OPINION AND COMMENT Editorials and other opinion content provide insights into issues important to our community and are independent of the work of our newsroom reporters. People walk the artistic ‘Path to the Cross’ at Modesto’s Church of the Redeemer. Joan Barnett Lee [email protected] In my religious studies classes, students are encouraged to read about […]
Tag: sri lanka
Changing empires and the decline of Buddhism
Last year we read reports from one of the major archaeological discoveries of recent years, Musi River, Sumatra. Very rich finds of luxury items, especially gold, suggest that we are dealing with the lost capital of a long forgotten empire. Srivijaya was a mighty merchant trading empire of the seas, a thalassocracy, which controlled the […]
Spread Buddha’s teaching all over the world
Fear and distress reign. Although less reported, some developments bring peace and happiness to people’s lives. One such development is the spread of Gautama the Buddha’s ancient teaching of compassion and wisdom in the world today. The Buddha is believed to have lived from around 563 BCE to 483 BCE in India. Mindfulness meditation, which […]
SN Goenka: Spreading Buddha’s Teachings Worldwide – IDN-InDepthNews
By Dr. Asoka Bandarage The writer, a scholar and practitioner, has taught at Yale, Brandeis, Mount Holyoke (where she was tenured), Georgetown, American and other universities, and colleges in the United States and abroad. COLOMBO (IDN) — Fear and distress reign. Although less reported, some developments bring peace and happiness to people’s lives. One such […]
The Kashmiri monk who helped spread Buddhism across Asia
Javanese folklore contains the story of a late 4th century Hindu king named Vadhaka who converted to Buddhism. According to legend, one night Vadhaka’s mother dreamed of a holy man coming to Java on a flying boat. The very next day, a Kashmiri monk named Gunavarman reached the shores of the island. Upon Gunavarman’s arrival, […]
The Kendal Buddhist Society thanks Venerable Piyatissa for 20 years of teaching
For the past 20 years the Kendal Buddhist Society group has had the pleasure of hosting visits and lessons from Venerable Piyatissa who brings over 50 years of knowledge and experience to the group. Venerable Piyatissa, who began his journey into Buddhism at the University of Sri Lanka, and spread his teachings on meditation, Buddhist […]
British Council plans to reopen teaching centers for young learners – The Island
Samsung, the No.1 smartphone brand in Sri Lanka, recently announced that it has enabled 5G bands on several of its Galaxy smartphones in partnership with Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s leading connectivity provider. Samsung users are now armed with the ability to use their 5G-enabled device on Dialog’s 5G trial network to experience the power […]
South China Sea Buddhism Roundtable 2021 opens in Shenzhen
London, UK, December 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – The 2021 South China Sea Buddhism Roundtable in Shenzhen was held in Shenzhen on December 9. Guests from 18 countries and regions, including Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Mongolia and Myanmar, attended the meeting through physical and virtual participation. Focused on the theme “Building Compassion and Lightening […]
2021 Shenzhen South China Sea Buddhism Roundtable Opens
The 2021 Shenzhen Roundtable on South China Sea Buddhism was held in Shenzhen on December 9. 2021 Shenzhen South China Sea Buddhism Roundtable Opens The 2021 Shenzhen Roundtable on South China Sea Buddhism was held in Shenzhen on December 9. The 2021 Shenzhen Roundtable on South China Sea Buddhism was held in Shenzhen on December […]
The Sri Lankan Buddhist Society will organize the Dalai Lama’s teaching on the Maha Satipatthana Sutta
NNA | Update: December 17, 2021 9:52 p.m. STI Colombo [Sri Lanka]December 17 (ANI): The Sri Lankan Tibetan Buddhist Brotherhood Society will hold a teaching on Maha Satipatthana Sutta for the Maha Sangha in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore on December 17-18, 2021 online 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Sri Lankan time.The […]
Ironic? Myanmar monk seeks to bring back the glory of Buddhism to India
By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*Kushinagar celebrates the life and achievements of Bhadant Gyaneshwar Mahasthivir, the chief monk of the main Mahaparinirvan temple. He celebrated his 85th birthday on November 10. Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh is one of the most important places for Buddhists around the world, as Buddha gave his last sermon there and met his […]
Buddhism – WorldAtlas
Buddhism is considered the 4e the largest religion in the world originating in ancient India between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE. The religion is based on a series of teachings from Gautama Buddha. From India, Buddhism spread to major parts of Asia and the rest of the world. Currently, there are three major groups […]
The Mystical Mahasiddhas of Buddhism and Their Odisha Connection
Odisha is well known as a great seat of Buddhism, especially of the Tantric genre. The Buddhist sects of Mahayana, Vajrayana, Kalachakrayana, etc. include Tantra as a major ingredient. However, this was not the case at first – Tantra was a later development in the history of Buddhism. The gradual development of philosophies and the […]
In Sri Lanka, Tamil connection to Buddhism is ignored
The unsustainable claims made by Sinhalese and Tamils ​​over language, religion and ethnicity have confused Sri Lankan politics in the post-independence era. The Sinhalese proclaim loud and clear that Buddhism is in essence and exclusively a “Sinhalese” religion. Tamils, on the other hand, claim with the same vehemence, that they have always been pure Hindus, […]
In Sri Lanka, the Tamil link with Buddhism has gone under the carpet
The unsustainable claims made by Sinhalese and Tamils ​​over language, religion and ethnicity have confused Sri Lankan politics in the post-independence era. The Sinhalese proclaim loud and clear that Buddhism is in essence and exclusively a “Sinhalese” religion. Tamils, on the other hand, claim with the same vehemence, that they have always been pure Hindus, […]
Worship a Bodhi Tree Devoid of False Beliefs | Print edition
By Udumbara Udugama Views) : Rituals associated with Bodhi pooja Esala Full Moon Poya falls on July 23 of this year. Many important events took place on an Esala Poya, according to Buddhist history. Prince Siddhartha left his secular life and set out as an ascetic in search of the Truth. Prince Rahula, her son […]
After Michael Jerryson (1974-2021) No one will ever look at Buddhism the same way
It may not be too much of a stretch to say that after Michael Jerryson no one will view Buddhism in the same way. Others have written about Buddhist violence and war, of course, but Jerryson brought it to the public’s attention in a way that couldn’t be ignored. Michael Jerryson / Facebook When he […]
The origin of Buddhism and its teachings
Buddhism was founded by Lord Buddha around the 6th century BC. It started in India but is now practiced by many countries including Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal, Tibet, China and Japan. It is said that the Buddha was born under the name of Siddhartha Gautama in the royal family of a small kingdom of […]
The giant behind the revival of Buddhism
Our most venerable Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera was born on January 20, 1827. It was a dark time in Sri Lanka’s history when the country which suffered greatly under the suffocating rule of Portuguese and Dutch settlers at the time, was forced to officially surrender himself to the British Empire. Thus, on March 2, 1815, […]
Where does Buddhism get its reputation for peace?
When I teach an undergraduate course on ‘Buddhism and Violence’, I usually start by asking students to rank religious groups according to the number of followers they have in the British Army. Typically Christians are at the top of the student lists and Buddhists at the bottom. This reflects an unconscious prejudice that many of […]
7 Moral Principles of Buddhism Money: “It’s a Matter of Mental Economy”
Karma “The mind precedes all mental states. The spirit is their leader; they are all worked by the mind. If with an unclean spirit a person speaks or acts, suffering follows – like the wheel that follows the ox’s foot. The mind precedes all mental states. The spirit is their leader; they are all worked […]
What is Nikaya Buddhism? | Dr Jay N. Forrest
The Buddha said: “The true Dhamma does not suddenly disappear like a ship sinks. There are, Kassapa, five nefarious things that lead to the decay and disappearance of the true Dhamma. What are the five? Here, bhikkhus, bhikkhunis, lay men and lay women dwell without reverence and deference to the Teacher; they remain without reverence […]
Revealed: Most (and Least) Religious Countries in the World Based on Religious Beliefs 2020
Somalia is once again seen as the most religious country in the world, according to the survey by CEOWORLD magazine in partnership with the Global Business Policy Institute, a characterization of 148 countries based on a survey of more than 370,000 citizens of the world . Niger is the second most religious nation, according to […]
Seoul International Buddhism Expo showcases an industry born of traditions and beliefs
Tens of thousands of people from all over the world come to South Korea this month for one of Asia’s most diverse exhibitions, which will showcase a global industry born out of the traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices of Buddhism. Seoul International Buddhism Expo (BEXPO) 2019 will be held at Seoul Trade Fair and Convention […]
Interview with the venerable Chaofan – Buddhistdoor Global
Venerable Chaofan (超 ç…©) is the founder of the American Association of Buddhist Education (美國 佛教 教育 å”會) at Fuhui Temple (ç¦æ…§ 寺), which is located in the village of Rancocas, Westampton, New Jersey. Originally from Inner Mongolia, Ven. Chaofan was ordained a priest in 1981 at Mount Wutai and became one of the first […]
Chinese Buddhism in Penang – Buddhistdoor Global
Penang State in Malaysia is probably the most religiously diverse place I have ever visited. As I walked through George Town, the capital of Penang, I was completely enchanted by the density of the different religious architectures. In the morning, the Hindu deities of the Sri Mahamariamman temple are awakened in a puja ritual. Throughout […]
Why Americans See Buddhism as a Philosophy Rather Than a Religion — Quartz
In East Asia, Buddhists celebrate the death of the Buddha and his entry into final enlightenment in February. But at my local Zen temple in North Carolina, the Buddha’s enlightenment is commemorated during the December holiday season, with a short children’s talk, candlelight service, and potluck after the celebration. Welcome to American Buddhism. Early Influences […]
Why so many Americans think Buddhism is just a philosophy
In East Asia, Buddhists celebrate the death of the Buddha and his entry into final enlightenment in February. But at my local Zen temple in North Carolina, the enlightenment of the Buddha is commemorated during the December holiday season, with a short lecture for the kids, a candle light service, and a potluck dinner after […]
Religious beliefs in Sri Lanka
The Temple of the Tooth in Kandy is one of the holiest sites in Sri Lanka as it possibly houses the original tooth of Lord Buddha. Sri Lanka, officially the Republic of Sri Lanka, is an island nation located in South Asia, formerly known as Ceylon. It covers an area of 25,332 square miles with […]
What Buddhism teaches about peace and war
Buddhism is generally considered, with good reason, to be the most peaceful religion in the world. Like other South Asian religions, it emphasizes the principle of Ahimsah, the “non-injury” of other living beings. Yet his teachings also emphasize that violence harms the spiritual state of the abuser, as well as that of the victim. Evil […]
How Buddhism is used to justify violence in Myanmar
Four hundred thousand Rohingya have fled their homes in Myanmar to neighboring Bangladesh in the face of what the UN Secretary-General calls “a vicious cycle of persecution, discrimination, radicalization and violent repression” by the Myanmar military. A humanitarian crisis resulted; the world is watching images of Rohingya villages reduced to ashes. Aung San Suu Kyi, […]
Resources on Buddhism and mediation – CSS Blog Network
The author and Buddhist leaders from different schools gather at the White House in 2016 for a celebration of Vesak Day. Mediation perspectives is a periodic blog entry provided by CSS ‘ Mediation support team and occasional guest authors. Each entry is designed to emphasize the usefulness of mediation approaches in dealing with violent political […]
Nurturing the roots of Chinese Buddhism in Africa – Buddhistdoor Global
I was born Simon Manase Masauko in Malawi on April 23, 1978. I received the name Dharma Ben Xing, which means “awakening†or, more literally, “the original root of awakeningâ€, in 2000 from the famous Buddhist monk Venerable Master Hui Li, the first Mahayana monk from Taiwan to come to Africa and spread humanistic Buddhism. […]
There is a misogynistic aspect of Buddhism that no one talks about – Quartz India
Hinduism is patriarchal. No doubt about it. The same is true of Christianity and Islam, Sikhism and Shintoism, Jainism and Judaism. But Buddhism? It is not the first religion that comes to mind when it comes to misogyny. The assumption is that Buddhism is rational, modern, agnostic and liberal in matters of gender and sexuality. […]