Canyon Sam receives PEN award

Canyon Sam, a Chinese-American Buddhist, was recently honored with the PEN Open Book Award for her new book Sky Train: Tibetan Women on the Edge of History.

A press release from the University of Washington Press describes Canyon Sam’s book as “a deeply felt, cutting edge memoir of the courage of four Tibetan women when China invaded their country in 1959 — and their survival through imprisonment, torture and spiritual oppression… It chronicles the vast changes to Tibetan people and landscapes by a greater connection with the Chinese through the new high-speed ‘sky train’ that connects Lhasa to China.” The book also includes a foreword by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

The PEN Open Book Award highlights literary excellence among authors of color in the United States. Sam’s book was also granted an “Outstanding” rating by the American Library Association.

Buddhist Global Relief fundraising event

Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi will be leading a walk to raise money for Buddhist Global Relief hunger relief projects in the US, Asia, and Africa, on Saturday, October 16. The 5 mile (8 kilometer) walk will begin at  South Mountain Reservation, in South Orange, NJ.

People who don’t live in the area are invited to support the walk in other ways. You can conduct your own walk in your area, and create a fundraising page for yourself, a team, or your sangha to raise funds for BGR hunger relief projects. If you can’t walk but still want to contribute, you can sponsor Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi’s walk on his fundraising page. To register for the walk or fundraise, click here.

What’s your experience as a woman on the Buddhist path?

From Tynette Deveaux, editor of Buddhadharma, The Practitioner’s Quarterly

In the next issue of Buddhadharma we’re focusing on the challenges—and opportunities—facing women in Western Buddhism.

We want to hear from YOU about your experiences. Are there gender issues in your Buddhist community? Do you face particular obstacles as a woman practitioner? Is gender even an issue for you in the context of Buddhist practice and community?

(Do note that we’d like to hear from men as well on this issue.) Join the conversation on SunSpace now. Read More »

Eido Roshi steps down as abbot of Zen Studies Society

Eido Shimano Roshi will be stepping down as abbot of the Zen Studies Society, a decision he explained in a letter that went out to his sangha yesterday (see below). Eido Roshi also previously agreed to resign from the Zen Studies Society’s board of directors amid allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a female student (See our report from last month). The full text of his letter follows here.

Dear Friends,

I would like to acknowledge the pain and unnecessary suffering you went through in your hearts due to my faults. I have a profound feeling of remorse for my actions.

This August marked my 50th anniversary in the United States. During this half-century I have received so much from people the world over. Over time, I took your kindness for granted and arrogance grew in my heart. Read More »