Japanese Buddhist Temple Holds Techno Memorial Services

By Spooky, February 10, 2017

Fukui, Japan -- In an effort to make his Buddhist temple more accessible to the wider public and draw younger generations to religion, a former DJ turned Buddhist priest has been holding “techno memorial services” at his temple in Fukui City, Japan.

Attending one of the unconventional memorial services organized at the Sho-onji Buddhist temple by 49-year-old Gyosen Asakura feels more like a warehouse rave than a traditional religious experience. A kaleidoscope of psychedelic lights bathes the golden decorations of the temple, and electronic music ranging from IDM (Intelligent Dance Music) to breakbeats blends with chantings of Buddhist scripture.

The Buddha Talks to a Brahmin Supremacist

How a Buddhist teaching on dismantling the superiority of the brahmin class can help us take on racism. By Krishnan Venkates  FEB 09, 2017 TricycylePhoto by Ed Schipul | https://tricy.cl/2kFOLPA

The belief that a group of people can be born superior to all other groups has been around for a very long time, and even existed during the time of the Buddha. For 3,000 years, society in South Asia has been dominated by the caste system, according to which a person is born into one of four major castes (varna), or social stations: laborers, merchants, warriors, and brahmins. According to the earliest Hindu scriptures, brahmins—scholars and priests—were the highest caste and viewed as morally and spiritually superior to the others; indeed, they are called “brahmins” because according to one of the hymns of the Rg Veda, they were born from the mouth of Brahman [God].

Pindapata - what to do or prepare

Dhammapada 75

The path to material gain goes one way,
the way to Unbinding, another.
Realizing this, the monk, 
a disciple to the Awakened One, 
should not relish offerings,
should cultivate seclusion instead.

Telangana has Buddhism roots

by C R GOWRI SHANKER, DECCAN CHRONICLE, Feb 12, 2017

Evidence found in pre-Satavahana coins dating back to 1st Century BCE.

Hyderabad, India -- Fresh evidence has been found that Buddhism flourished in Telangana state in ancient times, at remote village of Badankurthi on the banks of the Godavari near Khanapur in Nirmal district.

An aerial view of Buddhavanam, the Buddhist heritage theme park, at Nagarjunasagar. The theme park is the first of its kind in the country and depicts major events in the life of Buddha.

Asked about the findings at Badankurthi, Mr P. Nagaraju, assistant director, department of archaeology and museums, said excavation was yet to be taken up but a brick alignment threw light on the Buddhist links of the site. “A temple was constructed atop the brick alignment dating back to Satavahana and Ishkvaku times,” he said.

The Nibbāna Interview

Interview Bhikkhu Anālayo 2017

Register and learn more about Bhikkhu Anālayo’s upcoming online lecture series on The Nibbāna Sermons

Insight Journal: Bhante, you’ve done a number of online programs over the years. How have you chosen what topics to cover, and why now choose to work with Ven. Ñāṇananda’s Nibbāna Sermons?

Wrong understanding

The First Truth, by Ajahn Sumedho

Posted on 10 February 2017 by Buddhism Now

The significance of the Buddhist teaching lies in the fact that it isn’t doctrinal. It’s not an attempt to tell us how things should be, it’s more a way of bringing our attention to the way things are.

Most of us are educated to think in terms of how things should be, and we often don’t understand why life is the way it is. So it surprises us, shocks us, upsets us. We become overwhelmed, even with good fortune, not to mention bad. The Buddhist teachings are guides that help us to look at the experience of being alive.

Buddhist-monks-congregate-prayer-light-ceremony

Silent light: Stunning images capture 1,250 Buddhist monks congregating 
for hushed annual prayer and lantern lighting ceremony in Thailand

• By Rachael Burford For Mailonline PUBLISHED: 12 February 2017 

Stunning images captured the thousands of Buddhist monks who gathered to pray in silence in celebration of Makha Bucha Day.

A few Q&A. Source: Without and Within

Peaceful Uplifting Monasteries 

Ajahn Jayasaro was born on the Isle of Wight, England in 1958. He joined Ajahn Sumedho’s community for the Rains Retreat as an anagarika in 1978. In November of that year he left for Wat Pa Pong in Northeast Thailand where he ordained as a novice in the following year, and as a bhikkhu in 1980 with Venerable Ajahn Chah as his preceptor. From 1997 until 2002 Ajahn Jayasaro was the Abbot of Wat Pa Nanachat, the International a Forest Monastery of Thailand. He is now living alone in a hermitage at the foot of Kow Yai mountains, Thailand.

King at investiture ceremony for new Supreme Patriarch

The Supreme Patriarch leaves the Temple of the Emerald Buddha for Wat 
Rajabophit after the investiture in a royal ceremony presided over by HM 
the King on Sunday.

• 12 Feb 2017  ONLINE REPORTERS Bangkok Post

The investiture of the new Supreme Patriarch took place 
at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha on Sunday in a royal 
ceremony presided over by His Majesty the King.

Why Buddhism, a religion of tolerance, is falling prey to hate-speech: Panel

“The politics of fear overrules wisdom or compassion” in Buddhist-majority countries where anger against minorities is rising, note panellists on the programme Between The Lines.

Myanmar hardline Buddhist Wirathu called Donald Trump a "real leader" in a post that called for 
the end of jihad. (photo:AFP)

BANGKOK: The rise of hate speech in Buddhist-majority countries 
like Thailand, Myanmar and Sri Lanka is of grave concern - and 
something that states should tackle, says a noted Thai Buddhist 
intellectual, because of the danger it poses.

Where does rain come from ?

It comes from all the dirty water that evaporates from the earth, like urine and the water you throw out after washing your feet. Isn't it wonderful how the sky can take that dirty water and change it into pure, clean water ? Your mind can do the same with your defilements if you let it.

~Ajahn Chah ~

Ultimate Mentality and Ultimate Materiality 《究竟名色法》

Ven.Revata尊者 雷瓦達

Another thing that vipassanā meditation teachers teach nowadays is that ultimate mentality and ultimate materiality, which are very deep and profound, can be realised only by a Buddha. They say it is impossible for us to realise such deep mentality and materiality, which in a finger snap are arising and perishing millions of times over. They ask, ‘How can one see such a thing?’ So they substitute a new ‘rūpa’ and a new ‘nāma’ as objects in place of what the Buddha taught. Do you know about this? I think many of you know. What do such teachers teach? They teach as follows: When you are walking, your physical body is moving. The body which is doing something is rūpa. The mind which is knowing the bodily action is nāma. In this way they replace the nāma and rūpa taught by the Buddha. These teachers insist that if we simply know bodily actions on the one hand and the mind that knows them on the other as rūpa and nāma respectively, we can realise the Dhamma. What do you think? If it is so, then would it have been necessary for the bodhisatta to fulfil pāramī for four incalculable and one hundred thousand eons? There would have been no need if it was so, and it would not have been necessary for a Buddha to appear in the world.

Malaysian Buddhist Community Leaders in discussions with the government

Theravada Buddhist Council of Malaysia joined Malaysian Buddhist Community Leaders in
fruitful discussions on Monday 6 February 2017 with YB Datuk Seri Johari Bin Abdul Ghani,
Menteri Kewangan II, at Pejabat Menteri Kewangan II, Putrajaya.

The discussions centered on the Finance Bill 2016 that was passed in the Dewan Rakyat in November and by the Dewan Negara in December 2016, which included an additional requirement on income meant for “charitable purposes”; and the Income Tax Act’s Schedule 6, which lists income which is exempt from tax, included under item 13(1)(b).

Also present with YB Datuk Seri Johari Bin Abdul Ghani, were YB Dato' Lee Chee Leong, Timbalan Menteri Kewangan II, and Datuk Wong Nai Chee, Political Secretary to the Prime Minister.

The Buddhist Community Leaders present were from, Malaysian Buddhist Consultative Council (MBCC) whose members present included, Theravada Buddhist Council of Malaysia (TBCM) (Bro. Tan Leng Huat, President and Bro. Ānanda Fong, Asst. Hon. Secretary-General), Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM), Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia (BMSM), Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia (VBCM), Malaysian Fo Guang Buddhist Association (BLIA Malaysia Chapter).

Other Buddhist Community Leaders present included, Malaysia Buddhist Association, Selangor/KL Branch, Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist CTR (Malaysia), Taiwan Buddhist Tzu-Chi Foundation Malaysia, KL & Selangor Branch, and Fo Guang Shan, Malaysia.

- Photographs and posting by CFFong

Interview with Ajahn Brahm

https://www.facebook.com/dhammamalaysia/videos/1750928805224028/

Is Buddhism a Religion?

BY CHARLES PREBISH, DZOGCHEN PONLOP RINPOCHE AND JOAN SUTHERLAND AUGUST 19, 2016

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Amitabha (Amida), contained within a closed shrine. Photo courtesy of Free Sackler.

Is it a religion, psychology, or way of life? The “religion without God” has baffled Western thinkers for hundreds of years. Our three experts, Charles Prebish (“Yes”), Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche (“No”), and Joan Sutherland (“Kind of”), join the debate.

Yes, Buddhism is a religion

A religion is a philosophy that posits an ultimate reality, a path towards experiencing ultimate reality, and the potential for personal transformation, says Charles Prebish. Buddhism checks all those boxes.

If you got together a big room of religious studies scholars and asked each of them to offer their own definition of religion, you’d likely get as many different answers as there were people in the room. There would be similarities, but also a lot of differences.

Childhood friends remember new Supreme Patriarch as A BRILLIANT STUDENT OF BUDDHISM

Somdet Phra Ariyawongsakhatayan (Ambhorn Ambharo)

February 09, 2017 By The Nation THE NEW Supreme Patriarch of Thailand is still fondly remembered by his childhood friends in Ratchaburi province.

Gelek Rimpoche's Cremation & Relic Ceremony with Kyabje Demo Rinpoche

The Buddhist Channel, Feb 18, 2017

Ann Arbor, Michigan (USA) --  Gelek Rimpoche, founder and spiritual director of Jewel Heart International passed away Wednesday at 6 am. He was 77. Rimpoche was a lama in the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism and author of "Good Life, Good Death".

The following is an announcement of the funeral arrangements obtained from the Jewel Heart website.

The arrangements for Gelek Rimpoche's cremation and the returning back and blessing of his relics are as follows:

Saturday, February 18, 9 am EST:  Cremation

The Jewel Heart Ann Arbor Center will be open for prayers from 9 am onwards. Everyone is welcome: 1129 Oak Valley Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108

For those who wish to attend the cremation, space and parking is very limited, but you are welcome to stop by for 5 - 10 minutes between 9:00 am and 11:30 am

Location:  Santeiu Vaults, 12700 Fairlane Street, Livonia, MI 48150 (approx. 45 minutes from Ann Arbor). For those who are in town, you may bring an offering scarf or flowers

4.00 pm EST Relic Blessing Ceremony - conducted by monks of Gyütö monastery and Drepung Loseling monastery.

The Blessing Ceremony will be available via webinar.
All the rituals will be led by Kyabje Demo Rinpoche.

For more information please visit: http://j.mp/GelekCremation

About Gelek Rimpoche

Somdet Phra Maha Muniwong new Supreme Patriarch

7 Feb 2017  WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS 

Somdet Phra Maha Muniwong, abbot of Wat Ratchabophit, was chosen by His Majesty the... 



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Dhammapada 25, 26

25. By effort and heedfulness, discipline and self-mastery, let the wise one make for himself an island which no flood can overwhelm.

26. The foolish and ignorant indulge in heedlessness, but the wise one keeps his heedfulness as his best treasure.

Facing the Wild Winds of Change – Buddhist Reflections on Letting Go

Posted on July 12, 2016 by ayyayeshe

Letting go is a big theme in Buddhism. It has also been a big theme in my own life. Change and the need to let go are issues we don’t mind hearing about in the context of other people’s lives, but one we don’t really like taking place in our own. But the fact is, sooner or later we all have to accept change, whether we want it or not.