Buddhist Personality : Kiyoshi Hikawa

Name : Kiyoshi Hikawa
Nationality : Japan
Date Of Birth : 6th September 1977
Profession : Singer

He is a famous enka ( a type of japanese traditional songs ) singer.

Read More

First Shaolin Association In Europe

With the establishment of Shaolin Europe Association announced in Vienna on September 1, 2010, Chinese Kung Fu fans and Zen Buddhism culture enthusiasts across Europe will have a new platform to exchange ideas and promote Shaolin culture.
"Since Shaolin culture was introduced into Europe 20 years ago, it has been deeply loved by European people and become part of their life," said Shi Yongxin, Abbot of Shaolin Temple, which has been announced part of humanity's cultural heritage by UNESCO.

Shi Yongxin, who is visiting Austria for an international meeting, also said at a press conference that although hundreds of thousands of European people have had access to Shaolin Kung Fu training programs, there is still room for improvement in terms of inadequate channels to spread Chaolin culture. That is where the new association comes in to better provide Shaolin culture for European people, he said.
Headquartered in the Shaolin Culture Center in the German capital of Berlin, the association has been joined by 10 Shaolin branch units in Europe, according to an organizer at the press conference held in Hilton Vienna Plaza Hotel.

Nestled in the Songshan Mountains of China's Henan Province, and with a history of more than 1,500 years, the Shaolin Temple has long been considered by many as the Cradle of Chinese Kung Fu and home of Zen Buddhism culture. In recent years, it has sent its Kungfu masters to perform Kungfu arts all over the world and established Shaolin culture centers to help promote cultural exchanges between China and other countries.

Read More

Buddhist Cartoon Images

Read More

Happiness - Thais Vs Americans

Article by Cassandra James, an American living in Thailand :

As an American Living in Thailand, I've Often Wondered Why a Poorer Country like Thailand Has Happier People Than the USA

Since I moved to Thailand years ago, I've become a happier person than I was when I lived in America. Most Americans who live in Thailand say the same thing. As an American living in Thailand, I've always noticed how much happier Thai people are too than your average American who always seems to be upset about something. Thousands of western expats move to Thailand every year and, in my opinion, the happiness of the Thais and the relaxed culture has a lot to do with it. But what makes Thais so happy as a people? And why are Thais happier than your average American? It has to do with the culture and their religion - Buddhism.

Thai Culture - Thailand is known world-wide as one of the world's most relaxed countries and as having some of the world's happiest people. The Thai phrase "Mai bpen rai" is used by Thais hundreds of times a day and it means "Don't worry" or "Never mind. Consequently, Thais don't worry about things and so, they're happy. Most Thais are calm, relaxed and don't lose their tempers (or minds) over stupid things they can't control. After all, "Mai bpen rai" - don't worry.

Politics? Why would a Thai worry about that? They can't change who's in office, as none of us can in the west either, so why waste time worrying about it? When it's election day they vote, then they have to live with the consequences. Simple really.

Their job? Why would a Thai worry about that? They work hard, yet they have a great time at work. In most Thai jobs, the people they work with become friends and extended family, so going to work is fun. They do their best, they enjoy their jobs and other than that, why worry?

The Muslim extremist violence in the south? Why would a Thai worry about that? The government is working to try to solve it and, although it's sad that innocent people are being shot and bombed on a regular basis, they have no power to change that other than vote for people who hopefully can. So, why worry?

And you know, Thais have a point.

Read More

Non-Muslims Giving Alms During Fasting Month

Buddhists, Confucians, Christians and Muslims worked hand in hand in recent days in Jakarta, busily distributing food aid for the poor.

This year, the Chinese tradition of giving alms to the poor during the Cioko celebration falls in the fasting month of Ramadan, when able Muslims are obligated to share a portion of their wealth with the needy.

“Every seventh month in the lunar calendar [also known as the Cit Gwee month in the Chinese calendar], Chinese temples celebrate Cioko [the hungry ghost-feeding festival, known as Ulambana festival in Buddhism] when we pray for the haunting spirits of our ancestors,” Deddy Sukamto, the keeper of Vihara Metta Buddhist temple on Jl. Pal-merah Utara in West Jakarta, told The Jakarta Post recently.

After praying in observance of Cioko, which fell on Aug. 24 this year, Buddhists distribute alms at different times of the month, depending on the policy of the local temple.

“[Last Sunday] we distributed 8 tons of rice to the poor, regardless of their religions or ethnicity, to ease their burdens,” Deddy said.

He added that Buddhists were also required to make offerings to their ancestors’ ghosts. “After the ceremony we also gave away offerings as alms for the poor,” he said.

“The benefactors were mostly our congregation members. But we also accepted donations from people of other religions,” he said.

Deddy said the distribution of 1,600 packages of rice ran smoothly at the temple, which was built in 1953.

“We worked with several neighborhood unit chiefs and community unit chiefs in the Palmerah, Kemandoran, Rawa Belong, Taman Ratu and Meruya areas. These figures then assessed their residents, checking who was entitled to receive alms,” he said.

Deddy said they then handed out coupons to be distributed to poorer residents.

“We made a schedule for the almsgiving and put people into groups to keep the distribution in order,” he told the Post.

Hian Thian Siang Tee Bio Confucian temple on Jl. Palmerah in Central Jakarta also distributed packages of staple foods to poor residents in the neighborhood, but in a slightly different way.

During Cioko, the temple provided a huge amount of food offerings to ghosts. These were later thrown into the air and many people, who had been waiting outside the temple, tried to grab them in what was called a rebutan (struggle) ritual.

After the ritual, the temple began to distribute 4,300 food packages with its own coupon system.
This year, the temple received around 19 tons of rice as alms.

“The rice was actually intended for the ghosts,” temple administrator Fhan Tee Hay told the Post.

Christians also have tradition of sharing their fortunes with people celebrating Ramadan.

Rudi Pratikno from the Santo Andreas parish church in Kedoya, West Jakarta, said the Catholic parish threw a fast-breaking gathering for Muslims each year.

“This year we invited around 100 Muslims who live near the church,” he told the Post, adding that the church had provided both tajil [sugary snacks and drinks consumed to break the fast] and dinner for the guests.

Rudi said the church also invited imams (Muslim prayer leaders) and preachers to lead the tarawih (evening prayers during Ramadan) at the church. “Sometimes we take down our religious ornaments to respect the Muslims,” he said.

Widi Setjono from GKJ Yeremia Javanese Protestant church in Depok, on the outskirts of Jakarta, said his church had organized a cheap staple food bazaar for poor Muslim members of the community from Aug. 28 - 29.

“We gave away around 50 food packages for the poor, each containing 5 kilograms of rice, cooking oil and flour,” Widi said, adding that the church had been organizing such donations for five years to help poor Muslims celebrate the Idul Fitri post-fasting holiday

Read More

Buddhist First Day Covers

( Thailand - National Children's Day - January 13, 1996 )
( Thailand - Thai Heritage Conservation - April 2, 1994 )
( Thailand - Temples )
( Thailand - Asalhapuja Day - July 22, 1994 )
( Thailand - Maghapuja Day - February 26, 2002 )
( Thailand - Maghapuja Day - March 3, 1993 )

(Thailand - Asalphuja Day - July 16, 2000 )
( Thailand - Visakhapuja Day - May 15, 1995 )
( Thailand - 30th Philatelic Exhibition - June 23, 1994 )
( Thailand - Thai Pavilion - March 30, 1971 )
( Hong Kong - Buddha's Birthday As A Public Holiday-May 22, 1999 )
( India - Bauddha Mahotsav-January 21, 2002 )
( Taiwan - Ancient Buddhist Postage Stamps - May 11, 1990 )

* many more to come in the coming posts

Read More

Just Photos - 1000 Nanhai Guanyin Statues For Taiwan

On September 27, 2010, the chief monk from the Puji Temple near Putuo Mountain in Zhejiang, China led 108 monks and nuns in escorting 1000 statues (33cm in height) of Nanhai Guanyin ( The South Sea Goddess Of Mercy ) to Taiwan as part of a 2 days religious exhange programs between the two countries. The entourage boarded a vessel from the Zhoushan port for the port of Keelung enroute to Kaoshiung where they visited a few temples there.

Read More