See the Buddha in India

PRLog (Press Release) – Feb 18, 2011 – Melbourne to Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, is the economic capital of Gujarat which is also a major financial hub in western India, Ahmedabad is a city that was closely connected with Indian Freedom Movement and the great freedom fighter like Mahatma Gandhi started from here, this city has drawn international attention for its advancement in education, industry and business. It is fastest growing city in India, If you are in Australia and looking for affordable package to Ahmedabad check it out the link given below.

http://www.buddhatravel.com.au/melbourne-to-ahmedabad.html

Melbourne to Karachi
Karachi is the largest city and former capital of Pakistan, is being frequented by visitors who are always attracted by its gorgeous landscapes and diverse cultures. It is also the economic capital of Pakistan; Karachi is also that it has very crucial role in international diplomacy. There are many of must visits places in Karachi like the national museum, with a fine archaeological collection; and the tomb of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan. If you are in Melbourne and looking for affordable package to Karachi check it out the link given below.

Mind Transformation Through Meditation

PRLog (Press Release) – Aug 30, 2010 – Thubten Lekshey Ling, the Nyingma Buddhist Meditation Centre in Bangalore, is organizing an applied teaching by Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche on how to use Buddhist meditation techniques for achieving lasting transformation of minds. This will be conducted on the 5th of September from 10:00am to 1:00pm at Ashirvad, St. Marks Road, Bangalore.

The core of any Buddhist teaching is about transformation of mind, the spoke person for the center said. Everything about our minds is changeable and trainable. Mind has to be freed from its self-imposed constraints and allowed to flourish into its natural perfection. Contemplations and meditations are taught to transform mind and attain this. Meditation is not merely intended towards peace during a sitting session. Through developing deeper understanding, meditation should help us in transforming life altogether. Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche will be teaching about how to prepare for meditation with this goal and how to engage in meditation.

Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche is a distinguished master of the Nyingma tradition of Buddhism, and one of the three superior abbots overseeing the education at Ngagyur Nyingma University of Namdroling Monastery in Bylakkuppe, Mysore. Based on His Holiness Penor Rinpoche's advice, Khen Rinpoche travels extensive around the world delivering teachings and guiding disciples. He received recognition from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama for his Buddhist scholarship during his studies at the Central University of Higher Tibetan Studies, Saranath. He received all major lineage transmissions of the Nyingma tradition from HH Dudjom Rinpoche, HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and HH Penor Rinpoche. He is affectionately known among his disciples as "Khenpo Guru".

The program is free of charges and open for all. Those who wish to attend may contact the organisers over email at info@lekshey.org or over phone at 98802-96930. More details can be found at www.lekshey.org

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Buddhist Art

MMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Aug 14, 2009 – “Save Our Sacred Buddhist Original Art Treasures”
from Bhutan by finding a Home of Honor!
Rescue the worlds Largest Private Buddhist Textile Art Heritage Collection from Bhutan! We seek immediate funding either through a benefactor and/or a few individual piece sales. This is the only opportunity that we will offer a few rare individual pieces to the Friends of Buddhism. Once we receive initial funding we will be able to reveal the Collection to the world and find its permanent Home of Honor. We sincerely ask YOU, Friend of Buddhism, to give your support to this noble cause.
For 25 years the largest Private Buddhist Art Heritage Collection from Bhutan has been stored away and never seen by anyone! This Collection consists primarily of antique Buddhist textiles and some sacred religious artifacts from Bhutan. Recently this unique collection was endangered in California by major fires and earthquakes… What a tragic loss to the Buddhist world and to Buddhist Art Cultural Heritage IF this sacred Collection, which has never been seen and fully documented in its entirety, were to perish. The next vital step is to seek funding for the Collection’s rescue!
The collector Mr. Bartholomew is a world renowned cultural anthropologist and published author of the first definitive book on Bhutan Textile Art and Culture “Thunder Dragon Textiles from Bhutan,” Shikosha (Publisher), Kyoto, Japan, 1985. Mr. Bartholomew has collected nearly all of his pieces between 1976–1982. This is a period of time when Mr. Bartholomew alone was negotiating primarily through barter exclusively with the Bhutanese Royal Families, high-ranking members of the Royal Government of Bhutan, and top religious leaders/Rimpoches of Buddhism in Bhutan. Most of this Collection was acquired outside of Bhutan in India and Nepal. These historical facts of the Provenance of this Collection makes it unique to the world! “Provenance” is the preeminent factor in determining the cultural art historical significance, rarity, and value of any particular art object. The Bartholomew Collection consists of hundreds of heirloom pieces with full Provenance, truly making it a priceless Sacred Buddhist Art Collection. During the 1970’s and 1980’s 10 major international museums have purchased Bhutanese textiles directly from Mr. Bartholomew to augment their own permanent collections of Asian textile art.
The curator of the International Folk Art Museum of Santa Fe, New Mexico stated in 1982 that “Mr. Bartholomew, having gained the friendship of the Royal Family, is one of the few individuals who has been able to document, collect, display and sell the unusual textiles of this remote Kingdom.”
The Wall Street Journal (“Bhutan’s Lost Art”, Aug. 9th 2001) calls Mr. Bartholomew a world-recognized expert on Bhutan textiles, "an American...who has amassed the world's greatest collection of textiles from the remote Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan." The Asian Wall Street Journal adds (Aug. 11th 2001) that it was Mr. Bartholomew “who first revealed to the world the exceptional beauty of weavings from Bhutan.”
Mr. Bartholomew is currently in ongoing discussions with Her Majesty the Queen of Bhutan and the Royal Government of Bhutan since his third Royal Government Minister invitation to Bhutan in June, 1999. In May 2009, the Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley (Mr. Bartholomew’s oldest friend) has stated in a letter through his Foreign Minister that “I am sure you (Mr. Bartholomew) will be able to take the right decision in the best interest of the very important art collection.”
The Royal Family and the Royal Government of Bhutan have stated clearly that the proprietary rights and future placement, including sales and exhibitions of this unique Collection, would be solely determined and executed by Mr. Bartholomew or subsequent owners, with no violation or infringement upon the Royal Government of Bhutan.
NOW the time has come to rescue and reveal the Collection and our first step is calling on you, Friends of Buddhism, for your valuable support.

Presently, Mr. Bartholomew is living in Laos and devoted to two philanthropic causes for the past 11 years. He has established the GreenHeart Foundation, a non-profit organization which is in partnership with the Lao government, to help achieve the following two goals:
1. A world awareness campaign for the removal of UXO Bombs (Un eXploded Ordinances) that continue to threaten villager’s lives as well as kill hundreds of innocent people (mostly children!) every year in Laos.
2. Preserve the unique textile weaving traditions of the Laotians, and create sustainable livelihoods for young village girls who are often victims of the child sex industry.
Mr. Bartholomew wants to fully dedicate himself to the GeenHeart Foundation and to raising his 3 young daughters. Laos is his passion now, and he is devoted to finding a future Home of Honor for his entire Collection.
Some of the historical sacred Buddhist heirlooms that are in the Collection are personal treasures from His Holiness the Karmapa’s lineage. Mr. Bartholomew’s current mission is to go to India this month to personally meet with three of his Buddhist teachers. This includes meeting once again with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Holiness the 17th Karmapa at which time he will present them with some “GIFTS” from the Bartholomew Collection. The 16th Karmapa was Mr. Bartholomew’s personal “Root Lama” and teacher for the past 30 years. The objective of this visit will be to hopefully receive blessings, guidance and potential support for the endeavors of the S.O.S - “B.O.A.T” campaign.

We hope that this story will raise interest, concern and support in finding a Buddhist Benefactor/Buyer for a few of these Buddhist Cultural Art Heritage Treasures.

Please write us about any interest, suggestions or further queries you may have:
admin@BhutanTextiles.com

Dalai Lama Celebrates Anand Kumar

PATNA: Buddhist spiritual leader and Nobel laureate the Dalai Lama will felicitate Super-30 founder Anand Kumar, whose pioneering initiative has helped many poor students crack the IIT-JEE, at a function organised by the Bihar Foundation's Mumbai chapter in Mumbai on February 19.

The Dalai will also deliver a discourse on 'Introduction to Buddhism' at the function to which Anand has been invited as the chief guest, foundation spokesperson Ragini Gautam said.

Talking to TOI over phone from Mumbai, Gautam said the foundation last year opened a Bihar medical centre for low income group patients at Nagpara in Mumbai.

The foundation, launched in 2008 at the initiative of the NDA government of Bihar, is an attempt to develop brand Bihar and revive its lost glory. It aims to provide a socio-cultural platform to the Bihari diaspora at the national and global levels and has a steadily growing membership among all sections of the society.

The foundation, which also has seven chapters in foreign countries, has been playing an instrumental role in bettering the image of Bihar and Biharis.

Monk Talks the Talk

Non-violence, altruism and patience are some of the key aspects of Buddhism and one of the world's most qualified Buddhist teachers is coming to Rotorua to explain those principles.

Tibetan Buddhist monk Geshe Sonam Rinchen will give a free public talk at Rotorua's Princes Gate Hotel on Saturday. It is called "The Essentials of Buddhist Practice: non-violence, altruism and patience".

Eastern Bay of Plenty Dharma Group spokeswoman Adrienne Ranson said Buddhist monks rarely visited Rotorua and to have one the calibre of Geshe Sonam Rinchen was extremely fortunate.

"Geshe Sonam Rinchen is hugely qualified to teach on Buddhist ways of understanding the world. He is now around 77 years old and was born in Kham, Eastern Tibet and began his religious studies at the age of 12."

Ms Ranson said the topics of non-violence, altruism and patience were at the very foundation of Buddhist practice, as well as many other religions.

"In Buddhist philosophy, the virtue of not harming other beings, the virtue of altruism, whereby you learn to think and act for the welfare and happiness of others, and the virtue of patience in the face of adversity big and small, can enable and empower a person to lead the happiest of lives free from suffering."

She said non-Buddhists as well as Buddhists were welcome to attend and everyone was sure to gain useful information.

Geshe Sonam Rinchen will be accompanied by Geshe Sangyey Thinley, who is resident spiritual teacher at Jam Tse Dhargyey Ling Buddhist Centre in Whangarei.

Geshe Sonam Rinchen will be assisted by translator Mathew Whiston and attendant monk the Venerable Nyima.

Geshe Sonam Rinchen will give his talk that will be followed by a time for questions.

"However, because monks depend on the generosity of others, all donations towards costs will be gratefully accepted," she said.Tibetan Buddhist monk Geshe Sonam Rinchen will give a public talk at Rotorua's Princes Gate Hotel on Saturday February 19 from 9.45am-11.45am.

Monk Talks Loved to Students

Tibetan Buddhist monk Tsering Phuntsok spoke in a crowded Mason Hall Auditorium Monday afternoon, speaking to students, faculty and administrators about his religion’s concepts of love and compassion.
Phuntsok has been a monk for 23 years, living and working in Dharamsala, the exiled home of the Dalai Lama, according to an MSU press release. Phuntsok works and studies with the Dalai Lama, has been an instructor at the monastery where he trained, and works on projects to address the needs of the Tibetan refugees and Indian people in Dharamsala. He also facilitates cultural exchange programs between U.S. students and the Tibetan community.
Jeff Wylie, senior lecturer in MSU’s college of health sciences and human services, moderated the event. Wylie said he first met Phuntsok while visiting some colleagues at Hopkinsville Community College and was excited to bring him to MSU.
Phuntsok said the core teaching of Buddhism was non-violence. He said Buddhism recognized that all humans are bound to suffer, but tries to counter that by determining the causes of suffering, which include covetousness and grasping something that one desperately wants. Other causes include “harsh speech,” “idle gushing,” killing stealing and sexual misconduct, he said.
“Compassion is to wish others free from suffering,” Phuntsok said.

China Bans Reincarnation of Dalai Lama

Described as the most absurd act of authoritarian history, Beijing, already charged for spying against the 17th Karmapa, has banned the reincarnation of HH the Dalai Lama. China has also banned Buddhist monks in Tibet from reincarnating without government permission.
According to the State Administration for Religious Affairs, the law, which goes into effect next month will stipulate the procedure by which one is to reincarnate. It is being dubbed, an important move to institutionalize management of reincarnation.
Commenting on the development, author Tim Jhonson told, “Chinese Communist Government believes that many of the problems faced in Tibet will disappear after the Dalai Lama. They are waiting for him to die”. Jhonson is the author of, ” Tragedy in Crimson: How the Dalai Lama won the world but lost his battle with China “.
“The truth is that the ruling party wants a new kind of Tibetan lamas not loyal to the Dalai Lama. The Party (communist) wants to sever ties between the lamas of the Tibetan plateau and the Dalai Lama. It is not new, Beijing does the same with the Vatican and Catholic bishops in their territory,” says Johnson.

Budda Movie in March

Buddha is the debut film for Pokkiri director Puri Jagannath in B-Town. Both the women in the film have significant role that supports the growth of the scripts. The last time we saw Amitabh and Hema spreading magic on the silver screen was with film Baabul (2006).

Amitabh and Hema's pair has been one of the successful pair till date, be it Satte Pe Satta or Baghban, they have always managed to amaze their fans with the simple and refreshing chemistry that they share on-screen.

The movie will reportedly go on floors in the month of March.

Prayers for Buddhist Leader

No shouting. No crying. No burning of effigies. No jamming national highways. At a place, where demonstration is the order of the day (Jantar Mantar in New Delhi), this is no Dharna (demonstration) but a prayer meet. At a nearby demonstration being held on price rise, the atmosphere is tense and the police on toes. But here, as Buddhist devotees keep coming from across the Delhi, there is hardly any police personnel visible. Kudos to the Lamas and Buddhist community for the restraint it has shown to convince a government which is brutally suppressing the agitation for Gorkhaland in nearby Darjeeling.
Children, young, old, men, women and common people, the devotees are silently praying in the national capital among chants of monks in red robes. The patience and methodology adopted by the Buddhist community despite unwarranted allegations against their most revered religious leader, deserves praise and attention.
The participants in the demonstration are from Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, West Bengal (Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri) and Arunachal Pradesh. The prayer will continue for three days till 11th of February from morning till evening at the same venue.

Pakistan and Buddhists

THIMPHU/ISLAMABAD: Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir on Sunday affirmed Pakistan’s support for comprehensive regional cooperation under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) framework.

Bashir is leading the Pakistani delegation to the 38th session of the SAARC Standing Committee, which started in the Bhutanese capital Thimpu, according to a press release.

Bashir said that among the priority areas, SAARC should focus on issues related to environment and climate change; energy and food security; alleviation of poverty; promote project based cooperation; develop substantive cooperation with observers, including other regional organisations and extra-regional states that have showed keen interest in SAARC. He said that Pakistan fully supported trans-regional economic, energy and development cooperation.

“Pakistan is happy to note that under the chairmanship of Bhutan and Secretary General Sheel Kant Sharma, we have seen steady progress in various SAARC programmes and activities,” Bashir said. Terrorism and illegal trafficking of drugs posed significant challenges to SAARC member states, he added. The foreign secretary said that Pakistan had hosted an important Ministerial Meeting of SAARC interior/home ministers, which had adopted the Islamabad statement calling for closer cooperation among SAARC states to overcome these challenges. South Asia, today, was witnessing vibrant democracies at work and the formulation of the SAARC Democracy Charter was an important achievement, he added. The SAARC Standing Committee’s meeting will be followed by a meeting of SAARC Council of Ministers.

Separately, Bashir and the Foreign Minister of Bhutan, Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, reaffirmed their resolve to further strengthen and deepen bilateral relations through closer interaction at the government and people-to-people level. During the meeting, Bashir felicitated the Bhutanese government on the excellent arrangements made for hosting the SAARC Council of Ministers and preceding meetings. He expressed the hope that interaction among SAARC member states would provide an effective and viable mechanism for promotion of peace, development and progress in the region. The two highlighted the close relations between Pakistan and Bhutan based on common historical and cultural links, especially the common Gandhara heritage. Both the sides also decided to take steps to increase trade, commercial and economic ties between the nations. Bashir welcomed religious tourism from Bhutan to Swat in Pakistan, the birth place of Guru Padmasambhawa, the Second Buddha. app

Akido in Santa Barbara

The nonprofit Aikido Kenkyukai Santa Barbara has moved to a new “dojo,” or training hall at 121 Mason St. to better serve its students and the community.

For the past two years, Sensei Lia Suzuki, the chief instructor, has taught classes at the Santa Barbara Buddhist Temple, 1015 E. Montecito St. However, it became apparent last fall that Aikido Kenkyukai had outgrown that space and a new site had to be found.

The move was made possible largely thanks to an anonymous donor who pledged $1,000, provided that the organization could raise the remaining immediate funding necessary to make the move. The additional $2,000 was raised in about three days, largely employing social media, Suzuki said.

Aikido Kenkyukai is subleasing the dojo from judo instructor Steve Hoyt, who also runs his own nonprofit martial arts group.

Aikido Kenkyukai Santa Barbara, a 501(c)(3) California nonprofit public benefit corporation, was founded by Suzuki, a sixth-degree black belt in aikido with nearly 30 years of experience in the martial art.

Suzuki said the goal of Aikido Kenkyukai Santa Barbara is to pass down the true message of aikido and to nurture a better society by creating individuals of responsibility, compassion, judgment, and character.

She teaches the “art of peace” to anyone age 3 or older. The nonprofit also runs various community projects, such as its sponsorship program for low-income and at-risk children who are given the opportunity to train in aikido.

The nonprofit organization is trying to provide South Coast residents with a path toward peace. It encourages the practice of the Japanese nonviolent martial art of aikido, promoting it as a vehicle for self-improvement and spiritual growth, as well as a harmonious way to resolve everyday stress and conflict.

She initially became interested in aikido and trained in Boston. Suzuki is a former competitive horse rider from Pennsylvania. She planned to visit Japan for a short time in 1987 and ended up finding a job as an English teacher, getting married and returning home in 1996.

“Kenkyukai” translates from Japanese to “research group,” Suzuki said. Her nonprofit group has grown steadily, as can be seen by its board members, advisory council volunteers and monetary sponsors.

U.C.S. Bakersfield Acknowledges Professors

Three faculty members at California State University, Bakersfield have been awarded the 2007-08 Faculty Awards by the CSUB Faculty Senate, University Research Council and the university.

Professor of Anthropology Robert Yohe has received the Outstanding Professor Award and the Millie Ablin Award for Excellence in Teaching; Professor of Advanced Education Kathleen Ritter has received the Faculty Leadership and Service Award; and Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies Tim Vivian has received the Faculty Research Award.

The faculty awards are presented annually to recognize the outstanding contributions of CSUB faculty members to their students, the university and their disciplines. Nominations are submitted by administrators, other faculty members, students and alumni.

Robert Yohe

Yohe first served at CSUB from 1990 – 1993 before being appointed the state archaeologist and administrator of the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office. During this same period he taught anthropology courses at Boise State University as an adjunct lecturer. He returned to CSUB in 1996.

Yohe has conduced research in the deserts of North America for the past 28 years, working on over 150 different archaeological projects. He is considered one of the foremost stone tool experts in the western United States.

Recently, Yohe has spent his summers working as the senior osteologist (bone specialist) for the El-Hibeh Archaeological Project in Egypt. His expertise in human osteology and animal remains are helping to unravel the mystery surrounding 13 mummies and a number of artifacts that he has helped to salvage. His discoveries have been shared with the world on a recent episode of the Discovery Channel’s “The Bone Detective.”

Kathleen Ritter

Ritter’s 32 years at CSUB have had a significant impact on the Kern County community. Hundreds of her students have gone on to establish their own counseling practices, have been employed in most mental health agencies, and have practiced in the public schools. Additionally she has been instrumental in the development and coordination of three master’s degree programs at CSUB.

Nearly 29 years ago Ritter established the CSUB University Counselor Training Clinic. Utilizing marriage and family therapy student clinicians, the clinic offers low-cost counseling services to the Bakersfield community. Each year the students working in the clinic provide over 2,000 hours of individual, couple, family and group counseling services.

Tim Vivian

Vivian is a dedicated scholar in the field of early Christianity, with emphasis on Coptic Studies and Early Christian Monasticism. He has taught at CSUB in a variety of capacities since 1990.

Vivian has published 10 books, more than 60 articles, and over 100 book reviews in a wide variety of scholarly publications. His scholarship is also based on substantial archeological field work. He has participated in two excavations in Egypt, serving as a director and faculty member at the excavation of the monastery of John Kolobos. He served as project historian for the team restoring and studying the 13th century wall paintings at the monastery of Saint Anthony in Egypt.

New York China Exhibit from Forbidden City

-- The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York put on display treasures of China's famous Emperor Qianlong on Tuesday, offering a glimpse of the emperor's artistic passion and personal sentiments. The exhibition "The Emperor's Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City" features 90 splendid art items, including silk scrolls, paintings, murals, furniture, Buddhist icons, jades, from the Qianlong Garden built in the northeast corner of Beijing' s Forbidden City

Highlights of the exhibition comprise a portrait of the Emperor Qianlong, a silk panel portraying a Buddhist shrine, magnificent thrones executed with impeccable craftsmanship, and a monumental jade-and-lacquer screen consisting of 16 panels.

"It (the exhibition) tells the story about the private garden of Emperor Qianlong. It not only tells the historical background of that period of time, but also presents the pinnacle of artistic, philosophical and research achievement at that time. I believe Western visitors can get a lot of inspiration from it," Li Ji, Executive Deputy Director of The Palace Museum of China, told Xinhua.

Emperor Qianlong was the fourth emperor of the Qing Dynasty in China. As a connoisseur of art, a dedicated scholar, and a devout Buddhist, Qianlong created a lavish and secluded garden paradise intended for his retirement, although he never relinquished the throne, and the space remained unchanged and unoccupied since its 1776 completion.

Maxwell K. Hearn, Douglas Dillon Curator for Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Department of Asian Art of the Met museum said the objects will be reinstalled permanently in their original home in the Qianlong Garden of the Forbidden City once the tour concludes.

"So this is a remarkable opportunity to understand the level of craftsmanship, the style, the taste in the exotics, that the emperor indulged in during his lengthy reign," he said.