German nun’s Nagano monastery all about the Zen of fullness and fun

BY TAKAFUMI SUKEGAWA, KYODO JAN 31, 2016

NAGANO – Deep in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture, a German Zen Buddhist nun offers guidance to those who feel they have lost their way in life.

“Why don’t we think about what kind of life we’d be satisfied with?” Dorothee Eshin Takatsu, 62, asked to four visitors in their 20s to 60s who visited her Zen monastery in Suzaka, Nagano, one day last November.

Takatsu, who is originally from the central German city of Kassel, said she never dreamed she would pursue Buddhism in her life.

“Regardless of religion or nationality, what’s important for us is to find a life each of us can be satisfied with, and I’d like to assist in that process through Zen teachings,” she said.

Don’t Fall into the Self-Esteem Trap: Try a Little Self-Kindness

Striving for self-esteem is about trying hard to feel special, above average. It’s absurd. We don’t need to feel extra-special or over the top. We need to touch who we really are in any given moment.

By Kristin Neff | February 17, 2016

The great angst of modern life is this: No matter how hard we try, no matter how successful we are, no matter how good a parent, worker, or spouse we are—it’s never enough. There is always someone richer, thinner, smarter, or more powerful than we are, someone who makes us feel like a failure in comparison. And failure of any kind is unacceptable. What to do?

Buddhist settlement discovered on Seethanagaram hill

by P. Sujatha Varma, The Hindu, March 4, 2016

Vijayawada, India -- Archaeologist and CEO of the Cultural Centre of Vijayawada (CEO) E. Nagireddy has discovered a huge Buddhist settlement with traces of stupas, chaityas and viharas on the Seethanagaram hill located on the outskirts of Vijayawada city.

Historical remains on Seethanagaram hill

The relics surfaced as part of a survey conducted under the guidance of Mr. Nagireddy.

A rock-cut cistern, once used by the Buddhist monks during the rainy retreat, located next to the recently taken up Ramanuja-Vasudeva temple complex by the Jeeyar Trust provided a clue on the existence of a Buddhist monastery on the right side.

Further probing revealed brick-built viharas datable to 1{+s}{+t}century BC to the 2{+n}{+d}century AD. The bricks used in the construction measured 60x28x7 cm. “A rock-cut steps-like path leading to the top of the hillock perhaps helped the monks reach the monastery,” says Mr. Nagireddy.

Dhamma is so simple

Dhamma is so simple and yet people have made it so complicated. There cannot be anything simpler than Dhamma. It has been made complicated by adding this or that philosophy, this or that belief. Just practise; don’t make it complicated. Those who have made it complicated have harmed themselves and harmed others. You have the true path but it’s a long path. To change the habit pattern of the mind takes time; but a beginning has been made. Even if you have taken one course, a good beginning has been made. Make use of this and start to decondition the mind at the deepest level." ~ S N Goenka, For the Benefit of Many

From Lama Tsultrim Allione on International Women's Day

Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women shared Women of Wisdom's post.

"Sometimes questions about women in Buddhism are discouraged as being dualistic. People don't seem to think about the fact that the development of male-oriented Buddhist institutions is heavily dualistic and has been for thousands of years. In order to find the balance in Buddhism between male and female energies there will need to be investigation of and talk about women's role in the Dharma...I believe accepting women in Buddhism-- with their own energies and gifts--might lead to balance, rather than a new kind of dominance or further dualism. We might discover a profound partnership that is mutually beneficial. In spite of the resistance and criticism women in the Dharma have received, there has been an ever-increasing movement toward an exploration of women's role in the Dharma, and it is with great joy that I see the emergence of joyful, powerful women in Buddhism."

 ~Women of Wisdom, Tsultrim Allione publ. Shambhala 

Image Machig Labdron's face from Tara Mandala's Chod lineage tangkha. Green Tara Lama Tsultrim 's personal Tangkha given to her in Bhutan by the mother of Tshering Jamtso in1998

Dalai Lama tops list of 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People in 2016

February 21, 2016 by Justin Whitaker 

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

This is just one of the many often-quoted statements from the Dalai Lama that continue to land him on top of global lists of influential and inspiring world religious leaders. For several years now, Watkins Magazine has placed the Dalai Lama at the top of their list of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People. He was #1 in 2015, 2014, 2013 (when Thich Nhat Hanh was #2!), and 2012.

In their 2016 list, published earlier this month, the Tibetan spiritual leader is once again #1.

From their website’s 2015 list:

Born in Taktser, Tibet/ 6 July 1935 (Cancer/Pig) / Spiritual Leader
Born Lhamo Dondrub, Tenzin Gyatso is the 14th Dalai Lama and the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. Tibetan Buddhists believe him to be a reincarnation of his predecessors and the Buddha of compassion. He is a vocal activist for Tibetan independence and has made an incredible contribution to global spirituality. During his first trip to the University of Minnesota in 2011, he was given their highest award, an Honorary Doctor of Letters. On his return trip to Minnesota in March 2014, he spoke at Macalester College which awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. In September 2014, the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag published an interview with the Dalai Lama where he stated “the institution of the Dalai Lama has served its purpose”, adding that “We had a Dalai Lama for almost five centuries. The 14th Dalai Lama now is very popular. Let us then finish with a popular Dalai Lama.” The Chinese government responded by saying they would select their own Dalai Lama regardless of his decision. 2014 also saw the release of the documentary film Monk with a Camera and the film Dalai Lama Awakening.His latest book Buddhism: One Teacher,Many Traditions, written with Thubten Chodron, was published in hardback in December. (www.dalailama.com).

The Dalai Lama with Italian politician Marco Pannella (2007) Flickr C.C. Mihai Romansiuc

Cave Six Buddha Ajanta Caves, India

Karmapa announces plans to empower female Buddhist practitioners

The Buddhist Channel, Feb 17, 2016

Bodhgaya, India -- His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, has announced plans to create a monastic college for Buddhist women as part of his ongoing efforts to educate and empower female Buddhist practitioners from the Himalayan region.

The announcement came during the 3rd Arya Kshema Winter Dharma Gathering in Bodhgaya, an annual three-week event that the Karmapa established in 2013.

Noting tremendous improvement in the nuns’ study and debate skills, and a visible increase in their confidence, the Karmapa said, “Nuns are future holders of the Buddhadharma. This education will help prepare you to fulfill that great responsibility.”

The truth of now...

Henry Steele Olcott: European warrior of the modern Buddhist mission

Lanka Daily News, Feb 17, 2016 Colombo, Sri Lanka -- Henry Steele Olcott was born on August 2, 1832, to a pious, Presbyterian family in Orange, New Jersey. On May 16, 1880, Olcott and Blavatsky arrived in Colombo first time and a few days later on May 25, at the Wijananda Temple in Galle, Olcott and Blavatsky observed five precepts. Olcott's second visit to Ceylon was in April, 1881, accompanied by Ven Mohottivatte Gunanando Thera. Colonel Henry Steele Olcott passed away on February 17, 1907, at the age of 75, in India. Extracts from Colonel Olcott's Old Diary leaves, describe the beginning of the Theosophical Society in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon). Wimbridge and Colonel Henry went for a dip in the Galle harbour very early the next morning, but they were followed and watched by crowds, so that it was very uncomfortable to move about. Their rooms were packed with visitors throughout the day. There was no end of metaphysical discussion with the aged High Priest Bulatgama Sumanatissa, and other sharp logicians.

Kilesas, will try to disrupt your concentration....

Question : I use the mantra Buddho for my meditation practice. Recently in my meditation practice, my head has started to twitch and shake by itself every few minutes and can be quite forceful. Typically I ignore it and just concentrate on Buddho. If my mind can drop into a deeper calm, then the shaking stops but will start again. Could I please seek Tan Ajahn’s advice on this?

Tan Ajahn: You should just ignore whatever happens. Just try to concentrate on your meditation objects. Sometimes your mind, your defilements/ your kilesas, will try to disrupt your concentration by creating all kinds of obstacles, all kinds of experiences.

But if you ignore them and just concentrate on your meditation object, then when your mind becomes calm, all these things will disappear. But if you pay attention to them, then you will not be able to continue with your meditation.

So try not to pay any attention to anything except your meditation object. Then you will find success in your meditation.

Question : If my breath is not stable, I can’t even maintain clear and continuous attention. What should I do, Tan Ajahn?

Tan Ajahn: Whether your breath is stable or not stable is no problem. All your mind has to do is to acknowledge and just be aware of the breath. You don’t have to interfere with your breath. Leave it alone. You only want to use your breath to keep your mind anchored to something, so that it doesn’t go thinking about this and that.

The Buddha said if the breath is short, just be aware that it is short. If the breath is long, just be aware that it is long. If the breath is coarse, just know that it is coarse. If it is subtle or fine, just know, just be aware. Don’t think about anything, even about the breath; don’t think that it should be this way or that way or try to control the breath. Just be aware. Just watch. You don’t want to think. When you think, you lose your purpose, you lose your goal. You won’t achieve what you want to achieve.

By Ajaan Suchart Abhijāto

Buddhist temple complex near Prambanan, Yogyakarta

The 9th century Sewu buddhist temple complex near Prambanan, Yogyakarta. The second largest buddhist temple in Indonesia after Borobudur. The main temple in the center is supported by metal frame structure to support the temple after Java earthquake in May 2006.