Tibetan plight grabs attention of US senators

United States Senators have introduced a resolution calling for China to abandon religious control regulations in Tibet and open up channels of communication with Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The six US senators have also called for the release of all those “arbitrarily detained” and to put an end to the intimidation tactics being used against peaceful Tibetan protesters. Their resolution also calls for the “unrestricted access of journalists, foreign diplomats and international organizations to Tibet.” Read More »

Tibetan calligraphy comes to the United Arab Emirates

By Adam Tebbe

Tashi Mannox, an English-born artist who deals with Tibetan Buddhist iconography and scripts as a subject matter, has been invited to participate in the 2012 Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial. His work will be showcased at the Sharjah Calligraphy Museum in the United Arab Emirates this coming April.

The Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial features some of the best contemporary Islamic calligraphy out there, making Tashi’s invitation a rare honor. He’s the only Tibetan calligrapher invited to this year’s event. Read More »

Meet the University of Cincinnati’s social worker monk

By Adam Tebbe

Bhante Aluthgama Chandananda stands out on the University of Cincinnati campus, donning the saffron robes of a Buddhist monk while running to classes. Students and teachers often refer to him as “Chan.” The Sri Lanka born monk is currently a resident at the Ohio Buddhist Vihara while also pursuing a master’s degree in social work at the University of Cincinnati. Upon graduation, Chan will likely be the first Buddhist monk to graduate from UC with a Ph.D. Read More »

Ikeda calls for “nuclear abolition summit”

Is it time for a nuclear abolition summit? Daisaku Ikeda thinks so.

In his recent 30th annual address to the United Nations, titled “Human Security and Sustainability: Sharing Reverence for the Dignity of Life,” Soka Gakkai International’s president urged member nations to hold just such an event. Read More »

65th Annual Northwest District Buddhist Convention coming to Spokane

Spokane Buddhist Temple

This February 17 through 19, more than 350 Shin Buddhist practitioners will gather at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane, WA, for the 65th Annual Northwest District Buddhist Convention — the theme being “Under Amida’s Umbrella of Compassion.” Hosted by the Spokane Buddhist Temple, the event will feature opening speaker Ven. Bhante Seelawimala of the Institute of Buddhist Studies and keynote speaker Rev. Marvin Kenji Harada of the Orange County Buddhist Church.

The convention will include an opening and closing Buddhist service, a day of workshops in English and Japanese, a bookstore and gift shop, a banquet with entertainment (Spokane Taiko Japanese Drumming and a DJ with dancing), and a hospitality room. Speakers will deal largely with the topic of compassion. Read More »

Bangladesh’s “Bana Bhante” dies at age 93

The Daily Star reports that Sadhana Nanda Mohasthabir — the venerated Bangladeshi
Buddhist monk better known as “Bana Bhante” — died recently in hospital care in his hometown of Rajban Bihar in Rangamati. Arun at the “Angry Asian Buddhist” blog does an excellent job of putting Bana Bhante and his importance into historical perspective (and offers links to his teachings online) — we recommend checking that out, here.

13th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women calls for papers

The 13th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women — which will be held this year in Vaishali, India — has issued its annual call for papers. The theme this year is “Buddhism at the Grassroots.” Sakyadhita, or “Daughters of the Buddha,” describes itself as “the world’s leading international organization of Buddhist women… an alliance of women (and men) committed to transforming the lives of women in Buddhist societies.” You can watch highlights from last year’s conference, which was held in Thailand, here.

Commemorating the parinirvana of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Photo (detail) by James Gimian. Used by permission.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the passing of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche — the great Buddhist teacher who (among many other accomplishments) founded the Shambhala Sun magazine. To mark this, the January 2012 Shambhala Sun includes “Ocean of Dharma,” Barry Boyce’s look at the life and work of Trungpa Rinpoche, and we’ll be sharing teachings from Rinpoche in the magazine all year. (Look for “A Meditation Instruction,” the first of these teachings, in the next, March 2012 issue.)

Also remembering Trungpa Rinpoche are our friends at Sounds True, who are offering “When Lightning Strikes,” a six-week online interactive event series about his life and teachings, led by Reggie Ray. It begins on February 15. For information about “When Lightning Strikes,” click here.