December 4, 2009 – 10:47 am
Tibetan singing star and mandolin player Tashi Dondrup has been arrested by Chinese authorities for what they call his “subversive music.” This isn’t the first arrest for Dondrup, who apparently endured similar hassles earlier this year and in 2008.
The 30 year old musician has a new album out in which he sings of the Dalai [...]
November 25, 2009 – 8:14 am
Nobel Peace Laureates Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi and Mairead Corrigan Maguire have launched their “Thank You Tibet” campaign, designed to bring more awareness to the country’s contributions and plight, and “to organize a global celebration of Tibetan culture during an event next year.”
The dynamic new Thank You Tibet website is now up and running so [...]
November 23, 2009 – 10:24 am
Leading the Buddhist news items this week were stories of world leaders “stepping out”: U.S. President Barack Obama came to call on China, His Holiness the Dalai Lama offered teachings at a disputed region of India and in Italy, and Burma’s General Than Shwe visited Sri Lanka. The Indian government has also announced [...]
November 20, 2009 – 1:40 pm
One of our favorite photographers, James Gritz, has posted a new collection of photos of his travels, featuring special moments from, as he writes, “Nangchen to New York.” There you’ll also see a photo of the 17th Karmapa, taken by Gritz during His Holiness’s recent American tour. That photo, of course, graces the cover of [...]
November 17, 2009 – 9:30 am
[11/18/2009 update: it should be no surprise that "Tibetan exiles [are] saddened by Obama’s views on Tibet.”]
…As indicated in our story yesterday, US President Barack Obama is in China. Let’s look at a couple of headlines:
Compare this one — Obama Urges China to Resume Tibet Talks (via the TimesOnline) — with this one: US Says [...]
November 11, 2009 – 5:29 pm
“Rule-breakers” lead the news stories from the Buddhist world this week: chief among these would be His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who is visiting Arunachal Pradesh state in India (a region claimed by China as their own) this week, and Ajahn Brahmavamso in Australia, who performed a bhikkshuni ordination in Perth and was subsequently disavowed [...]
November 5, 2009 – 4:32 pm
In “So Sad, No Problem,” in our current issue, Jaimal Yogis (author of Saltwater Buddha) shares the story of Sonam, a Tibetan Buddhist monk — ordained by the Dalai Lama himself — who Jaimal met in India and would teach the author an unexpected lesson about coping with love and loss. (The two also shared [...]
November 1, 2009 – 10:21 am
A Buddhist holiday is our top story this week, dear readers. That’s right, it’s time once again for Kathina—the Theravada Buddhist holiday marks the end of the rains retreat, and is the main time for alms-giving in the tradition. We point you to stories this week about observations in locations as far apart as [...]
October 27, 2009 – 9:20 am
This past Thursday, we shared this breaking news via The Guardian: “Chinese authorities have carried out their first executions of Tibetans in connection with the deadly riots that swept Lhasa last year, according to exile groups.” Now, the number of confirmed deaths is two, not four. (Not that that would make the responsible authorities’ actions [...]
October 25, 2009 – 11:10 am
The question of progress on human rights issues in various parts of Buddhist Asia (continue to) dominate much of the news this week. With important new reports, bodies, and findings making headlines, the stage is clearly set for conflict or change in certain areas. Will the ruling military junta bow to international pressure [...]
October 20, 2009 – 10:08 am
Tyler Dewar from the Nalandabodhi sangha [established under the direction of The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche as a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing the genuine teachings of Tibetan Buddhism with an international community] served as the translator for the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa in Delhi, India, in September. The Karmapa’s main teaching event was at the International [...]
October 12, 2009 – 11:02 am
Looming large in this latest round-up from our resident Buddhist world-news newshound, Danny Fisher:
The G-20, the Nobel Peace Prize, U.S. foreign policy, freedom of the press, and China. Plus, a “gigantic” lost Buddha, and more.
October 8, 2009 – 7:24 pm
Following on our July post about MCA/Adam Yauch’s cancer diagnosis, ContactMusic.com reports that Yauch “has just returned from Tibet, where he was treated by Buddhist doctors, and he has assured fans he’s doing well.” Yauch also hopped to India: “I visited an ani gompa (a nunnery) called Jamyang Choling. They did a puja (religious ceremony) [...]
October 2, 2009 – 10:07 am
Last night was the second and final night in which the Empire State Building was lit in red and yellow to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. But, “looked at another way,” as the NY Times suggests, “it honored the 60th anniversary of Communist rule, which in the past caused millions [...]
September 28, 2009 – 4:29 pm
Burma remains the major source of news this week, what with major changes in U.S. policy toward the country, Buddhist temples destroyed in earthquakes, and reports that effectively nothing has changed for the sangha two years after the quashing of the “Saffron Revolution.” Plus: more on Thich Nhat Hanh’s community at Bat Nha Monastery in [...]
