Archives for March 2014

Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi continues to branch out from his wonderful op-eds at Tricycle‘s blog, with another outstanding, eloquent post for Truthout -- this one entitled "Of Budgets, Values and Visions". Here's a snippet -- the opening: The release of the Congressional Progressive Caucus budget last week brings up once again the familiar maxim that a budget is, or should be, a moral document. I believe, however, that this statement, although true, does not convey adequately the most salient sign … [Read more...]

My buddy and colleague in Patheos blogging, Justin Whitaker, has the story at his American Buddhist Perspective.Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya is, of course, the world famous Buddhist institution of higher learning in Bangkok, Thailand. One of two such public universities in the country, it says of itself: Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University aims to be the leading center of Buddhist education and to cooperate with other organizations and institutes to promote Buddhist education...In … [Read more...]

You can watch the whole interview here, and find out more about A Call to Action here.Buddhism doesn't get discussed much in the book, but the call to action here is one we would do as well to heed as our colleagues in other religious traditions. This is something I've tried to devote some time and attention to in my work as a Buddhist minister: I previously posted an updated, revised, expanded, and transcribed version of a dharma talk I delivered at the Rosemead Buddhist Monastery in Ros … [Read more...]

With the subject being much-discussed (especially following the protest at Wisdom 2.0), The Guardian asks Thich Nhat Hanh this week if mindfulness is "being corrupted by business and finance?" There's more to the article, but one statement from the revered Buddhist teacher is worth highlighting: If you know how to practice mindfulness you can generate peace and joy right here, right now. And you'll appreciate that and it will change you. In the beginning, you believe that if you cannot become n … [Read more...]

A few weeks ago, I brought you news about a sophomore seminar being offered this term at UC-Berkeley that is called “Buddhist Economics.” Now, Bill Moyers' program Moyers & Company have a new interview with the professor, Clair Brown, in which they ask "How Would Buddha Organize Our Cutthroat Modern Economy?" Here's a snippet: What would Buddha say about workplace conditions and labor relations? Would a Buddhist economy require a corporate model that’s different from the hierarchical one in … [Read more...]

Last summer, I brought you news about the upcoming academic conference on Buddhism and social justice that will be held at Leiden University from April 23-25. The conference program is now online along with you abstracts for each presentation. The schedule is below, and you can find/download the rest here. CONFERENCE PROGRAMME (TENTATIVE PROGRAM) Wednesday 23 April 9:30-10:30 *Jonathan Silk *- *Buddhism and Social Justice: What are we doing?* 10:30-10:45 Coffee break 10:45-11:15 *Claudio … [Read more...]

Hozan Alan Senauke -- founder of the Clear View Project, one of the founders of Think Sangha, vice-abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center, former executive director of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, and author of the brand new book Heirs To Ambedkar: The Rebirth of Engaged Buddhism in India -- has a new piece up at Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's Quarterly Online entitled "The Fire This Time: A Look at the Religious Violence in Burma".Here's a snippet: Burma seems headed into a maelstrom of inter … [Read more...]

Thanks, Matteo Pistono, for the reminder!For the uninitiated, Sivaraksa is Thailand’s preeminent social activist and one of the titans of the modern engaged Buddhist movement. He founded and currently directs Thailand’s Sathirakoses-Nagapradeepa Foundation, and also serves on the advisory board of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists.In addition to all his work as an activist, organizer, and social critic in Thailand, he has served as chair of the UN’s Asian Cultural Forum on De … [Read more...]