Wesak Day Song - by Bro. Leonard Tan

Published on May 5, 2012

Happy Wesak Day. May we all be well and happy. Thanks for your time to view this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-22OcJcp8GQ

Minnesota's first 'little lama' studies Buddhist faith (and loves Pokemon)

By Allie Shah, Star Tribune, April 30, 2016

A Minnesota boy believed by many to be a reincarnated lama takes a key step along his predestined path.

St. Paul, MN (USA) -- The little lama was on the cusp of a very big moment.

Jalue Dorjee,9, presided over a religious ceremony at the Tibetan American Foundation in St. Paul where he was the guest of honor.

All week, the 9-year-old monk — believed by many Tibetan Buddhists to be a reincarnated guru — had been preparing to deliver his first public speech. Finally, on a rainy night in St. Paul, Jalue Dorjee faced a slew of cameras and hundreds of hopeful faces.

Bathing the Buddha

This month in April and early May, people across the world will celebrate Vesak in many different ways, but they are bound together by a special commemoration in honoring the young Gautama. One particular ceremony during this festive time is called: “Bathing the Buddha”. To bathe the Buddha is to pour scented, blessed water over an image of an infant Prince, who has his right forefinger pointed upwards and left forefinger directed downwards. The Prince’s image embodies the enlightened presence of the Buddha. This ritual comes in different forms in each country that it is practiced in, but they are all throwbacks to a single sacred story. It is a story that brings sentient beings together in a joyful celebration of a promise. That promise is nothing less than the end of suffering and ignorance.

Itivuttaka 83

This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, so I have heard:

"When a deva is about to pass away from the company of devas, five omens appear: his garlands wither, his clothes get soiled, sweat comes out of his armpits, a dullness descends on his body, he no longer delights in his own deva-seat. The devas, knowing from this that 'This deva-son is about to pass away,' encourage him with three sayings: 'Go from here, honorable sir, to a good destination. Having gone to a good destination, gain the gain that is good to gain. Having gained the gain that is good to gain, become well-established.'"

When this was said, a certain monk said to the Blessed One, "What, lord, is the devas' reckoning of going to a good destination? What is their reckoning of the gain that is good to gain? What is their reckoning of becoming well-established?"

"The human state, monks, is the devas' reckoning of going to a good destination. Having become a human being, acquiring conviction in the Dhamma-&-Vinaya taught by the Tathagata: this is the devas' reckoning of the gain that is good to gain.

Should Buddhism reclaim the swastika?

by Tim Gruver, Seattle Globalist, May 9, 2016

Seattle, WA (USA) -- “What’s a swastika doing on a Buddhist temple?” Four years ahead of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, that’s what local officials are worried foriegn visitors will be asking during the games, only knowing the symbol’s terrible history with the Nazis.

A statue of the Buddha from Seattle’s Choeizan Enkyoji Nichiren Buddhist temple bearing the Buddhist swastika. (Photo by Tim Gruver)

The symbol is in fact the equilateral cross, with each leg bent at a 90 degree angle. It’s a sacred symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism and it dates back at least 2,500 years to ancient India. It has 1600 year history in Japan, where it’s known as the manji.

The word swastika itself is derived from the word, “srivatsa,” which refers to the curls on the breast of the Indian gods Vishnu and Krishna. It stands for the hands, feet, head, and spokes of the dharma - or Buddhist doctrine - bringing good fortune and virtue.

First time in Buddhist and USA history

Light of Buddhadharma Foundation International

Dear Friends,

A very amazing and historical moment in time today! We received a personal message from the President of United States, President Barak Obama, sending good wishes for VESAK 2016 and also from Governor Gerry Brown of California. As far as I know, this is the first time in US history when the President has issued a message saluting this great Buddhist occasion. President Obama, writes:

US researchers decipher intricate engravings on 6th century Chinese Buddha statue

By Sanskrity Sinha January 29, 2016 

A laser scan reveals details of an ancient Buddha statue at the Freer Gallery 

of Art in Washington DCSmithsonian’s Digitalization Program Office

US researchers have unravelled the mystery of intricate engravings on an 

ancient Chinese statue of Buddha. The headless statue known as Cosmic 

Buddha, currently housed at an art gallery in Washington DC, dates back to 

the sixth century.

Was Sariputta and his disciples the editors of the Abhidhamma texts?

"According to this tradition, just prior to his seventh annual rains retreat the Blessed One ascended to the Tavatimsa heaven and there, seated on the Pandukambala stone at the foot of the Paricchattaka tree, for the three months of the rains he taught the Abhidhamma to the devas who had assembled from the ten thousand world-systems. He made the chief recipient of the teaching his mother, Mahamaya-devi, who had been reborn as a deva. The reason the Buddha taught the Abhidhamma in the deva world rather than in the human realm, it is said, is because in order to give a complete picture of the Abhidhamma it has to be expounded from the beginning to the end to the same audience in a single session. Since the full exposition of the Abhidhamma requires three months, only devas and Brahmas could receive it in unbroken continuity, for they alone are capable of remaining in one posture for such a length of time.

Katy Perry converting to Buddhism

CELEBRITY NEWS

APRIL 29, 2016

KATY PERRY CONVERTING TO BUDDHISM AFTER STRUGGLES OVER CONVENT PURCHASE

CHANEL ADAMS [Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images]

Katy Perry could be giving up her religion. The former Christian singer is rumored to have an interest in Buddhism due to her blossoming relationship with Orlando Bloom.

Living and surviving

Some notes on Tantra, by Francesca Fremantle

Posted on 29 October 2013 by Buddhism Now

These Questions and Answers came after Francesca’s talk Tantric attitude to life, you might like to read it first.

Question: I have been interested in Tantra for some time, but all the books say that it is so complex, you can’t know anything about it unless you go away for about twenty-five years with a special lama, or something. So, how can one pursue it?

Itivuttaka 30

“There are two things, bhikkhus, causing remorse. What are the two? Here someone has not done what is good, not done what is wholesome, not done what is beneficial, but has done evil, callous, wrongful deeds. He is remorseful on thinking, ‘I have not done good,’ and is remorseful on thinking, ‘I have done evil.’ These, bhikkhus, are the two things causing remorse.