American Suicide in India Buddhist Center

JAIPUR, India — An American man has died after setting himself on fire in an abandoned Buddhist centre in northwestern India, leaving a cryptic suicide note that blamed his death on "cruel incidents" in his homeland and India, police said Thursday.
The charred body of Jeff Knaebel, a 71-year-old Californian, was found Wednesday by villagers at a meditation site in Rajasthan state, police superintendent Mohan Singh said.
"I am killing myself because of cruel incidents in both the U.S. and in India," Knaebel wrote in a note, according to police.
The note contained a request that only police handle his body and instructions that the 45,000 rupees ($1,000) in his bag be given to the poor. It did not explain his motivations further.
Knaebel had renounced U.S. citizenship in 2009 and had been living in India since 1995.
Police said he had recently been visiting villages in the Rajasthan to talk to people about the teachings of India's independence leader Mohandas K. Gandhi. He reached the Buddhist centre — in Virat Nagar, a town 90 miles (150 kilometres) north of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan — three days ago, police said.
Police said the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi of Knaebel's death, Singh said. A spokesman at the U.S. Embassy did not have immediate comment.

Republic Day Celebration

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's attendance as chief guest at this year's Republic Day celebrations was significant. The last Indonesian chief guest to attend these celebrations was President Sukarno in 1950. With the passing of the Nehru-Sukarno era, India's relationship with Southeast Asia ceased to be a priority in our diplomatic agenda. This was unfortunate.

Indonesia is a major emerging market economy like India and China, and a G20 member. Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore are also important players in Asia. Vietnam is another emerging power and potential strategic partner. Reinventing India's relations with countries of the ASEAN region is a critical factor in the new global power balances that is now evolving. It lies at the heart of India's Look East policy. This recent doctrine is in fact a rediscovery of an ancient relationship - India's deep engagement with Southeast Asia well over a thousand years ago - that offers many lessons as well as opportunities for our own times.

This ancient relationship is perhaps best reflected in Angkor Wat. This remarkable temple is the national symbol of Cambodia, but it is also a Hindu temple dedicated to the worship of Vishnu. Built in the 12th century, Angkor marks the pinnacle of Khmer art and civilisation, but the origin of Khmer rule goes back to the eighth century. At its peak, this empire included not only Cambodia, but also large parts of Laos, Thailand, and Malaysia. It was ruled by Hindu god kings, and by their Buddhist descendants from the 12th century onwards. Travel further east to Vietnam, and on the shores of the Pacific you will find the ruins of the Hindu kingdom of Champa. Travel further south to Indonesia, and there you will encounter in central Java the great temple complex of Prambanan, built in the eighth century by Hindu kings of the Sanjaya dynasty.

Like Hinduism, Buddhism too had taken root in Java by the eighth century. The Buddhist Shailendra kings built grand Buddhist temples in Borobudur and also in the environs of Prambanan. Today, Buddhism is the main religion in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, while Islam predominates in Malaysia and Indonesia. Hinduism, Buddhism and later Islam, along with the cultures in which these great religions are embedded, flowed to Southeast Asia from India, led by the growth of trade. There were no Indian military campaigns or conquests, no Indian empires were built. But as trade relations grew, Indian art and iconography, its religious practices and its way of life spread across the region through a process of cultural osmosis.

These relationships were ruptured by the European colonisation of Southeast Asia. With the pendulum of economic power now swinging back from the West to the East, led by China and India, both countries seek to deepen their engagement with the region. As in the past, India's re-engagement with Southeast Asia will be led by economic interests, including trade. India's high growth requires high growth of exports. For that, India has to look to the dynamic ASEAN economies, China and South Korea, not the slow growing economies of the West. Intra-regional trade in ASEAN countries is growing much faster than their trade with the rest of the world and India needs to link itself to this growth.

Buddhists Celebrate in Sri Lanka

A number of Tamil Buddhist organizations in Chennai have expressed and rendered their support for the Sri Lankan Independence celebrations being organized in Chennai, Chennai Mahabodhi Center Head - Venerable Kalawane Mahanama Thera said.

An official ceremony to commemorate the Sri Lankan Independence Day is being organized at the Deputy Sri Lankan High Commission in India to be held on February 4. Another event is scheduled to be held on February 5 at the Chennai Mahabodhi Centre with the participation of Sri Lankans residing in Chennai as well as Indian Buddhist organizations.

According to Mahanama Thera, the preparations for the Sri Lankan Independence Day were being successfully carried out at the moment. Speaking further Mahanama Thera who also spoke about several programs that are being carried out by the Mahabodhi center in Chennai said that they had taken steps to preach dharma in Tamil during special occasions.

Mahanama Thera also said that programs to create awareness and increase knowledge on meditation and Buddhism were also organized by the Mahabodhi in Chennai and they also receive a good response for the temporary ordination program which they carry out on Tamil children in order to provide a deeper understanding on Buddhism.

Buddhist is Politically Active

Samana Photirak, leader of the Santi Asoke sect, has vowed to lead a "neo protest" to press the government to change the way it handles the Cambodian issue.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Photirak yesterday predicted the sect's strength of commitment would be enough to force the government to review its handling of territorial disputes with the neighbouring country.

The sect, which has close affiliations with the yellow shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), recently joined the Thai Patriots Network rally in front of Government House to pressure the government to help bring home seven Thai nationals being held in Cambodia on illegal entry charges.

The group has hundreds of bare-footed faithful camped at Government House and says it can call on the support of thousands more for what could be a prolonged campaign.

The sect's cause encompasses not just the fate of the Thai seven but the thornier issue of Thai-Cambodia border demarcation.

The seven were arrested in Cambodia in late December. All but one, Thai Patriots Network coordinator Veera Somkwamkid, are now free on bail.

Photirak said the sect's call for the release of the seven detained Thais was based on compassion for those who share similar fates.

Some members of the sect had been affected by the border disputes. They are scattered in northeastern and eastern provinces bordering Cambodia.

Santi Asoke also has a branch called the Sisa Asoke Buddhist community in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket, which borders Cambodia.

But Photirak stressed the mission was now bigger than that.

"At issue is the loss of territory," he said.

"It is a national problem. We cannot accept the ways the government is managing things. The Santi Asoke followers cannot allow the government to continue what it has been doing and see Thai territory being gradually occupied."

Photirak said the rally was a "neo protest" using a non-violent and knowledge-based approach.

"It is not a 'mob' thing. It is chaste and pure. It is peaceful and polite. It sticks to objectives, presents truth and shares knowledge. It doesn't focus on quantity."

He insisted the Santi Asoke's rally was justified given the government's management of the border issues.

"We gave them enough time. The [year] 2000 memorandum of understanding [on the demarcation of the border] is still in place. We have the Joint Border Commission and the longer this drags on the more territory we lose. If we let this carry on, we'll lose all [of the disputed areas]."

Photirak admitted his movement might not be able to achieve the expected results but said he would do his best to make the public understand the issue better.

"Our protest will be different from that of other groups," he said.

Photirak said it took work to mount a protracted protest but it was necessary when the government was not doing what it was mandated to do.

He said taking on the Abhisit administration was challenging as the government seemed to have the media and academics on its side.

He also said the rally was not driven by politics, apparently referring to the New Politics Party which was formed by PAD leaders.

Photirak said his group would camp in front of Government House and wait for a PAD rally on Jan 25.

The PAD postponed its rally from Dec 11 last year to next Tuesday.

The campaign is to protest against possible parliamentary endorsement of minutes from previous meetings of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission.

The minutes are based on the 2000 memorandum of understanding that governs the survey and demarcation of the land boundary between the two countries.

The PAD claims the memorandum, which recognises a French map of 1:200,000 scale, puts Thailand at a disadvantage.

It filed a complaint with the Administrative Court yesterday, accusing the government of putting Thai territory at risk by its observance of the memorandum.

Photirak said it was just hearsay that the Santi Asoke sect was difficult and obstinate.

"We stand for the public interest and never quit. Would you consider this being stubborn?"

Buddhist Fair in India

Buddhist devotees and representatives of various trusts, societies and cultural organisations participated in a grand 'Buddhist Fair' in Visakhapatnam.

Maturi Srinivas, organising member of the fair, said that this is the place where Buddhist monks lived and the fair is organised to celebrate Makar Sankranti.

"It is an auspicious Buddhist place because this is the place where the Buddhist monks lived and they propagated Buddhism to the country. In India, Andhra Pradesh has a special place and in Andhra Pradesh, Visakhapatnam is one of the famous Buddhist ancient places where Buddhism was cherished and propagated here. This is the day where thousands of people come here to commemorate the day of Sankranti and this is the day where all the Buddhists come together to propagate Buddhism," he added.

Khemaacharaathero, a monk said that he prayed for the wellbeing of the mankind and everybody should live happily with peace and harmony.

"All the human beings should live happily with peace. I prayed for world peace. We should work for humanity. We all are one," he added.

Few centuries back the place was the center of Buddhist culture and learning. The name of the village "Sankaram" was derived from the word "Sangharama" which meant monastery.

The place is filled with ancient monolithic sculptures, rock cut caves, ruins of prayer and meditation halls, bricks build structural edifices, resting places on the twin hills of Bojjanna Konda and Lingala Konda. (ANI)

Shaolin Temple Opening 40 Centers

The famed Shaolin temple in China, where Zen Buddhism had originated, has decided to open 40 centres to meet the rising demand for kung fu and, by a stretch, for Zen Buddhism. The man who is spearheading the expansion programme is the abbot of the temple. Interestingly, in the ostensibly atheistic communist China, there is outrage that Zen Buddhism is being commercialised. The abbot has rebutted the criticism saying that there was no profit motive, and it was just a design to meet the kung fu desires of people spread across the world.

There is plenty of irony embedded in all this, but this could be turned into a delightful Zen koan, the pithy riddle that carries contradiction as the kernel of its truth. Business is good as long as it is not meant to generate profits, which is indeed crass. At a more mundane level, all that it means is that even as China is under the deluge of change, the esoteric Buddhist temple is also being swept by it. And it also meets with the essential Buddhist tenet that change is the only permanent thing. The Shaolin cult’s market success is then no anomaly.

Dalai Lama Talks Buddha's Words

Dharamshala: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tibet's political and spiritual leader will address Tuesday (11 January) the ongoing conference on the translation of one of the Tibet's most precious treasure of the Buddha's teachings known as 'Tengyur' at the Central University of Tibetan Studies (CUTS) in Sarnath.
The four-day 'Tengyur Translation Conference: In the Tradition of the 17 Pandits of Nalanda', which began on 8 January, is being jointly organised by CUTS and the American Institute of Buddhist Studies at Columbia University.

The conference is aimed at focusing on issues pertaining in particular to the translation of the Tibetan Tengyur not only into English, but also Sanskrit, Hindi, Chinese and other languages, according to the organisers.

The conference is part of the long-term project initiated by the American Institute of Buddhist Studies at Columbia University and Tibet House US of translating the Tengyur into English and other modern languages, and to publish the many works in a collection called 'The Treasury of the Buddhist Sciences'. The project received the support of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for its historic initiative to support, create, and publish authoritative English translations, studies, and editions of the entite Tibetan Tengyur and its associated literature.

The works of the foremost Indian scholars of Nalanda tradition are presently preserved in the collection of their writings known as Tengyur in Tibetan translation. It took teams of Indian masters and great Tibetan translators over four centuries to accomplish the historic task of translating them into Tibetan. Most of these books were later lost in their Sanskrit originals, and relatively few were translated into Chinese. The Tengyur is truly one of the Tibet's most precious treasures, a mine of understanding that Tibetans have preserved in Tibet for the benefit of the whole world.

The Buddhist culture that flourished in Tibet can rightly be seen to derive from the pure tradition of Nalanda, which comprises the most complete presentation of the Buddhist teachings. Foremost Indian scholars of Nalanda Monastic University such as Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Aryaasanga, Dharmakirti, Candrakirti and Shantideva wrote the scriptures that we Tibetan Buddhists study and practise.

"When translated into Tibetan, these works in turn inspired Tibet's own enlightenment renaissance. Accordingly, the Buddhist teachings in these Tengyur texts are deemed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and many other great Tibetan masters to be of the highest value," the organisers said in a statement.

Expressing his support to the American Institute of Buddhist Studies' Tengyur translation project in 2007, His Holiness the Dalai Lama had said: "At the present time, when there is a great emphasis on scientific and technological progress, it is extremely important that those of us who follow the Buddha should rely on a sound understanding of his teaching, for which the great works of the renowned Nalanda scholars provide an indispensable basis."

"... It surely will require the intelligent and creative efforts of generations of translators from every tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, in the spirit of the scholars of Nālandā, although we may hope that using computers may help complete the work more quickly," His Holiness said.

"As it grows, The Treasury of the Buddhist Sciences series will serve as an invaluable reference library of the Buddhist Sciences and Arts. This collection of literature has been of immeasurable benefit to us Tibetans over the centuries, so we are very happy to share it with all the people of the world. As someone who has been personally inspired by the works it contains, I firmly believe that the methods for cultivating wisdom and compassion originally developed in India and described in these books preserved in Tibetan translation will be of great benefit to many scholars, philosophers, and scientists, as well as ordinary people," he added.

Ex Buddist Now California Governor

Democrat Jerry Brown was sworn in today as California's 39th governor, returning to the office he left 28 years ago but inheriting a much different and more troubled state than the one he led then.

The man who once was California's most famous bachelor took the oath of office after being introduced by his wife of five years, former Gap Inc. executive Anne Gust Brown, inside Sacramento Memorial Auditorium.

She held a Bible that was her grandfather's and was used during her wedding with Brown.

Brown has predicted a grim future for the financially beleaguered state. Where his predecessor, Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, expressed optimism at every turn, Brown has been realistic since winning the Nov. 2 election. California has faced several years of deep budget deficits and is confronting another estimated at $28 billion through June 2012.

Its general fund is $15 billion less than it was just three years ago, reflecting a sharp drop in tax revenue from a recession that has battered the economy of the nation's most populous state. Brown, 72, said the choices facing California's 38.8 million people are painful.

"The year ahead will demand courage and sacrifice," he said after taking the oath from California Supreme Court Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye.

Brown noted the recession has taken a toll on California and polls show most voters believe the state is on the wrong track. He urged lawmakers with both political parties to get out of what he called their "comfort zones" and to "rise above ideology" for the good of the state.

The inauguration was a scaled-down affair, reflecting the austerity of the former Jesuit seminarian and Buddhism student. Brown's speech lasted about 15 minutes, and the only other speaker listed on the one-page program was his wife.

Brown's style contrasts past governors, some of whom held inaugural balls after their swearing-in ceremony. Schwarzenegger even threw himself what he called a "Wrap Party" last month to celebrate his seven years in office, complete with some of his Hollywood buddies.

Even during Brown's first term as governor, he preached an era of limits, saying government cannot deliver everything people expect from it. He lived that philosophy himself, ditching the governor's mansion for a sparsely furnished apartment and driving a Plymouth instead of riding in a limousine.

Schwarzenegger and former first lady Maria Shriver, former Gov. Gray Davis, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were among the roughly 3,000 people attending.

After winning office last fall, Brown promised to travel California and hold what he called a civic dialogue about what Californians want from their government and what they are willing to pay for it. After voters rejected an $18-a-year license fee to stabilize state park funding, Brown declared that Californians were "in no mood to add to their burdens."

Yet his press aides have not quashed speculation that Brown will try to call a special election this spring to extend a set of temporary tax hikes approved in 2009. Brown said he would not raise taxes without voter approval, but will need some Republican help to reach the two-thirds legislative vote necessary to place any tax or fee measure on the ballot.

Brown responded to reporters' questions about a possible special election as he left the auditorium.

"I'll confer with the legislative leaders, and we'll work something out that makes sense, but we don't have a lot of time and we've gotta cover a lot of ground," Brown said before heading into his nearby rented loft.

The new governor will release his budget proposal for the coming fiscal year next Monday, when he is expected to deliver voters a series of stark choices. He said his budgets would not contain "smoke and mirrors," an apparent reference to spending plans signed by Schwarzenegger over the past few years that often contained accounting gimmicks and unrealistic revenue assumptions as a way to balance the budgets on paper.

He promised his version would be painful.

"It's a tough budget for tough times," he said.

Buddha Statue for India

The Indian High Commission in a press release says: On the auspicious occasion of Unduvap Poya and as per agreed in the Joint Declaration issued during the State visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Indian High Commission would like to announce that the Indian Government has commissioned a 16 foot high statue of The Buddha in the Sarnath style from the Gupta period which is proposed to be installed at the entrance of the International Buddhist Museum complex at Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. An agreement to this effect has been signed between the Indian External Affairs Ministry and Ms Icons India, for the preparation of the statue. Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara has welcomed the proposal to install the Sarnath Buddha statue at the Museum in Kandy.

The Sarnath Buddha statue is an exquisite sculpture based on the famous 5th century Gupta period statue from Sarnath, where The Buddha preached His first sermon after attaining enlightenment. The statue in the Dharmachakra pravartana mudra (turning the wheel of law) and its pedestal will be carved out of a single piece of beige-coloured Chunar sandstone.

Other activities forming part of the joint commemoration of the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi include the establishment of an Indian Gallery at the International Buddhist Museum and the organization of an International Buddhist Conference. An expert appointed by the National Museum of India is working on putting together Indian Buddhist artefacts that portray the Buddhist art, culture and heritage of India in its entirety.

The process of identifying the important statues/artefacts related to Buddhism in India has started and the fabrication of replicas is being undertaken. An International Buddhist Conference will also be organized in Kandy early next year (before end of March) with the support of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR).

Guru Talking Peace

Bodh Gaya (Bihar), Jan 3 (IANS) The four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism are trying to find common ground to carry forward Lord Buddha's teachings in way they can be used to resolve geo-political conflicts, says Thrinley Thaye Dorje, the 17th spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

'The awareness that the four schools have to find common ground is getting stronger. It will happen because unity among the Buddhist sects is crucial to world peace,' 27-year-old Thrinley Dorje told IANS in an interview in Bodh Gaya, the seat of Gautama Buddha's enlightenment.

'It can solve conflicts because the teachings of Buddha are based on bringing inner and outer peace,' he added.

The four schools are the ancient Nyingma tradition, the Karma Kagyu school, the Sakya school and the Gelug school. The last three are relatively new when compared to the eighth century Nyingma tradition.

The Karmapa (the high monk) was in the town to preside over the commemoration of the 900th anniversary of the Karma Kagyu school of Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet. The order traces its lineage to north Indian monk Tilopa and was formally founded by Dusum Kyenpa (1110-1193) - known as the high monk with the black crown. The Karma Kagyu sect manages the affairs of the Rumtek monastery in Sikkim.

Thrinley Dorje believes that although traces of Buddhism have existed in the Himalayas for a long time, globalisation and modernism have helped it spread on a larger scale.

'Globalisation has brought the world together. Even 45 years ago, Buddhism was not heard of outside East and Southeast Asia,' he said.

He said, 'In general, all the four (Tibetan) Buddhist schools are built on the same foundations'.

'They believe in carrying the teachings of the Buddha forward. The difference is in the way of interpreting and teaching the tenets of the Buddha. Our way of teaching is transmission which emphasises on meditation. Our lineage is one of meditation,' the Karmapa said.

The seat of the 17th Karmapa of the Karma Kagyu sect has been a subject of controversy. After the death of the 16th Karmapa in 1981, two young masters, 27-year-old Thrinley Dorje and 25-year-old Ogyen Trinley Dorje, have been contenders to the post. Both have been enthroned as the spiritual heads.

The Chinese government and the Dalai Lama however approve of Ogyen Trinley Dorje. Born in Tibet, both the lamas fled to India in the 1990s and have been identified as reincarnations of great Buddhist spiritual masters.

Thrinley Dorje does not miss his homeland or feel distanced from Tibet.

'There is not much of a distance because globalisation has strengthened bonds between Tibet and India. My bonds are stronger from the perspective that when I meditate, the physical gap becomes a relative thing - it's nothing more than an idea,' said the Buddhist master, who was born in Tibet.

'In our state of meditation, we (Tibet and I) are very much connected. It is like the way I connect to my students at the opposite side of the globe through meditation,' he added.

Thrinley Dorje has meditated in isolation for 12 years before being deemed fit for the post. He was identified as a holy reincarnation at the age of two and a half by a monk of the Sakya Pa school in Tibet, who informed the Karma Kagyu monastery in Nepal about the 'boy and his previous life'.

He was led through the rites of passage after an early initiation by a Kagyu red hat lama, Shamarpa Mipham Chokyi Lodro, who traditionally instructs the Karmapa on the complex doctrines of the sect.

'Tibet has four major schools of Vajrayana Buddhism (that incorporates tantrik Buddhism),' he said.

Thrinley Dorje said he was 'trying to make Buddhism relevant to youth'.

'The awareness about the faith is rising worldwide and it is one of the ways to reach out to the people. The world finds it easy to emotionally connect to Buddhism,' he said.

One way that could help youth harness the power of the Buddha in them was to 'remain close to the family', the master said.

'Youth must respect their parents and remain devoted to them. Respect and devotion to parents are vital to Gautama's teachings, especially in modern times,' Thrinley Dorje said.

'The modern times are very exciting and interesting. And if one does not engage in the right way, it can be quite harmful. The transition to modern times must be peaceful,' he added.

He advocated 'compassion, tolerance and patience for the monks in Tibet, who were being persecuted.' 'If we have compassion, tolerance and peace, situations change because you will not repeat history,' he said.