Ancient Buddhist scholar's legacy as bridge between China, Bangladesh remembered

by Liu Chuntao, Naim-Ul-Karim, Xinhua, Jun 15,2015 DHAKA, Bangladesh -- During the 10th-11th Century, he was known in Bangladesh, ancient India, China and northern Asian countries, as saint-philosopher by virtue of his unique character, erudition, scholarly attributes, and spiritual eminence. He was a man of many talents and served everybody without regard of caste, color, sex, or religion. That was why hundreds of people, including academics, economists, foreign diplomats and leaders of various religions, have gathered in a memorial function in Bangladesh capital Dhaka to commemorate Atish Dipankar Srijnan (980-1053) on the 37th anniversary of return of his ashes from China to his country of birth. Speaking at the ceremonies, retired Lieutenant General Mahbubur Rahman, also the former Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh Army, said Atish's legacy is timeless and will continue to inspire mankind in its search for peace, harmony and amity. "There is no exaggeration to say today that he was really the eye of Asia," Rahman said.

Are all desires wrong?

Are all desires wrong? No, there are desires that lead to the end of desires.

Ananda: "Brahman, the holy life is lived under the Blessed One with the aim of abandoning desire."

Unabha the Brahman: "If that's so, Master Ananda, then it's an endless path, and not one with an end, for it's impossible that one could abandon desire by means of desire."

Ananda: "In that case, brahman, let me question you on this matter. Answer as you see fit. What do you think: Didn't you first have desire, thinking, 'I'll go to the park,' and then when you reached the park, wasn't that particular desire allayed?"

Unabha the Brahman: "Yes, sir."

Ananda: "Whatever desire he first had for the attainment of arahantship, on attaining arahantship that particular desire is allayed. "

Unabha the Brahman: ""You're right, Master Ananda. This is a path with an end, and not an endless one. "

~ Edited, from Brahmana Sutta:

Fake Buddhist monks cheating tourists everywhere

JUNE 17, 2015 AMERICAS, ASIA & OCEANIA, MALAYSIABY AGENCY

If the bald, shaven man swathed in an orange robe accosting you for money seems a little less Zen than a Buddhist monk ought to be, chances are he’s a fraud appealing to your sense of piety to bilk you of your cash.

After Melbourne, San Francisco, Toronto and Tokyo, New York has become the latest city to see a rise in what The New York Post describes as “holy terrors”, a band of Chinese nationals who hit the streets in their Nike sneakers and use the power of the pious robe to beg tourists for money.

While beggar bowls may figure in Buddhism for food, monks depend on the goodwill of donors with quiet submission and refrain from begging for money, unlike the con artists who are described as aggressive, and have been seen to engage in distinctly un-Buddhist behaviour – namely drinking and smoking.

This man dressed in Buddhist monk attire is seen in the Bukit Bintang area asking for donations. He mostly targets tourists. Photo: Filepic

Dalai Lama - 80th birthday speech at Glastonbury 2015

Published on Jun 28, 2015

The Dalai Lama speaks at Glastonbury 2015 ahead of his 80th Birthday. Visit the Glastonbury website at http://bbc.co.uk/glastonbury for more videos and photos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XPO8B2QZ1g&feature=youtu.be

The Buddha's advice when you have fear - Chant the "Itipiso bhagava...."

"I also say unto you O monks — if any fear, terror or hair standing on end should arise in you when you have gone to the forest or to the foot of a tree, or to an empty house (lonely place), then think only of me thus:

'Such Indeed is the Blessed One, arahant, supremely enlightened, endowed with knowledge and virtue, well gone, knower of the worlds, the peerless trainer of persons, teacher of gods and men, the Buddha, the Blessed One.' Monks, if you think of me, any fear, terror, or standing of hair on end, that may arise in you, will pass away." ~ Dhajagga Sutta SN 11:3

Has Vipassana reached the end of the road?

A Personal Reflection after 30 years by Christopher Titmuss  I have had the privilege of teaching Vipassana (Insight) Meditation  for 30 years in the West, as well as for 32 years in Bodh Gaya and  eight years in Sarnath, India. My first retreat in the West was in  northern New South Wales, Australia, organised in the summer of  1976 by a 21 year-old woman named Sue from Northern Rivers  who is now Subhana, a fellow Dharma teacher, much loved and  respected in the Dharma world. I’ve long since lost count of the number of Vipassana retreats  that I’ve offered, probably somewhere between 500 – 750  ranging from one month to one day. However it is many years  since I have described myself as a Vipassana teacher, preferring  the much broader term, Dharma teacher. The word Vipassana has  become too closely identified with certain methods and techniques,  and is thus far removed from its original meaning, namely insight  – bearing no connection whatsoever for the Buddha with a  meditation technique. That doesn’t disqualify Vipassana as a healthy and challenging practice. There is no telling how many individuals  have entered a course or retreat, residential or non-residential,  East or West, but the number certainly runs at least into hundreds  of thousands or a million or two in the last three decades or so.

Buddhist Cooperation Council of Sweden participates in "Refuse to Hate!" program

The Buddhist Channel, June 2, 2015 Bangkok, Thailand -- The Buddhist Cooperation Council of Sweden has announced a national campaign of solidarity with the National Interfaith Council of Sweden called ‘Refuse to Hate!’. Representatives of various faith communities in Stockholm Cathedral in the presence of the Royal Family The program was manifested in Stockholm on February 2015 during the Global Interfaith Harmony Week in many Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and other places of reverence in Sweden.

Ajahn Chah & Paccaya Sutta

"When we are born we bring this inherent nature into the world with us, we can't avoid it. At birth we bring old age, sickness and death along with us."
~ Ajahn Chah

"From birth as a requisite condition comes aging & death. Whether or not there is the arising of Tathagatas, this property stands"
~ Paccaya sutta

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