Grand Ceremony Celebrates Buddha’s Birthday

Buddhism has made contributions to fostering the national solidarity, said the President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Huynh Dam, at a grand ceremony held in Hanoi on May 9 to mark the Buddha’s 2553rd birthday.

Addressing the event, which saw the participation of more than 2,000 Buddhist monks, nuns and followers, Mr. Dam stressed that the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) since its establishment has been joining hands with the entire nation in the national construction and defence, and building up the national unity.

He spoke highly of the achievements the VBS made over recent years and expressed his hope that the Sangha would further encourage Buddhist monks, nuns and followers nationwide to actively join in campaigns for the national solidarity.

Delivering the event’s message, Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue, VBS head, called Buddhist dignitaries and believers in and outside the country to make good deeds towards the celebrations of the 1,000th establishment anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and the sixth World Buddhist Summit slated to be held in Vietnam in mid-November 2010.

Vietnamese media

Buddhist carvings found on cliff

Four cliff carvings of Buddhist images have been discovered in a remote spot in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Experts say the discovery sheds new light on the development of Buddhism in China.

The carvings are in the Helan Mountain region, an ancient route that once linked Ningxia and Inner Mongolia. Archeologists found four images of Buddha inscribed on a cliff. The biggest is nine meters high and six meter wide. Sanskrit inscriptions were found beside the images.

Four cliff carvings of Buddhist images have been discovered in a remote
spot in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Experts from the local cultural heritage authority have concluded that these Buddhist images were carved in the Ming Dynasty some four hundred years ago.

The history of Buddhist carving in China goes back over one thousand years to a time when Buddhism was becoming popular. From the Tang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, monks used to travel along the Helan Mountain route to spread Buddhism into Inner Mongolia. They paused to leave these inscriptions during their long journeys.

Source: CCTV.com

Parallel Seventeen Bids a Happy Birthday to Buddha

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zone in on your zen (and blow off tax day) on Wednesday, April 15, when Parallel Seventeen, the modern Vietnamese restaurant at 1600 East 17th Avenue, rolls out a special a la carte menu to celebrate the birthday of Oh, Ye Great Buddhist, Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, who was born on April 8, 1029 BC (by most estimates, anyway) and died eighty years later (reportedly from eating rotten food) on February 15, 949 BC.

Buddha's birthday is observed all over the world. In Vietnam, it's marked by parties and parades.

At Parallel Seventeen, you'll have to settle for food pickings from exec chef Mary Nguyen. Buddha and Buddhists are predominantly vegetarian, although someone, somewhere,allegedly proffered a saying that Buddhists will eat whatever's offered...so apparently they're flexible. And so is Nguyen's happy birthday to Buddha menu, which runs through April 18.

Here's the dish:

Appetizers:
Diver scallops, tomato and ginger relish
Green papaya and mango salad
Wonton-wrapped prawns
Saigon sizzling crepes

Entrees:
Rice noodle rolls
Coconut-encrusted cod with mango chutney, cilantro coulis, pea tendrils and poached apricots
Pan-seared snapper with braised lotus root and lemongrass ratatouille
Bamboo steamer basket
Udon noodles with a red curry coconut sauce

Desssert:
Pear three ways
Coconut soup with lemongrass, tapioca, adzuki and mung beans

To reserve your spot, call 303-399-0988.

By Lori Midson

Bhutan Exhibit Opens at Rubin Museum

NEW YORK—A selection of Bhutanese Buddhist art never before seen in the continental United States opened at the Rubin Museum of Art on west 17th St. on Friday, Sept. 19.

Bhutan is a predominantly Buddhist country and the only country to measure Gross National Happiness. In 2006, Business Week ranked Bhutan the happiest country in Asia.

The tiny Himalayan nation of Bhutan is one of the most isolated countries on Earth, having been spared colonization, invasion, and war.

“This exhibition is therefore a rare opportunity to explore an entire ethos untouched by the modern world,” said Martin Brauen, Rubin’s chief curator.

The exhibit, The Dragon’s Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan, features hanging thangka tapestries and intricate statues of Buddhas, Boddhisattvas, and ferocious protector deities. Many pieces date back to the 16th century, when the Drugpa sect of Buddhism taught by Drugpa Kunleg became increasingly popular. The original founder of Buddhism, Buddha Shakyamuni, is not short of representation in the collection, either.

The collection was released by the Royal Government of Bhutan and prepared by the Honolulu Academy of the Arts, where it was on display before coming to New York. The exhibit will remain on view at the Rubin until January 5, 2009.

Monks blessed the objects in the new exhibition on Wed. Sept. 17 in a ritual chanting of scriptures followed by the pouring of water before the idols.

From Sept. 13 to 21, dancers wearing painted wooden masks with bulging eyes and a crown of skulls representing protector deities will perform chaam, a sacred ritual dance. The performances will take place in several public parks in the city.

Other events related to the exhibit include films, talks and crafts demonstrations. For full exhibition and activities schedule, please visit rmanyc.org/Bhutan.

By Christine Lin

Ancient Buddha Statue Is Discovered in Afghanistan

Archaeologists have unearthed a 62-foot Buddha statue along with other relics in central Afghanistan, Reuters reported. The discovery was made in the central province of Bamiyan, near the ruins of giant statues that were destroyed by the Taliban seven years ago. The statue of the Buddha in a sleeping position dates to the third century. “In total, 89 relics such as coins, ceramics and a 19 meters statue have been unearthed,” Mohammad Zia Afshar, an adviser in the information and culture ministry, told Reuters. He also said the statue was badly damaged. The other relics date back to the Bactrian era and from Islamic and Buddhist civilizations. Bamiyan was once a thriving center of Buddhism.

Compiled by Julie Bloom

FAQs about Buddhism

Buddhism has about 300 million followers around

the world. The word comes from the Pali and Sanskrit word "budhi,'' meaning "to awaken.''

Buddhism's origins came about 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gotama, known as the Buddha, was awakened, or enlightened, at the age of 35.

Here are some frequently asked questions about Buddhism.

Q: Is it a religion?

A: To many, Buddhism goes beyond religion and is more of a philosophy or "way of life.'' It is a philosophy because philosophy means "love of wisdom.'' The Buddhist path can be summed up as:

• To lead a moral life.
• To be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions.
• To develop wisdom and understanding.

Q: Who was the Buddha?

A: Siddhartha Gotama was born into a royal family in Lumbini, now located in Nepal, in 563 B.C.

At the age of 29, he realized that wealth and luxury did not guarantee happiness. He explored the different teachings, religions and philosophies of the day to find the key to human happiness.

After six years of study and meditation, he finally found "the middle path'' and was enlightened. After enlightenment, the Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching the principles of Buddhism - called the Dhamma, or Truth - until his death at the age of 80.

Q: Was the Buddha a god?

A: No. Buddhists say he was a man who taught a path to enlightenment from his own experience.

Q: Do Buddhists worship idols?

A: Buddhists sometimes pay respect to images of the Buddha, but not in worship, nor to ask for favors.

A statue of the Buddha with hands rested gently in his lap and a compassionate smile reminds followers to strive to develop peace and love within themselves. Bowing to the statue is an expression of gratitude for the teaching.

Q: Why are there different types of Buddhism?

A: There are many different types because the emphasis of Buddhism changes from country to country due to customs and culture. What does not vary is the essence of the teaching - the Dhamma or truth. Two main forms are Tibetan Buddhism, which is led by the Dalai Lama, and Indian Buddhism.

Q: What did the Buddha teach?

A: The Buddha taught many things, but the basic concepts in Buddhism can be summed up by the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eight-fold Path.

The first Truth is that life is suffering; life includes pain, aging, disease and ultimately death. The second Truth is that suffering is caused by craving and aversion. The third Truth is that suffering can be overcome and happiness can be attained by giving up useless craving and learning to live each day at a time.

The fourth Truth is that the Noble Eight-fold Path leads to the end of suffering. In summary, the Noble Eight-fold Path consists of being moral, focusing one's mind on being fully aware of one's thoughts and actions, and developing wisdom by understanding the Four Noble Truths and by developing compassion for others.

Jo Collins Mathis,

From: Ann Arbor News

Lankan ploy of Buddhism for subversion in Tamil Nadu: Viduthalai Rajendran

Circumstantial evidence supports the hand of the Lankan government’s National Intelligence Bureau in the Buddhist temple-building campaign in Tamil Nadu, observed political analyst TSS Mani in Win TV’s News and Views, reported Tehelka Magazine, on Saturday. It further quoted Viduthalai Rajendran, General Secretary of Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (PDK), saying “ the temple-building a ploy to woo Indian Dalits and pit them against Sri Lankan Tamils on religious lines” A Sinhalese delegation of prominent Buddhist monks laid foundation stones for Buddhist places of worship in Tamil Nadu. Most of them are archaeological sites.

The delegation of Buddhist monks, accompanied by Jayalath Jayawardene, United National Party MP, held dedication events for Buddhist temples at Perur (Pearoor) village near Trichy and Alangulam (Aalangku’lam) in Tirunelvely district.

PDK workers organized a protest, displaying black flags, when the site-consecration ceremony was held by the visiting delegation at Perur. The PDK said that while welcoming the Buddhist movement their opposition was only against the Sinhalese monks.

“No one can deny the fact that Sinhalese Buddhists have practised chauvinistic politics against the Lankan Tamils. It is because of this reason we are opposing them. We won’t let the Sinhalese set foot on Tamil soil and engage in their conspiracy to divide Tamil society”, said Viduthalai Rajendran, while Mani opinioned, “ The Lankan government is playing the Buddha card to divide the Tamils. It is their strategy to counter the Tamil support for Eezham Tamils”, according to Tehelka.

In the meanwhile, the Chennai branch of Mahabodhi Society, Sri Lanka’s Buddhist Mission, established simultaneously in Colombo and Culcutta in 1891, by Anagarika Dharmapala, denied any association with the activities of the visiting delegation.

Its chief incumbent, Kalawane Mahanama Thero, a Sinhala monk said that the visiting monks don’t seem to be doing any real religious work and that he was keeping away from them. Commenting on the involvement of Jayawardane, who is a Catholic by religion, he said: “he wants to show to the Sinhalese people that he is doing great service to Buddhism not only in Sri Lanka but also in India. He has been claiming that he is building Buddhist enclaves in India”.

Jayawardane cited the support he was receiving from a senior BJP leader, a land donation to build a Buddhist temple at Thiruththa’ni, to dispel suspicions about his motives.

Thangavayal Vanidasan, the founder of Dalit Makkal Munnani, the group in Tamil Nadu associated with the activities of the Sri Lankan delegation said that he has always been a supporter of the Tamils in Sri Lanka and his connections with the Sinhalese monks are limited to spiritual needs.

Further reports and comments came from TamilNet Staff reporter in Tamil Nadu:


Buddhist archaeological sites of antiquity are sporadically found in the length and breadth of Tamil Nadu. They are remains of Tamil Buddhist heritage. Kaagncheepuram and Naakappaddinam were the main centres of this heritage. Even though all sects of Buddhism were prevalent in Tamil Nadu, the sites we see today largely belong to Mahayana Buddhism, which is different from the Theravada Buddhism of Sri Lanka.

There are many places in Tamil Nadu where beautiful Buddha images of Pallava and Chola Art, left unattended in open land, withering under sun and shower. Several decades ago, a scholar, Mayilai Seeni Venkadasamy commented upon these sculptures in his book 'Buddhism and Tamil'.

Neither the Central Archaeological Survey nor the State Archaeology Department of Tamil Nadu undertook any initiative to protect them properly and to highlight the Tamil Buddhist heritage. It is the same situation with the Tamil Jaina heritage of Digambara Jainism, but nowadays some Jaina organizations of Swetambara Jains are taking care of them.

Tamil Nadu is yet to understand that Tamil language cum culture is the one and only phenomenon in South Asia, which can boast about having a heritage of all the classical religions of South Asia as well as religions of West Asian origin, i.e., Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Had it understood, it wouldn’t have waited for the Sinhala monks.

Hinduism is only a recent identity, a blanket term invented by outsiders for identifying all the native religious philosophies and practices of South Asia. The term and the identity implied by it was adopted for the purpose of the national movement of India, but soon it was interpreted by a combination of Brahminism and Orientalism to mean only Vedic religions, the good old formula of Adi Sankara, and an elite conspiracy of modern India.

Having no recognition for their traditional religious practices and no place in the mainstream Hindu identity interpreted in favour of Brahmanism, many of the Dalits listened to Ambedkar and declared themselves Buddhists, whether they practise it or not. Ambedkar suggested Mahayana Buddhism to the new followers, adopting it to suit modern times as 'Navayana'.

The Dalit movement of Tamil Nadu today engages itself in upholding the Dravidian substratum in the traditional religious practices of the Dalit masses. It also vigorously claims authorship of the very foundations of the religious superstructures, superimposed by Brahminism.

In the meantime, sections of them following the line of Ambedkar think of inheriting the Tamil Buddhist heritage of the past to invigorate their present identity.

There is also a recent resurgence in the appearance of books on Buddhism in Tamil. But, this has nothing to do with Sri Lanka. Ever since the volumes of the works of Iyothee Thasar of 19th century were published in Tamil Nadu sometimes back, there is an awakening of Buddhism. Iyothee Thasar was a forerunner to Periyar and Ambedkar in Dalit emancipation and advocating Dalits to embrace Buddhism.

The Perur Buddha image, a piece of Chola Art, was lying in an open paddy field on the roadside for a long time. The local people were worshipping it as some deity. Some individuals, who repatriated to this village from Sri Lanka under Srimao-Shastri pact, took initiative about this image.

Another instance is the discovery of a Chola sculpture of Buddha in the mango grove of a remote village on the Coromandal Coast between Naakappaddinam and Vedaranyam (Veathaara'niyam). It happens to be a Dalit village. The finder has become a personal devotee of the image and seeks building a shrine there. He is also interested in learning Buddhism and getting Buddhist scriptures.

It looks as though the political monks and elements of vested interests with calculated moves have hijacked the good intentions of unassuming people.

It has been reported that the Sri Lanka government is highly concerned about the security of Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, amidst disturbances in the Tarai region of Nepal and is interested in creating a trouble free zone there. While such initiatives should be appreciated, one cannot help but reminded of the plight of the Madu church in the war zone of Vanni and many Hindu pilgrim centres in the High Security Zones of Sri Lanka. The saying in Tamil is: ‘the son performing the charity of feeding in Banaras while the mother famishes at home’.

What many in Tamil Nadu wonder is the timing of the activities of the Sinhala Buddhist delegation. Why have they chosen such tense times to show their piety?

But the more intriguing question is why and how have they been permitted to land in Tamil Nadu, at such a time, with such a socially disruptive agenda, when many Sri Lankan Tamil politicians and intellectuals are denied entry and when even ordinary Tamils longing for cultural and social contacts are harassed at the diplomatic missions and immigration counters to get entry into India. The same question is asked about the visit of a Sinhala Director who wanted to dub the Sinhala film Pirapakaran in Chennai and screen it in Tamil Nadu.

The hands point to the governments at Delhi and Chennai.

Even though entry into India is a prerogative of the Centre, the state government is the authority for allowing stay for foreigners in its territory. The state government can always ask the centre to send unwanted foreigners out.

But, is there any agenda of both of them to ‘educate’ the people of Tamil Nadu, hiring monks and directors from Sri Lanka?

By tamilnet.com

Walk with Buddha

He walked... in India. Incredible India.

Tibet Isn't a Buddhist Litmus Test

As the violence in Tibet has continued, the Dalai Lama issued a stern statement that he could not align himself with insurrection in his home country. Buddhism rests on several pillars, one of which is nonviolence. Tibet quickly became a kind of Buddhist litmus test. How much pain and oppression can you stand and still exhibit loving kindness and compassion? I wonder if that's really fair. The Tibetans face a political crisis that should be met with political action. Whatever that action turns out to be, nobody should be seen as a good or bad Buddhist, anymore than defending your house from an intruder tests whether a Christian is living by the precepts of Jesus.

In India, where Gandhi preached nonviolence, or Ahimsa, he confronted a decaying British empire that was forced to give up its vast holdings. Historical luck was on his side, and as a result of Gandhi's pacifism, India gained its independence. The Dalai Lama, however, has had historical misfortune to contend with. The Chinese are an expanding empire, and their ingrained racism allows them to overrun the "inferior" native Tibetans without any moral qualms. Will pacifism work in this situation? A better question might be, Would anything work? It's not as though the Beijing regime can be defeated by force, either. One recalls that Gandhi combined pacifism with resistance, whereas the Tibetans up to now have sunk into an inert pacifism that could lead to their cultural extinction.

No doubt the entire conflict, now half a century old, is entangled in religion and other interwoven ingredients: Communist ideology, fantasies of restoring Chinese glory days, and much else. But Buddha, like Jesus, didn't start a religion. He was concerned with how to live in the world, and being entangled in the world's pain and confusion is an eternal dilemma. It didn't need ruthless bureaucrats in China. Over the centuries, failed crops, endemic disease, and poverty have been quite capable of bringing suffering. It would be superficial to say that Buddha and Jesus arrived at the same remedy -- to be in the world but not of it -- yet nobody needs to pass that test, either.

What Buddha and Jesus undoubtedly had in common was a sense that another realm of existence transcends the material world. Buddhists are asked to consider how to reach that realm. There are no dictates (as far as my limited knowledge goes) to engage the world and solve its tortured dilemmas. Indeed, Buddha is famous for teaching that such solutions don't exist. It is futile to apply Buddhism to a political crisis - or to the subprime mortgage debacle, for that matter - because wrestling with the material world never leads to freedom, fulfillment, or peace.

Someone may protest that the Dalai Lama is being an exemplary Buddhist in maintaining such perfect equanimity, and I completely agree. But he has achieved his level of consciousness for himself. This is a case where virtue must be its own reward. The world looks on and admires the Dalai Lama; it doesn't change for him. My intention isn't to give any Tibetan Buddhist advice, or to adopt a position superior to anyone else's. It just strikes me that Tibet shouldn't be a litmus test for religious purity while an entire people are slowly ground to dust. Nor should the peaceful countenance of the Dalai Lama become an excuse for the rest of us to stand by and do nothing, as if that proves how virtuous we are.

Powered By: huffingtonpost.com

Top living Buddha against secessionism

LANZHOU, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Most of the Tibetan living Buddhas and lamas are against secessionism and have opposed and checked the riots in various forms, said a top living Buddha in the northwestern Gansu Province.

"It is only a very few people who were engaged in the sabotage activities. Most living Buddhas and lamas are patriotic," said Jamyang Losang Jigme Tubdain Qoigyi Nyima, a living Buddha and vice-president of the Tibetan Chapter of the Buddhist Association of China.

Stability, unity, development and progress are the common wishes and basic interests of all Tibetan people, including those from the religious sector, he said, noting that the beating, smashing, looting and arson in the riots brought great harm to both Tibetan people and Tibetan Buddhism.

"The violence has disturbed normal order in lamaseries. The violence has been proven as having been masterminded by the Dalai clique. Ethnicity and religion were only deceitful camouflage. Their real motive was to disturb the stability in the Tibetan areas and undermine the order in lamaseries," said Jamyang.

The turmoil in Tibet last Friday was repeated in the counties of Xiahe, Maqu, Luqu and Jone and Hezuo City in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, where rioters shouting slogans of "Tibet Independence", carrying rocks and self-made petrol bombs or waving flags of "Tibetan-government-in-exile" stormed government offices,police stations, hospitals, schools, banks, shops and markets, among others.

Dewacang Jayangtudain Gyaincog, a living Buddha at the famed Labrang Lamasery in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, called on "Buddhism followers to draw a clear line with the criminals, not to be deceived or spread rumors, and not participate in the riots of the secessionists," he said.

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com

Buddhist temple in the Belmont

Many times I've pulled up to the four-way stop sign at Belmont and Rogue River roads and - no matter how rushed I am - my eyes and thoughts wander to the Linh Son Temple on the southeast corner of the intersection.

In spring and summer the landscape blossoms with greenery and flowers surrounding a tall statue of a peaceful-looking woman in the garden. "Who is she?" I've often wondered.

For the 14 years I've lived in Belmont I have been intrigued with this mysterious yellow building and the people who go there. So during our editorial meeting a couple of weeks ago at the Indy I suggested doing a story on the temple and was given an enthusiastic go-ahead.

That's one of the many facets of this job that I love: I get to satisfy my curiosity about people and things under the guise of working as a reporter, which gives me a built-in excuse to approach places that intrigue me and hope for some cooperation.

In this case, I received far more than I expected.

Sunday Ceremony

After working out some pesky language barrier issues, the people at Linh Son warmly welcomed me and invited me to attend their Sunday ceremony. The 45-minute service is led by a master and a monk, who sing/chant in Vietnamese.

I couldn't understand the words, but found their soothing voices calming in the light-filled temple amid candles, mild incense, a soft drum-like beat and an occasional gong.

Afterwards, I was directed to a table to sit down with the master, Thich Linh Dat, and several others, all of whom spoke varying levels of English. We talked, listened and laughed our way through the next couple of hours, which passed quickly.

The temple is run by volunteers. The board of directors includes Tan Tran, Vu Nguyen and Hong Bawden, all of whom look forward to the temple every Sunday and work to keep things running smoothly.

Buddhism, it was explained, is a religion in which followers learn to follow Buddha's path to enlightenment through clear thinking, developing love and compassion, and living a moral life (see sidebar on Buddhism). The people of Linh Son Temple practice Mahayana Buddhism, which stresses an ideal life based on virtue and wisdom.

"Buddha is teacher," said Tran. "You earn what you get. No one going to hand it to you."

"Buddha shows the way," said Nguyen.

"We love Buddha," said Bawden. "He's a good teacher and if we practice like him we find peace."

Temple History

A brief history of the temple unfolded, starting back in the 1970s. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, a number of Vietnamese refugees settled in the Grand Rapids area.

They had endured tremendous hardships as they fled their homeland when communists took over, many witnessing unspeakable tragedies, such as the deaths of spouses and children along the way.

The Grand Rapids group pooled their money together through donations and bought the land in Belmont in 1983, at which time a small, one-room church stood on it. They used the building for their Linh Son Temple but soon found themselves with more people than the temple could hold.

In 1992, again through generous donations, they built an addition. Each time, they have sought permission from Plainfield Township officials, with whom they have a good relationship.

The Belmont temple remains the first and oldest of its kind in the Grand Rapids area, although there are now other temples near Kalamazoo and Lansing. There are more than 50 Linh Son Temples worldwide.

The Linh Son Buddhists in Belmont have approximately 400 followers, although their three major special celebrations each year bring more than 600 people. Bawden explained that a favorite among the celebrations is Vu Lan, which takes place during our calendar year in August.

"It's very cool holiday," she said. "It's a really beautiful day."

It is a time to say thank you and pay respect to parents, teachers, and others who have been influential in one's life. The release of hundreds of doves symbolizes compassion and love for animals and is a highlight of the day.

There are two other main celebrations: The Buddha's birthday (May) and the Chinese New Year.

The Master

The master, Thich Linh Dat, fled Vietnam in 1981.

"When I left Vietnam ... we had everything and one day it's gone. We suffer," said Dat through translators Bawden, Tran and Nguyen.

His boat was intercepted by an English ship and taken to England, where he settled until going to France in 1998 to attend Linh Son Buddhist Monastery where monks are trained. He spent several years studying as a monk before becoming a master.

"He cannot eat any meat," said Bawden, who helped translate for Dat. "He lives physically and mentally to be clean. They do not want to kill any kind of animals."

He also is not allowed to marry.

Dat lives a spartan existence at the temple in Belmont, where he has been master for five years: He spends four hours daily meditating, from 4 a.m.- 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.-10 p.m. After meditation he prays for peace in the world.

"Being a master is not easy to do," said Bawden. "You dedicate your life (to Buddhism). He wants to break the cycle of suffering."

Once a month the master leads a retreat at the temple. For 24 hours the participants learn about Buddha and live purely - physically and mentally. A strict schedule is followed and no cell phones are allowed. Small groups of college students sometimes take part in the retreats.

I looked at the master and presented a question that had been bouncing around in my head as I learned about his disciplined lifestyle.

"Do you ever not want to be a master?" I asked, wondering if he was tempted on occasion to live a "normal" life.

He smiled and kindly shook his head, no.

Everyone Welcome

The people at Linh Son Temple answered my many questions with both patience and good humor. They were respectful but also animated and lively, poking fun at each other and laughing frequently. They also emphasized that they all work together as a team, and there are four ladies, in addition to Bawden, who work tirelessly preparing food for each Sunday and all of the celebrations: Hanh Ly, Trang Huynh, Cam Linh Vu and Nhan Tran.

They sent me off with phone numbers, e-mail addresses and a book, written by a Buddhist monk, explaining the religion and its philosophy.

But when I left that afternoon I walked away with more than a clearer knowledge of Buddhism. I carried with me a newfound respect and affection for these people, who have experienced so much sadness and tragedy yet still manage to find joy in life. It is a place I plan to return - not as a reporter, but as a friend.

The Linh Son Buddhist Temple is located at 2424 Rogue River Road in Belmont. Services take place at 11 a.m. every Sunday. Everyone is invited and welcome to attend the 45-minute ceremony, performed in Vietnamese, and to join in gathering afterward for conversation and vegetarian refreshments.

Author's note: A special thank you to my friends Hong Bawden, Tan Tran and Vu Nguyen for their kind and generous assistance in translating and explaining elements of the Buddhist culture. Also, thanks to Cam Linh Vu and Hiep Vu, and Hop Doan.

Written by Kathy Berlin

A Buddhism Primer

BUXTON (March 6, 2008): Dr. Sunil Goonasekera, 60, is a visiting professor in his second year at Bowdoin College, where he teaches four Asian religions, including Buddhism. His specialty is anthropology of religion. He graduated from University of California at San Diego. He has taught there and at a major university in his native country, Sir Lanka. He and his wife live near San Diego, Calif., and each has a law degree.

Here is Goonasekera’s explanation of Buddhism:

“Buddhism exists in the form of two large sects – the Theravada and the Mahayana. Cambodian Buddhism belongs to the Theravada sect. Theravada temples exist in forests and villages. Forest monks live in solitude or in groups and dedicate their lives to meditation. Village monks, in addition to meditation, also provide community support by holding sermons to explain Buddhist concepts and by making available educational and medical facilities. The Theravada sect exists in Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

"The Mahayana sect exists in Tibet, China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. When Tibet was an independent country, its leader was Dalai Lama, the head of the Tibetan branch of the Mahayana sect.

"Buddhism is a religion founded around 6th- or 5th-century B.C. by the Buddha – also known as the Enlightened One, in northern India. The Buddha discovered the Four Noble Truths, the foundation of Buddhism. They are:

"There is suffering in life; there are causes of suffering; there is a way to end this suffering; and there is a condition of existence without suffering known as Nibbana (Nirvana).

"The Buddha advocated a middle path, between extreme indulgence in pleasures of life and self-mortification, for living in the world. The Buddha also advocated a path to end suffering and to realize Nibbana. This is known as the Noble Eightfold Path. The eightfold path consists of eight practices: right perception, right conceptualization, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right religious effort, right mindfulness and right contemplation.

"The hallmark of being a Buddhist lay person involves taking refuge in the Triple Gem - The Buddha, Dhamma (his doctrines) and Sangha (the Buddhist monastic order), and observing five basic precepts. They are: I will not kill; I will not steal; I will not speak untruth; I will not sexually misbehave; and I will not consume intoxicating substances.

"These are promises that Buddhists daily make to themselves. Buddhist lay persons are advised not to let three conditions influence their thoughts – lust, hatred and delusions. They are required to engage in giving or charity, be disciplined and practice meditation.

"Buddhism is an agnostic religion that does not discuss the existence of a creator God. It neither affirms nor denies the existence of one creator. However, it does include beliefs in many gods. Gods are not considered as supreme beings. They are merely another bodiless state of heavenly existence.
It is not necessary to worship them in order to be a Buddhist. These gods also must practice Buddhism in order to realize ultimate Truth and achieve the ultimate state of being, the Nibbana, which is the cessation of existence.”

By Robert Lowell Reporter-American Journal