Buddhism

Universal Buddhism - promises to be an interesting collection of links about Buddhism. So far Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen and Buddhist quotes are found. Read Full Story

The forced expulsion of more than 300 followers of one of the world's most influential Buddhists highlights Vietnam's suppression of religious freedom, Human Rights Watch said Monday. "The government views many religious groups, particularly popular ones that it fears it can't control, as a challenge to the Communist Party's authority," said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director of the US-based watchdog. HRW said that late last month more than 100 "thugs and undercover police" armed with sticks and hammers broke down doors at the Bat Nha monastery and forcefully evicted 150 monks who follow Thich Nhat Hanh. Hanh is a French-based Zen monk and peace ... Read Full Story

Because mindfulness is a way of dealing with problems that does not require drugs or fancy equipment it has become quite popular among many. No surprise then that there are several calendars out there for those interested in enlightening their life through meditation or mindfulness. The main teacher of Zen Mindfulness these days is of course Thich Nhat Hanh. His Calendars are as inspiring and calming as you would expect. Mindfulness is really a form of Buddhism adapted to the modern lifestyle of Westerners. That is: what used to be a practice aimed at monks and nuns (and only a minority of those), is ... Read Full Story

Followers of a world-famous Buddhist teacher say police and an angry mob have forced them out of a monastery in central Vietnam, ending a religious experiment in the communist country that turned into a monthslong standoff with authorities. Followers of Thich Nhat Hanh, an Vietnam-born monk who has popularized Buddhism in the West, said about 150 monks were forced from the Bat Nha monastery in Lam Dong province Sunday, and about 230 nuns left on their own Monday morning. "The Vietnamese government has won," said Sister Dang Nghiem, speaking by telephone Monday from a monastery in San Diego, California, where Nhat Hanh is visiting. ... Read Full Story

A Discovery Channel Documentary on ' The Buddha Boy Of Nepal ', Ram Bahadur Bomjon or Palden Dorje who is believed by some to be the reincarnation of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha because of the many coincidences (synchronicities) which connect his life with that of the Buddha, the Awakened One ! For one Ram Bahadur Bomjon and Gautama Buddha share the same mother's name, Maya ... Born on Chaitra Purnima(Full moon)in 2046 B.S ( April 9, 1990 A.D), Tapaswi Palden Dorje (Ram Bahadur Bomjan)has sat for kachhen duba (severe meditation) without food or water since the 2nd of Jestha 2062 B.S (May 16,2005 A.D) until ... Read Full Story

- Silly Pill And our silly pill of the week award goes to the folks at http://openenlightenment.org, where you can find constant conversation about the amazing March 2009 enlightenment of both Bloggers; Duncan and Alan. The site back links to another site: http://www.thebaptistshead.co.uk, which is also authored by both men, There you can read an actual account of there false enlightenment, complete with flash-Bang white lights and everything. The writing on the site is actually quite entertaining; Alan takes us on a trip to India where he met with Ashrams etc. to ensure that he met the timetable specified for his enlightenment. That’s right; ... Read Full Story

Four years ago, Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh drew crowds of thousands on his return to Vietnam after decades in exile -- but now his followers complain of systematic repression by the communist regime. Hanh, who was a confidant of slain US civil rights leader Martin Luther King and has a large following in the West, landed a meeting with then prime minister Phan Van Khai in 2005 even as authorities kept him under watch. Today, his followers say they are the victims of sustained harassment whipped up by a communist government fearful of the social and religious influence enjoyed by the France-based monk ... Read Full Story