57th anniversary of historic step to revive Buddhism in India

Sunday, Oct 13 2013

 

Senaka Weeraratna 

October 14, is the 57th anniversary of a historic event that took place in India on October 14, 1956.

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar converted to Buddhism along with about 380,000 of his followers on October 14, 1956 at Deekshabhoomi which is situated in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Ven. Dr. Hammalawa Saddhatissa Maha Thera, a reputed monk from Sri Lanka, presided over this historic function.   

Dr. Ambedkar and his wife Mrs.Savita Ambedkar took oath of Three Jewels and Five Precepts from the Burmese monk Mahasthavir Chandramani.

Dr. Ambedkar then gave the oath of Three Jewels, five precepts, and 22 Vows to his thousands of followers.

Mahāsāropama Sutta (MN 29)

"So this holy life, bhikkhus, 

does not have gain, honour, and renown for its benefit, 

or the attainment of virtue for its benefit, 

or the attainment of concentration for its benefit, 

or knowledge and vision for its benefit. 

But it is this unshakeable deliverance of mind that is the goal of this holy life, its heartwood, and its end."

The Buddhist Channel - 15 years of Buddhist news service

Editorial by Kooi Fong Lim, Founder of Buddhist Channel, October 10, 2016

Petaling Jaya, Malaysia – We will be fifteen years old on October 10, 2016. It is hard to believe that 15 years ago, we started this platform on the heels of the Bamiyan Buddha destruction.

I remember clearly that day on February 2001, reading a note posted on a forum which discusses Asian biodiversity. A Pakistani entomologist wrote that he heard on the radio that the head of the Taliban in Afghanistan, Mullah Mohamed Omar had issued a decree to destroy the 2,000 years old Buddha carved out of mountains in the valley of Bamiyan. With that one decree, which the mullah described the Buddhas as “un-Islamic”, he made famous these giant artefacts which until then not many – not even Buddhists - had ever heard of.

I remember trying to dig out whatever information about the Bamiyan Buddhas on the internet. In those early days, Google was still very much an infant and whatever information that could be found was scant. There was no social media to share the news.

Thailand's King Bhumibol takes final journey past grieving subjects

Channel News Asia, 14 Oct 2016

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Buddhist monks on Friday chanted prayers over the remains of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the riverside Grand Palace in Bangkok, ahead of a traditional royal cremation that will need months to prepare.

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej (1927 - 2016). Thailand's revered monarch, the world's longest-serving head of state before his death, lived to serve his people as the "strength of the land", as his parents named him.

The world's longest-reigning monarch, worshipped as a father figure during his 70-year reign, died on Thursday in a Bangkok hospital, where he had been treated for years for illnesses affecting his lungs, kidneys, brain and blood. He was 88.

A royal convoy, which included heir apparent Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, moved slowly through Bangkok's ancient quarter to the Grand Palace, winding past thousands of sombre Thais dressed in black, many of them holding aloft portraits of the king.

The Last Letter From King Bhumibol To His Daughter Princess Sirindhorn

Unofficial translation by Aliza Kim, The Buddhist Channel, Oct 15, 2016

The (last) letter from His Majesty the King (of Thailand) to Princess Sirindhorn was composed on 6 October 2016 (Buddhist Year 2547).
Her Royal Highness Sirindhorn has release the letter to be shared.

My child,In this land, everything has always come in pairs. With darkness there is light. With the good there is the evil. If given a choice for what is preferred, everyone wants what is light and what is good but to obtain this what one must do is LOVE OTHERS.

By loving others every single problem can be solved. If the world is filled with happiness and peace, a love for others will occur.

Papa wishes to tell you, my daughter, these things.

What is MINDFULGym?

MINDFULGym™ is a mindfulness-based stress management program specially designed for relaxation and wellness. Locally developed by consultant psychiatrist Dr. Phang Cheng Kar (Dr. Zhen-Phang) in 2010, it is based on ancient spiritual wisdom and state-of-the-art scientific research in mindfulness, cognitive behavior therapy and positive psychology. 

MINDFULGym is similar to the 8-week Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) programs developed in United States and United Kingdom respectively.

Checkout 'Mindful-Gym for UPM Medical Students' here ...
https://youtu.be/83WbVKXyEq8

The Art of Living