Buddhist Churches of America (BCA) has issued a statement in response to the Rohingya Crisis in Myanmar, which has seen more than 430,000 people flee violence in Myanmar over the last month following a militant crackdown. A number of Buddhist leaders, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, have also spoken out against the alleged ethnic cleansing of the predominantly-Muslim [...]
Luis Oscar Gómez, scholar of Buddhism, dies at 74
Luis Oscar Gómez, a distinguished scholar and interpreter of Buddhism, died in Mexico City on September 3 due to illness. He was 74. At the time of his death Gómez was Professor Emeritus of Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Michigan, where he had worked for 35 years, contributing to Buddhist Studies in the areas of graduate training, undergraduate teaching, [...]
Dalai Lama condemns alleged ethnic cleansing in Myanmar
The Dalai Lama has joined others in urging Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi to halt violence against the predominantly-Muslim Rohingya ethnic group. (This post has been updated since its original publication on September 13, 2017) His Holiness the Dalai Lama has reportedly sent a letter to Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi. According to VOA News, the Dalai Lama urged his [...]
Sam Littlefair debuts as new LionsRoar.com Editor
Outgoing editor Rod Meade Sperry, who will remain with Lion's Roar focused on editorial across media, shares his excitement about the transition. It’s been my pleasure and privilege to serve as LionsRoar.com’s editor since we launched — and before that, as editor of our magazines’ previous sites. But all things, as they say, are impermanent, and I'm stepping away from the [...]
Thich Nhat Hanh’s monastic community to hold silent peace walk in Los Angeles
As part of their “Awakening Together” tour of the United States, members of the monastic community founded, ordained and trained by Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh will hold a walking meditation event, “Walk With Me for Peace,” in Los Angeles on Saturday, September 9. Fifty monks and nuns from Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village, Blue Cliff Monastery, Magnolia Grove Monastery, [...]
In Light of DACA Controversy, a Simple Way for Buddhist Communities to Be of Service
Buddhist teacher Mushim Patricia Ikeda has what she thinks is a great new way for Buddhists to be of service -- by getting their various communities to offer a simple item that helps them assert their rights and feel less vulnerable. She explains: I live and teach in California, which is home to more than 25% of the 800,000 young DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) [...]
Help Phap Nguyen Temple rebuild after Hurricane Harvey
Phap Nguyen Temple in Pearland, Texas was damaged by flood waters as a result of Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall in Texas at the end of August. The Buddhist temple is seeking assistance to cover the repair of the damages, using a GoFundMe page to collect donations online. Their goal is to reach $10,000 in donations, of which just under $3,500 has been raised so [...]
More than 420,000 refugees have fled violence in Myanmar
(This post has been updated since its original publication on September 6, 2017) 20,000 refugees are fleeing violence in Myanmar each day, according to the International Organization for Migration. The United Nations estimates that in less than a month, more than 420,000 refugees have crossed the Naf River from Myanmar into Bangladesh. The refugees are fleeing a militant [...]
North American Buddhist Alliance issues response to racial violence
In a new statement shared with Lion's Roar, the North American Buddhist Alliance (NABA) responds to the current events and crises related to White Supremacy in the United States. NABA describes itself as “a new, idealistic, and organic organization modeled after Northwest Dharma Association. We are not a governing body nor are we interested in developing a hierarchy of any [...]
Helena wildfire threatens Chagdud Gonpa Rigdzin Ling retreat center
California's Helena wildfire is moving quickly through high winds, in the vicinity of Chagdud Gonpa Rigdzin Ling Buddhist retreat center in Junction City, according to a post on their Facebook page Thursday. Thursday's official update on the wildfire, stated it was burning along Highway 299, on both sides of the Trinity River. The wildfire was mapped at approximately [...]