Vesak Special: A Buddhist Theory of Language

By Sharon Lin, The Huffington Post, May 4, 2015 New York, USA -- I knelt on the silken scarf laid across the hardwood floor, my head bent in silent prayer to the spirits of my ancestors. I heard muffled sounds of chanting monks through the old music player at the side of the decaying red shrine. There was no silence on Saturday morning for me. A little after the crack of dawn, my grandmother would rise and kowtow to our ancestors and pray for a better life for our family. It wasn't that we didn't already have a good life, but the promise of a better life was reserved for those who could make the effort to sacrifice an hour of their sleep. Only then could we acknowledge and appreciate the work of our predecessors who brought us into this world. My grandmother spoke in her native Fujianese tongue while we kneeled. Although I was fluent in the dialect, I found the words translating into English in my head. For a brief moment, I wondered how and why I could understand something spoken in so many different ways, and whether the physical sounds of language were a manifestation of something much bigger. For instance, I could not understand anything in the recording of chanting monks, yet I understand their sentiment perfectly. They could have been singing gibberish, but the meaning resonated with me.

Dear Friends,

Exciting news we will be starting the 1st ever historical International Tipitaka chanting program at Borobudur this summer for all lay devotees. It is a very wonderful initiative inspired by the Indonesian Theravada monks who will begin this summer by pre-launch from July 25th-26th 2015 and officially begin on July 15-17th annually 2016. 

Please rejoice in the news that the sound of the Dharma will be heard again through the resounding of the precious Pali Tipitaka at this most sacred place of Borabodour.

Now, this program is being launched in various parts of India, Sri Lanka, USA and now Indonesia! May the sound of the Dharma be loud and strong for the benefit of all beings in all realms.

Sharing the good news with all of you!

OVERCOMING SUFFERING - Without Gods or Mantras

The Buddha's teaching is as relevant today as in the past---because there is as

much misery as there was in the past; because human beings generate misery

the same way today as they did in ancient times. We all suffer. Life starts with

crying. Once born, one is bound to encounter the sufferings of sickness and old.

Respect and support our parents while they are alive

"We should respect and support our parents while they are alive. There are 

some people in our society who try to respect their parents only after their 

deaths. While they are alive, no one is there to support them and treat them.

Sometimes, they die without a sip of water. But right after that the children

start to cry and weep and going from place to place build many kinds of 

monuments spending thousands or millions in their names. But that helps them 

only a very little. They have gone for good. For the departed ones there is only 

a very narrow opportunity to receive merit. Therefore,better to do it while alive,

today, right now, do your own merit by yourself." ~ Bhikkhu Seelananda

7 Pieces Of Buddhist Wisdom That Will Transform Your Life

April 18, 2015

1. Live your life with compassion!

Being compassionate isn’t just about helping the world or feeling fulfilled. It’s simply the right thing to do. It’s the right way to be. It’s seeking to understand what’s around you. And doing so will transform your life.

2. Forge new connections with other people.

And don’t neglect the new connections! The Buddhists have communities of monks called Sanghas. It’s simply a community of nuns, monks, and laypeople who practice peace together. They join in a united goal with one another. We can learn a lot from that principle! You don’t have to be a super well rounded peacenik in order to promote peace. All you have to do is want peace.

How a skeptical anchorman became a Buddhist

Dan Harris, Special to CNN April 10, 2015

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/10/living/harris-anchorman-buddhist/

Dan Harris is author of the book "10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story" and an anchor for ABC News. The views expressed in this column belong to Harris.

If you had told me as recently as a few years ago that I'd ever 
become a Buddhist - never mind that I might even admit to it publicly - 
I would have coughed my beer up through my nose.

I was raised by secular scientists in The People's Republic of Massachusetts. 

(I did have a Bar Mitzvah - but only for the money). I've spent my career 
as a proud skeptic. My favorite part of being a journalist is the right - the 
obligation,really - to doubt everything and everyone.

And yet, here I am ... a Buddhist.

This declaration means both less and more than you might think. Less, because 
Buddhism is not really a faith - at least not as I understand or practice it. And 
more, because the version of Buddhism I've embraced is something that could 
be useful to millions of skeptical people who might otherwise reflectively reject 
it. Maybe even you.

But first, how the hell did this happen to me?