The Tibetan Feminist Collective: an interview with co-founder Tenzin Pelkyi

Last updated on: February 3, 2016 at 8:39 am By Justin Whitaker

Last month I shared two wonderful guest posts by researchers looking into race in American Buddhism (“Race Matters…” and “The Dukkha of Racism…“). I also noted the change, which occurred early in 2015, of the blog’s title from the singular “American Buddhist Perspective” to plural “Perspectives” in recognition that more perspectives than my own were being shared here and as an aspiration that this growth and diversity continues to flourish. Today I’m honored to share an interview that has been many months in... Read more

David Bowie’s ashes to be spread in Bali “in accordance with the Buddhist rituals”

Last updated on: January 30, 2016 at 9:34 pm By Justin Whitaker

As discussed here earlier this month, one of the many lives of David Bowie was as a Buddhist practitioner and later a devoted patron of Tibetan culture and the cause of Tibetan independence. As reported then, however, the late singer’s 1960s fascination with Buddhism was unclear – perhaps mirroring many people’s interest in Buddhism at the time – “Despite Bowie’s deep interest in Buddhism, he had no sympathy with the hippy package [that came with it]” wrote Sean O’Hagen of... Read more

In power grab from the Dalai Lama, China announces list of “verified living Buddhas” for Tibetan Buddhism

Last updated on: January 19, 2016 at 2:09 am By Justin Whitaker

In what can only be described as an odd, if not cynical, move by the self-avowed atheist government of China, a new list of “verified living Buddhas” or tulkus, reincarnated Buddhist masters, has been published in Chinese and Tibetan languages at http://hf.tibet.cn/. The purported role of the site is to inform citizens about the “real” high lamas and teachers, complete with ID numbers and monastery listings. The site, known as Rinpocheonline, is said to list 870 authentic Rinpoche’s (an honorific title... Read more

David Bowie’s fascination with Tibet and Buddhism

Last updated on: January 18, 2018 at 9:19 am By Justin Whitaker

With the very sad passing of the great David Bowie, tributes have poured in from around the world. Bowie, as the NYTimes writes, “Transcended Music, Art and Fashion.” Among them a number have noted his youthful connections with Buddhism, which was growing in popularity in the England of the 1960s. Of particular interest is an in-depth blog dedicated to the songs of Bowie, aptly named “Pushing Ahead of the Dame: David Bowie, song by song.” In one post there, the... Read more

What is Buddhist Medicine?

Last updated on: January 8, 2016 at 6:00 pm By Justin Whitaker

By Pierce Salguero Recently, I invited my Facebook friends to submit questions on the topic of Buddhism and medicine. I collated the questions together, and wrote the brief responses below…. Is there such a thing as “Buddhist medicine”? Is medicine really something central to Buddhism? How did medicine influence Buddhism? Every Buddhist tradition of which I am aware has something to say about illness, health, and healing. An interest in the mind-body relationship and its relationship to mental and physical... Read more

Buddhist Teacher Thich Nhat Hanh returns to Plum Village after US treatment

Last updated on: January 8, 2016 at 5:55 pm By Justin Whitaker

Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) has returned to his adoptive home monastery in southern France after six month in the United States to receive specialist care after his stroke in November 2014. As written in an update today by the Monks and Nuns of Plum Village: Since the dawn of the New Year, Thay has very clearly communicated to us a wish to return to his hermitage in Plum Village, France. Thay is satisfied with the progress he has made so... Read more

Race Matters in Buddhist Communities

Last updated on: January 7, 2016 at 3:28 pm By Justin Whitaker

Editor’s note: This is the second of two posts this week on race in American Buddhist communities. It occurred to me that both of our wonderful authors, Ann and Craig are both white, as am I, and as are most of my readers – at least the ones I’ve gotten to know over the years. So while I am very happy to see this conversation happening and growing, I want to see the discussion opening up across racial lines as Craig suggests here.... Read more

Reddit’s Buddhism page bans support of the New Kadampa Tradition

Last updated on: January 7, 2016 at 1:58 am By Justin Whitaker

The popular Buddhism section of Reddit, known as the front page of the internet, last week banned all content relating to the New Kadampa Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. This, the editors say, is in response to complaints over the quality of the Buddhism section of the site. Specifically addressing the NKT ban, they write: Why is content related to the New Kadampa Tradition now banned? Following recent news confirming conspiracy theories and speculation for years that the NKT is financially backed... Read more

BREAKING: major earthquake hits India/Burma (Myanmar) region

Last updated on: January 5, 2016 at 12:57 pm By Justin Whitaker

UPDATE: as of 11pm EST (Jan 3), 6 people are reported to have died in the quake and at least 50 have been injured. Jan 4 update: the latest report is that 13 people have died in Manipur, India and search and rescue operations are ongoing, but these are difficult because communications and infrastructure have been badly damaged or lost in many areas. Still no word on villages across the boarder in Burma/Myanmar. No reports of injuries have come in... Read more

The Dukkha of Racism: Racial Inclusion and Justice in American Convert Buddhism

Last updated on: January 5, 2016 at 2:55 pm By Justin Whitaker

Editor’s note: I’m delighted to host guest-posts dealing with Race in American Buddhist communities. The first, by the above title, is by Dr. Ann Gleig, a researcher working on a variety of issues in contemporary Buddhism including race, gender, psychology and philosophy. Keep an eye out for a second post later this week. On July 1 2015, a website titled “Buddhists for Racial Justice” started circulating across Buddhist social media. It included an open letter that spoke of the deep sadness at the murders... Read more