An international epic will explain the role of Karma in the lives of Tiger Woods and Michael Jackson as well as everyday people battling odds from cancer to the credit crunch.

NEW YORK, March 4 /PRNewswire/ — As the world continues to analyze the apology of Tiger Woods as well as the death of Michael Jackson, the global epic “Karma: The New Revolution” will explain the role Karma has played in both of these events. Furthermore, it will highlight how Karma Yoga has helped everyday individuals overcome cancer, crime and the credit crunch.

Filmed in over a dozen countries, the film will combine the teachings of Buddhism and Eastern philosophies with key aspects of Judeo-Christianity as well as wisdom from visionaries like Franklin, Einstein, Gandhi, Jung, Russell, Sagan, Nietzsche and their peers.

The film’s Presenter and one of the only Buddhist-Brahmins in the West, Acharya Zen elaborates, “Although the word ‘Karma’ has become a part of the pop culture lexicon, few really understand all that it entails. In fact, Karma and Redemption go hand in hand and in Verse 173 of The Dhammapadas, the Buddha states that ‘a person who makes amends for his mistakes can light up the world like the moon merging from the clouds’. This suggests that Tiger Woods can redeem himself by following the Buddha’s last words ‘Appo Deepo Bhava’ or ‘Be a lamp unto yourself’”.

Acharya Zen adds, “Similarly, instead of merely mourning the death of the King of Pop, we should focus on the lessons we can learn from his life. The film will also discuss the heroic ’Karma mindset’ embraced by our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, the film will highlight the Karmic Law of Detachment which can cushion the Law of Attraction by cultivating contentment over craving in light of the recent recession.”

“Karma: The New Revolution” will be released on March 15th and exclusive previews are available at www.RightKarma.net

Acharya Zen is one of the only Buddhist Brahmins from the West who hails from the distinguished lineage that authored and maintained most of the Buddhist and Hindu scriptures over the millennia. He uniquely combines Eastern spirituality with Western Motivational Speaking and can be visited at AcharyaZen.com and AcharyaZen.org.

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Above is the giant Leshan Buddha built during the Tang Dynasty around the seventh century.  It is carved where the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers in the southern part of the Sichuan province of China meet. The giant stone Buddha faces toward Mount Eimi and the rivers flow below his feet. It is the largest stone Buddha carving on the planet.

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Buddhism is a religion based on the teachings of Buddha which are referred to as “Dharma” or “the Dharma.”  Buddhist believe they are on a spiritual quest to attain a state of complete enlightenment known as Nirvana.

Over time the Buddhist religion has evolved, fractured and adapted as the religion spread to the continent of Asia and around the globe.  There are three main sects of Buddhism today along with several smaller variants of the religion.

These different Buddhist religions are all united under some core Buddhist principles. In each, the Buddha is considered the spiritual leader.  The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path are core principles and philosophies of the faith.  All believe that Buddhahood is the highest possible state that can be achieved.

The Theravada or “doctrine of the Elders” was established around 300 BC.  This religion centered around the teachings of Buddha and encouraged it’s followers to use meditation as a means to teach the mind and eliminate suffering with the ultimate goal of reaching Nirvana.  Theravada Buddhism established the canon of Buddhist teachings and the Ten Precepts which govern the lifestyle of Buddhist monks.

This discipline of Buddhism originated in India and moved through southeast Asia into Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam and other Asian countries.  As this form of Buddhism was embraced by the indigenous people, the Theravada was altered to incorporate the religious beliefs of the various geographic regions. It is still practiced in Laos, Sri Lanka and Cambodia today.

Mahayana, or Eastern Buddhism, expands the Pali Canon and includes other religious philosophies and texts that encourage altruism and the need to live a life of universal compassion.  These beliefs are central to their concept of an “Awakened mind.”  Practiced primarily in China, Korea and Japan, Mahayana Buddhism incorporates elements of mysticism and cosmology.

Mahayana Buddhism itself has divided into two main sects.  Zen Buddhism, which focuses more on internalization of the spiritual path and self-reliance and Pure Land Buddhism which teaches that dedication to the Amitabha Buddha is required to reach Nirvana. Although deeply influenced by Mahayana Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism or Vajrayana is another distinct discipline of the Buddhist faith.

Referred to as Tantric Buddhism, Vajrayana incorporates text and scriptures from both Mahayana and Theraveda Buddhism along with Buddhist Tantras.  A major difference of Vajrayana Buddhism is that it teaches that Buddhahood can be achieved in a single life time without need for reincarnation.

The Path to Enlightenment and Buddhahood is the most significant difference between the various Buddhist disciplines.  While all believe in the core principles of meditation and spiritual questing guided by the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, the attainment of Nirvana varies considerably.

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Cut the love of self, like an autumn lotus, with thy hand! Cherish the road of peace. Nirvana has been shown by Sugata (Buddha).

- Buddha

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As the Fletcher makes straight his arrow, a wise man makes straight his trembling and unsteady thought, which is difficult to guard, difficult to hold back.

Buddha

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama prayed for world peace here on Tuesday.

Hundreds of Buddhists and followers of the Dalai Lama converged at the Kaal Chakra Maidan (Wheel of Time Ground) in Bodh Gaya, the place where Buddha attained enlightenment, as the five-day-long ‘Geluk Monlam puja (prayers)’ began.

“He (Dalai Lama) has given a lot of practical advise on being nice to the people and being transparent to yourself in your life so that you don’t have to hide things from people because you’ll have better relations with them and being open to them you’ll have more friends,” said James, a devotee from London.

Around 50,000 people from across the world are expected to assemble in Bodh Gaya over the five days to hear the Dalai Lama’s discourses.uring his stay the Dalai Lama would inaugurate a multimedia museum and visit new stone carvings on Buddha’s life erected in the Mahabodhi Mahavihara premises.

The 1,500-year-old holiest Buddhist shrine Mahabodhi temple at Bodh Gaya is where the Buddha attained enlightenment 2,550 years ago.

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Below is an excerpt from  Barbra O’ Brien’s Blog on Buddhism – Barb’s words were a bit twisted by the Family Research Council to defend Brit “If It Ain’t Christian…It’s Crap” Hume.  It’s a good read.

Today I was disappointed to learn that the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian organization, has quoted from my “Let’s Forgive Brit Hume” post to “prove” the superior forgiveness/redemption power of Christianity over Buddhism.  Peter Sprigg of the FRC writes,

Has Brit Hume slandered Buddhists by mischaracterizing their theology? Not really. Barbara O’Brien, author of “Barbara’s Buddhism Blog,” admits, “Mr. Hume is right, in a sense, that Buddhism doesn’t offer redemption and forgiveness in the same way Christianity does. Buddhism has no concept of sin; therefore, redemption and forgiveness in the Christian sense are meaningless in Buddhism.”

From here, Mr. Sprigg proceeds to slander Buddhism by mischaracterizing our “theology.”

Read the rest of this entry

so I’m not naïve enough to believe that Fox news or  Brit Hume are likely to issue an apology to the world’s Buddhists.  I mean there is only about 1.5 billion.  So it’s not like he really offended anybody.  I wonder if we would have experienced the same non-reaction if Mr. Hume had suggested that it was time for Tiger Woods to let go of his Jewish faith?  Not likely. And one can only imagine the uproar in the radical Islamic community over such a pronunciation.  But Buddhism by its very nature is ripe for just such a dismissive attitude.  Buddhism is so focused on the self, we often forget that the true purpose of religion is to force it unsolicited on others who don’t share our views.  That’s what it’s really all about…right?

Brit Hume seems to be ready to offer Tiger Woods a “get out of Hell free card.”  All just for signing up to endorse Christianity. I’d offer Tiger this thought…

“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”

-  Buddha

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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.

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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.

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