Loved Barb O’ Brien’s (About.com) take on the Brit Hume comment about Tiger’s need to convert to Christianity in order to find salvation.  You can read it here.  I’ve always admired Tiger’s golf game…but man oh man did he screw up.  I’m not sure any faith is ready to take on the task of clearing his name.  That’s a pretty tall order.  I think he’ll just have to wait it out and hope for a scandal of biblical proportions.

Related articles

• Brit Hume has some advice for Tiger Woods (tvsquad.com)
• Telling Tiger Woods to Become Christian is ‘Not Proselytizing’: Brit Hume [Proselytizing] (gawker.com)
• Convert to Christianity and Receive a Complimentary “Get Out of Adultery Free Card” (slog.thestranger.com)

It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways. – Buddha …

Sikkim which is situated amidst Himalayan Hills is a paradise for tourists. Now the state Government has stepped up its efforts to promote many Budhist sites and festivals as tourist’s destinations.

Kagyad chaam is the one of the four forms of masked dances in the state.

Performed by Lamas of Buddhist monastery on the every 28th and 29th day of Tibetan calendar, the dances symbolize exorcizing of evil spirits of previous year and welcoming the good spirits at the dawn of New Year.

During the dance costumed Lamas with gaily-painted masks holding the ceremonial swords jump and swing to the rhythm of resounding drums.

The vibrant dance not just enthralls locals, but foreign tourists as well.

Kagyad dance enacts various themes from the Buddhist mythology and culminates with the burning of effigies made of flour, wood and paper.

A congregation of local Buddhist followers and tourists gather once a year to witness this extraordinary dance.

The Buddhist festivals, which reflect centuries-old tradition of Buddhism in State also contribute to the growth of tourism industry.

According to Sikkim Travel Agent Association General Secretary Lukendra Rasily, “Tourists finds it very very interesting, very different and when they come to Sikkim they go back with lot of memories which are not available easily anywhere in the world.”

“The tour operator is marketing; the Government of India is also marketing through their Incredible India slogan,” he added.

Sikkim has a lot more to offer to the visitors-snow clad mountains, thick green forests and monasteries.

Peace and normalcy have brought in many visitors to the state. Over 3 lakh tourists visited Sikkim this year alone.

Related articles

• Dalai Lama holds mass gathering (news.bbc.co.uk)
• Indian MP attacks tougher visa laws (telegraph.co.uk)
• Delhi tries to dispel tourists’ fears (guardian.co.uk)

Bodh Gaya (Bihar), Jan 4 : Buddhist monks converged at Bodh Gaya here to witness a musical play depicting the life cycle of Karmapa Ujjain Trinela Dorjee, their 17th spiritual leader.

Rait village (Himachal Pradesh), Jan 4 : Tibetan Prime Minister in exile Samdhong Rinpoche attended a peace ceremony in Rait village of Himachal Pradesh.

A demonstration takes place in Delhi for the release of Tenzin Delek, the Panchen Lama and all of Tibet's religious and political leaders. Beijing's response has been the deployment of troops in Nyagc…

Tibetan Buddhism is considered as the guardian of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, a paradise for diverse species, with its rigorous doctrines.

“The Tibetan Buddhism stresses the harmony between humans and the nature. Despite harsh natural conditions, however, Tibet has done a good job in environmental protection. This has much to do with the Tibetan Buddhist dogmas requiring quietness during self-cultivation in order to better merge oneself with the nature,” said Cao Ziqiang, 75, former vice president of the High-Level Tibetan Buddhism College of China.

The plateau has offered this religion an ideal environment for its expansion. There, all lamaseries have luxuriant woods, vast pastures and fertile land.

“To cherish the land has naturally become a mission for those Buddhist followers,” Cao said, adding: “Meanwhile, some Buddhist disciplines and taboos have helped protect the ecological environment as well. For example, the precept of no killing is actually regarded as a respect to life and conducive to the protection of both animals and plants.”

Tibetans have internalized these disciplines into self-awareness and have been pursuing them to the letter in their daily life. “Tibet’s weak ecosystem has been protected to the utmost this way,” he said.

According to China Meteorological Administration, the growth rate of temperatures in Tibet is four times the national average. Consequently, Tibet has become a big victim of climatic changes. Its Buddhism, closely tied up with the nature, has no choice but to accept this reality.

Related articles

• Stop Torture In Tibet (thepetitionsite.com)
• Dalai Lama visit to India border region too close for comfort for China (nationalpost.com)
• That’s The Spirit [Snap Judgment] (jezebel.com)

All monks including lamas in the Tar Monastery have been covered by the new rural cooperative medical care system. (source: Topix.net) – News widgets and RSS feeds on Feedzilla.com

On Fox News Sunday, news personality Brit Hume had advice for the scandal-ridden Tiger Woods: “The extent to which he can recover seems to me depends on his faith,” said Hume. “He is said to be a Buddhist. I don’t think that faith offers the kind of re… (source: About) – RSS widgets and RSS feeds on Feedzilla.com

The Buddha is thought to have realized enlightenment at Bodhgaya, today a city in northern India. The site of the enlightenment is marked by the 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also the site of controversy. Today monks… (source: About) – News widgets and RSS feeds on Feedzilla.com