Ancient, near-pristine Buddha to make Kabul museum debut

By AFP PUBLISHED: 17 March 2017

The statue of Buddha, which is thought to date from somewhere between the third and the fifth century, was remarkably well-preserved by soil and silt

Having withstood time, the elements, looters and war, a spectacular Buddha restored and removed from one of Afghanistan's most dangerous regions is to make its public debut in the country's national museum.

What is an "empty" heart ?

The Sharing of Merits and Its Benefits 功德迴向與它的利益

問:在我的心中還是有些疑惑。在每次佛法開示後,我們都會做功德迴向。我們唸的最後兩行是:「願以此功德,與一切眾生分享;願一切眾生,平等獲得此功德。」它的意義很簡單,就是說:「我們把功德,平等的迴向給所有的眾生。」我的問題是,請問:「一切眾生」是說我們也迴向功德給非眾生嗎?我們的功德也迴向給墮入惡道的眾生嗎?它也包含我們的家人嗎?這些所有的眾生都能收到我們的功德嗎?
Question: In my mind there is still this doubt. At the end of each Dhamma talk, we always share merits. The last two lines we recite are: ‘Mama puññabhāgaṃ sabbasattānaṃ bhājemi. Te sabbe me samaṃ puññabhāgaṃ labhantu.’ The meaning is very simple, that is, we say that we share our merits equally with all beings. So my question is: Do the words ‘all beings’ here mean that we are sharing our merits with non-living beings too? Does our sharing of merits extend to those who are suffering in the woeful realms? Does it include our families? Are all of these also able to receive our sharing of merits?

The biggest Dhamma, the superior Dhamma is not paññā or samādhi, but mindfulness (sati)

Monk: In the current period, after 30 to 40 years, when Thailand has become different from the 70s, what would you say about the biggest obstacles and the danger for young monks? What is your advice?

Do your required duties

US Congress Recognizes the Gyalwang Drukpa for Social and Environmental Activism

By BD Dipananda Buddhistdoor Global 2017-03-10

The Gyalwang Drukpa holding the Congressional resolution with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. From Gyalwang Drukpa Facebook

On 5 March, Jigme Pema Wangchen, the 12th Gyalwang Drukpa of the 
Drukpa Order, was recognized in a US Congressional Record for 
empowering women in the Himalayas and supporting green initiatives.

Monk on a mission

Sohrab Hossain and Andrew Eagle The Daily Star March 14, 2017

Buddhist monk Utuchitta Mohathero from Amkholapara temple in Patuakhali's Kuakata helps 

a boy write Rakhine alphabets. He takes free classes on Rakhine language at his “Bijoyrama 

Buddho Bihar” education centre within the temple compound. Photo: Star

The importance of one's mother tongue is perhaps nowhere better understood 

than in Bangladesh. A mother tongue is an indispensible fundament of self-
identity. Armed with such understanding, Buddhist monk Utuchitta Mohathero 
from Amkholapara temple in Patuakhali's Kuakata is making efforts to ensure 
the next generation of his Rakhine community do not lose touch with the 
Rakhine language.