Nalanda Bringing Science, Ethics and Buddhism Together To Save Humanity

By Kalinga Seneviratne, Lotus News Feature, March 27, 2017 Rajgir, India -- A three-day conference convened by the Nava Nalanda Mahavihare (NNM) and funded by the Indian government brought together Buddhist  leaders, scholars and scientists to this historic capital of the Magadha kingdom of the Buddha’s time, to discuss the role of Buddhism in addressing the challenges of the 21st century, with many emphasizing that for humanity to survive science, ethics and Buddhism’s mind-centric approach to understanding nature and society could help. Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Friday inaugurated a three-day international Buddhist conference in Bihar's Nalanda district. Ignoring protests from China, the Indian government invited His Holiness the Dalai Lama to give the inaugural address and also launch NNM’s new Department of Buddhist Sciences.

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.

“This is the main problem for most meditators. They lack mindfulness.”

Most problems arise from a lack of mindfulness. Mindfulness is the key to successful meditation. Mindfulness is the factor that can reign in the mind and contain your thoughts. If you cannot contain your thoughts, you cannot achieve samādhi. And if you cannot achieve samādhi, you will not experience the bliss from a mind that is at ease and peaceful. So what you have to do at all times, from the time you get up to the time you fall asleep, is to develop mindfulness.

Bhamo Sayadaw: U Wirathu Could Be Imprisoned

By SALAI THANT ZIN 28 March 2017 The Irrawaddy

PATHEIN, Irrawaddy Division — Ultra-nationalist monk U Wirathu may be incarcerated if he continues to deliver sermons in defiance of a ban from the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, said Bhamo Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kumara, chairman of the state Buddhist authority known by its Burmese acronym Ma Ha Na.

“He has preached things as if they were delivered by the Buddha, which were not,” said Bhamo Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kumara. “He can be imprisoned for this, he can be put behind bars.”

Simply acknowledge their presence

During meditation, various feelings and thoughts may arise. If you don't practice mindfulness of the breath, these thoughts will soon lure you away from mindfulness. But the breath isn't simply a means by which to chase away such thoughts and feelings. Breath remains the vehicle to unite body and mind and to open the gate to wisdom. When a feeling or thought arises, your intention should not be to chase it away, even if by continuing to concentrate on the breath the feeling or thought passes naturally from the mind. The intention isn't to chase it away, hate it, worry about it, or be frightened by it. So what exactly should you be doing concerning such thoughts and feelings? Simply acknowledge their presence. For example, when a feeling of sadness arises, immediately recognize it: "A feeling of sadness has just arisen in me." If the feeling of sadness continues, continue to recognize "A feeling of sadness is still in me." If there is a thought like "It's late but the neighbors are sure making a lot of noise," recognize that the thought has arisen. If the thought continues to exist, continue to recognize it. If a different feeling or thought arises, recognize it in the same manner. The essential thing is not to let any feeling or thought arise without recognizing it in mindfulness, like a palace guard who is aware of every face that passes through the front corridor.

Thich Nhat Hanh
Photo: Vinoth Chandar

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.

What is Dhamma-Vinaya and what is not

I have heard that at one time the Blessed One was staying at Vesali, in the Peaked Roof Hall in the Great Forest.

Then Mahapajapati Gotami went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, stood to one side. As she was standing there she said to him: "It would be good, lord, if the Blessed One would teach me the Dhamma in brief such that, having heard the Dhamma from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone, secluded, heedful, ardent, & resolute."