Enlightenment - The Story

https://www.facebook.com/TrueBuddhistTeachings/videos/1840607702857341/

One day, seated beneath the Bodhi tree (the tree of awakening) Siddhartha became deeply absorbed in meditation, and reflected on his experience of life, determined to penetrate its truth. He finally achieved Enlightenment and became the Buddha.

Piers Morgan meets his Holiness the Dalai Lama on 26 APRIL 2017

on 26 APRIL 2017 • 

In September 2016 Piers Morgan met his Holiness the Dalai Lama — and the pair talked about everything, from Mr Trump, to IS, to love and marriage and even celebrity culture.

Watch the full (40-minute, uncut), fascinating discussion.

It was the interview that got the internet buzzing and now we [itv.com/goodmorningbritain] bring you the full 40-minute, uncut version.

Children Becoming Buddhist Monks

https://www.facebook.com/todayonline/videos/10154717044117572/

WATCH: Children get their heads shaved by Buddhist monks during a ceremony called 'Children Becoming Buddhist Monks' at the Jogye Temple in South Korea. Following the ceremony, the children will stay at the temple where they are taught about Buddhism until Buddha's birthday on May 3.

New Buddhist temple in St. Louis Park hopes to become center of Thai culture

By Miguel Otárola, Star Tribune, April 11, 2017 A Thai Buddhist center is moving into an old church in St. Louis Park.  St. Louis, MN (USA) -- The monks, draped in orange robes, sat side-by-side in  the gathering hall of the Thai Buddhist Center of Minnesota, an arrangement of  flowers displayed in front of each one. Buddhist monks prayed and blessed attendees during the Thai New Year Celebration. Visitors, each holding a bowl of water, slowly moved toward the monks. They poured water on their palms, and it dribbled onto the flowers below. For the Thai, the water ceremony is a symbolic  acceptance of the monks’ blessings. It was one of many traditions celebrated Sunday at the center’s Thai New Year festival, the first event held in the community’s new temple, a former Lutheran church in the Birchwood neighborhood of St. Louis Park.

We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness

Illusion of our separateness

~ Thich Nhat Hanh http://justdharma.com/s/ic7j2

quoted in the book "A Buddhist Response to the Climate Emergency"
ISBN: 978-0861716050 - http://amzn.to/1o0fiQQ

Thich Nhat Hanh on the web:  http://plumvillage.org

Thich Nhat Hanh biography:  http://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/biography/

Student unlocks mysteries of Norlin’s Tibetan Buddhist texts

By Kenna Bruner, AS Magazine, Colorado U, April 17, 2017

Boulder, CO (USA) -- How did a fruit farmer’s son in New York’s Hudson Valley come to be a graduate student in University of Colorado Boulder’s Religious Studies Department, studying Tibetan Buddhist texts?

<< Eben Yonnetti, a master’s student in religious studies, focuses on the contemporary transmission and translation of Tibetan Buddhism. His primary research interests include the contemporary trans-national and trans-linguistic dissemination of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as translation and ritual studies more broadly. CU Boulder photo by Patrick Campbell.

As an undergraduate at Siena College, Eben Yonnetti, on a whim, went on a study abroad trip to Nepal to study in the Tibetan and Himalayan Peoples program. Yonnetti lived with a Tibetan exile family who helped him assimilate among the people and learn about their religious community.

Homage To The Buddha By Dr. Rina Sircar

https://soundcloud.com/integraleducation/homage-to-the-buddha-by-dr-rina-sircar?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=facebook



Dr. Rina Sircar is professor emerita at California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in San Francisco, California where she taught as a professor in the Philosophy and Religion Department for nearly four decades from 1974 to 2013. From 1988-1992 she was named the distinguished Haridas Chaudhuri Professor of South Asian and Comparative Philosophy and later held the World Peace Buddhist Chair at CIIS.  In addition, she received the honorary title of Vidasanachariya from Calcutta in 1982, and Dhammaratna from Bangladesh.

Rina earned an MA (1957) from University of Rangoon and a doctoral degree (1974) in Indian Philosophy from Gujarat University in India as well as a second PhD (1976) in South Asian Studies from the California Institute of Asian Studies. She also received degrees in Law, Oriental Philosophy, and the Abhidhamma  and Sutta Pitakas from Rangoon University in Burma.

Buddhism in Slovenia

Dear friends,
Today it was published in a national newspaper in Slovenia. Now whole Slovenia knows about Samanadipa, about Ajahn Hiriko and also knows that there is place and a teacher to practice and learn The Buddha's teaching (Dhamma) even in Slovenia.

Anumodana to all the supporters for realizing Samanadipa in Slovenia. By this merits, may you all be healthy and happy. Finally may this merits help us to attain Nibbana.

Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu.

Budhist centre opened in Uganda, the first on the African continent

Published on Apr 23, 2017

A renowned Buddhist Monk from Myanmar visited the country this morning to officially open the first Buddhist Centre on the continent. Dr Ashin Nyanissara opened the centre in Garuga, off Entebbe Road and ordained an Egyptian and Ugandan monk to a senior level. The two monks received the title of “Upasampada’ which refers to the rite of ordination by which one undertakes the Buddhist life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uShTM01UaLw

Buddhist New Year: Celebrating by Temporary Ordination in Myanmar

By BD Dipananda Buddhistdoor Global | 2017-04-21 

Buddhist women and girls of all ages and backgrounds can become nuns during the seven-day Thingyan festival. From dvb.com

While many people in South and Southeast Asia last week welcomed the Buddhist New Year by spraying copious amounts of water over each other, for Buddhists in Myanmar the festival is also a time for spiritual enrichment as many women spend the week-long holiday as temporarily ordained nuns.

The traditional celebration is known as Thingyan in Myanmar, which means “change;” moving from the past year into the next. This change is celebrated by people across the country by sprinkling water over each other to wash away ill health and bad luck, and to shower one another in blessings of peace, health, happiness, and prosperity. The festival is not only about merrymaking; many make time to pay tribute to the Triple Gem—the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha—to chant from the Tipitaka, to listen to a Dhamma talk, to bathe images of the Buddha, and to pay respect to community elders. In addition, an increasing number of girls and women take the week long holiday as an opportunity to temporarily ordain as nuns and experience a devout and monastic life.

The Significance of Wesak lies with the Buddha and his universal peace message to mankind

As we recall the Buddha and his Enlightenment, we are immediately reminded of the unique and most profound knowledge and insight which arose in him on the night of his Enlightenment. This coincided with three important events which took place, corresponding to the three watches or periods of the night.

During the first watch of the night, when his mind was calm, clear and purified, light arose in him, knowledge and insight arose. He saw his previous lives, at first one, then two, three up to five, then multiples of them .. . ten, twenty, thirty to fifty. Then 100, 1000 and so on.... As he went on with his practice, during the second watch of the night, he saw how beings die and are reborn, depending on their Karma, how they disappear and reappear from one form to another, from one plane of existence to another. Then during the final watch of the night, he saw the arising and cessation of all phenomena, mental and physical. He saw how things arose dependent on causes and conditions. This led him to perceive the arising and cessation of suffering and all forms of unsatisfactoriness paving the way for the eradication of all taints of cravings. With the complete cessation of craving, his mind was completely liberated. He attained to Full Enlightenment. The realisation dawned in him together with all psychic powers.

Austrian Buddhist Shares Her Experience of 12 Years Spent in Mountain Retreat

BD Dipananda Buddhistdoor Global 7 Apr 17

Tibetan lama named Kongma at Milarepa cave near Manang. From samulimansikka.com

Tara Choying Lhamo, an Austrian Buddhist who has been living in retreat for more than 20 years—12 of which were spend in Milarepa’s caves in Lapchi, Nepal—is now sharing her unique experience and insights with audiences in Australia and New Zealand.

The Otago Daily Times reports that Lhamo is now in New Zealand, following a 10-day tour of Australia. Last year, Lhamo shared her meditation experiences for the first time with an audience in London. Those who heard her story were deeply moved.

Buddhist Peace Fellowship announces $2000 “Soma Award” for Buddhist activists

BY SAM LITTLEFAIR   APRIL 14, 2017 Lion's Roar

The Buddhist Peace Fellowship (BPF) has announced it will award $2,000 to five activists for peace, social justice, or environmental work that is inspired by Buddhism. The prize is named for Soma Bhikkhuni, the first enlightened woman. Candidates must have done at least two years of work — paid or unpaid — in their field. The deadline for applications is April 28, 2017.

The BPF was founded in 1978 as an ecumenical organization dedicated to the principle of interconnectedness, with the mission of creating peace, liberation, and progressive social change.

BUDDHIST PEACE FELLOWSHIP

Soma Award 2017 – Buddhist Peace Fellowship

Bringing together the deep streams of Buddhist wisdom and organizing for social change, it is our honor to offer awards of $2,000 to 5 activists whose outstanding work for peace, social justice, and / or environmental defense is influenced by Buddhist wisdom.

Read the article on buddhistpeacefellowship.org >
Sam Littlefair Wallace is the associate digital editor of Lion's Roar. He has also written for The Coast, Mindful, and Atlantic Books Today. 

Daniel Clarkson Fisher offers a “People’s Buddhism” – and B.R. Ambedkar revival

April 1, 2017 by Justin Whitaker 

In an excellent article at Political Animal Magazine, Daniel Clarkson Fisher calls for a renewed investigation into the Buddhist liberation theology of the Indian reformer, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. In the article, Fisher points out the rise in progressive social movements in recent years, from Black Lives Matter and Occupy Wall Street to the recent boosts to organizations like the ACLU and the Democratic Socialists of America.

San Francisco Buddhism: Passing Memories of Convert Buddhists From Before the 1960s

March 22, 2017 by James Ford 



It was 1969. I threw my lot in with the English Zen priest Houn Jiyu Kennett, who’d just arrived in the San Francisco Bay area and after a brief stay at the Zen Center in San Francisco opened a small “temple” in a flat on Potrero Hill.

The Buddha comes to Sussex

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68vhSQ8AVZI

Published on May 6, 2013

BBC Documentary about Thai Forest Monastery Traditions. Featuring Ajahn Chah, the founder and the teacher of Wat Nong Pah Pong and Wat Pah Nanachat (The International Forest Monastery) Ubon Rachathani, Thailand and his disciples. This documentary was spotting the time, the forest tradition Buddhist were introduced to the western for the first time.

Venerable Ajahn Chah, who is highly revered, is well known in Thailand as one of the top venerable monks in forest tradition. Ajahn Chah died in 1993, after establishing many forest tradition monasteries both in Thailand and in the West. Currently, his disciples still faithfully follow his teaching and they established 241 domestic branch monasteries in Thailand and 22 international branch monasteries in many countries.

For more information of Venerable Ajahn Chah and his monasteries:
Venerable Ajahn Chah Subhaddo
http://www.ajahnchah.org

Wat Pah Nanachat (WPN)
The International Forest Monastery
http://www.watpahnanachat.org/

Wat Nong Pah Pong
http://www.watnongpahpong.org

The Heart Sūtra Mantra by Deva Premal

Uploaded on Oct 24, 2009

The Heart Sūtra Mantra by Deva Premal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSR1L9IN03g

Symbol of Mongolia’s Ancient Buddhist Culture to Complete in Summer of 2017

by Michael Fouts, The Buddhist Channel, March 27, 2017 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia -- In the summer of 2017 the people of Mongolia will regain an important part of their ancient Buddhist heritage. A statue of the historical Buddha designed by Mongolia’s first Jebtsundamba Khutuktu (sacred leader of Mongolian Buddhism) placed within the Uguumur Valley just outside of the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar. In 1924 Mongolia became a victim of occupation followed by a revolution from soviet forces. By 1939 with most all their 1,000 Buddhist monasteries perished along with most of Mongolia’s Buddha statues, only one statue was left remaining. Now with the return of religious freedoms in Mongolia the Grand Maitreya Project is joyously planning to bring back an important piece of the Dharma to Mongolia.

Yakima Buddhist Church endures

By Tammy Ayer, Yakima Herald, March 24, 2017 WAPATO, WA (USA) -- They carefully dismantled the altar, handmade in Japan, and stored it under the stage of the church gym. They sealed the church windows, locked the doors and gave the keys to friends who would keep watch for them. The Amida Buddha of the Yakima Buddhist Church includes 48 bars, symbolizing rays of lights, that represent the 48 vows that the Amida Buddha makes in Becoming Buddha (Photo: Shawn Gust/Yakima Herald) As the Japanese-American members of the Yakima Buddhist Church prepared to leave their homes for the Portland Assembly Center in early June 1942, they packed the practical items they would need: bedding and linens for each family member, toiletries and extra clothing, cutlery and dishware. They took what they could carry, securely packaged, tied and marked with their names. And in those final days before 1,017 Japanese-Americans from the Yakima Valley were forced to leave their homes, some were making final preparations for the most precious object they would take.

Rebirth of Ajanta Cave Paintings

by Mayura Pimpare, The Buddhist Channel, March 28, 2017

Aurangabad, India -- This story is as much about Indian history of Buddhism as it is of a will and perseverance of an artist; whose relentless efforts will be revered by generations to come.

Everyone knows about the great caves of Ajanta in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. Millions of tourists come here every year from all corners of planet to see the gigantic caves in rocky mountains as well as minutely detailed Budhist paintings dating back centuries.

Its a fact that historic monuments and UNESCO’s historic site such as Ajanta is in dilapidated state; even continuous efforts by government aren’t enough.

In this situation one artist devoted his life and took the mantle of recreating these painting single handily. Its been half century that his work began hours and hours of observation inside caves throughout the year, huge canvases, collecting unique colors to match the originals needed herculean effort!