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Monthly Archives: February 2011

28th Niwano Peace Prize awarded to Sulak Sivaraksa of Thailand

The Niwano Peace Foundation announced today that it will be giving this year’s peace prize to “engaged buddhist” Sulak Sivaraksa. Established in 1983, the Niwano Peace Prize was created to honor people who are working to promote peace through interreligious cooperation.

Sivaraksa’s lifelong work has been motivated by a commitment to the “engaged buddhism” movement.  In outlining the reasons for selecting Sivaraksa as this year’s award recipient, the foundation describes him as ” a remarkable and multifaceted Buddhist leader whose work for peace is exemplified by courage, determination, imagination, and the constant inspiration of the core principles of his Buddhist faith. Sulak has helped to change the views of political leaders, scholars, and young people, in Thailand, Asia, and the world, encouraging a new understanding of peace, democracy, and development. He challenges accepted approaches that fail to give priority to poor citizens, men and women alike. He has, over a lifetime of dedicated service and unflagging commitment, given new life to ancient Buddhist teachings about nonviolence and about peace and justice.”

For more information on the Niwano Peace Foundation and on Sulak Sivaraksa’s work, visit the foundation’s website.

Inauguration ceremony of the World Center for Peace & Unity

On April 4, the World Center for Peace & Unity will open its doors with a ceremony officiated by H.E. Trungram Gyaltrul Rinpoche. The new center in Lumbini is built at the birthplace of the Buddha.

The opening ceremony will be followed by a Q&A, as well as a one-day retreat. For information on registering to attend the ceremony, click here.

The World Center for Peace & Unity, also named Lumbini Udyana Mahachaitya, is a unique monastery in that it will represent “friends and devotees of Buddhism whose communities or countries are not represented on the land by any other particular monastery,” according to the center’s website.  Read More »

Charles Johnson on “The Joy of Sanskrit”

In an E-Channel blogpost entitled “The Joy of Sanskrit or Language Brought to Formal Perfection,” American writer and scholar Charles Johnson provides a brief chronicle of his journey to study and learn the ancient language. Johnson even makes mention of how his study of Sanskrit helps him write articles for Buddhadharma.

The post begins:

“During my student days, foreign languages were never my forte. Nevertheless, I dutifully studied Spanish for seven years from middle school through undergraduate college, then I did a year of French (reading only, not speaking) as the language requirement for my master’s degree in Philosophy. It was always Sanskrit, though, the elder sister of Latin and Greek, that fascinated and attracted me most because since the late 1960s I buried myself in translations of classic works in Buddhism and Hinduism. Back then, I never dreamed I’d now be in my 13th year of Sanskrit study and translation.”
Click here to continue reading.

Video: Watch the trailer for “Never Give Up,” a new film about the Karmapa

Directed by Fernanda Rivero and James Gritz, Never Give Up: Karmapa 17 is a documentary film being made about, as Barry Boyce described him in his January 2010 Shambhala Sun cover story, “the third most important spiritual leader in the Tibetan Buddhist hierarchy, and the one who may carry that tradition forward in the twenty-first century.” The films also centers on “the Kagyu Monlam prayer festival and three women inspired by the Karmapa into social action in Bodhgaya India, where the Buddha attained enlightenment.” Here’s the trailer for Never Give Up:

For more news about the film (and much more!) from one of its directors, visit the blog of James Gritz. Click here to read Barry Boyce’s Shambhala Sun feature, “The 17th Karmapa: New Face of an Ancient Lineage.”

Buddha For You: Pilgrimage in San Diego

Posted by the Dharma Bums

Om Mani Padme Hum

Over 1,000 Buddha Statues were marched into their new home in San Diego on Sunday, January 30, 2011. The Buddhist Pilgrimage was organized by Buddha For You Two, a retail shop that sells Buddha statues, Asian art, incense, and meditation supplies, and hosts free intro to Buddhism and meditation classes. After 12 years in its old location, the new owners decided it was time to move. When the thought of moving so many statues became a reality, a traditional Buddhist Pilgrimage seemed to be the best option.  Read More »

Letter of “Recommendations for Genpo Merzel, the Kanzeon Zen Center Board” published; 44 Zen teachers sign / Update: Kanzeon Zen Center board responds

As part of its effort to act “as an archive for open letters sent to Kanzeon Zen Center regarding Genpo Merzel” in the light of Merzel’s recent disrobing as a Zen priest, SweepingZen.com has published a letter, signed by 44 Zen teachers, outlining recommendations for how Merzel and the Kanzeon Zen Center (for which he’d been guiding teacher) should proceed. View the letter here.

February 17 update: The Kanzeon Zen Center Board has issued a response to the open letter, outlining some of their actions to date and plans for the future, adding that “Under these circumstances, we respectfully request that those people who sincerely hope that we at Kanzeon survive and heal as a community, and create an environment and adopt procedures that lessen the possibility of any future misconduct or abuse, will extend us a little patience and allow us the time and breathing space to restore the peace and harmony of the sangha and the strength and sound practice of its members. Genpo Merzel has repeatedly reiterated his full support for all of the actions taken by the Board and Sensei as outlined above.” Read the letter here.

An opportunity for your prayers

Posted by Mangala Shri Bhuti

During the Rigdzin Dupa Drupcho — held February 20-27 — Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche and the Mangala Shri Bhuti sangha will accumulate 100,000 feast-offering prayers based on the inner Guru Yoga of the Longchen Nyingtik’s Three Roots practice. The merit of this practice is dedicated to dispelling obstacles on the spiritual path and to increasing harmony in the world. We invite you to share in the merit of this practice by submitting your prayers on behalf of yourself or those in need. Prayer requests will be read aloud each day, and during the periods of accumulation and offering to the Three Jewels, Kongtrul Rinpoche and his students will keep those prayers in their mind.  Read More »

Remembering Rev. Jikan Paula Kondrick (1927-2011)

An announcement from Iowa’s Ryumonji Monastery:

“Rev. Jikan Paula Kondrick passed away peacefully on February 15, 2011. [...] Jikan-san was a founding member of the Minnesota Zen Meditation Center and lay disciple of the late Dainin Katagiri Roshi. She was later priest ordained by Rev. Shoken Winecoff and received Dharma Transmission from Shoken. She served as Vice Abbess of Ryumonji Zen Monastery, and was a founding Board Member of Ryumonji. She also served as resident priest of the Decorah Zen Center for over ten years.”

Click here to open a PDF of this announcement, including details on Rev. Jikan Kondrick’s memorial service.