How do we as Buddhists meet the challenges of our time? Joan Sutherland shares the history of koans, which were created to deal with a difficult period in Chinese history. From the Buddhadharma archive, originally published in Spring 2008. Several years ago, in the face of a creeping despair about the state of the world, I began to reread my favorite twentieth-century [...]
After quoting Dalai Lama on Instagram, Mercedes-Benz apologizes to China
The corporation told China that it would not support anyone who subverts China's sovereignty — something the Dalai Lama has repeatedly said he has no interest in. On February 6, Mercedes-Benz apologized to the Chinese people for quoting the Dalai Lama on its Instagram account. Instagram is one of several social media services blocked in China. Mercedes shared an advert [...]
Chinese officials taking over administration of Tibetan Buddhist institute Larung Gar
Human Rights Watch says the Chinese government is imposing control and surveillance throughout religious communities, to "micromanage" religious institutions. Chinese officials are taking over the administration of one of the world's largest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, with a plan to put Communist Party officials in charge of the institute, [...]
16-story Buddhist pagoda in China destroyed by fire
On December 10, a wooden pagoda and prayer hall burnt to the ground at the Lingguan Mansion complex, a Buddhist monastery in China’s Sichuan province. The local government stated that the fire started around 12:40 p.m. and quickly spread through the 16-story pagoda. Firefighters controlled and extinguished the flames within four hours, but the pagoda and prayer hall were [...]
Crisis on the Roof of the World
The repression, surveillance, and propaganda are Orwellian. Chinese money, immigrants, and tourists are pouring in. The fight to control religion is heating up. John Demont reports that China’s longterm campaign to assimilate Tibet has entered a critical new stage. There was understandable skepticism last March when Chinese state broadcaster CCTV declared Lhasa “the [...]
Buddhist vegetarians in China reduce CO2 by one-tenth the total emissions of France, study finds
Vegetarianism is an increasingly popular lifestyle choice among Buddhists, and it may help save our planet. A new study has found that Buddhists in China offset about 40,000,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year by eating vegetarian. That's equivalent to 9.2% of the total greenhouse gas emissions of the country of France. The study, authored by Ampere A. Tseng, [...]
Elliot Sperling, scholar of Tibet and China history, dead at 66
The scholar and human rights champion Elliot Sperling has died. He was 66. Born in New York City in 1951, Sperling came of age as the US counterculture began to take hold; he in turn became politically and socially active, and began to travel the world. After several trips to India and other overseas locales, and becoming well versed in the Chinese and Tibetan languages he, [...]
China deems Dalai Lama’s Kalachakra ceremonies illegal to attend
Chinese authorities have warned Tibetans not to attend His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Kalachakra ceremonies taking place at Bodh Gaya in India, calling the event "illegal" and threatening punishment to those who attend or spread news of the event, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reports. Kalachakra, meaning "wheel of time," is a gathering where key Buddhist teachings are passed on to [...]
The Guardian criticizes world leaders for excluding the Dalai Lama under Chinese pressure
The Guardian's editorial board describes slights to the Dalai Lama as "extremely distasteful" and calls on leaders to resist pressure from China. In the face of China's increasing efforts to undermine the Dalai Lama, the editorial board of The Guardian has called on leaders around the world to respect the Dalai Lama's role as a spiritual leader and voice of peace. Recently, [...]
Why Larung Gar, the Buddhist institute in eastern Tibet, is important
There is nothing quite like ascending the slope into Larung Buddhist Academy from the rough road to remote Serta. After rounding a narrow bend, the valley opens out and red log cabins, housing monastics, line the surrounding hills on all sides. Two large assembly halls, one for nuns and one for monks, tower above the modest and sometimes makeshift cabins built along winding [...]
