Update: Extremist monk Wirathu responds to global criticism
Burmese monk Wirathu made worldwide headlines earlier this week for a disparaging comment he'd made about a U.N. human-rights envoy.
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Progress & Pitfalls: An Historic 20 Years
For Buddhadharma’s 20th-anniversary issue, Barbara O’Brien takes a look back at the last two decades of losses, challenges, and opportunities in Western Buddhism.
Is Buddhism Violent?
Buddhism is a religion of peace. So why do some monks carry guns and preach hatred? In this conversation with Lion's Roar, religious studies professor Michael Jerryson says that, if you look closely, "violence abounds" in Buddhist doctrine.
The World’s Most Peaceful Religion?
Matthew Gindin reviews "If You Meet the Buddha On the Road: Buddhism, Politics and Violence" by Michael Jerryson.
Commentary: We must address religious nationalism to prevent Buddhism from being perverted into a force for evil
Is the ethnic cleansing in Myanmar rooted in religion, or is it fundamentally a manifestation of secular right-wing nationalism? Khin Mai Aung looks at the role of Buddhism in Myanmar’s ongoing genocide.
What’s the connection between Buddhism and ethnic cleansing in Myanmar?
How have Buddhists become implicated in one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world? Randy Rosenthal looks through history to understand how a religion of peace has become a justification for violence.
The Rise of Militant Monks
Michael Jerryson reports on the growing tension between Buddhists and Muslims, in which senior Buddhist monks actively incite violence and intolerance.