A blanket of snow covers a large part of North America today.  This made for an unusually quiet morning where I am. I thought of a haiku by Masaoka Shiki…

Here’s a post for you physics geeks. According to Katherine Gustafson at Tonic, there’s a link between 2nd century Buddhist art from Gandhara and a recent breakthrough in quantum physics….

The doors of the Immortal are open. Let them who can hear respond with faith….

While the Tathagata, in his teaching, constantly makes use of conceptions and ideas about them, disciples should keep in mind the unreality of all such conceptions and ideas. They should recall that the Tathagata, in making use of them in explaining the Dharma always uses them in the semblance of a raft that is of use only to cross a river. As the raft is of no further use after the river is crossed, it should be discarded. So these arbitrary conceptions of things and about things should be wholly given up as one attains enlightenment. -Buddha …

This is the way of peace: “Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love.” – Peace Pilgrim…

What do you have to do? Pack your bags, Go to the station without them, Catch the train, And leave your self behind. – Open Secret by Wei Wu Wei…

The first step of the Eightfold Path is Right Views, which means Knowledge of the Four Noble Truths….

BANDA ACEH– Over a hundred Buddhists on Sunday prayed and lit joss sticks in Indonesia's Aceh province to mourn the victims of the deadly tsunami ahead of the five-year anniversary on December 26. "T…

The National Commission for Minorities has written to the Centre and the Bihar government to put Buddhists in sole charge of managing the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment 2,500 years ago.

The NCM has also asked the state government to amend the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949, as it feels the law is not in harmony with Article 26 of the Constitution.

The article guarantees every religion the right to establish and maintain a religious institution. Under the existing law, four Buddhists and four Hindus should be on the Bodh Gaya temple management committee. The panel’s tenure is for three years and the Gaya district magistrate is its ex-officio chairman.

“The NCM is of the view that the 1949 act should be either amended or repealed so that the temple management is vested exclusively with Buddhists. We have taken up the case with both the Union and the state governments,” said Spalzes Angmo, a Buddhist member of the commission.

Read the full article

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Sponsors and a Tokyo museum hosting a Tibetan Buddhist exhibition have come under heated criticism from pro-Tibet activists who say the display is politically biased because of the lack of reference to historical facts about the region.

Pro-Tibet supporters have rallied near the Ueno Royal Museum every weekend since the exhibition, titled “Tibet: Treasures from the Roof of the World,” opened Sept. 19 with China’s State Administration of Cultural Heritage and the Chinese Embassy listed among its official sponsors.

The activists have also delivered speeches with commentaries on the history of Tibet and issues related to the region.

Related articles about Buddhism

• Dalai Lama visits disputed Indian border town angering China (telegraph.co.uk)
• Indian Town Joyfully Greets Dalai Lama (nytimes.com)
• Dalai Lama visits town near Tibetan border (ctv.ca)