The Dharma is alive and well, and being taught and practiced in the woods of Newmarket.

An article on the Washington Post' s "On Faith" website says that "In Buddhism, fasting is central to the journey to Enlightenment." This was news to me.

There are a number of popular conceits about Buddhism in Brendan O'Neill's article "The Truth About Tibetan Buddhism" at Reason. For example, the article reflects the common notion that westerners who "take up" Buddhism are privileged dilettantes who don't practice seriously. Buddhism to westerners, O'Neill says, "is something you can ingest while sipping on a skinny-milk, no-cream, hazelnut latte." Western Buddhists are "hippyish, celebrity, and middle-class followers."

Read Full Post

Posted by Philip Ryan in : Books , Tibetan Buddhism , Tricycle , Tricycle Retreats , Vipassana , trackback It's a busy day here at Tricycle! Here's what's new this Monday: Bonnie Myotai Treace's Tricycle Retreat, " Whole Life Offering ," heads into its fourth and final week with the teaching, "Just One Small Bowl: The Boundless Body ." You can ...

May I respectfully suggest that The Nation reconsider using "Buddhist Lent" as a translation of pansa? "Lent" is a Christian term designating the forty days preceding Jesus' resurrection.

A monk looks at the thangka during the annual thangka unfurling ceremony at Ganden Monastery in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 25, 2010.

If there was just one teaching from Buddhism you wish the world would take to heart, what would it be? I started thinking about this after I wached a video of Pema Chodron talking about how we respond to aggression. It make me think of the lines from the Dhammapada --

Read Full Post

Jennifer Aniston has reportedly splashed out $4000 on a Buddha statue that she talks to.

Posted by James Shaheen in : Art , Buddhism , Events , Pure Land , Tricycle , trackback The Obon Festival is a Japanese Buddhist three-day observance during which families honor their deceased ancestors.

The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace is touring Canada, stopping in Westlock, north of Edmonton, July 25 to Aug.

CBS article on Ogyen Trinley Dorje: "Possible Dalai Lama Successor Bridges Age Gap" July 8, 2010 Posted by Monty McKeever in : Books , Buddha , Buddhism , Buddhist Teachings , Dalai Lama , General , News , Politics , Tibetan Buddhism , trackback There's no doubt the Karmapa Lama is an unusual young man.

Reincarnation of the 5th Living Buddha Dezhub was selected following a lot-drawing ceremony held early Sunday morning in Lhasa, capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region in southwest China.

Posted by James Shaheen in : Buddhism , Buddhist Teachings , Tibetan Buddhism , Tricycle , trackback From Teabaggers to television news shriekers to the average Jane and Joe on the street , Americans seem pretty testy lately.

Posted by James Shaheen in : Buddhism , Buddhist Teachings , Dalai Lama , Science , Tibetan Buddhism , Tricycle , trackback After all the discussion of science and Buddhism in my last post , I came across the Dalai Lama's appearance before an audience of more than 500 Korean Buddhists in Yokahama today, where he encouraged the study of not only ...

A A pilgrim buys the fresh flowers for worshipping the Buddha and burning the incense during the annual Incense-burning Festival of Tibetan Buddhism, which falls on the 15th day of the 5th month in traditional Tibetan calendar, in front of the Jokhang Lamasery, at Lhasa, southwest China's Tibetan Autonomous Region, June 26, 2010.

Posted by James Shaheen in : Buddhism , Buddhist Teachings , Dalai Lama , News , Politics , Tibetan Buddhism , Tricycle , trackback A few posts back I cited an AFP article in which the Dalai Lama, in advocating nonviolence, appeared to criticize the Sea Shepherds, a group of anti-whaling activists who have been much in the news lately.