Ittha Sutta (AN5.43)

"There are, O householder, five desirable, pleasant, and agreeable things which are rare in the world. What are those five? They are long life, beauty, happiness, fame and (rebirth in) a heaven. But of those five things, O householder, I do not teach that they are to be obtained by prayer or by vows. If one could obtain them by prayer or vows, who would not do it?

"For a noble disciple, O householder, who wishes to have long life, it is not befitting that he should pray for long life or take delight in so doing. He should rather follow a path of life that is conducive to longevity. By following such a path he will obtain long life, be it divine or human.

"For a noble disciple, O householder, who wishes to have beauty... happiness... fame and (rebirth in) a heaven, it is not befitting that he should pray for them or take delight in so doing. He should rather follow a path of life that is conducive to beauty... happiness... fame... (rebirth in) a heaven. By following such a path he will obtain beauty, happiness, fame, and (rebirth in) a heaven.

Long life, beauty, status, honor, heaven, high birth: To those who delight in aspiring for these things in great measure, continuously, the wise praise heedfulness in making merit."

Dalai Lama visit puts focus on Boulder's Buddhist history

By Carol Taylor, The Daily Camera, Sept 12,

Boulder, CO (USA)  How did Boulder come to have so many Buddhists?

A Buddhist leader from Thailand and his entourage visit Boulder in 1987. (Carnegie Branch Library for Local History / Daily Camera collection)

It's a question asked by a Chinese freelance journalist who recently visited Boulder and a question to ponder in advance of the Dalai Lama's much-anticipated visit here next month.

He will bring his "Compassion in Action" message to the University of Colorado campus Oct. 21-22; he last visited in 1997.
Indeed, Boulder has a long and storied history with Buddhism.

Showa Hall, was the first Buddhist Temple in Boulder County. Built in 1929 at Isabelle Road and 95th Street, the house of worship served the Japanese farmers that had settled in east Boulder County.

Pathamamittamacca Sutta

Amida Buddha chant

Namo Amida Bu by Bill Douglas 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1820&v=vWXlPGEeeSI

‘Rebel’ female Buddhist monks challenge Thailand’s religious status quo

AP, Sep 14, 2015

NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND -- On a rural road just after daybreak, villagers young and old kneel reverently before a single file of ochre-robed women, filling their bowls with rice, curries, fruits and sweets. In Thailand, it is a rare sight.

Female Buddhist monks pray at the Songdhammakalyani Monastery in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

Thailand’s top Buddhist authority bars women from becoming monks. They can only become white-cloaked nuns, who are routinely treated as domestic servants. Many there believe women are inferior beings who had better perform plenty of good deeds to ensure they will be reborn as men in their future lives.

Buddhist Leaders Respond To Violence Against Muslims In Myanmar

Editor's note: Below is a letter, provided to The Huffington Post by 
Jack Kornfield, convener of the Western Buddhist Teachers Council, 
and co-written and signed by some of the world's foremost Buddhist 
leaders to express their concern about the violence against Rohingya 
Muslims in Myanmar.

To Our Brother and Sister Buddhists in Myanmar,

As world Buddhist leaders we send our lovingkindess and concern for 
the difficulties the people of Myanmar are faced with at this time. While 
it is a time of great positive change in Myanmar we are concerned about 
the growing ethnic violence and the targeting of Muslims in Rakhine State 
and the violence against Muslims and others across the country. The 
Burmese are a noble people, and Burmese Buddhists carry a long and 
profound history of upholding the Dharma.

We wish to reaffirm to the world and to support you in practicing the most fundamental Buddhist principles of non-harming, mutual respect and compassion.

Good for you and for all others

"If you practise Vipassana properly, a change must come for better in your life. You should check your progress on the path by checking your conduct in daily situations, in your behavior and dealings with other people. Instead of harming others, have you started helping them? When unwanted situations occur, do you remain balanced? If negativity starts in the mind, how quickly are you aware of it? How quickly are you aware of the sensations that arise along with the negativity? How quickly do you start observing the sensations? How quickly do you regain a mental balance, and start generating love and compassion? In this way examine yourself, and keep progressing on the path.

Whatever you have attained here, not only preserve it, but make it grow. Keep applying Dhamma in your life. Enjoy all the benefits of this technique, and live a happy, peaceful, harmonious life, good for you and for all others." ~ SN Goenka