Collective Bubbles of Delusion
What makes human beings unique is also our Achilles heel – the defect that may yet destroy our species, along with most others. Like other animals, we have instincts, but, thanks to our large neo-cortex, we can gainsome degree of freedom from them by choosing how to...
Advancing Peace through Inclusive Development
“Advancing Peace through Inclusive Development” Lahpai Seng Raw, at Raman Magsaysay Centre Awardees’ Lecture Series No 3, Manila 29 August 2013 Lahpai Seng Raw is pictured with children in the Irrawaddy Delta during post-Cyclone Nargis rebuilding efforts in 2008....
Understanding the Status of Buddhism in Contemporary Thai Society
A number of prominent scandals have recently surfaced from the Sangha community, leading to public outcry and confusion. One involves a famous foreign monk who abruptly disrobed after 37 years in the monkhood. He has a lot of followers as many Thais, especially in...
Rebuilding Family, Community, Region, and Nation
Amidst Nuclear Fallout Rev. Toku-un Tanaka Rev. Toku-un Tanaka is the abbot of Dokei-ji temple in the Odaka Ward of Minami Soma City in Fukushima, some 17 kilometers from the nuclear power plants, as well as abbot of Chuzen-ji temple in the town of Futaba even closer...
Ecological suffering: From a Buddhist perspective
“...There will be great suffering caused by our human-created climate change, but we may need to go through this process in order to see the 'light'.” Nigel Crawhall (IUCN, CEESP representative, South Africa) Ecological suffering is the result of centuries of...
The Case at the Supreme Administrative Court
Question: Please tell us about your oral closing statement at the Supreme Administrative Court on 9 July 2013. What was the atmosphere like in the court room? Answer: In my oral closing statement I respectfully reminded the Court that I had asked my lawyer to submit a...
UNESCO’s Memory of the World Program
UNESCO’s Memory of the World Program: The Case of the Minute Books of the Council of Siam Society under Royal Patronage UNESCO is a paper tiger. It often portrays its excellence in embarrassing ways; for instance, in the recognition of great personalities worldwide....
International Conference inaugurates Post Graduate Diploma course in Socially Engaged Buddhism
International Conference inaugurates Post Graduate Diploma course in Socially Engaged Buddhism University of Pune, Department of Pali, India, 21-22 March 2013 An unexpected but very timely initiative is taking shape at University of Pune, India. In the year 2014 the...
In Dawei, activists and residents find their voice
In Dawei, activists and residents find their voice By Marcus Rhinelander | Monday, 18 February 2013 U Aw Ba Tha explains the Dawei Special Economic Zone project to residents of Ma Yin Gyi. (Marcus Rhinelander/The Myanmar Times) A...
Community way of Buddhism in South India
To conducting yoga, meditation for strengthening the inner values for making the citizens to sensitize on the philosophy of Buddhism, Ambedkarism, Feminism. It is for preaching the higher values on spirituality in Buddhism to respect each other's on humanity and it...
Siamese Society from the Perspective of Its Tenth Intellectual
? I I don?t know the exact origin of the word ?intellectual?. All I know is that several individuals have labeled me as an intellectual. For instance, Saichon Sattayanurak examines the thoughts of ten leading Siamese intellectuals from past to present in her research...
Buddhist Nationalism in Burma
Institutionalized racism against the Rohingya Muslims led Burma to genocide For those outside Burma, the broadcast images of the Theravada monks of the ?Saffron Revolution? of 2007 are still fresh. Backed by the devout Buddhist population, these monks were seen...
Assumption College
? American Protestant missionaries established the first Christian school in Bangkok. It was initially situated on the Thonburi side but ultimately moved to Sathorn road and became known as Bangkok Christian College. Prince Damrong Rajanubhab observed that Catholics...
The Engaged Buddhism of Sulak Sivaraksa
The Engaged Buddhismof Sulak Sivaraksa BY MATTEO PISTONO, photo by Hannah Sommer Note: Sulak Sivaraksa turns 80 years of age on March 27, 2013 Sulak reinterprets the five classic Buddhist precepts for the modern day. Individuals may not be killing outright, but they...
Worlds Come Together at the World Fellowship of Buddhists Conference
In November of last year (2008), the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) held their 24th General Conference with the theme of "Buddhist Contributions to Resolving Social Problems". The event marked a remarkable coming together of diverse worlds. Firstly, the WFB...
Wise, irrepresssible, and a bit of a troublemaker
MARTIN FLANAGANDecember 5, 2009 SULAK Sivaraksa, who is in Melbourne for the Parliament of the World's Religions, says he is known by many labels in his home country of Thailand. To some he is "the Siamese intellectual". "To the Thai Government," he says with some...
George Willoughby
George and Lillian Willoughby served as a model couple. They lived together for more than 60 years with love and understanding. They led a simple lifestyle that challenged mainstream society nonviolently. In this respect they are worthy of emulation and respect. ...
An Ashram without a Guru
By Siddhartha Over the years, thousands of people have passed through Fireflies Ashram, located just outside the city of Bangalore, in India. Here is a short note on this ashram. An ashram is a place of refuge for people who are seekers, those on a spiritual...