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Buddha Purnima celebrated at Bodh Gaya

May 27, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Bodh Gaya (Bihar), May 27 (IANS) Hundreds of Buddhists from across the world Thursday celebrated Buddha Purnima, the day Lord Buddha was born, at Bodh Gaya in Bihar where he attained enlightenment.

Bodh Gaya temple management committee organised a function to celebrate the 2,554th Buddha Jayanti at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, Buddhism’s holiest shrine.

‘Special prayers were organised under the Bodhi tree for world peace,’ a committee official said.

The celebration began with a procession from the 80-ft tall Buddha statue up to the Bodhi tree behind the temple.

‘Hundreds of Buddhists, including members of the International Buddhist Council, took part in the procession,’ Bhikkhu Priyapal, a monk, told IANS over phone.

The temple premises and adjoining locality were bedecked with colourful flags and other decorative items.

Buddha Purnima is the most sacred day for Buddhists as they take pilgrimage trips to the places associated with the founder of their faith – Lord Buddha.

Buddha Purnima falls on a full moon day.

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Sri Lankan author arrested ‘for offending ethnic Sinhalese Buddhists’

March 29, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Colombo, Mar 29(ANI): Sarah Malini Perera, a Sri Lankan author who has written two books about her conversion from Buddhism to Islam, has been arrested for apparently offending ethnic Sinhalese Buddhists.

According to the police, Sarah, who was born in Sri Lanka, but has lived in Bahrain since 1985 and converted to Islam in 1999, was arrested last week under the country’s strict emergency laws.

They declined to provide details about Sarah’s offence, but suggested that her books were deemed to have caused offence to ethnic Sinhalese Buddhists.

The 38-year-old writer’s family members claim that she was detained for trying to mail copies of her books overseas.

Sarah’s sister has reportedly said that the police had acted on a tip-off by a member of a Buddhist nationalist party, who worked at the cargo company handling the books.

She added that Sarah had recently completed two books on her conversion, called ‘From Darkness to Light’ and ‘Questions and Answers’, and was having them printed in Sri Lanka.

The arrest comes a week after protests by Buddhist nationalists prompted the Sri Lankan Government to refuse a visa to Senegalese-American singer Akon, who was due to perform in Colombo next month.

The Buddhist activists protested over a recent video of Akon, which showed bikini-clad women dancing by a pool with a Buddha statue in the background.

Meanwhile, the Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS) secretary-general Dr. Abdulla Al Deerazi has urged Sri Lankan authorities to free Sarah.

“There is something called freedom of opinion, if it’s not offending any religion. I believe the books written by Sarah are not against Buddhism,” The Times quoted Deerazi, as saying on the BHRS web site. (ANI)

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Akon disheartened by Sri Lankan ban

March 26, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Singer Akon says he is disheartened Sri Lanka plans to deny him a visa to perform there after Buddhists angered by a video he appeared in staged a violent protest.

Akon’s international booking agents, American Talent Agency, said in a statement they had postponed the show until the safety of both the performer and fans could be guaranteed.

On Monday, hundreds of rock-throwing protesters attacked the headquarters of Sri Lanka’s largest private broadcaster, which was the sponsor of Akon’s planned April concert in the predominantly Buddhist nation.

Four people were injured.

The protesters were apparently angered by the Sexy Bitch music video clip by French DJ David Guetta featuring Akon, in which a statue of Buddha on top of a building appears briefly in the background as dozens of scantily dressed women dance near a pool.

“I was not aware the statue was even on the set of the video until now. I would never set out to offend or desecrate anyone’s religion or religious beliefs,” Akon said in a statement.

On Tuesday, the government said it would deny Akon a visa to enter the country as a result of the religious uproar.

“I myself am a spiritual man, so I can understand why they are offended. But violence is never the answer and I am disheartened,” Akon said.

Sri Lanka’s Buddhist clergy are hugely influential in ordinary life and politics.

In the past, hardline Sinhalese nationalists have become violent against those they see as offending Buddhism.

- Reuters

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Guangzhou Asian Games to have service centre for various religions

March 23, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Guangzhou (China), Mar 23(ANI): The Guangzhou Asian Games’ will have a religious service centre, which will cater to the followers of different religions, when foreign participants arrive in the region for the event, starting in November.

Director of Guangzhou Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau, Lin Jianxin, said the centre in the Asian Games Town will have six service rooms for Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity, Catholicism and Hinduism, as well as a serenity room.

“Opening a place for religious services is in line with practices at the previous Asian Games and the Beijing Olympic Games,” The China Daily quoted Jianxin, as saying.

Lin added that authorities have started to train workers and volunteers to work in the designated religious areas.

He further said that the religious service centre would be of a combined area of about 1,500 square meters.

Apart from the centre, some 28 temples, churches and religious buildings have also been designated for religious gatherings for those participating in and attending the Games.

According to the Games’ organizing committee, some 12,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions in Asia are expected to attend the upcoming event. (ANI)

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Tiger Woods reveals how wife reacted over infidelity

March 22, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

London, March 22 (ANI): Tiger Woods has revealed in a television interview how his wife Elin Nordegren reacted when she discovered he had cheated on her.

“She was hurt, she was hurt, very hurt. Shocked. Angry,” the Mirror quoted Woods as saying in an interview with sports station ESPN.

“And you know, she had every right to be and I’m disappointed as everyone else in my own behaviour because I can’t believe I did that to the people I loved,” he added.

The disgraced golfer also revealed what led him to cheat on the mother of this two children, Sam, two and Charlie, one.

“Well I had gotten away from my core values. I’d gotten away from my Buddhism. And I quit meditating,” he said.

“Stripping away denial and rationalism you start coming to the truth of who you really are and that can be very ugly. But then again, when you face it and you start conquering and you start living up to it. The strength that I feel now, I’ve never felt that type of strength,” he added. (ANI)

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Ludhiana hosts seminar on Sufism

September 20, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Ludhiana, Sep 19(ANI): Ludhiana recently played host to a national seminar on Sufism. This time, the theme was the influence of Sufism on modern times.

The Sahitaya Academy of New Delhi and the Punjab Sahitaya Academy organized the seminar.

The seminar also focused on the ‘pain of separation from God’ and intellectuals, poets and Sufi singers.

“Sufism says that God, whom a man looks for all over, is within him. And once he realizes this fact, he will be free of his ego and will find happiness,” said Vaasthe Mohi, a Sindhi poet from Ahmedabad.

While, Gulshan Majith, a poet from Jammu and Kashmir, said: “When God is everything, so what is the importance of religion and caste discrimination, this is the message of Sufism. Shaivaism, Buddhism and Sufism give same message to the world and consider this world as the manifestation of that supreme power and do not make a distinction with the other. There are no boundaries. Everybody in this world is equal for God.”

The participants also put forth the argument that many Punjabi poets make use of themes from popular Punjabi culture. r. Chandraprakash Deval, a poet from Rajasthan, said Sufism is the paramount method to fight terrorism.

“Sufism is the best way to fight terrorism. If the minds of people can be changed, they will start respecting other religions, humanity and the feeling of brotherhood and secularism will increase, terrorism will be finished then. So to fight terrorism it is important to popularize the way shown by Sufism, adopt and follow that way and spread the feeling of brotherhood,” Deval said.

Sufi singer Balbir Kaur, who also teaches singing at Guru Nanak College in Ludhiana, held the audience spellbound and she also highlighted that school students must be made aware of the great cultural heritage, traditional folk art and literature of the Sufi saints, to promote Punjabi language.

Associating Sufism with any one religion is against its very basic tenets. Underlining this basic fact, renowned Sufi singers Idrim Khan and Skakur Khan from Rajasthan sung the verses of Bulle Shah, Guru Nanak, Kabir and Sajjan Shah. By Karan Kapoor (ANI)

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Ancient book of Buddhism chantings found in Korean temple

September 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Seoul, September 16 (ANI): Archaeologists have uncovered an ancient Chinese book of Buddhism chantings in a Korean temple.

According to a report in Korea Times, the Hangeul copy of an ancient Chinese book, which contains the notes of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) scholar Kim Si-seup, was discovered at Baekryunam, Haein Temple.

The book was originally written by a Buddhist master from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and dates back to the 16th century.

“We discovered the ‘shiphyeondam eonhaebon’ while we were examining the library of Ven. Seong Cheol (1912-1993) at Baekryunam, Haein Temple, in April this year,” Ven. Won Taek said at a press conference at the Jogye Order, northern Seoul.

“It’s a rare book ? perhaps even the only copy ? that is not included in the Natural Treasures list nor on the lists of national libraries and university libraries,” he said.

An eonhae copy, or eonhaebon, is a book or writing that contains the literal translation of a sentence in Chinese to Hangeul, or Korean.

It is different from the normal translation books as it features a word-for-word translation, and is far removed from the Hangeul sentences used today.

‘Shiphyeondam’ refers to the 10 songs and poems made to praise Buddha’s teachings, written by Tang Dynasty Buddhist master Dongan Sangchal of the Jodong Order of Zen Buddhism, a sect of the religion in China.

The songs are comprised of seven Chinese characters and contain the traditions and the practices of the Jodong Order.

Ven. Won Taek explained that the discovery was meaningful as the book was from the 16th century. Most of the eonhaebons known today are from the 15th century.

“We found many precious ancient books and eonhaebons while examining the library and we will apply these artifacts as Natural Treasures after examining the value of them. We will also make photo prints of the eonhaebons for ancient hangeul and writing experts to use them as research material,” he said. (ANI)

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Once a hub of Buddhism, Pak today bereft of even relics of Gandhara civilization

August 18, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Karachi, Aug.18 (ANI): The Buddhist religion is virtually extinct in Pakistan, as there is not even a single monastery in the country which once remained a hub of Buddhism.

Pakistan, where the Gandhara civilization is believed to have flourished, holds an eminent place in the Buddhist theology. However, due to continuous suppression and disregard over the years the religion slowly died out from the region.

The Goethe-Institute of Pakistan organized a visual presentation of Buddhist relics on Monday in order to arouse interest and create awareness regarding Buddhism.

The presentation which was delivered by Department of Archaeology and Museums, Assistant Director, Mehmood-ul-Hassan, focused on the life of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha and the development of the Buddhism in the region, The Daily Times reports.

Hassan said Buddhism was heavily destroyed in the region after the invasion of White Huns. Following the invasion Buddhists started migrating to Far-East Asia.

He said second Buddha was born in Swat and that is the reason why the Valley region was rich with Buddhist relics.

He urged the government to introduce courses of arts and heritage in the schools and colleges so that students could know about their culture and heritage.

“We have no other option but to save these relics, these are our cultural identities,” said Hassan. (ANI)

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Now, take your pick with baby sex selection method in Malaysia

August 9, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Kuala Lumpur, August 9 (ANI): Companies in Malaysia are openly offering couples with baby sex selection methods, saying the procedures to have the desired gender are entirely “natural”.

“Choice Baby” offers to prepare a conception chart based on the analysis of data taken from selective parents like their blood type, date of birth and other personal information.

Jennifer Chin, the company ‘s sales manager, said the demand for gender selection had shot up over the years and her company enrolled more than 30 clients per month

“The gender chart will show the favourable days to attempt conception,” the New Straits Times Online quoted her as saying.

She added: “For those with two or three boys and want a girl or viceversa, this is an opportunity to get what they desire.”

However, certain religious groups and spiritual leaders have raised objections over the practice saying it interferes with the working of God.

Hindu Sangam president Datuk A. Vaithilingam said: “Whether it is using technology or natural methods, early identification and elimination are against nature. It’s not in line with the way of life. Gender selection can lead to unnecessary calamities, like gender problems.”

Harcharan Singh, vicepresident of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism, said: “It is God who creates, so this practice is clearly against the order of nature”. (ANI)

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Buddhist monk performs once-in-a-life religious ceremony in Himachal

June 29, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh), June 29 (ANI): Gigmed Choekyi Syingey, a revered Buddhist monk performed the unique religious ‘Chakrasamvara Abhisheka’ ceremony in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday.

Syingey who is believed to be eighth reincarnation of Yulgyula Rinpoche performed the ceremony at Drugtharpa Choeiling Buddhist monastery, situated at Tashigang in Kinnaur district.

In the ceremony, Yulgyula Rinpoche imparted religious teachings according to Drukpa Kagyud school of Buddhism to the devotees. This religious ceremony is performed once in a life wearing rare ornamental dress.

Hundreds of Buddhists from different parts of the country assembled to take the blessings and teachings from the priest.

Devotees described the experience as a proud moment for Buddhists.

“He (Yulgula Rinpoche) performs this ceremony once in his life wearing the rare ornamental dress. This is for the last time that he is performing this ceremony. This is a proud moment for all the Buddhists in the world,” said Gyalu Lama, a Buddhist monk.

Some foreign tourists also visited the monastery during the ceremony.

Edward Jones, a tourist from Germany who has been to different parts of India considered himself lucky to be the part of the ceremony.

“Today we are in Tashigang. I am very lucky to be here and part of this ceremony. And we are looking forward to it very much,” said Jones.

Drukpa Kagyud is an independent branch of Kagyu school of Buddhism. Within Drugpa school of thought there are further sub schools, most notably the eastern Kham tradition and middle Drukpa school which prospered in Ladakh and surrounding regions. (ANI)

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Buddha body relics returned to Beijing temple

June 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, June 26 (ANI): The relics said to be from the body of Buddha, have been returned to the Beijing Yunju Temple in China, from the Capital Museum.

The relics were welcomed by 108 monks and more than 400 Buddhists, as they returned from a underground storage room at the Capital Museum.

“I hope the traditional culture can be passed on through viewing the Buddha relics. I hope people’s hearts can be purified,” said Master Chuan Yin, who hosted the ceremony.

The relics will be exhibited until July 2 in the biggest hall of the temple, built in the Sui Dynasty (581-618).

The relics could be seen in detail via digital pictures on two large screens, according to Yun Guirong, director of the administrative office of the temple.

The corn-shaped red Buddha body relics, discovered in the Leiyin Cave of the temple on November 27, 1981, are respected as one of the “three precious” sets of relics in China.

The others are Buddha teeth relics in Beijing’s Lingguang Monastery and Buddha figure relics in the Famen Temple in Xi’an.

Buddha relics refer to the remains of Sakyamuni Buddha, founder of Buddhism, who, according to legend, left bones and 84,000 pearl-shaped relics.

Buddha relics are classified into three types: white bone relics, black hair relics and red body relics. (ANI)

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Dalai Lama’s special teaching session on Buddhism

June 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Dharamshala, June 24 (ANI): Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Wednesday started a two-day special teaching session for Buddhist students in Dharamsala.

Thousands of Buddhist students from across the world gathered at the Tibetan Children Villa School for the teachings on the text of thirty-seven practices of Bodhisattvas.

“We are very happy to gather here. All the Tibetan youngsters are here so we could learn something on Buddhist (Buddhism),” said Tenzin Namgyal, a Tibetan student.

Many Buddhist monks and nuns and other local people also gathered to attend teachings of the spiritual leader.

Tibetans believe that Dalai Lama follows a different approach to teaching and explains basics of everything.

“This is very important particularly the approach his holiness takes is very different. And this is very much in tune with audience here. He is putting everything in perspective, not just going about the traditional way of explaining things. But rather really touching on the very basics of it and then making sense of everything that he teaches. And thereby making them get the essence of Buddha teaching which is to bring about a positive transformation in their mentality,” said Damdul Namgyal, a monk.

Dharamsala, which is also called ‘Little Tibet’, is home to thousands of Tibetans who found a new haven to preserve their unique faith, culture and identity.

Tibetan exiles are protesting around the world by reviving the spirit of the Tibetan national uprising of 1959, engaging in non-violent direct action, to end China’s occupation of Tibet.

An estimated 134,000 Tibetans live in exile, a majority of them in India and Nepal. (ANI)

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China’s first emperor banned Buddhism, claims expert

May 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 12 (ANI): A researcher has said that the first emperor of a united China could go down in history not only for the Great Wall or the terra cotta army of guards and horses, but also for his attempt to crush Buddhism by banning it.

“China’s first and most influential history book, the Historical Records, stated clearly that Emperor Qin Shihuang (259 BC-210 BC) strictly banned Buddhism and Buddhist temples,” said Han Wei, a noted researcher with Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archeology.

According to the Historical Records, the ban went alongside the emperor’s major military strategies including the deportation of the invading Huns, and applied far beyond the ancient capital Xianyang in today’s Xi’an to cover the whole country.

Though the book, written between 104 B.C. to 91 B.C., provided no evidence of temples destroyed or monks exiled, Han said he believed the ban had been very effective.

“Buddhism never appeared again in historical documents until 2 B.C.,” Han said.

Emperor Qin Shihuang’s ban on Buddhism indicated the religion was already popular in China’s interior regions in his reign, said Han, whose thesis on the subject was published rercently in Xi’an.

Han recommended that textbooks be changed to reflect his discovery.

Historians generally believed Buddhism was introduced into China around 67 A.D. in Han Dynasty that succeeded Qin.

But, Han held it must have spread to China from today’s Xinjiang Ugyur Autonomous Region and central Asian countries, along the ancient Silk Road, more than two centuries earlier.

Noted Silk Road archaeologist Wang Jianxin said that Han’s research finding, based on linguistic, historical as well as archeological studies, sounded “reasonable”.

“Another scholar raised the same hypothesis in the early 1900s,but couldn’t provide sufficient evidence,” Wang said. (ANI)

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Hindus urge authentic portrayal of Lord Buddha in upcoming mega-film

May 11, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Nevada (US), May 11 (ANI): Welcoming the recent announcement of English language international mega-film on Buddha, Hindus have urged its makers to present an authentic portrayal of his life and times.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that Gautama Buddha, besides Buddhists is also revered by Hindus. Reimagining of scriptures and life of Buddha purely for mercantile greed would likely to hurt the devotees.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that they welcomed filmmakers to work on religious themes and figures, but they would recommend them to handle faith related subjects very carefully and sensitively, as cinema was a highly powerful medium.

Apparently the most expensive film ever made in Bollywood, this reportedly about 122 million dollars project, produced by Spice Enfotainment headed by industrialist B. K. Modi and directed by Filmfare Award winner Ashutosh Gowarikar (Lagaan) with a diverse cast and crew, is expected to go on the floor in May 2010 and be completed by the end of the year.

Reportedly scripted by Oscar winner David S. Ward (Sleepless in Seattle) on a book by Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, biographical “Buddha” will be shot in the foothills of Himalayas. Spiritual and temporal leader of Tibetan Buddhists His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama reportedly also has some kind of advisory role with the movie.

Founder of Buddhism, Gautama Buddha (roughly 568-483 BCE) is also known as Sakyamuni or Siddhartha. Buddha means Wise One or Enlightened One. For Hindus, he was ninth avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu (the all-pervader). (ANI)

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Ashutosh Gowariker to recreate life of Gautam Buddha on screen

May 11, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Mumbai, May 11 (ANI): Award winning director, Ashutosh Gowariker, is all set to direct an English film based on the life of Gautam Buddha.

The movie, to be produced by the Spice Infotainment Ltd, is believed to be the most expensive film ever made in Bollywood with a whopping amount of rupees 600 crore.

Incidentally, it was Gowariker who had portrayed the life of Buddha in another award winning director, Shyam Benegal’s popular television series ‘Discovery of India’.

Addressing a press conference in here on Sunday, Gowariker said that the script of the movie has been written by Academy Award winner David Ward and will be titled ‘Buddha’.

When asked about who among the Bollywood actors would portray the character of Buddha in his film, Gowariker said that he is yet to finalise the actor.

“I think the scope of Buddha is global that there are so many countries that are deeply interested, if they had not become Buddhist they are deeply taking interest in learning about Buddhism, learning about what Buddha was all about and keeping that in mind, an international face could do justice to the character as much as an Indian face could,” said Gowariker.

Speaking about the movie’s budget, he said that to re-create the history would be an expensive proposition.

“This is the story that unfolded 2,500 years ago. A time in ancient Indian when you had slavery, you had cruelty and neither that is completely far removed from what we have today. To re-create that is an expensive proposition,” added Gowariker.

Based on the book Old Path White Clouds by a Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thichhat Hanh, the movie will be shot in the Himalayas.

‘Buddha’, with a diverse cast and crew, is expected to go on the floor in May 2010 and be completed by the end of the year.

Spice follows in the heels of local firms UTV Motion Pictures and the Reliance Entertainment that are looking beyond Indian shores for content and audiences. (ANI)

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Buddha Jayanti celebrated in Leh

May 9, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Leh, May 9 (ANI): Thousands of enthusiastic Buddhism devotees converged at Leh in Ladakh region of Kashmir to celebrate Buddha Jayanti or, the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha on Saturday.

The festival was celebrated with great religious fervour and gaiety at several monasteries located in Ladakh and also in Kargil.

A huge congregation was witnessed at the famed Polo Grounds in Leh.

Senior Lamas (Buddhist monks) of Ladakh and heads of different organisations, prominent citizens addressed the huge gathering which alsoncluded hundreds of schoolchildren.

“Buddha Poornima is celebrated to remember the teachings of Lord Buddha. Buddha Jayanti which is the birthday of Lord Buddha is not onlyelebrated in India but all over the world in places like Thailand, Sri Lanka and Burma. It is celebrated with great pomp and show,” said Dr. Tsewang Yangjor, a Buddhist scholar in Leh.

Highlighting the teachings and life of Lord Buddha, Lobzang Rinchen who is the President of Buddhist Association, Leh, stressed upon the people to follow the path shown by Lord Buddha.

Besides, a colourful procession was taken out from Chokhang Vihara in which the monks participated holding religious books and reciting prayers.

Another notable attraction happened to be several tableaux depicting various facets and teaching of Lord Buddha and his life.

Passing through the main market and other neighbourhood streets of Leh, the procession terminated at the Polo Grounds. (ANI)

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Etiquette course launched for misbehaving Thai monks

May 3, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Bangkok – Disturbed by reports that Thai monks have taken to wearing make-up, carrying pinks purses and other forms of public “homosexual expression,” a leading preacher plans to launch a “good manners” course for novices, news reports said Monday.

Senior monk Maha Wudhijaya Vajiramedhi is to introduce Thailand’s first etiquette course at the Novice Demonstration School in Chiang Rai province, 600 kilometres north of Bangkok, next month, The Nation newspaper reported.

“If it succeeds in improving their manners, I’ll expand the curriculum to other novice schools nationwide,” Wudhijaya said.

The well-known Buddhist preacher and writer felt the need for the “good manners” course to counter the negative public image of the monkhood created by unconventional behaviour by some monks and allegations of sexual relations among monks, a sin that is punishable by defrocking.

More than 90 per cent of the Thai population profess to be followers of Buddhism.

“When the Lord Buddha was a prince, he was educated by his royal household. As a result, he had really good manners and was admired,” Wudhijaya said. (dpa)

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‘Good manners’ guide to be given to Thailand’s gay monks!

May 2, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Apr 28 (ANI): A Buddhist leader in Thailand is planning to launch a ‘good manners’ guide to curb the flamboyant behaviour of homosexual and transgender monks.

Upset by the reports, that monks often wear revealing robes, carry pink purses and sport effeminately shaped eyebrows, Phra Maha Wudhijaya Vajiramedhi, a senior monk, is planning to issue the new guidelines to discourage the ostentatious behaviour.

According to BBC, the guidelines would address issues like smoking, drinking alcohol, walking and going to the toilet properly, which are all detailed in the traditional 75 Dharma principles of Buddhism, and the 227 precepts for monks.

Although Phra Vajiramedhi admits that it was difficult to exclude transgender men from the monkhood, he hopes that his course could at least help limit their extrovert habits, reports the Telegraph.

He said if successful, the “good manners” course, at the Novice Demonstration School, could be replicated at other Buddhist monasteries and seminaries. (ANI)

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Pilgrimage tourism in Sikkim gets a boost

April 25, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Gangtok, Apr 25 (ANI): With an aim to give a fillip to the pilgrimage tourism in Sikkim, a Buddhist hub, the royal Bhutan Airlines has started a service between Bhutan and West Bengal has decided to link Sikkim, benefiting the Buddhist Circuit area.

Lukendra Rasaily, General Secretary, Travel Agents Association Of Sikkim (TAAS), said that with the promotion of the Buddhist Circuit a lot more tourists would visit Sikkim.

“We used to wait for the spill over of the tourists from Bangkok, Thailand and South East Asia. But now, we have a Buddhist Circuit here and unlike South East Asia its full of Buddhists so if we take that market only and forget about the European sector. A lot of people would be interested in coming to Sikkim and from there they also get an opportunity to go to Bhutan which is an exotic place in this region,” said Rasaily.

Jamso, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Druk Air said that the airline is looking into the possibility of some more routes to link additional places of Buddhist interest.

“One of the future routes which we are looking at is from Bagdogra Airport to Kathmandu. If we can achieve that then we will be able to have the Buddhist Circuit of Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan. We are already connected with Tibet. I think the whole Buddhist Circuit will actually take place,” said Jamso.

Sikkim is known for its pagodas, Gompas and monasteries.

Tibetan Buddhism is hugely prevalent in Sikkim.

Buddhism was introduced in Tibet in the 8th century AD. Later it spread onto Sikkim and other nearby places. By Tashi Pradhan (ANI)

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German parliamentary rights experts call trip to Tibet one-sided

April 21, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Beijing – Members of a German parliamentary delegation allowed to visit Tibet said Monday that they were constantly escorted by Chinese minders during their trip and said it was deeply one-sided.

Holgar Haibach, the head of the four-member delegation from the human rights committee of the German Bundestag, said many of the group’s questions were not answered and their minders in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital, wanted to give the Germans the impression that all was normal in Tibet.

“The one-sidedness was formidable,” he said, adding that the delegation was not allowed to visit a prison during its three-day stay in Lhasa.

The delegation added that the Chinese army’s presence there was unchanged and massive.

Haibach said the Chinese minders told the delegation that all monks went voluntarily to “patriotic education campaigns,” but one monk told the delegation that participation was required.

The campaign was introduced after deadly unrest in March 2008 in Tibetan-populated areas of China. While the Chinese side has accused the Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhism’s spiritual leader, of provoking the unrest, trials nearly two weeks ago in which four Tibetans were sentenced to death for fatal arson fires did not present any findings on the accusation, delegation member Burkhardt Mueller-Soenksen said.

The trip was the first by German human rights experts since the outbreak of the protests against Chinese rule.

Another committee delegation travelled at the same time to the far-western region of Xinjiang, where Muslim Uigurs complain of oppression from China’s government.

The delegations had earlier discussed the death penalty; administrative detention, which in China can be ordered without trial; and other human rights issues while in Beijing.

There were always two “red lines” in the discussions with Chinese authorities, Haibach said: Neither Chinese national unity nor the authority of the Communist Party could be called into question.

Delegation member Juergen Klimke called the visit a success even when many of its questions went unanswered. “When they say nothing, that also provides insight,” he said. (dpa)

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