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Thousands of Buddhist monks and followers hold a rally in central Seoul
Tens of thousands of Buddhist monks and followers from around the country flocked to central Seoul to protest what they call the administration's discrimination against one of the country's largest religion.
Considered the largest protest by Buddhists in decades, the rally saw more than 200,000 Buddhists from almost all orders - Jogye, Cheontae, Taego and Gwaneum - take to the streets from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. They marched to Jogye Temple located in Jongno, the de facto headquarters of Korean Buddhism, following the rally.
They demanded an official apology to Buddhist from the President; reprimands for public officials involved in religious discrimination, including National Police Agency Commissioner General Eo Cheong-soo; and legislation to ward off such discrimination. President Lee is a minister at a Seoul church.
They also demanded the removal of members of the People's Association against Mad Cow Disease hiding in a Buddhist temple from a wanted list.
``Unless the government meets our requests in a sincere manner, we will hold additional rallies in other parts of the country in cooperation with civic groups and religious organizations,'' the protesters said in a statement.
None of the protesters wore masks or held candles, and instead sang Buddhist hymns with putting their hands together under numerous flapping banners containing messages condemning the government's alleged bias toward Christianity.
They urged the administration to stop discriminating against their religion.
``Our Buddhists have served as a `buttress' in promoting inter-faith harmony,'' the statement said. ``But several instances of discrimination against Buddhism have occurred since President Lee took office in February. In addition, the President snubbed it. This has apparently violated the Constitution, which bans any form of religious discrimination and impedance to social unity.''
The dispute erupted after police officers searched the car of the Ven. Jigwan, the chief executive of the country's largest Buddhist order, Jogye, in their search for anti-U.S. beef protest organizers taking shelter at a downtown temple.
Following the incident, Buddhists cited dozens of examples of anti-Buddhist discrimination. For instance, a transportation data system provided by the government in June omitted locations of Buddhist temples. Maps of Cheonggye Stream, a body of water reopened while President Lee was mayor of Seoul, also excluded temples.
Meanwhile, Seoul City government decided to impose a fine on rally organizers as they went ahead with the protest without permission. A Jogye Temple worker refuted the allegation, saying ``we sent an official note to the office on Aug. 17 to request approval.'' He added the city government has never restricted the holding of a religious event. Tens of thousands of Buddhist monks and followers from around the country flocked to central Seoul to protest what they call the admin... more -
Buddhist monks create art to cleanse negativity
Grand Junction’s Ray and Peggy Pilcher invited six monks with the Gaden Shartse Monastery to stay in their home during the monks’ stay in Mesa County.
The monks are on a U.S. tour, raising awareness about Buddhism and donations for construction of a hospital to serve their monastery and other villages in southern India.
The monastery originally was built in Tibet, but Chinese occupation decades ago forced the Tibetan monks to flee to India.
The Pilchers, both Buddhists, have opened their home to the Gaden Shartse monks for the past 10 years, showing the monks the compassion synonymous with Buddhism.
Ray Pilcher said he has been interested in Buddhist culture since he was young, and his nearly four dozen trips to China and Tibet through the years only furthered that interest.
On Sunday, during a free presentation at Western Colorado Center for the Arts, the Tibetan monks demonstrated the precision and time that goes into making a mandala, which is believed to help cleanse negativity for those who view it, said monk Jangchub Chophel.
The monks used brightly colored sand made from crushed and dyed Indian quartz to create a symbolic representation of Green Tara’s universe. Green Tara is honored in Buddhist culture for being a female Buddha, showing that women can achieve equality in a male-dominated society.
The mandala construction began Saturday and will finish at 6:30 p.m. today during a Green Tara puja and sweeping up ceremony, in which the monks will distribute some of the blessed sand to those in attendance at the Art Center ceremony at 1803 N. Seventh St.
The remaining sand will be thrown in the Colorado River to float downstream. The cleaning of the mandala signifies nothing in the world is permanent, and understanding change is part of balancing life.
The Buddhist monks will be in Grand Junction until Wednesday. From Grand Junction, they head to Hotchkiss and Moab, Utah, before continuing east across the country, Chophel said. Grand Junction’s Ray and Peggy Pilcher invited six monks with the Gaden Shartse Monastery to stay in their home during the monks’ stay... more -
Broadband boost for island monks
An island community of monks were so fed up with their slow internet connection, they've gone broadband.
The Cistercian monks live on Caldey Island, three miles off the coast of Tenby in Pembrokeshire. The self sustaining community sells homemade perfume and sweets over the internet for their income.
Father Daniel said: "Patience is one of the characteristics of monastic life, but even the patience of the Brothers was being tested by our slow internet". Over the last five years, the monks internet shop has increased its turnover by 100%. But their slow dial-up connection was hampering their business. So they worked with a local telecommunications firm who have used a signal from a communications tower on the mainland to transmit wireless broadband to the island. "Broadband access has made a huge difference to our internet usage," said Father Daniel.
Read more... An island community of monks were so fed up with their slow internet connection, they've gone broadband. ... more -
Buddhist Monks protest the Dalai Lama in Philadelphia
On Wedndesday July 16th, 2008, the Dalai Lama visited the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts to give a public talk. While many people were thrilled to see him speak, Shugden monks spoke out against the Dalai Lama, claming that he is a lying hyprocrite. On Wedndesday July 16th, 2008, the Dalai Lama visited the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts to give a public talk. While many peop... more
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Monks say 'If we have guns we will shoot back'
Clancy Chassay reports from inside Burma on plans for a new uprising against the military regime, and hears some monks calling for more western intervention and an armed insurrection Clancy Chassay reports from inside Burma on plans for a new uprising against the military regime, and hears some monks calling for mor... more
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Tibet on the way to prosperity
Nepali daily reports:
"Great changes have taken place in Tibet since the abolition of feudal serfdom in the 1950s, and China's sovereignty over Tibet is indisputable, according to an article published by Nepal's official English language daily The Rising Nepal on Sunday.
"After the fleeing of the Dalai Lama and his groups from Tibet in 1959, great changes have taken place in the city of Lhasa. Tibet, with no highway at all in the past, now has a highway network of thousands of kilometers with Lhasa at its center," said the article entitled "Tibet on the way to prosperity."
However, some people have long looked at Tibetans' development through tainted glasses, commented the article. "They intentionally distorted facts and denied that Tibet is experiencing its best era of development and stability and Tibetans are enjoying the broadest human rights ever."
This is mainly talking abot the history of Tibet an how much it has prospered over many years. Nepali daily reports: ... more -
New Tibetan deaths prompt Olympic torch fears
After the deaths of eight Tibetan protesters, London authorities are growing increasingly concerned regarding security for this weekend's Olympic torch relay.
The news of the protesters' deaths, allegedly at the hands of Chinese police officers, has left police in London fearing Sunday's 31-mile torch relay route could draw both pro-Tibet protesters and Chinese students, The Times of London reported Saturday.
Pro-Tibet campaigners vowed to increase protests of the Beijing Games immediately following Friday's deadly protest in China's Sichuan province, The Times said.
Chinese paramilitary police reportedly attempted to quell a protest by Tibetan monks and villagers by using force, leaving eight people dead. After the deaths of eight Tibetan protesters, London authorities are growing increasingly concerned regarding security for this weeken... more -
Be Happier AND Change the Shape of Your Brain!
ABSTRACT
If happiness is an inner state, influenced by external conditions but not dependent on them, how can we achieve it? Ricard will examine the inner and outer factors that increase or diminish our sense of well-being, dissect the underlying mechanisms of happiness, and lead us to a way of looking at the mind itself based on his book, Happiness: A Guide to Life's Most Important Skill and from the research in neuroscience on the effect of mind-training on the brain. ABSTRACT ... more -
China cloaking soldiers as monks to incite riots
The Dalai Lama is claiming China is sending soldiers disguised as Tibetan monks to incite riots that are currently gripping his homeland. The Dalai Lama is claiming China is sending soldiers disguised as Tibetan monks to incite riots that are currently gripping his homela... more
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Police beat Tibetans storming Chinese embassy in Katmandu
A group of 200 Tibetan exiles and monks tried to storm the Chinese Embassy visa office in Nepal's capital on Sunday but police beat them back with bamboo batons.
At least 130 protesters were arrested and some of the demonstrators and policemen were injured in the scuffle.
The protesters reached the metal gate of the fortified compound and were kicking and trying to push it open when police armed with bamboo batons raced to the scene and began beating them.
''Stop the killing, stop the killing,'' the protesters chanted as they charged toward the office gate.
Nepal has said it would not allow protests against any ''friendly nation,'' including China.
International rights groups, like New York-based Human Rights Watch, and the United Nations have repeatedly criticized Nepal's handling of the Tibetan protests and beating of the protesters. A group of 200 Tibetan exiles and monks tried to storm the Chinese Embassy visa office in Nepal's capital on Sunday but police be... more -
Monks protest scupper controlled media tour of Tibet
Tibetan Monks protested on the first media tour of Lhasa since the riots began on March the 14th. An Associated Press reporter, Charles Hutzler, described one young Buddhist monk who yelled “Tibet is not free! Tibet is not free!” and then burst into tears.
The monks knew the danger they were in when they protested the arrival of the media tour, which was told by officials of the Chinese government that Tibet had been part of China for hundreds of years.
The Chinese say that 22 people died in the unrest in Tibet during the protests, but other sources say at least 140 people were killed. Tibetan Monks protested on the first media tour of Lhasa since the riots began on March the 14th. An Associated Press reporter, Charle... more -
Paris Hilton gets a Buddhist Monk
The Daily Mail says Paris Hilton has been seen hanging around L.A with a new friend, a Buddhist monk. Paris and her "guru" reportedly sat down to read a book called "The Path to the Painted Shaman" and the Hollwood celebrity appeared to be listening intently to what he had to say.
Only it turns out he's not a monk, he's an actor, called Maxie Santillan: http://www.myspace.com/maxactor5
Maybe they where reading a script? I have high hopes it's something to do with a new sitcom. 'Hilton's Monk' would be must see TV. The Daily Mail says Paris Hilton has been seen hanging around L.A with a new friend, a Buddhist monk. Paris and her "guru" r... more -
Marathon Monks Run 52 Miles a Day for 100 days in a Row!
The Marathon Monks are a group of Japanese Buddhist monks that are part of the Tendai sect located in the mountains looking over the ancient capital of Kyoto and have a quest called Hieizan Sennichi Kaihogyo (Mt. Hiei 1000 Day Journey) that would seem impossible. Yet over 45 have completed it, the last being Genshin Fujinami in late 2003. The Marathon Monks are a group of Japanese Buddhist monks that are part of the Tendai sect located in the mountains looking over the a... more
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Keeping the Internet Open: Expression Collides with Control
When people discuss the issue of "openness" in the digital age, they talk about fostering free speech and protecting privacy and property rights without limiting freedom of expression. There are concerns that the internet filters imposed by governments and corporations might create "walled gardens" where access is extremely controlled and expression is no longer free. This video about the issues tied to keeping the Internet "open" features interviews shot at the 2007 Internet Governance Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Rio IGF was the second of five annual global events that attract stakeholders from all walks of life who gathered to discuss issues tied to the future of information and communications technologies.
This documentary was produced for Imagining the Internet http://imaginingtheinternet.org , an online resource exposing future possibilities while simultaneously providing a peek back at the past. In it, you will find the words of thousands of people from every corner of the world, from today and from yesterday, making thousands of predictive pronouncements about the future of humankind.
The multimedia section of the site includes short films and dozens of video interviews - all of them about the hopes and fears for the future of networked communications. Imagining the Internet is a project based at Elon University. When people discuss the issue of "openness" in the digital age, they talk about fostering free speech and protecting privacy... more -
Shaolin Monks Decline Beijing Games Competition
Kung Fu monks at the 1,500-year-old Shaolin Temple in China's central Henan province, have declined to join in one of the biggest kung fu battles of modern times -- a competition to be staged in tandem with next year's Olympic Games in Beijing.
After the monks publicly distanced Shaolin from the Olympics in October, Chinese bloggers and athletes began to suggest the monks are just scared they wouldn't win. Kung Fu monks at the 1,500-year-old Shaolin Temple in China's central Henan province, have declined to join in one of the biggest... more -
Hip Hop Fashion Show with Buddhist Monks?
Nuns and Monks from a major Buddhist temple in Tokyo have taken to the catwalk.
"We wanted to show the young people that Buddhism is cool, and temples are not a place just for funerals"
Do you think this is a good way to promote religion? Nuns and Monks from a major Buddhist temple in Tokyo have taken to the catwalk. ... more -
Hunted Myanmar monks flee monasteries
The monasteries of Myanmar used to teem with saffron-robed Buddhist monks, revered as spiritual guides and moral authorities in a country in the grip of a repressive military regime.
Then the junta turned its troops on the monks, beating them in the streets for leading pro-democracy protests. They also raided their monasteries, leaving bloodstains on the floors, chasing anyone who had participated in the rallies.
Now, nobody knows how many of Myanmar's more than 500,000 monks are left in their monasteries. The monasteries of Myanmar used to teem with saffron-robed Buddhist monks, revered as spiritual guides and moral authorities in a coun... more -
Robot monk scribes Bibles
Seriously, this reads like a Borges story. I mean a Borges story with a robot.
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Lousiana PBS presented its take The Tibetan Photo Project
During an exhibit from The Tibetan Photo Project, sponsored by Centenary College in Shreveport, Lousiana PBS gave an statewide introduction with this broadcast. We have permission from Lousiana PBS to share this broadcast through The Tibetan Photo Project. During an exhibit from The Tibetan Photo Project, sponsored by Centenary College in Shreveport, Lousiana PBS gave an statewide introdu... more
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An invitation to visit The Tibetan Photo Project Website
The Tibetan Photo Project
Mission Statement
Recognizing that there is much that we can learn from the Tibetans:
The goal of The Tibetan Photo Project is to provide the tools and technical education in photography to create a voice from the films and photos by Tibetans.
While there have been thousands of great visual works documenting the Tibetans, most have been from the perspective of the Western eye.
The Tibetan Photo Project is working to present the Tibetans' own perspective through the Website, exhibits, films, DVDs and other visual programs created from their own photographic work or by film and photo efforts directed by Tibetans.
Please visit The Tibetan Photo Project at
http://www.tibetanphotoproject.com
First-time visitors, be sure to visit the update and founders' statement page
and the media coverage page to see how The Tibetan Photo Project is growing
a voice from the Tibetans. The Tibetan Photo Project Mission Statement Recognizing that there is much that we can learn from the Tibetans: ... more
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