupe's "mind to body" approach.

"At first the inmates were easily distracted," she said. "But I taught them to bring their minds back and focus on the rhythm. They show a different temperament now. Everyone sits still like the Buddha meditating."

One of her students is a sturdy 24-year-old man surnamed Chou, who settled a dispute at his former school two years ago by pulling out a pistol and shooting a rival. Because the victim survived, he received only a six-year sentence.
"The lessons give me peace of mind," Chou says with a coy smile. "I can release my anger and all my other negative emotions by beating the drum very hard."

Chou said he meditates in his prison dormitory at night and tries to recite by heart the choreographed drumming lessons he has learned from the ensemble.

U-Theatre founder and artistic director Liu Ruo-yu says the group's spiritual approach emphasizes teamwork over ego.

"As each performer becomes progressively calmer, he can hear his and his partners' drumbeats achieve a kind of harmony," she says. "After finding their inner tranquility, they will progress from their former state of restlessness to gain maturity and stability."

U-Theatre also works with school dropouts and runs a summer camp for wayward students amid the lush mountains of suburban Taipei. But its highest-profile endeavor is the prison program, which began two years ago as part of attempts in Taiwan to expand rehabilitation efforts beyond handicrafts and carpentry.

Changhua warden Tai Shou-nan has been so impressed with the results that he recently took the unprecedented step of allowing inmates to perform before 10,000 spectators at a local stadium. He wasn't disappointed, saying the audience's enthusiastic response helped boost the inmates' confidence.

"They realized they were not inferior to other people and they too had great potential," he said.

Tai noted with pride that U-Theatre recently hired two freed inmates to join its professional ranks.

"This gives other inmates hope that they too will have a bright future when they are released," he said.

'Fish' In Korean Buddhism

2011-08-11T03:12:00.001+08:00

Anyone interested in the temple decorations of Korean temples will discover painted and sculpted fish all around the main halls _ on the pillars, brackets, ceiling and walls. It is also easy to find wooden fish gongs and wind chimes.

The origin of the use of the fish in Buddhism is unknown: one version tells that a fish always has its eyes open day and night; thus it is a reminder to always be aware. Another version comes from a story:

long time ago, there was a monk who committed many unwholesome deeds. Eventually, he died and was reborn as a fish with a tree on its back. One day when the monk's old master was crossing the river, the fish came to him sadly. The master looked into its past life and held a memorial ceremony to save the fish. That night, the fish appeared in the master's dream, appreciative of his master's kindness. He asked his master to please cut the tree from his back and make a fish-shaped instrument and tell this story as a lesson for practitioners.

The fish shape is applied to large wooden drums, small handheld wood percussion instruments and metal clappers for the wind chimes as well. These numerous examples underscore its significance. All can be used as non-verbal sign to minimize talk during meditation and other solemn proceedings. The sounding of bells and drums also helps calm the mind and prepares participants for spiritual practice.

As the wind chime clappers, fish- shaped gongs (``moktak'') are symbols to inspire constant diligence and alertness. Moktak is a hollow, wooden percussion instrument used to mark the rhythm of chanting. It is shaped like the wooden fish but is smaller and round and used in Buddhist ceremonies when reciting sutras and chanting.

It is the most representative among the ceremonial instruments used by Buddhist priests. To make a moktak, they carve wood into a large bell, cut it in half and hollow it out and glue it back together. Then, it is played by hitting it with a wooden stick. Originally it used to be made bearing the likeness to fish. Moktak is a small version of ``mogeo'' (wooden fish), one of the four Buddhist instruments.

A moktak

The best material for making moktak is the jujube tree, yet wood from birch, ginkgo, or zelkova is popularly used as well. There are two types of moktak: one is the large moktak, which is placed upon a small cushion and usually used in gathering the temple people; the other is a small handheld one used in chanting, services, and reciting the sutras inside the Dharma halls.

It is also a necessity in conducting ``doryangseok" (the daily predawn chanting service) in which a monk or nun walks around the temple, also waking up the other practitioners. In the ritual of ``beompae'' ( Buddhist music), it is played keeping in tune with the music. Historically, people made both fish-shaped and circular moktak, but after successive generations the circular design prevailed.

Fish are not restricted to the grounds of temples; they also are suspended in the air. Fish wind chimes are found on the eaves of Buddhist halls and pagodas. The wind rings the chimes, awakening the monks and nuns. Practitioners, like the fish who are always aware in the sea, practice to continuously cultivate themselves, even in their dreams. The wind in the chimes is likened to the condition of complete freedom from obstruction.

The fish adorning temples is not only a metaphysical symbol of tranquility and unrestricted freedom; it also a character in Buddhist fables. An example of this can be found in the Jatakas, the stories of the Buddha's previous lives as follows:

In one of his former lives, Sakyamuni Buddha followed bodhisattva practices while dwelling in the sea. There he witnessed a large fish preying on smaller ones, which in turn, did the same with still smaller ones. So Sakyamuni caught and ate the biggest fish, sparing the life of the small fish. This Sakyamuni's soul was transformed into the king of the ``makaras'' (a mythical animal with the trunk of an elephant, the front legs of a lion, and the body of a crocodile) with a massive body measuring several ``li'' (a distance of about 400 meters). At that time, famine had struck the land by the sea and people were turning to cannibalism. A huge makara, Sakyamuni beached himself on the shore and offered himself up as food, thereby saving the people from starvation.

On a related note, traditional keys in Korea were usually shaped like fish. The primary purpose of a lock and key is to bar thieves from entry, and the fish is a cautionary sign for its owner to remain alert day and night.

Buddhist Personality : Alex Fong

2011-08-07T11:08:00.000+08:00

Name : Fong Chung Shun ( Alex )
Country : Hong Kong
Date Of Birth : March 17, 1963
Height : 182cm
Profession : Actor

Kung Fu Nuns

2011-08-03T01:49:00.000+08:00

It is early in the morning at the Amitabha Drukpa Nunnery on a hillside just outside Kathmandu and hundreds of devotees are walking clockwise around a golden statue of Buddha.

But rather than being immersed in prayer, up on the roof something different is happening - they are practising the same kung fu fighting made famous by the Bruce Lee films of the 1970s.

Young Buddhist nuns from the 800-year-old Drukpa Buddhist sect are being taught by their Vietnamese master.

The martial art was introduced to the nunnery two years ago and the nuns practise up to two hours a day.

'More powerful'

Rupa Lama, a 16-year-old nun from India, says kung fu helps her concentrate.

"It's good for our health. Meditation is very difficult and if we do kung fu, then afterwards meditation becomes much easier," she says.

It's a beautiful life option to getting married, having a baby every year, working in the fields and doing the cooking

Another nun, Konchok, also from India, says she likes kung fu because it gives her strength.

"It's very helpful for our safety. If somebody teases us or something, then we can hit them and be more powerful," she says.

The confidence shown by these young nuns is unusual. Buddhist nuns in the Himalayas are normally seen as inferior to monks.

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, an Englishwoman who became a Drukpa Buddhist nun more than 30 years ago, says traditionally nuns have been neglected and overlooked.

"The main problem for nuns has always been that they have not normally had a good situation in which to live, they have not received the support from lay people that monks receive and they have not been educated.

"So often nuns became basically just household servants for their families or working in the kitchens and the gardens in the monasteries," she says.

Kung fu was introduced into the Amitabha Drukpa Nunnery by the leader of the Drukpa spiritual sect, His Holiness The Gyalwang Drukpa.

'Well-equipped'

The Gyalwang Drukpa is the 12th incarnation of the leader of the Drukpa - or dragon - sect of Buddhism, which is the main religion of Bhutan and is widely practised in countries across the Himalayas.

The nunnery is no different to any other large house in Kathmandu
He says that he felt that previous spiritual leaders had not done enough to advance the rights of women.

"When I was very small, I was already thinking that it was not right to suppress women in our society," he says.

"But then when I grew up, I started to think what can I do for them? Then I thought what I can do is to build a nunnery and then give them an opportunity to study and practise spiritually," he says.

The nunnery built by The Gyalwang Drukpa, the Amitabha Drukpa Nunnery, is a modern, well-funded and a well-equipped place of worship and study.

"Not only [is it] just beautiful to look at, but it is a nunnery with the guidelines and the full support from their master, me," he says.

He says he encouraged the nuns to take up kung fu when he saw nuns from Vietnam practising it.

Emphasis on meditation

For the past week, the nuns have been giving demonstrations of their new skill to thousands of pilgrims who are attending the Second Annual Drukpa Conference.

Nuns say that Kung Fu has opened up a whole new world
The Drukpa sect, which places an emphasis on meditation, is popular throughout the Himalayas and also with Westerners.

Jan Duin, who is attending the conference from the Netherlands, says he has been impressed by the kung fu practice.

"I think it is very helpful physically and also psychologically because they do a lot of sitting practice," he says.

"In meditation you practise concentration and you also practise concentration with kung fu."

Buddhist nun Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo says that she'll be introducing kung fu into her own nunnery which is based in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

"It's excellent exercise, secondly it's very good for discipline and concentration, thirdly it arouses a sense of self-confidence which is very important for nuns, and fourthly when any young men in the area know nuns are kung fu experts, they keep away," she says.

Jetsunma says since nunneries have begun to offer better education and physical programmes like kung fu, the number of young women who want to become nuns has grown dramatically.

"Many of them say, wow, if I become a nun I can study, I can practise, I can do these rituals, I can live together with all these other lovely nuns and lamas will visit us and give us teaching," she says.

"It's a beautiful life option to getting married, having a baby every year, working in the fields, doing the cooking, doing the cleaning.

"You know for them this is a huge opening up in a whole world that had previously been closed to them."

Buddhist Personality : Xiao Gui

2011-07-31T11:27:00.000+08:00

Name : Huang Hong Sheng ( Allen )
Stage Name : Xiao Gui
Country : Taiwan
Date Of Birth : November 28, 1983
Profession : TV presenter / actor / singer

Buddhist Personality : Quennie Tai

2011-07-30T10:23:00.015+08:00

Name : Tai Jun Zhu ( Quennie )
Country : Taiwan
Date Of Birth : September 11, 1982
Height : 162cm
Profession : Actress

Buddhist Personality : Cao Thuy Duong

2011-07-26T05:40:00.019+08:00

Name : Cao Thuy Duong
Country : Vietnam
Profession ; Model/Actress
Trivia : Miss Vietnam International 2007

Buddhism In Russia

2011-07-21T08:42:00.000+08:00

Buddhist Personality : Ben Ng

2011-07-20T13:38:00.000+08:00

Name : Ng Ngai Cheung
Country : Hong Kong
Date Of Birth : June 22, 1961
Height : 178cm
Profession : Actor