Climate Change is a Moral Issue

by Bhikkhu Bodhi, The Buddhist Channel, Sept 2, 2015 A Buddhist Reflection on the Pope’s Climate Encyclical, Laudato si’ On June 18, Pope Francis issued an encyclical letter, Laudato si’ (Praised Be), “On Care for our Common Home,” pointing to climate change as the overriding moral issue of our time. The encyclical boldly proclaims that humanity’s capacity to alter the climate charges us with the gravest moral responsibility we have ever had to bear. Climate change affects everyone. The disruptions to the biosphere occurring today bind all peoples everywhere into a single human family, our fates inseparably intertwined. No one can escape the impact, no matter how remotely they may live from the bustling centers of industry and commerce. The responsibility for preserving the planet falls on everyone.

Buddhists For Bersih 4

Question thrown at Buddhists For Bersih 4: Why must you do a dedicated "Buddhist" for Bersih, why can't you join all as Malaysians? Anyone can help answer?

Answer from Goh Tay Hock:

Why meditate?

A look into Bodhisaddha Forest Monastery

Published on Aug 13, 2015 

A look into the practices and thoughts of the monks and laypeople at Bodhisaddha Forest Monastery, Sydney, a Buddhist monastery in the Ajahn Chah Thai Forest Tradition. Follow the journey of Steve Nguyen as he takes the biggest step of his life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=144&v=_F7qx22xWSk

Virtue, Calligraphy by Hakuin

Posted on 25 July 2015 by Buddhism Now

Calligraphy by Hakuin Ekaku (1685–1768)

大字「悳」
Japan, Edo period
(1615–1868)
Hanging scroll;
ink on paper
Image: 106 × 52 cm
Overall with mounting:
85.8 × 64 cm

The God-Idea

by Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda Maha Thera
from Ven.'s book 'What Buddhists Believe'

The reality or validity of belief in God is based on man's understanding capacity and the maturity of the mind.

The Development of the God-idea

To trace the origin and development of the God-idea, one must go back to the time when civilization was still in its infancy and modern science was still unknown. Primitive people, out of fear of and admiration towards natural phenomena, had believed in different spirits and gods. They used their belief in spirit and gods to form religions of their own. According to their respective circumstances and understanding capacity different people worshipped different gods and founded different faiths.

At the beginning of the God-idea, people worshipped many gods--gods of trees, streams, lightning, storm, winds, the sun and all other terrestrial phenomena. These gods were related to each and every act of nature. Then gradually man began to attribute to these gods, sex and form as well as the physical and mental characteristics of human beings. Human attributes were given to the gods: love, hate, jealousy, fear, pride, envy and other emotions found among human beings. From all these gods, there slowly grew a realization that the phenomena of the universe were not many but were One. This understanding gave rise to the monotheistic god of recent ages.