University Buddhist Association

International Education Week at UCLA

2009-11-15T12:28:00.000-08:00

From Nov. 16-20, UCLA will be celebrating International Education Week. There will be many different events happening throughout the week that help promote worldwide educational exchange. The best part is that they even have two Buddhist-related events happening! Here are some of the events I would like to highlight:

IEW 2009: International Opportunities Fair

Tuesday, November 17, 2009
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Kerckhoff State Rooms

Study Abroad Fair
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Pauley Pavilion North Concourse
Buddhist Cave Temples of the Kucha Kingdom
Friday, November 20, 2009
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Seminar Room, Cotsen Institute of Archaeology
"Burma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country" Film Screening
Friday, November 20, 2009
7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
James Bridges Theater
For a full list events, please click here.

Awesome Buddhist / World History Timeline

2009-11-14T10:57:00.000-08:00

I've been recently studying historical timelines and stumbled upon a Buddhist historical timeline. It's just about one of the most awesome buddhist resources I've seen so far because not only is it a timeline on Buddhist events since the life of Siddhartha, but also compares the Buddhist timeline side-by-side with "World Figures and Events", many of which are of other religions or related to Buddhism. It really gives you a sense of how Buddhism fits into the world history context, and this, I think, is especially important because we rarely get to see Buddhism in this "bigger picture" - at least in America.

Just as a little teaser, the timeline shows that the First Buddhist Council at Rajagaha after the Parinirvana (death and final release) of the Buddha happened in the same century (5th) as the Greek-Persian Wars and the time of Plato and his contemplations about the ontological, epistemological, ethical, and aestheticestions quof life. Props to Buddhanet for having this on their site.

View Full Timeline

11-year-old becomes high-ranking lama

2009-11-07T12:34:00.000-08:00

I wonder when Buddhists found out that reincarnation became globalized...

An 11-year-old schoolboy from Boston, Massachusetts has been made the head of a Buddhist sect in India after he was recognized as the reincarnation of a high-ranking lama who died more than 750 years ago.
Jigme Wangchuk has been anointed as the Rinpoche, the second reincarnation of Gyalwa Lorepa of the Drukpa sub-sect after going into a trance and describing a Buddhist monastery in detail.

Read full article.

Image from Daily Contributor

Buddhist horror film: Mantra

2009-11-07T12:23:00.000-08:00

The Worst Horse posts a new Buddhist horror film called Mantra.

I've been getting into horror films lately with my fellow apartment-mates and never have I thought about a Buddhist-themed horror film. I guess anything can be scary as long as you target the right emotions.

Read full article.

UCLA Center for Buddhist Studies - Nov. Events

2009-11-02T21:51:00.000-08:00

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Shoji Yamada on his book "Shots in the Dark: Japan, Zen, and the West"

An Informal Lecture
Monday, November 02, 2009
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Faculty Center
Hacienda Room
UCLA
Los Angeles, CA 90095

In the years after World War II, Westerners and Japanese alike elevated Zen to the quintessence of spirituality in Japan. Pursuing the sources of Zen as a Japanese ideal, Shoji Yamada uncovers the surprising role of two cultural touchstones: Eugen Herrigel's Zen in the Art of Archery and Ryoanji's dry-landscape rock garden. Yamada shows how both became facile conduits for exporting and importing Japanese culture.

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The Buddhist Arts of Tea in Medieval China

James A. Benn delivers the 22nd Sammy Yukuan Lee Lecture on Chinese Archaeology and Art

Saturday, November 07, 2009
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Lenart Auditorium
Fowler Museum of Cultural History
UCLA
Los Angeles, CA 90095

The relatively rapid change in drinking habits that occurred in late medieval China (Tang dynasty, 618907) cannot be understood without appreciating the crucial role of Buddhist ideas, institutions, and practitioners. While Buddhist texts vividly depicted the dangers of imbibing intoxicating substances, Buddhist monks were also active in spreading an alternative to alcoholteathroughout the empire. By the end of the ninth century, tea had become a vital component in the Chinese economy and an essential commodity of everyday life. Tea was valued for its ability to sustain long periods of meditation and for its health-giving properties. It was considered an appropriate offering for Buddhist deities, and a suitable gift for monks and laypeople to exchange. Tea, like alcohol before it, stimulated and inspired poets and connoisseurs.

This lecture will look closely at the surviving artistic, material, and literary evidence for Buddhist involvement in the promotion of tea drinking and the invention of a Chinese tea culture.

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Professor Melanie Malzahn (University of Vienna)

Friday, November 13, 2009
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

243 Royce Hall

Among the extinct languages merely known by manuscripts discovered along the Silk Road, Tocharian A and Tocharian B, together, constitute one of the twelve branches of Indo-European languages. Although deciphered in 1908 by German Indologists Emil Sieg and Wilhelm Siegling, the main bulk of Tocharian texts scattered through European collections were known by only a few specialists until very recently. Tocharian A and B were closely related, but seem not to have been mutually understandable. Apart from literary texts exclusively related to and based on Buddhist literature, we also have documents of profane nature such as letters and monastery records. In recent years, much effort has been made in publishing texts leading to a better understanding of the languages themselves, especially with regard to their internal stratification. In this respect, both languages differ significantly. Tocharian A texts, which have only been found in the Turfan Oasis and around Shorchuk/Yanqi but not further west, display a very uniform linguistic character (with very few exceptions), and the manuscripts in general seem to be younger than those of Tocharian B. Tocharian B, on the other hand, is found over a far wider range of find spots, especially around Kucha, and displays an internal chronology of at least 400 years (from 5th century CE to 8th century CE), and is also sociolinguistically diversified. The apparent transfer of literacy from Kucha to the east together with the diachronic and socio-dialectal diversification of Tocharian B and the mutual linguistic influence between Tocharian A and B offers some insight into the but rarely known Tocharian society in the 1st millennium CE.

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Buddhist Cave Temples of the Kucha Kingdom

An Afternoon of Presentations and Discussion
Friday, November 20, 2009
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Seminar Room, Cotsen Institute of Archaeology
Fowler Museum A222
Los Angeles, CA 90095

RSVP required to the UCLA Asia Institute: eleicester@international.ucla.edu or 310-825-0007

http://www.international.ucla.edu/buddhist/events/showevent.asp?eventid=7718&eventdate=11/20/2009

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"Burma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country" Film Screening
Armed with video cameras, a tenacious band of Burmese reporters face down death to expose the repressive regime controlling their country.

Friday, November 20, 2009
7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

James Bridges Theater
Melnitz Hall
UCLA Campus
Los Angeles, CA 90095

http://www.international.ucla.edu/cseas/events/showevent.asp?eventid=769
8&eventdate=11/20/2009.

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Chapman University Department of Sociology presents
Venerable Thubten Chodron: "Joyous Effort in Up and Down Times"

Saturday , 11/21/2009
Time: 10:30am - 12:30 pm
Location: Argyros Forum 209

Internationally renowned author and Tibetan Buddhist nun, and abbess of the Sravasti Abbey (near Newport, WA) will be giving a talk at Chapman University on Saturday.Thubten Chodron studied and practiced Buddhism of the Tibetan tradition for many years in India and Nepal under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan masters for many years. She has directed the spiritual program at centers in Italy, Singapore and Seattle. Ven. Chodron travels worldwide to teach the Dharma. Seeing the importance and necessity of a monastery for Westerners training in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, she founded Sravasti Abbey and is currently involved in developing it. Ven. Chodron emphasizes the practical application of Buddhas teachings in our daily lives and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners. She is well-known for her warm, humorous, and lucid teachings. For information call 714-997-6608 or email: nmartin@chapman.edu

http://web.chapman.edu/Events/calendar.aspx

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Religions push to address environmental issues

2009-11-01T23:08:00.000-08:00

So there is something we can all agree on...

Leaders from the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Baha'i, Jain and Zoroastrian faiths called on G20 nations to cut greenhouse gases.
They said climate change posed a "very real threat to the world's poor".
Their joint call at a meeting at Lambeth Palace in London precedes the Copenhagen summit which aims to deliver a new global climate treaty.
In a statement, the religious leaders urged G20 governments to fight for a deal which would quickly end global reliance on fossil fuels.

Read full article.

Image from BBC News.

Buddhist poet wins the Keats-Shelly Award

2009-10-31T12:01:00.001-07:00

As an English major, this is quite interesting. The poem he writes is about a boy who looks within himself and finds a mouse holding a picture of him. This idea, of the story within the story, one that loops infinitely with no particular ending, is such a wonderfully complexing idea. If you would like to read the award-winning poem, click the link below.

"The Keats-Shelley prize, an annual award for the best poem on a Romantic theme, has for the first time this year gone to an explicitly Buddhist poet, DH Maitreyabandhu.
....
He also pointed to Keats's refusal to accept Christianity on his death bed, despite attempts by his friend Joseph Severn. "Keats was very steadfast – a very Keatsian word - in not accepting that, and I think that was incredibly brave of him. It's always one of the things I've admired in him particularly, not just because I don't believe myself, but to hold the line when he had days left – there is something steadfastly humanitarian about him," said Motion.
....
Maitreyabandhu, who has been ordained into the Western Buddhist Order for 19 years, says his love of poetry began when a friend read him the first five verses of Shelley's Mask of Anarchy. "It was one of those moments when one discovers a new ecstasy, even a new calling. After that I read and re-read Shelley and Keats obsessively and used their poetry to explore ancient Buddhist themes," he said. "WH Auden says, 'The primary function of poetry, as of all the arts, is to make us more aware of ourselves and the world around us'. The same could be said of Buddhism. I approach poetry, in one sense as a distillation of peak experience, in another as finding meaning in the everyday – as such, poetry has become another strand of my spiritual practice."

Read full article and poem.

Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form

2009-10-29T01:43:00.000-07:00

If you have been coming to our weekly dharma talk meetings, this will sound familiar to you. We have been going over the heart sutra during the last few weeks and this is one of the core concepts: "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form". Though I don't like the title of this article (because I don't necessarily think it's a paradox), here's a brief summary of what "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form" could possibly mean from The Times of India.

"By way of explanation, we are asked to observe a cup or any other container. Is the cup empty when it does not contain any liquid or solid in it? We say yes, it’s empty. But is it really empty? No, it’s not. It is full of air. Even when the glass is in a state of vacuum, it is not empty. It still contains space, radiation and maybe light.

Therefore the Buddhist point of view differs from convention. The cup is always full of something or the other. To describe it philosophically, the cup is devoid of its inherent existence. It has come into existence because of many other conditions coming into play."

Read full article.

“Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian”

2009-10-20T16:38:00.000-07:00

A new book called "Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian" by Paul F. Knitter.

From the NY Times article:

“Am I still a Christian?” he asks in his new book. It is a question posed over the years by others, including some unhappy officials in the Vatican. But the question, he writes, is also “one I have felt in my own mind and heart.”
“Has my dialogue with Buddhism made me a Buddhist Christian?” he writes. “Or a Christian Buddhist? Am I a Christian who has understood his own identity more deeply with the help of Buddhism? Or have I become a Buddhist who still retains a stock of Christian leftovers.”

The Fragrance of the Rose

2009-10-20T01:33:00.000-07:00

The Fragrance of the Rose

The disciples were absorbed in a discussion of Lao-tzu's dictum:
"Those who know, do not say;
Those who say, do not know."
When the master entered,
they asked him what the words meant.
Said the master, "Which of you knows the fragrance of a rose?"
All of them indicated that they knew.
Then he said, "Put it into words."
All of them were silent.

from One Minute Wisdom by Anthony DeMello

LoveMine

2009-10-18T00:43:00.001-07:00

For those of you still following this blog, I have decided to keep updating it. I probably won't have the time to update it daily, though I really wish I could. I found out about this really neat movement called LoveMine that aims to bring awareness to the injustices happening in Burma. It's a "collaborative movement of people and organizations committed to peace, hope and freedom for the people of Burma". Please visit their site and see what they're all about.

Last year, UCLA held its annual "Mighty Mic" concert with proceeds donated to help the refugees in Burma. Maybe this year, UCLA will once again be one of the rally points for Burmese freedom.

Image from LoveMine.

Buddhists and Catholics call for government reform

2009-06-18T16:27:00.000-07:00

" South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and his administration remain under attack for failing to help the poor, protect the environment and for violating human rights.

Since the start of the month 124 intellectuals and university professors have complained that South Korea’s democracy, press freedom and media independence have been weakened. Two days ago Buddhist and Catholic religious leaders have joined the fight.

On Monday thousands of Buddhist monks and hundreds of Catholic priest issued separate statements calling on President Lee to change his style of government. "

Read full article.

Journey to Zanskar

2009-06-10T20:37:00.000-07:00

Screening of Journey to Zanskar

USC, Taper Hall 202
Los Angeles, CA 90089
Free and open to the public
Refreshments will be served
Time: 7:00PM - 9:00PM
Please RSVP: uschina@usc.edu uschina@usc.edu>

Filmmaker Frederick Marx, producer of Academy Award nominated "Hoop Dreams," will be premiering a rough cut of his new film.

This screening features an advance preview of Journey to Zanskar. The film will be completed and released in the fall. It focuses on Zanskar, in the northernmost part of India, one of the most isolated regions of the Himalayas. Inaccessibility and isolation has protected Zanskar - also known as "Little Tibet" - from cultural change. Today, it is considered the last place on earth where traditional Tibetan Buddhist norms and ways of life still exist. This will change when the Indian government completes a modern paved road into Zanskar to provide its military with access to India's fragile borders with Pakistan and China.

Several years ago the Dalai Lama asked two senior monks upon the completion of their training to devote themselves to educating the children of Zanskar so their rich cultural heritage could be preserved through reading and writing. The two monks selected 17 of the brightest children from among the poorest families and began a ten day trek over the snow covered Himalayas from Zanskar to a school on the other side of the mountains. The children's journey is the focus of the film.

Marx will introduce the film and take questions after the screening.

Parking is available for $8 in Parking Structure D (on Jefferson Boulevard, west of Figueroa Boulevard). Click here to see the USC University Park Campus interactive map < http://web-app.usc.edu/maps/> .

Project Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdkCMqqrlww <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdkCMqqrlww> )
Project Website (http://www.fmarxfilm.com/17paths.html <http://www.fmarxfilm.com/17paths.html> )
Project Blog (http://vcr.csrwire.com/node/12341 <http://vcr.csrwire.com/node/12341> )
Project Donation Page (http://www.fmarxfilm.com/donate.html <http://www.fmarxfilm.com/donate.html> )

Contact: US-China Institute
Phone: 213-821-4382
Email: uschina@usc.edu

Sponsor(s): USC US-China Institute, Religion, Identity and Global Governance, The Office of Religious Life

Week 10: Last Meeting of the Year!

2009-05-31T21:01:00.000-07:00

Hello UBA friends,

We're coming to the end of another school year already! Come celebrate with the last meditation of the spring quarter before we go our separate ways with us this Tuesday, June 2nd from 5:30-7pm at the University Catholic Center (UCC, 633 Gayley Avenue - There's a chance we will be in the community room downstairs rather than the chapel upstairs, so be on the lookout for that!). Our meetings are facilitated by Rev. Kusala, who leads us in a dharma discussion which is then followed by a chance to ask questions and practice meditation. Previous dharma talks can be found available in podcast form at Rev. Kusala's website: www.dharmatalks.info.

Again, this will be our last chance to meet as a full group before the fall, so come on out for a night of good conversation as well as the chance to relieve some of the stress of 10th and finals week. Come meet the new staff members for the 2009-2010 year as well (and remember, we're always looking for new staff members, so just come find one of us if you're interested!) Whether we see you or not this week, have a great one, and it's been wonderful practicing with all of you this year.

Peace and blessings,
The UBA

64 for Aung San Suu Kyi

2009-05-28T00:26:00.000-07:00

What is 64 for Suu?

Welcome to the global hub for supporting, Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma's detained democracy leader, on her 64^th birthday.

64 for Suu is a site where anyone from around the world can leave a message of support for Burma's imprisoned democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. We want to gather hundred's of messages by her 64^thBirthday, June 19^th 2009.

You can view video, text, twitter and image messages from around the world left by politicians, celebrities and the public in support of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Check out the site.

"Burma VJ" Film Screening

2009-05-26T00:16:00.000-07:00

Host: Date:	Los Angeles 88: In Solidarity with Burma Friday, May 29, 2009
Location:	Laemmle's Sunset 5 Theater
Street:	8000 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood, 90046
City/Town:	Los Angeles, CA

"A roller coaster of alternating hope and despair" - Village Voice

"A rich, thought-provoking film" - The New York Times"

The award-winning new documentary film "Burma VJ" will be screening in Los Angeles at Laemmle Sunset 5 on May 29 (exact times not yet announced; call the theater for info. closer to the date: 323-848-3500)

LA88 is encouraging all who are able to attend to show their solidarity with the people of Burma by joining us for the May 29 showing. Please also help to raise awareness of the ongoing crisis in Burma and the heroism of its people by inviting others to attend this important screening. The filmmakers describe the movie in part as follows:

"...Though risking torture and life in jail, courageous young citizens of Burma live the essence of journalism as they insist on keeping up the flow of news from their closed country. The Burma VJs stop at nothing to make their reportages from the streets of Rangoon... The film offers a unique insight into high-risk journalism and dissidence in a police state, while at the same time providing a thorough documentation of the historical and dramatic days of September 2007, when the Buddhist monks started marching."

More information about "Burma VJ" can be found here: http://burmavjcom.title.dk/

ADDITIONAL U.S. SCREENINGS:

20-May – New York, NY – Film Forum
29-May – Los Angeles, CA – Laemmle Sunset 5
05-Jun – Irvine, CA – Regal Westpark
05-Jun – Portland, OR – Regal Fox Tower
19-Jun – Charlotte, NC – Regal Park Terrace
19-Jun – Boston, MA – Coolidge
24-Jun – Portland, ME – SPACE Gallery
26-Jun – Tallahassee, FL – Regal Miracle 5
26-Jun – Austin, TX – Regal Arbor
19-Jul – Santa Fe, NM – CCA
24-Jul – Cleveland, OH – Cleveland Museum of Art
31-Jul – Washington, DC – Landmark E-Street
07-Aug – Salt Lake City, UT – Tower
28-Aug – Seattle, WA – NW Film Forum

Click here to read a movie review on "Burma VJ" by Aung Kyaw of Fifty Viss.

Week 9: Memorial Day Monday

2009-05-25T12:37:00.000-07:00

Hello UBA friends,

First off, it was great to see so many of you come out this past weekend to celebrate Vesak with us! A very special thanks to everyone that made it possible - not just staff members but Reverend Kusala as well as everyone that came to support the event - we couldn't have done it without all of you!

Next, just a reminder as the quarter winds down that we continue our weekly meditation meetings this week at the UCC (633 Gayley Avenue) from 5:30-7 pm on Tuesday, May 26th. Our meetings are facilitated by Reverend Kusala, who leads us in a dharma discussion followed by a chance to ask questions and meditate. Previous dharma discussions are available in podcast form at Rev. Kusala's website: www.dharmatalks.info. We hope to see many of you there as this is one of our last two meetings this year!

Finally, we hope you are enjoying the Memorial Day weekend whether it is spent among friends and family or simply as a chance to relax and reflect on the meaning of the day. Wishing you a great rest of the week and we hope to see many of you on Tuesday.

The Sutra Translation Project

2009-05-24T11:02:00.000-07:00

I found this information on Rev. Danny Fisher's blog and thought it would be especially useful for college students (or any student) seeking to read the Dharma but can only understand English.

The Sutra Translation Project

The Woodenfish sutra translation project aims to produce bilingual editions of a sizeable portion of the Buddhist canon, translated into English from the original Chinese. With FGS’s publishing company, Buddha’s Light Publishing, Woodenfish has thus far produced Buddha’s Light editions of the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra, the Vajra Prajnaparamita Sutra, the Amitabha Sutra, the Sutra on the Past Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, the Sutras on Filial Piety and the Nagasena Bhiksu Sutra. The chief translators on the project are Venerable Yifa and HBMLP 2004 participant Peter Romaskiewicz. They coordinate with the Center for Sutra Translation and Research at the University of the West.

The Buddha’s Light editions are unique in a number of ways:
Each sutra copy provides facing bilingual pages, so that students who are learning Chinese can compare the English translation with the original text. Each copy also includes a brief history of the particular sutra, an exhaustive glossary of foreign words and ideas, and a translation catalogue which lists many of the other Chinese and English translations of the same text.
Each translation attempts to provide a fluid, yet literal rendition of the Chinese text, trying to capture the experience of reading sutras in Chinese while remaining as faithful as possible to the original text.
Woodenfish aims to produce not just one, but a complete series of translations of specifically Chinese Buddhist sutras using a consistent vocabulary for technical terms and foreign concepts. In all translations, a standardized lexicon and methodology is used, so that a technical term will be translated, or transliterated, in the same manner in every volume in the series

You will find translations for:

T 235 *Vajra Prajnaparamita Sutra* 金剛般若波羅蜜經
T 251 *Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra* 般若波羅蜜多心經
T 366 *Amitabha Sutra * 阿彌陀經
T 412 *Sutra on the Past Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva* 地藏菩薩本願經
T 685 *Yulan Bowl Sutra* 盂蘭盆經
T 684 *Sutra on the Difficulty of Repaying the Kindness of Parents* 父母恩難報經
T 2887 *Sutra on the Profound Kindness of Parents* 父母恩重經
---- *Sutra on the Difficulty of Repaying the Profound Kindness of Parents * 父母恩重難報經
T 1670 *Nagasena Bhiksu Sutra* 那先比丘經
*Nagasena Bhiksu Sutra* –endnotes那先比丘經註解

Download Here.

Free Aung San Suu Kyi

2009-05-23T22:38:00.000-07:00

After being locked away for 19 years, those inspired by Suu Kyi and what she stands for await the day she will be set free. Yet, the military junta of Myanmar has found more excuses to keep her locked away:

The charges stem from a bizarre incident earlier this month in which a 53-year-old American man swam across Inya Lake and appeared, uninvited, in Suu Kyi's garden. He was asked to leave, but when he complained of exhaustion, he was permitted to stay overnight. While swimming away the next day, he was arrested. The government appears to be using the incident as a pretext for extending Suu Kyi's house arrest, which expires in a few days; at the moment, however, she is being held on the grounds of Insein Prison, facing a possible five-year prison term.

Read full article.

Displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka

2009-05-23T22:25:00.000-07:00

Here's an article about the recent situation in Sri Lanka.I haven't had time to keep up with then news lately so this is all fresh news to me:

While Sri Lanka continues celebrations of its defeat of the rebel Tamil Tigers, the international community is calling for the country, run by the Sinhalese majority, to be sincere in its pledge for national reconciliation. The primary focus is on the treatment of 300,000 Tamils in displacement camps in the north.

Read full article.

The Ego

2009-05-23T22:18:00.000-07:00

Here's a simple and amusing cartoon that I found on Belief.net.

Vesak Day 2009 is in TWO days!

2009-05-22T02:54:00.000-07:00

Vesak Day 2009 is two days away, this Saturday at UCLA!! If you are in the Los Angeles area, please come to our FREE event. Below is all you need to know plus an updated schedule of who's speaking, performing, and leading the discussion. Also, if you have facebook, please RSVP on our event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?sid=657edc3b662d97cfd68ac50c970aeea8&eid=76892984253&ref=search

If have any questions, contact me at eriku@ucla.edu. Hope to see you there!

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Who: Southern California University Buddhist Association (SCUBA)

What: Vesak Day (or Buddha Day) celebrates the birth, the enlightenment, and the passing away of the Buddha. It is celebrated by Buddhists all over the world as a remembrance of the Buddha and his universal message of peace to humankind.

Come out and learn more about Buddhism with the University Buddhist Association! Everyone is welcome - Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. The event is FREE and will consist of cultural performances, speakers, a Bathing of the Buddha ceremony, and a Q&A session.

Performances by: Chinese Cultural Dance Club and Nam Giao Do

Speakers: Don Farber, a renowned photographer of the Dalai Lama and Buddhist Life; Venerable Miao Hsi, of Hsi Lai Temple; Venerable Pannaloka of Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara

Discussion Leaders: Venerable Kusala of the International Buddhist Meditation Center; Professor Natasha Heller; former UBA president Aaron Lee

When: Saturday, May 23, 2009
10:30 - 2:00pm

Where: Kerckhoff Grand Salon, UCLA
308 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Why: To watch amazing performances, listen to great speakers, learn something about Buddhism, and eat delicious and free food.

More information about Vesak Day:

Significance of Vesak - Buddha Day
http://www.buddhanet.net/vesak.htm

Wikipedia - Vesak
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesak

What is Vesak?
http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=6,4043,0,0,1,0

Vesak Message from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown
http://theuba.blogspot.com/2009/05/vesak-message-from-british-prime.html

Week 8: Vesak Day!

2009-05-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

Hello UBA friends,

First, a quick note to remind you about our weekly meditation meeting this Tuesday, May 19th from 5:30-7 pm at the UCC (633 Gayley). As always, our meetings are facilitated by Reverend Kusala, who leads us in a dharma discussion followed by a chance to ask questions and a
meditation. Previous dharma discussions are available in podcast form at Rev. Kusala's website: www.dharmatalks.info.

Also, we would like to formally invite each and every one of you to our special annual Vesak event presented in conjunction with SCUBA, the Southern California University Buddhist Association, held this year at UCLA. Here are some details on the event:

Who: Southern California University Buddhist Association (SCUBA)

What: Vesak Day (or Buddha Day) celebrates the birth, the enlightenment, and the passing away of the Buddha. It is celebrated by Buddhists all over the world as a remembrance of the Buddha and his universal message of peace to humankind.

Come out and learn more about Buddhism with the University Buddhist Association! Everyone is welcome - Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. The event is FREE and will consist of cultural performances, speakers, a brief Bathing of the Buddha ceremony, a Q&A session, and lunch!

Performances by: Chinese Cultural Dance Club and BOCA Youth Group Choir

Speakers: Don Farber, a renowned photographer of the Dalai Lama and Buddhist Life; Venerable Miao Shi, of Hsi Lai Temple; Venerable Pannaloka of Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara

Ceremony Led by: Ven. Huei Hsuen of Dharma Seal Temple

When: Saturday, May 23, 2009 11:00am - 2:00pm (doors open at 10:30 am)

Where: Charles E Young Grand Salon in Kerckhoff Hall, UCLA 308 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Why: To watch amazing performances, listen to great speakers, learn something about Buddhism, and eat delicious and free food.

Please join our facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=76892984253

For more info, contact us at ucla.uba.online@gmail.com.

Vesak Message from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown

2009-05-15T02:48:00.000-07:00

I think this is pretty significant. It's a Vesak message by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. In the past, he's used religious quotes in his speeches. Here's his Vesak message:

In his message the British PM said "I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you a very happy Wesak. Britain’s Buddhists will join with others around the world to reflect on the birth and enlightenment of Lord Buddha and I wanted to let you know that my thoughts are with you as you celebrate this Buddha Day".

He further said, "The Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path have brought so much peace to so many and we can all learn from Buddhist philosophy and the practice of mindfulness."

"Today we should reflect on the great spiritual contribution that Buddhism has made to the world and congratulate Britain’s Buddhists for their vibrant contribution to our national life. Please do pass on my best wishes to your family and friends".

Read full article.

Photo from The Buddhist Channel.

Facebook the Thai Temple!

2009-05-15T02:26:00.001-07:00

So I just found out from arunlikhati over at Dharmafolk that you can now request to be Facebook friends with the Berkeley Thai Temple! How amazing is that! Thanks to all those who helped keep the Thai Temple alive - you can receive updates on their status in the future through Facebook by friending them here: Wat Mongkolratanaram Berkeley.

Week 7: Back to the UCC

2009-05-11T21:32:00.000-07:00

Hello UBA friends,

Just a quick note to remind you that our weekly meditation meetings continue this week, back at the regular location at the University Catholic Center, from 5:30-7 pm on Tuesday, May 12th. Our meetings are facilitated by Reverend Kusala, who leads us in a dharma discussion followed by a chance to ask questions and a meditation. Previous dharma discussions are available in podcast form at Rev. Kusala's website: www.dharmatalks.info.

We would also like to remind you that UBA t-shirts are available for purchase for $15 dollars. To check out the designs and for contact info, visit our blog at http://www.theuba.blogspot.com/.

We are also still recruiting staff for next year! All types and levels of experience are welcome. Come talk to one of the staff members, or reply to this email, if you're interested or if you have more questions about what positions are available (or can be created just for you!)

And as always, if you have any questions, comments, or ideas for events you'd like to see us put together, email us at uba.ucla.online@gmail.com. Have a great week!

Against the Stream - Dharma Punx

2009-05-03T22:12:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Times features an article about Noah Levine, founder of the Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society.

Levine is the founder of the Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society, which has centers in East Hollywood and Santa Monica and more than 20 affiliated groups nationwide. He and his students practice a unique incarnation of Buddhism infused with punk rock's anti-establishment ethos. They call themselves Dharma Punx.

Dharma Punx don't wear robes and they don't bow to statues of the Buddha. Anyone can form a group -- as long as he checks with Levine first -- and there isn't the emphasis on hierarchy found in many forms of Buddhism (there are no Zen masters or Tibetan lamas). The idea, Levine said, is to make Buddhist teachings accessible to punks -- and to reconnect Buddhism with what he sees as its radical roots.

Both punk rock and Buddhism, according to Levine, began as a rebellion against the status quo. "The first noble truth of Buddhism is that there is suffering in life, that there is an unsatisfactory quality to living in a world where everything is constantly changing, and to living in a world where there is so much greed and hatred and delusion," he said. "Punk rock's foundation is dissatisfaction, acknowledging greed, hatred and delusion and rebelling against sexism, racism, political corruption and war."

Read full article.

Week 6: Meeting Location Moved, This Week Only!

2009-05-03T18:54:00.000-07:00

Hi UBA friends,

The big news this week, as mentioned last week, is that we will be temporarily moving our regular meeting location from the UCC on Gayley Avenue to the University Religious Conference building, located at 900 Hilgard Avenue, on the opposite side of campus from the UCC, where we meet normally. A link to a map can be found here.

The format of the meeting will be largely the same, with a dharma talk facilitated by Reverend Kusala, who will lead us in a discussion followed by a chance to ask questions and a chance to practice meditation. We hope to see many of you there, even if it is on the other side of campus from our normal meeting place!

Also, many of you may be interested in an event taking place this upcoming weekend. The information is attached below:

------------------------------------
Book signing and Talk,
in honor of Paul Discoe and his new book,
ZEN ARCHITECTURE: The Building Process as Practice

Saturday, May 9, 2009
2-3 pm
Beginner's Mind Zen Center:
9325 Lasaine Ave., Northridge, CA 91325

Paul Discoe is a visionary designer and Zen Buddhist priest who helped transform a rustic hot spring resort into Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. Ordained by Suzuki Roshi, he traveled to Japan to apprentice with traditional temple builders. Since then Discoe has designed and built Zen temples, residential projects, grand estates and modular structures. His team at Joinery Structures recently created a modular cardboard zendo for the Burning Man Festival. Currently he is working on Sonoma Mandala, a new Zen temple complex for the Sonoma Mountain Zen Center.

Discoe has increasingly focused on evolving more sustainable design and building practices. His commitment to the environment (and a deep respect for wood itself) led him to open an urban lumber mill that salvages and recycles trees cut down by the City of Oakland. Paul Discoe's newest enterprise, Live Edge, will use those recycled materials to create low-cost prefabricated housing systems and furniture.

View & print flyer at: http://pijay-wa.com/discoe3.jpg

Dharma Drum for Young People Summer Retreat

2009-05-02T13:54:00.000-07:00

I was sent an email about a summer retreat opportunity from Venerable Chan Yu of Dharma Drum for Young People. Here is his attached message:

"Dear Friends,

I am writing to announce an opportunity for college students and young professionals to attend the Chan Summer Retreats for Young People. The retreats are sponsored by Dharma Drum for Young People (DDYP), an affiliate ofUS-based *Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association* (DDMBA). DDYP offers the retreats as an opportunity to introduce undergraduate and graduate students, and young professionals to the benefits of meditation and the practices of mindfulness living. Membership or affiliation with DDYP is not required.

The Summer Meditation Retreat for Self-Discovery (for beginners and non-beginners) will be held August 12-15 and the Chan Meditation Summer Retreat (for past participants) will be held August 15-18. The retreats will take place at the Dharma Drum Retreat Center in Pine Bush, New York, located in the Hudson Valley near the Shawangunk Mountains. Meals accommodations, meditation, mindfulness and Dharma instruction are all included. Interested individuals are welcome to participate. The retreat fee is $40 for college and graduate students, and $120 for young professionals.

More information and the retreat application can be found at: www.ddyp.org and for the retreat center, visit www.dharmadrumretreat.org. "

Buddhist Festival in Britain

2009-04-30T01:58:00.000-07:00

London will be hosting the first Buddhist arts/cultural festival called "The Many Faces of Buddhism".

"The festival, known as The Many Faces of Buddhism, is held in London at the Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum and the Barbican Center in collaboration with the Hong Kong-based philanthropic organization -- Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation.

Highlights of the festival include an International Forum on Buddhism and the Arts Today held last Saturday, the opening of the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Gallery at the V&A, performances of Buddhist sacred dance, and the first International Buddhist Film Festival in London.

The new Buddhist sculpture gallery which is to open to the public on Wednesday is the first such gallery in Britain. It features treasures from the V&A's world class collections ranging from monumental Chinese temple sculptures to tiny portable gilded Buddhas."

Read full article.

Bodhisattva in the Metro

2009-04-29T23:56:00.000-07:00

UBA Blog is back! Sorry everyone for having not posted in so long. Life gets busy in weird cycles, especially as a college student, but I'm back and excited to blog again.

Here's an interesting video by Rod Meade Sperry of Shambhala SunSpace that I found over at Rev. Danny Fisher's blog.

Week 5: Half-way through the Quarter!

2009-04-27T21:37:00.000-07:00

Hi UBA friends,

As usual, we continue our regular meetings this Tuesday, April 28th from 5:30-7 pm at the UCC (633 Gayley Avenue, across from the UCLA campus). Our meetings are facilitated by Reverend Kusala, who leads us in a dharma discussion followed by a chance to ask questions and a meditation. Previous dharma discussions are available in podcast form at Rev. Kusala's website: www.dharmatalks.info.

Also, just as a heads-up: next week we will be moving the location of our meeting just for that day, the 5th of May (which, incidentally, we will be celebrating with cinco de mayo-themed snacks, for those interested!) This special-edition UBA meeting will be held at the University Religious Conference (URC) building, which is located at 900 Hilgard Avenue, on the opposite side of campus from the UCC, where we meet normally. A link to a map can be found here:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=900+Hilgard+Ave+Los+Angeles+Ca&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=28.667509,56.601563&ie=UTF8&ll=34.06633,-118.440793&spn=0.007306,0.013819&z=16&iwloc=r9

We hope to see many of you at the UCC this week and the URC next week!
Have a great one.

UCLA presents Mighty Mic: Free Burma

2009-04-25T16:45:00.000-07:00

This past Tuesday UCLA put on their 3rd Annual Mighty Mic concert benefit. Last year they raised donations AND awareness for the situation in Darfur. This year, they put on the benefit for the crisis in Burma. UCLA's UBA was able to attend and participate in this benefit. Along with having our own table (WHOO!! Ok, we shared it with another org./assoc. but we still REPRESENTED!), we got to see many performances, including Daphne Loves Derby (Eric went crazy), Blackalicious (I went crazy), Audible Mainframe, and many more.

But the most exciting part of the entire event and night was when 3 Burmese monks came onto the stage. There was this rush of appreciation and enthusiasm as they walked across the stage with such regal and humble expressions. The monks, Pyinya Zawta, Gawasita, and Agga Nya, are all influential leaders of the Saffron Revolution. They were the leaders, organizers, and the activists that led many to speak out about the militant and violent government in Burma. They spoke out and organized the Burmese people, especially students and Buddhist monks, to speak out about human rights. The Burmese government was hostile to their actions, which led them to seek asylum in America, where their lives weren’t threatened everyday. What struck me the most was when Pyinya Zawta kept emphasizing the importance of youth and activism. How, as the voice of the future, we have to continue fighting for universal human rights so that we can live in a future that is fair and kind to all that live on this precious Earth.

I enjoyed this event tremendously. I hope Pyinya Zawta, Gawasita, and Agga Nya’s journey and activism for a democratic Burma will see much success.

Celebrate Vesak Day at UCLA!

2009-04-23T12:32:00.000-07:00

The Southern California Univeristy Buddhist Association (SCUBA) presents: Vesak Day celebration at UCLA! This is happening the during Memorial Day weekend so save the date!

What: Vesak Day (or Buddha Day) celebrates the birth, the enlightenment, and the passing away of the Buddha. It is celebrated by Buddhists all over the world as a remembrance of the Buddha and his universal message of peace to humankind.

Come out and learn more about Buddhism with the University Buddhist Association! Everyone is welcome - Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. The event is FREE and will consist of cultural performances, speakers, a brief Bathing of the Buddha ceremony, and a Q&A session.

Performances by: Chinese Cultural Dance Club; and more to come.

Speakers: Don Farber, an acclaimed photographer of the Dalai Lama; and more to come.

When: Saturday, May 23, 2009
10:30 - 2:00pm

Where: Kerckhoff Grand Salon, UCLA
308 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Why: To watch amazing performances, listen to great speakers, learn something about Buddhism, and eat delicious and free food.

More information about Vesak Day:

Significance of Vesak - Buddha Day
http://www.buddhanet.net/vesak.htm

Wikipedia - Vesak
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesak

What is Vesak?
http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=6,4043,0,0,1,0

To learn more about the University Buddhist Association at UCLA, please visit our:
Website: http://www.theuba.org/

Week 4: A Concert for Burma!

2009-04-19T18:04:00.000-07:00

Hi UBA friends,

As usual, we will be holding our weekly meditation meeting this Tuesday, April 21st from 5:30-7 pm at the UCC (633 Gayley Avenue, across from the UCLA campus). Our meetings are facilitated by Reverend Kusala, who leads us in a dharma discussion followed by a chance to ask questions and a meditation. Previous dharma discussions are available in podcast form at Rev. Kusala's website: www.dharmatalks.info.

We would also like to announce a special on-campus event we think many of you would be interested in attending.

The Mighty Mic concert, an annual tradition, will be held this Tuesday in support of various human rights organizations working to bring peace to Burma. It starts during our regular meeting on Tuesday, but many of us will be heading over to Ackerman Grand Ballroom right after to check out the concert, if anybody's interested in joining us. Here's some information from the event's Facebook page:

***

The 3rd ANNUAL MIGHTY MIC HUMAN RIGHTS AWARENESS CONCERT

Benefit for Burma
April 21, 2009, Ackerman Grand Ballroom
6-10pm
doors open at 5:45

Los Angeles, CA (April 6, 2009) - On Tuesday, April 21, thousands of students and community members will come together to make history at the 3rd Annual Mighty Mic Human Rights Awareness Concert at UCLA, Benefit for Burma. This student-run non-profit concert attracts about 2,000 attendees annually and is fast becoming a beloved UCLA tradition. Last year, Mighty Mic raised over $20,000 for the refugees of Darfur.

This year, Mighty Mic will highlight the struggle for human rights in Burma, a country that has been under the rule of an all-oppressive military junta for 43 years, making it the 4th least free country in the world. Learn more about the human rights violations, including the abuse of ethnic minorities, mass rape of women, forced labor, mandatory relocations, and child soldiers.

Benefit For Burma 2009's multi-media showcase will feature an eclectic mix of artists from many genres such as rock, indie, and hip-hop, as well as relevant educational content in the form of speakers and videos which will entertain, inform, and inspire attendees.

For information on the lineup of artists and guest speakers: www.mightymic.org

Although the concert is free, donations are highly encouraged as all proceeds will go towards Doctors Without Borders, USA, and US Campaign for Burma.

***

If you have any questions or comments for us, as always, feel free to
send us an email at ucla.uba.online@gmail.com. Have a great week and a
happy Earth Day!

For more information, ticketing, press passes, vendor and sponsorship
opportunities visit www.mightymic.org.

Week 3: Dharma Talk and Buddhist Resources

2009-04-12T20:46:00.000-07:00

Hi UBA friends,

Just a quick reminder that we continue our weekly meditation meetings this Tuesday, April 14th from 5:30-7pm at the University Catholic Center (UCC, 633 Gayley Avenue). As always, our meetings are facilitated by Reverend Kusala, who leads us in a dharma discussion
followed by a chance to ask questions and a meditation. Previous dharma discussions are available in podcast form at Rev. Kusala's website: www.dharmatalks.info.

Also, for those interested, here are a few links to resources that have been mentioned in past meetings this quarter:

The Debate of King Milinda (e-book): http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/milinda.pdf

Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society (an alternative look at the Buddha's teachings and home of the "Dharma Punx"): http://www.againstthestream.org/

And as always, if you have any questions, comments, or ideas for events you'd like to see us put together, email us at uba.ucla.online@gmail.com. Have a great week!

Buddhism and Bhagavad-Gita

2009-04-10T00:37:00.000-07:00

I remember being approached by someone on campus who asked if I wanted to give a donation in exchange for a book called the Bhagavad-Gita. The cover of the book and the name of the book both sounded "eastern" and I asked what it was - a religion? a part of a religion? what was it? Unforutnately, the person gave me a very vague, general answer that really didn't tell me anything except he had a bitterness toward the university education system.

Anyways, I found a nice article about the differences between Buddhism and the Bhagavad-gita. It's every clear-cut and gives a nice, brief introdution to each of the teachings.

Buddhism v.s. Bhagavad-Gita

Christian Disneyland

2009-04-08T01:28:00.000-07:00

Florida...famous for Universal Studios, Disneyworld, and ... the Holy Land Experience?
Watch this video clip from Newsweek and see if you're up for a visit to this Christian theme park.

I was curious as to whether or not there are Buddhist theme parks. It turns out there's a Buddhist theme park in Saigon, Vietnam called Suoi Tien Park that features the torments of Buddhist Hell. Quite interesting. Here are some pictures of the park, which in my opinion looks pretty intricate and detailed.

Anyone else know of any religious theme parks?

Message to Buddhists for the Feast of Vesak

2009-04-06T01:32:00.000-07:00

PONTIFICAL COUNCIL
FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE

MESSAGE TO BUDDHISTS
FOR THE FEAST OF VESAKH/HANAMATSURI 2009

Dear Buddhist friends,

1. The forthcoming feast of Vesakh/Hanamatsuri offers a welcome occasion to send you, on behalf of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, our sincere congratulations and cordial best wishes: may this feast once again bring joy and serenity to the hearts of all Buddhists throughout the world. This annual celebration offers Catholics an opportunity to exchange greetings with our Buddhist friends and neighbours, and in this way to strengthen the existing bonds of friendship and to create new ones. These ties of cordiality allow us to share with each other our joys, hopes and spiritual treasures.

For the full message, please click here.

"Adopt a Monk"

2009-04-05T23:06:00.000-07:00

The Tricycle has posted a notice about a new program called "Adopt a Monk", organized by the Clear View Project. It's goal is to help the Burmese monks and nuns imprisoned from the Saffron Revolution. Here's how it works:

• Contact Clear View Project to choose a monk or nun.
• Send regular letters on his/her behalf to the United Nations, Burmese Generals, & US government.
• Send funds to buy more food & medicine for that monk. (details follow)
• Hold monthly meditations at your center or public vigils in honor of the monk or all imprisoned monastics.
• Send loving kindness to the monks & nuns, their families and the Burmese generals.

For more information, visit the Clear View Project website.

Week 2: Dharma Talk, T-shirts, and more!

2009-04-05T22:10:00.000-07:00

Hi UBA friends,

Just a quick note to let you know that we continue our weekly meditation meetings this Tuesday, April 7th from 5:30-7pm at the University Catholic Center (633 Gayley Avenue, across from the UCLA campus). Our meetings are facilitated by Reverend Kusala, who leads us in a dharma discussion followed by a chance to ask questions and a meditation. Previous dharma discussions are available in podcast form at Rev. Kusala's website: www.dharmatalks.info.

We would also like to remind you that UBA t-shirts are available for purchase for $15 dollars. Show your UBA pride! To check out the designs and for contact info, visit our blog at http://www.theuba.blogspot.com/ .

We are also still recruiting staff for next year! All types and levels of experience are welcome. Come talk to one of the staff members, or reply to this email, if you're interested or if you have more questions about what positions are available (or can be created just for you!)

And as always, if you have any questions, comments, or ideas for events you'd like to see us put together, email us at uba.ucla.online@gmail.com. Have a great week!

Week 1: New Start for a New Quarter!

2009-03-30T22:12:00.000-07:00

Hello UBA friends,

It's a brand new quarter for the UBA and we'll be starting again with our regular meditation meetings with Reverend Kusala this Tuesday (that's tomorrow!) March 31st, from 5:30-7 pm at the UCC (633 Gayley). We'd love to see you all there!

For any newcomers out there, our meetings are a great way to get to know many different levels and aspects of Buddhism and to meet others with the same interests. Rev. Kusala, whose podcasts can be found on his website at www.dharmatalks.info, leads us in a dharma discussion, followed by a chance to ask questions and the opportunity to meditate.
We also have a website at www.theUBA.org, which offers a few other links that act as a jumping-off point to learn more about Buddhism.

Also, we are starting to work with the new staff members that will help run the UBA next year. We are always looking for more help! All talents and skills are welcome; you do not need any prior experience. Ask any of the staffers or send us an email at ucla.uba.online@gmail.com if you are interested or have any further questions.

And as always, if you have a more general question or comment, please feel free to drop us a line at ucla.uba.online@gmail.com.

South Africa bans Dalai Lama from Peace Conference

2009-03-29T23:24:00.000-07:00

I guess you just can't please everyone, though I do like how the prime minister of the Tibetan-government-in-exile interpreted the situation:

"Samdhong Rinpoche, the prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, said South Africa was under pressure from Beijing and its decision to bar the Dalai Lama was a business matter.

'South Africa is a newly emerging country and China is giving it considerable economic resources so it is understandable,' he said Monday in Dharmsala, India. 'Every country has to protect its economic and political interests.' "

Read full article.

Colors in Buddhism

2009-03-25T00:52:00.001-07:00

Here's a great blog post about the symbolism behind different colors in Buddhism.

Colors of Religion: Buddhism

The West’s largest Buddhist stupa rises in Spain

2009-03-23T00:34:00.000-07:00

So what is it doing there in Spain??

"This isn’t to say that the Benalmádena stupa is devoid of political overtones. “The target may be other Buddhist groups,” suggests Martin Baumann, a professor of religion at Lucerne University (Switzerland) who researches the political impact of religious buildings. Many Tibetan Buddhists believe that their tradition is the purest. “In this way,” Dr. Baumann adds, “the Dalai Lama and other lamas are seen as being the carriers of unpolluted spirituality.” Built in strict accordance with traditional prescriptions and rituals, the stupa thus gives Tibetan Buddhism high visibility in the West’s Buddhist landscape.

The stupa also plays into an internal dispute within one of the four principal schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the Karma Kagyu. The Dalai Lama is the most prominent international spokesman for Tibetan Buddhism and for the Tibetan diaspora. This shines the spotlight on the school he heads, the Gelugpa school. Some speculate, however, that upon his death, focus could shift to the Karma Kagyu school and its head, known by the title of “Karmapa,” as the rallying point for Tibetans in exile."

Read Full Article.

The Buddha as Astute Businessman, Economist, Lawyer

2009-03-23T00:03:00.000-07:00

I regret not having attended this lecture by Gregory Schopen, chair of the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures and an authority on ancient Indian Buddhism.

"The Buddha was a businessman. But don't take anyone's word for it — it's written in stone.

Of all the iconic scenes found in the earliest Buddhist art from India, none are more striking than the sculpted representation of a title deed involving one of Buddhism's most venerable monasteries: The transaction, involving 10 million gold coins, clearly shows that, far from being an ascetic, other-worldly religious tradition, Buddhism was, in fact, "deeply entangled with money – and a very great deal of it at that," according to Gregory Schopen, chair of the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures and an authority on ancient Indian Buddhism."

Read Full Article.

Spring Break: Summer in Thailand

2009-03-22T23:35:00.000-07:00

Hi there UBA friends,

We hope you're enjoying the break so far! This is just a quick note to let you know of a great travel study opportunity for students wishing to get away this summer. Here is the forwarded message:

***

Hi all Dharma friends at the UBA,

I wanted to let you all know about a program I've developed on Sustainability in Thailand, Thailand Sustainable Communities and Ecosystems. Do you want to learn about Dharma practice in Buddhist Thailand? While our program does not focus on Buddhism directly, taking part in the 5 week summer program provides an authentic experience and insight into Buddhist life.

Please let me know your interest or any questions you may have.

Cheers,

Michael Silverman, Ph.D.
Lecturer, Institute of the Environment
300 La Kretz Hall, UCLA
Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1496
silvermanmc@ucla.edu

***
Registration ends April 15th, and financial aid may still be available to those who sign up pretty soon. Here's the link for more
information: http://www.ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/IOE-Thailand/overview.htm.

See you next week when we start up again in the spring!

Buddhist Life in South Korea

2009-03-16T23:12:00.001-07:00

The LA Times gives "A taste of Buddhist life in South Korea"

"South Korea may well be the land of TV soaps and reality shows, but it is also where Seon Buddhism, Korea's answer to Japan's Zen, has remained the purest, or so the Koreans say.

I was sampling it at the Hwagyesa temple at the foot of the pine-tree covered Mount Samgaksan, where Koreans go hiking on weekends. Also called the Seoul International Zen Center, this is one of several temples where tourists can get a taste of Korean Buddhism for a day or more — and take a restoring break from the tumult of the economic meltdown."

Read full article.

Buddhist Superhero Movie

2009-03-14T14:57:00.000-07:00

A Buddhist superhero film in English? hm...sounds promising...

"For this reason, Canadian Buddhist Zen Duke has brought together talented artists from all over the world and all faiths including all Buddhist sects from Nichiren and Zen to Western and even Chinese. They are now on the verge of completing an ambitious global epic that will promote inspirational Buddhist teachings and philosophies to a mainstream English speaking audience like no other film before it.

The film is completely non-political and is meant for both Buddhist and non-Buddhist audiences as it uses the popular superhero genre to both entertain and empower all demographics with an inspirational message during these challenging times."

Read full article.

Dharma Tunes

2009-03-14T14:45:00.000-07:00

Here's a recent post from The Buddhist Channel:

"Dharma Tunes Vol. 1 is the first Malaysian Buddhist songbook complete with lyrics, guitar chords and full music notation. The song book aims to spread the Buddha's teachings through music. It is a community project initiated by Setenang.

Dharma Tunes Vol. 1 is especially suitable for Buddhist Sunday Dharma School teachers and students, Dharma Discussion groups and Buddhist music enthusiasts."

For more information, read full article.

Photo from The Buddhist Channel.

Humanistic Buddhist Monastic Life Program

2009-03-13T22:14:00.000-07:00

I received news of this program from the UCLA Center of Buddhist Studies. Sounds like a great way to start off your summer!

Humanistic Buddhist Monastic Life Program

Program Location

The Humanistic Buddhist Monastic Life Program (HBMLP) will take place at the Fo Guang Shan Monastery outside the city of Kaohsiung (Gaoxiong) in southern Taiwan. All participants will be provided lodging on the monastic grounds. All courses and activities will be conducted in English.

Program Objectives

The objective of this program is to promote the understanding of Chinese Buddhism by exposing the participants to the daily practice of Humanistic Buddhism within a traditional Buddhist monastery. The Buddhist Monastic Life Program provides international graduate and undergraduate students interested in the study of religion, Buddhism and/or Chinese culture first-hand experience in the lifestyle, training, and rituals of contemporary Chinese Buddhist monastics. This year, approximately 40 applicants will be selected to participate in the program. The primary goals of the program include:

Offering participants a chance to view and experience Buddhism as it is practiced in modern-day Taiwan.
Providing courses on Buddhism and Chinese culture, taught by Buddhist monastics from Fo Guang Shan
Introducing participants to the concepts and practices of Humanistic Buddhism
Teaching Buddhist monastic disciplines and traditions
Exposing participants to Chinese culture and language
Cultivating spirituality through meditation

All of these goals are to be achieved within the context of the monastic experience.

For more information, visit their website.

Legal Education in Tibet

2009-03-10T02:47:00.000-07:00

"Tibet has reported success in a year-long legal education at its monasteries, where monks have been told to abide by laws and regulations in religious practice, rallies and parades, officials in charge of religious affairs said Monday.

More than 2,300 officials were sent to Tibet's 505 monasteries after the deadly riots of March 14 last year to promote the legal awareness of monks and nuns and dissuade them from being duped by separatist forces and ensure the normal practice of Buddhism, said Soinam Renzin, deputy chief of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Tibet Regional Committee."

Read full article.

Photo from ChinaView

Buddhists protest Buddha Bar

2009-03-04T23:16:00.000-08:00

Buddhist plan to hold a prayer service to protest the Buddha Bar's use of Buddhist icons.

"Hundreds of Buddhists plan to hold a prayer service in front of the Buddha Bar club in Central Jakarta on Thursday morning, in protest against the French franchise management's use of Buddhist attributes.

Eko Nugroho, head of the Indonesian Buddhist Students Association, told tempointeraktif.com that the service was organize to honor Buddha, who is represented by a Buddha statue in the Buddha Bar building.

Eko expects the bar management to change the bar's name. "It is most inappropriate to use a religious icon to name an entertainment place that sells liquor," he said."

Read full article.

Buddhist Recovery Network

2009-03-04T22:19:00.000-08:00

I found this from a pretty neat blog: dharmadoctors.org.

"Dharmadoctors.org is dedicated to serving health care providers by providing Buddhist resources and inspiration for the enhancement of their practices and the benefit of their patients. Both Medicine and Buddhism are fundamentally concerned with alleviating suffering, and a dialogue between these two great traditions seems not only natural, but of particular relevance in today’s climate of health care crisis."

One of their recent entries that I found interesting is on The Buddhist Recovery Network.

"The Buddhist Recovery Network supports the use of Buddhist teachings, traditions and practices to help people recover from the suffering caused by addictive behaviors. Open to people of all backgrounds, and respectful of all recovery paths, the organization promotes mindfulness and meditation, and is grounded in Buddhist principles of non-harming, compassion and interdependence. It seeks to serve an international audience through teaching, training, treatment, research, publication, advocacy and community-building initiatives."

What is your concept of eternity?

2009-03-04T19:01:00.000-08:00

Ah, my favorite type of articles. The News & Observer features "Voices of Faith", in which Rev. R.L. Baynham, pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church, and Lama Chuck Stanford of the Rime Buddhist Center & Monastery provide insight from their respective faiths. In this article, they discuss "What is your concept of eternity?"

Rev. R.L. Baynham: Eternity is an attribute of God, and he alone fathoms its depths. We are challenged to live within the divine purpose of God's will as ascribed in the Bible. When we live in harmony with our purpose, we experience life as it is supposed to be. We understand the purpose is to live a full, meaningful life.

Lama Chuck Stanford: Unlike the monotheistic faiths, Buddhism has no concept of eternity after death. In fact, from the Buddhist perspective, death is viewed as a very temporary state between a nearly infinite number of rebirths.

Read full article.

Buddhist lessons from "He's Just Not That Into You"

2009-03-02T21:55:00.000-08:00

I've got to watch this movie. Seven buddhist lessons in all, reviewed by The Buddhist Channel. First one:

"1. Some express aversion to those they have attachment to – because they are intimidated by their own attachment, such that they try to reverse it, to reject their attachment. What they really have is aversion to themselves, not the other. Why not try to cultivate equanimity beyond the extremes of attachment and aversion instead?"

For the rest, read full article.

Photo from The Buddhist Channel.

The Buddha Bar labeled sacrilegious

2009-03-02T19:43:00.000-08:00

Indonesian students taking matters into their own hands:

"The exclusive Buddha Bar in Central Jakarta, part-owned by the daughter of former President Megawati Sukarnoputri, has been labeled sacrilegious by the Indonesian Buddhist Student
Association.

Association chairman Eko Nugroho told the Jakarta Globe on Sunday that the new bar and restaurant in Menteng violated laws related to insulting religions and should be shut down.

Eko said that a number of Buddhist organizations in Indonesia had filed official complaints about the name with the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism.

He said the Jakarta administration should have considered the law regarding the misuse of religious symbols before issuing permits for the restaurant.

“We urge local governments in Jakarta to take strong action against the new bar to avoid angering Buddhists,” he said."

Read full article.

UCLA Buddhist Scholar Gregory Schopen

2009-03-02T19:24:00.000-08:00

From our very own UCLA:

"As one of the world's leading authorities on Buddhism, Gregory Schopen has shattered many myths, notably the notion that Buddhist monks in ancient India renounced money and property.

Schopen finds the widespread Western fascination with Buddhism "highly artificial and a little bit silly because it takes place completely in the abstract." The average Westerner is not interested in the "totality of what Buddhism is – a way of interacting and being human – but with a certain set of free-floating ideas that have been connected with Buddhism," he explained, adding: "I have a problem with that."

One of his favorite images of Buddhism as it's practiced in America is from a photograph of devotees in a Thai Buddhist temple in Los Angeles: "All the local Thai people are doing worship to the Buddha image in the front; in the back is a whole row of white guys meditating," said Schopen. "These are completely different approaches to the same phenomenon – the picture is worth a thousand words."

Read full article.

Week 9: Guest Speaker Ven. Huei Hsuen

2009-03-02T19:18:00.000-08:00

Man, it's been quite a while since I've posted, but I'm back. Stop by our meeting tomorrow; we have a guest speaker, Venerable Huei Hsuen. Hope to see you there!

------

Hello UBA friends,

To begin with, apologies for the lateness of the weekly update; hopefully many of you can still make it to this week's meditation because we are mixing it up a little with a guest speaker! Venerable Huei Hsuen, a Buddhist monastic in the Chinese tradition, will be coming to lead a discussion and meditation. Come ready with questions!

We will be meeting at the usual time and place, from 5:30-7 pm on Tuesday, March 3rd at the University Catholic Center.

In the meantime, we wish Rev. Kusala a speedy recovery after his surgery this week! We hope to see many of you this Tuesday evening as our winter quarter starts to wrap up and, as always, any questions or comments can be directed to ucla.uba.online@gmail.com.

Thank you and have a great week!

Han Tibetan Buddhists

2009-02-22T23:55:00.000-08:00

Growing number of ethnic Han Chinese are following Tibetan Buddhism despite the Communist Party.

"While statistics are hard to come by, monks, followers and experts say that growing numbers of middle-class Chinese are turning to Tibetan Buddhism, driven by the perception of a spiritual vacuum in society and aided by the voluminous information available on the Internet. Communist Party officials and celebrities alike have embraced Tibetan Buddhism, despite having to worship at home, meet their lamas at night and run the risk of attending officially unauthorized events, such as the fish release and "fire sacrifice" at Huangsongyu Reservoir."

"Like other religions, Buddhism suffered during the persecution of the 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution. When it limped back, it took a simpler form that had been influenced by China's gradual opening to the West. Meanwhile, a purer and more complex form of Buddhism continued to be practiced in the isolated region of Tibet, which the Chinese army had invaded in 1950 and annexed in 1951. The Communists allowed a degree of autonomy until a Tibetan uprising in 1959. After the Dalai Lama fled to India that year, China formed the Tibet Autonomous Region, which it has governed since. Some Chinese Buddhist temples now invite senior Tibetan monks to visit in a bid to attract more followers."

Read full article.

Similarities between Darwinism and Buddhism

2009-02-16T23:53:00.000-08:00

From National Geographic News:

Charles Darwin probably didn't know it, but he held views on human empathy that mirror Buddhist beliefs, says a pioneer in decoding facial expressions. Based on his interactions with foreign cultures, Darwin came to define empathy as a desire to end someone's suffering to assuage one's own discomfort. Buddhist teachings also see empathy as a somewhat selfish motivation, but one that the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, calls the "seed of compassion."

Read full article.

Photo from National Geographic News.

Buddhism and Journalism

2009-02-16T23:49:00.000-08:00

Interesting for those of you who are bloggers and news junkies:

"Buddhist principles have universal applicability because they are not divine dictates but explicit and practical morals of human communication. American journalist Doug McGill says that a journalism grounded in Buddhist morals would produce (1) a journalism of healing because the goal of Buddhism is achieving the end of "suffering," which connotes many facets of existence, and (2) a journalism of timely, truthful, and helpful speech based on the Noble Eightfold Path. Because Sri Lanka is emerging from the ravages of a long-drawn war with the Tamil Tigers, this is the time for the state, as well as all newspaper editors and publishers, to give serious thought to applying Buddhist principles to news and journalism."

Read full article.

Week 7: New Website

2009-02-16T15:15:00.000-08:00

Hi UBA friends,

We hope you are enjoying the holiday weekend! Just a quick reminder: we continue our regular meetings this Tuesday, January 20th from 5:30-7 pm at the UCC (633 Gayley Avenue, across from the UCLA campus). Our meetings are facilitated by Reverend Kusala, who leads us in a dharma discussion followed by a chance to ask questions and a meditation. Previous dharma discussions are available in podcast form at Rev. Kusala's website: www.dharmatalks.info.

Also, the new UBA website is up and running. You can access it through the same URL: www.theuba.org. Please check it out and tell us what you think!

And as always, if you have any questions, comments, or ideas for events you'd like to see us put together, email us at uba.ucla.online@gmail.com. Have a great week!

Results of Thai Temple ZAB Hearing

2009-02-15T21:39:00.000-08:00

Update on the results of the ZAB hearing for Wat Mongkolratanaram.

"On February 12, 2009 the Zoning Adjustment Board voted in favor of the Thai temple 8 yes to 1 no. Though the board has given the temple its approval for the project, it is NOT the final approval. The final approval will come after the conditions recommended from the city to the ZAB have clarified. The major points of contention that temple had was in part due to the vagueness of the language. The language is being revised under the direction of the ZAB with recommendations, modifications, and removal of some conditions. At the next hearing, the board will vote to give the project final approval based upon the revisions to the conditions.

The first part of this journey is almost at an end.

The complainants will have the right to appeal, however, that appeal process cannot begin until after the ZAB gives its final approval. Once that approval is final, the complainants will have 2 weeks from the time everything is processed. That normally takes 2 to 3 days after the vote. If the complainants appeal, the case will be heard in front of the Berkeley City Council.

From the entire team, we want to thank each and every one of you for your heart felt support. It was your belief in our cause and our team that gave us the energy to work hard over the course of the past 10 months.

Please continue to visit this site for future updates on the status of the final approval."

Visit their website.

The Passing of Ven. Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen

2009-02-14T14:50:00.000-08:00

Venerable Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen
Founder and Spritual Director of Thubten Dhargye Ling

"Dear Friends,

We have very sad news. Our great and dear teacher Ven. Geshe Gyeltsen passed from our world today, Friday February 13th at around 12:20 p.m. Ven. Geshela died peacefully, surrounded by monks from Gaden Shartse Monastery and family members.

All prayers and necessary rituals were performed by the monks. His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other lamas called and spoke to Ven. Geshela earlier this week.

Please pray for Geshela's swift return to continue his teachings for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Students are encouraged to include the King of Prayers into their daily practice, wishing Geshela to return quickly to continue to teach us.

Thubten Dhargye Ling / Center for the Study of Buddhism and Tibetan Culture"

Learn more about Venerable Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsten.

Photo from UrbanDharma

From Father to Son

2009-02-14T11:39:00.000-08:00

From The News & Observer, Geshe Gelek Chodha, a teacher at Kadampa Center, answers this question from a concerned father, reminding me of some of the ways my father had exposed me to Buddhism as a child:

"Q: A week ago, my son asked for a Buddha figurine -- he's quite clear that it must have a round belly and be seated in a meditative pose.

He says he was inspired by "The Cat Who Went to Heaven," which we read several months ago. As he is not yet 6, I am keeping my discussions with him relatively simple. We've agreed that a Buddha is not a toy and cannot go in his toy box but must be displayed where he can see it. We've discussed the importance of compassion, and I have offered to meditate with him. We are reading about Buddhism in a book on comparative religion ("A Faith Like Mine").

Is there anything else we should do? Are there concepts we should discuss beyond the practice of compassion and meditation? Is there a temple we could visit during this very preliminary exploration of Buddhism?"

"A: It may be helpful to know that you do not have to be Buddhist to practice any aspect of Buddhism. You may find benefit from Buddhist methods such as meditation or teachings on compassion and wisdom. It is perfectly OK to put into practice what you find helpful and leave the rest. After all, the intent of the Buddhist path is to teach us to be better human beings.

For Buddhists the world over, a Buddha statue is a symbol of peace and freedom. It reminds us of our own potential to achieve his exalted qualities: perfect love, compassion, power, wisdom and skill in helping others..."

Read full article.

Darwin and Religion

2009-02-14T11:25:00.000-08:00

Feb. 12, 2009, the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin

"Charles Darwin is widely praised by atheists for the way his theory of evolution denies the existence of God. For the same reason he's vilified by conservative religious people.

There is just one problem with the opinions of these opposing camps: They're not exactly based on what Darwin said. The pioneering 19th-century biologist actually confessed that evolution placed him in a "hopeless muddle" about the concept of God.

Church-going Darwin did, indeed, end up rejecting traditional 19th-century views of an Almighty Christian God. He could not accept that an all-powerful Being would willingly cause, as he said, a cat to cruelly play with a mouse."

Read full article.

Reuters - Sensitive Anniversaries in China in 2009

2009-02-10T00:57:00.000-08:00

From Tibet to the Falun Gong, we can expect the government to approach these anniversaries very carefully...

Read full article.

"Let's Go After the Buddhists"

2009-02-10T00:47:00.000-08:00

A rather clever and catchy song posted by Rev. Danny Fisher.

"Let's Go After the Buddhists" by Roy Zimmerman.

Save the Thai Temple - Berkeley Hearing

2009-02-10T00:21:00.000-08:00

The Berkeley ZAB hearing is this Thursday, February 12, 2009 and this is the last time to vote and save the temple. Hear the cause to save Wat Mongkolratanaram from those supporting the temple (as well as a brief segment from those opposing) in city hearings:

Also, please visit savethethaitemple.com.

Thanks to arunlikhati from DharmaFolk who has posted on this issue.

Week 6: Picture Day & Staff Recruitment

2009-02-08T19:21:00.000-08:00

Hello UBA friends,

A few things to announce this week...

As usual, we continue our regular meetings this Tuesday, February 10th from 5:30-7 pm at the UCC (633 Gayley Avenue, across from the UCLA campus). Our meetings are facilitated by Reverend Kusala, who leads us in a dharma discussion followed by a chance to ask questions and a meditation. Previous dharma discussions are available in podcast form at Rev. Kusala's website: www.dharmatalks.info.

A special note about our meeting this week is that we are planning to take b of the UBA to replace the rather outdated one on our website. Come be a part of this historic event and feel free to wear your UBA t-shirt if you have one! (Don't have a UBA t-shirt yet?
A situation that can certainly be remedied! Visit our other blog at theuba.blogspot.com for more information.)

Another special and very important note: we are recruiting new staff members for the UBA for the upcoming year! Being on staff is a great opportunity to help bring Buddhism to the wider UCLA community and offers great leadership experience, so give it some thought! No prior experience is necessary and all talents and skills are appreciated and needed. We will have a sign-up sheet available at the next meeting for anyone who is interested.

Thanks everyone! Have a great week and we hope to see you Tuesday.

Obama's new faith-based initiative

2009-02-05T13:58:00.000-08:00

"Obama said the office would work with nonprofit organizations "both secular and faith-based" and would help them determine how to make a bigger impact in their cities, learn their obligations under the law and cut through government red tape.

Groups that were critical of the Bush faith-based office — including the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and People For the American Way — issued statements Thursday expressing disappointment in the Obama version. All said that by failing to repeal Bush policies, the White House will allow participating religious groups to continue discrimination in hiring.

Obama's advisers want to be certain tax dollars sent to the faith-based social service groups are used for secular purposes, such as feeding the hungry or housing the homeless, and not for religious evangelism. The administration doesn't want to be perceived as managing the groups yet seeks transparency and accountability."

Read full article.

Corporate/Poltical leader now, Asura tomorrow

2009-02-04T23:10:00.000-08:00

The six realms of Buddhism are rebirth as a deva, an asura, a human being, an animal, a hungry ghost, or a being in Naraka (hell). Can we make any metaphorical connections from these realms to our life here as a human?

O'Brien writes about how being reborn as an asura may very much be like being a corporate or political leader.

"I believe these days most of us (including, I understand, His Holiness the Dalai Lama) do not believe in the Six Realms as actual locations. Instead, they are more often understood as metaphors for our psychological projections. As such, it seems to me the Six Realms teachings shed light on our ongoing financial crisis."

Read full article.

Photo from The Buddhist Channel.

Master Sheng Yen dies at age 80

2009-02-04T23:00:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, Feb. 3, Venerable Dharma Master Sheng Yen died of renal disease at National Taiwan University Hospital at the age of 80.

Read full article.

Photo from The Buddhist Channel

According to The Buddhist Channel, he wrote this poem before he passed away:

無事忙中老，
空裡有哭笑，
本來沒有我，
生死皆可拋。

Busy with nothing, growing old.
Within emptiness, weeping, laughing.
Intrinsically, there is no "I."
Life and death, thus cast aside.

Huffington Post: The Groundhog Day Buddhism Sutra

2009-02-02T23:56:00.001-08:00

UBA has actually watched The Groundhog Day during a movie night event so I thought this article from the Huffington Post was more than relevant to our readers and members. I actually haven't watched this movie so I cannot offer much insight. But this article explores the possible interpretation of the movie using the Four Noble Truths.

"I was interviewing Ramis for a Buddhist magazine called the Shambhala Sun because, it turns out, many Buddhists read the Buddha's truths (or dharma) between the lines of the script. Ramis gets a kick out of the fact that many religious groups claim the film is for and about their particular sect. I suspect Ramis and the Buddha would agree: 'The more, the merrier."

Ramis himself is not a Buddhist, does not meditate but is well read on the principles and consciously practices the simple tenets that weatherman Phil Connors comes to embody (picture a bald Bill Murray in saffron robes). Ramis, I learned from hanging out with him and interviewing many around him, is somewhere between a mensch (a really good guy) and a boddhisatva (a really good guy whose mission is to help other people become really good guys)."

Read the full article.

Week 5: Midterm Stress!

2009-02-01T22:51:00.000-08:00

Hi UBA friends,

Wow, it's the middle of the quarter already! If you're finding yourself caught in the midst of midterms stress (or even if you're not!) why not try a nice evening of dharma discussion and meditation with the UBA?

We continue our regular meetings this Tuesday, February 3rd from 5:30-7 pm at the UCC (633 Gayley Avenue, across from the UCLA campus). Our meetings are facilitated by Reverend Kusala, who leads us in a dharma discussion followed by a chance to ask questions and a meditation. Previous dharma discussions are available in podcast form at Rev. Kusala's website: www.dharmatalks.info.

It is likely that we will be in the downstairs room at the UCC again this week; so just keep that in mind and see if we're around in the room downstairs before coming up the stairs if you don't catch us when we meet at 5:30.

And as always, if you have any questions, comments, or ideas for events you'd like to see us put together, email us at uba.ucla.online@gmail.com. Have a great week!

Dalai Lama may choose his own reincarnation

2009-02-01T21:08:00.000-08:00

The Dalai Lama may choose the reincarnation set to replace him as leader of the Tibetans.

"The Dalai Lama has openly speculated about his next life, his reincarnation, musing that he might upend historical and cultural practice and choose his reincarnation before his death, the better to safeguard his exiled people."

Read the full article.

McCartney mentions the Dalai Lama on the Colbert Report

2009-01-31T01:26:00.001-08:00

Here's a hilarious video clip from the Colbert Report. During an interview with Paul McCartney, the Beatle suggests that the Dalai Lama would turn to cannibalism as last means of survival. Thanks to Rev. Danny Fisher for posting this.

Colbert Report Video Clip.

Documentary "The Road to Nibbana"

2009-01-30T01:29:00.000-08:00

The Korea Broadcasting System (KBS) will be going to Myanmar to shoot a documentary on Myanmar's Theravada Buddhism called "The Road to Nibbana"

"Directed by Byan Choonho, the video will be shot in the country's famous Inlay Water Village located in northern Shan State.

The documentary will not only feature the life of Buddhist followers in the Inlay region but also the daily life of local inhabitants most of whom are fishermen, the report said."

Read full article

Inter-religious Open House

2009-01-29T02:33:00.000-08:00

Hi UBA friends,

Here are some details on the event that was mentioned this week at our meditation meeting. It looks like an interesting chance to check out some of the different faiths and traditions that UCLA has to offer, including a tour of some of the actual facilities offering different religious services, so many of you may want to check it out. Rev. Kusala will be among those giving presentations towards the beginning of the event.

****
Inter-religious Open House
When: Saturday, January 31, 2009
Time: 11:00am - 2:30pm
Location: UCLA Campus (meeting at the University Catholic Center, 633 Gayley Ave)
What: a tour of four houses of worship/meditation at UCLA, with short presentations from other religious groups

Goal:
- to educate ourselves of the commonalities and rich diversity among different religions
- to celebrate together the richness and diversity of organized spirituality here at UCLA

Houses of worship to be visited (in order):
University Catholic Center
University Lutheran Chapel
Hillel
St. Alban's Episcopal Church

Other religious groups participating:
Univ. Buddhist Assoc., MTO Suffi Assoc., Wesley Foundation, Hindu Student Council, and the Univ. Presbyterian Church.

Worried about lunch? Well Don't!
We will be starting with a FREE Continental Breakfast and ending with a FREE Lunch (we'll be taking into consideration the dietary needs of all participating religious groups)

This is really a great opportunity to meet new people from many different backgrounds, build relations with other groups on campus, and get a glimpse of just a few religious groups at UCLA (not to mention, getting a free bite to eat)!

***As a side note, for those of you on Facebook, it might be helpful to search for the event (by the name "inter-religious open house") and RSVP to it, just to give the organizers a better idea of how much food to buy.

Quote from Socrates

2009-01-27T10:36:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning, read this quote, and found it to be an insightful way to start my day.

"I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing."

-Socrates-

A Conversation on Science, Ethics, and Religion

2009-01-25T14:39:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Ven. Kusala from UrbanDharma for sending information about this event.

Esteemed American Buddhist scholar and activist Robert Thurman will be appearing at the Skirball in mid-February, speaking on the topic of science, ethics, and religion with renowned inventor and engineer Danny Hillis. Presented in celebration of Charles Darwin's 200th birthday, the conversation between Dr. Thurman and Dr. Hillis should make for a compelling evening. Details are below.

A CONVERSATION ON SCIENCE, ETHICS, AND RELIGION

Robert Thurman and Danny Hillis

Thursday, February 12, 8:00 p.m.

$15 General; $12 Skirball Members; $10 Full-Time Students

Advance tickets: Available on site at the Skirball, online at www.skirball.org, or by phone at (877) SCC-4TIX or (877) 722-4849

Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049

Preeminent figures in the fields of religion and technology, Dr. Robert Thurman and Dr. Danny Hillis engage in a thought-provoking conversation on scientific progress and its impact on society. Robert Thurman has cultivated a worldwide awareness of Tibet through his academic and popular writing, translation of important Buddhist texts, and commitment to finding a peaceful resolution to the China-Tibet conflict. Danny Hillis is a respected figure in the technology community. He is an inventor, scientist, author, and engineer. He holds more than eighty U.S. patents and is the designer of the 10,000-year mechanical clock. Presented by the Skirball in celebration of the bicentennial of Charles Darwin.

Week 4: Dumpling Night Success!

2009-01-25T14:33:00.000-08:00

Hello UBA friends!

First off, last Friday's dumpling night was stuffed full of great food, great company, and great fun! It was so good to see many of you there, and a special thanks to Keith for hosting.

As usual, we continue our regular meetings this Tuesday, January 27th from 5:30-7 pm at the UCC (633 Gayley Avenue, across from the UCLA campus). Our meetings are facilitated by Reverend Kusala, who leads us in a dharma discussion followed by a chance to ask questions and a meditation. Previous dharma discussions are available in podcast form at Rev. Kusala's website: www.dharmatalks.info.

UBA T-shirts are still available for purchase! For sample pics and price info, check out the right-hand sidebar.

And as always, if you have any questions, comments, or ideas for events you'd like to see us put together, email us at uba.ucla.online@gmail.com. Have a great week!

Indonesian Monks against Buddha Bar

2009-01-23T23:31:00.000-08:00

Indonesian Buddhist urge to have the newly opened Buddha Bar, a Paris-based franchise restaurant, shut down.

"We urge the Jakarta administration to take strong action against the use of the name Buddha to avoid angering Buddhists," Brilian Moktar, head of the Buddhist association in Medan, was quoted as saying by Antara.

Jakarta became the first South-east Asian city to have the Buddha Bar in December, joining major international cities like London, New York and Dubai.

Read full article.

Chinese delegation investigate monk murder case

2009-01-21T00:19:00.000-08:00

"A Chinese delegation arrived in Taiwan late on Sunday to help deal with an incident in which two visiting monks from China’s Linggu Temple died at a Hsinchu hotel last week. The delegation was headed by Li Huaining (李淮寧), a Nanjing City Government department chief in charge of ethnic and religious affairs.

Li said after his arrival at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport that his group expected to get first-hand information about the incident.

He was referring to a suspected homicide-suicide case last Wednesday in which Dharma Master Jing Ran (淨然), abbot of Linggu Temple, was believed to have been killed by Dharma Master Chun Ru (純如), supervisor at the same temple, who later committed suicide."

Read full article.

Week 3 - Dumpling Night

2009-01-18T18:54:00.000-08:00

Hello UBA friends!

As usual, we continue our regular meetings this Tuesday, January 20th from 5:30-7 pm at the UCC (633 Gayley Avenue, across from the UCLA campus). Our meetings are facilitated by Reverend Kusala, who leads us in a dharma discussion followed by a chance to ask questions and a meditation. Previous dharma discussions are available in podcast form at Rev. Kusala's website: www.dharmatalks.info.

We would also like to announce our first event of the quarter - we will be having a dumpling-making and movie night this Friday, January 23rd from 5-9PM at UBA member Keith's apartment. If you are interested, please RSVP to ucla.uba.online@gmail.com by Wednesday January 21st so we know how much food to buy. We will email those who RSVP the address. Hope to see you all there!

And as always, if you have any questions, comments, or ideas for events you'd like to see us put together, email us at uba.ucla.online@gmail.com. Have a great week!

Understanding Death through Buddhism

2009-01-18T03:53:00.000-08:00

The Closer-to-Reality Conference 2008 was held at Thean Hou Temple from 12/27-12/29. Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary organized it to “connect real life experiences with Buddhist scriptural understanding”. The conference was titled "Understanding Death and Beyond" and discussed issues such as...

When does death actually occur?
If I’m an organ donor, what will happen if I’m not really dead yet but my organs are being harvested?
Is there really an intermediate state between death in one existence and rebirth in another?
In a heart transplant, does the ‘spirit’ of the donor share the same body with the recipient who is experiencing a transfer of personality traits?

Read full article.

Photo from The Buddhist Channel.

Today is Religious Freedom Day

2009-01-16T21:24:00.000-08:00

In 1786, America passed the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, written by Thomas Jefferson. Now, every year on the same date, January 16, the President proclaims the day as Religious Freedom Day.

Quoted from Presidential Proclamation on Religious Freedom Day, 2009:

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 16, 2009, as Religious Freedom Day. I call on all Americans to reflect on the great blessing of religious liberty, endeavor to preserve this freedom for future generations, and commemorate this day with appropriate events and activities."

Related article: "America is a Land of Religious Diversity; Interfaith Cooperation The Norm"

Buddhist Economics

2009-01-16T01:35:00.000-08:00

Here's a short article about applying Buddhism to the current economy.

"I would distill it even further in Buddhist thought. We're in the soup economically because of a lack of mindfulness. We at the micro level and those at the macro level didn't pay close attention to economic decisions."

Read full article.

China revives religion

2009-01-14T01:43:00.000-08:00

Religion is becoming less taboo and accepted once again as a part of society.

"A government-sponsored survey last year found that 300 million Chinese, or 31.4% of the country’s adult population, considered themselves religious believers, much larger than the government estimate of around 100 million.

Two-thirds of the believers are Buddhists, Taoists or devotees of traditional deities such as the Dragon King or God of Fortune. The survey estimated that 12% of all believers—or 40 million—were Christians, up from 16 million in 2005. That makes Christianity one of the fastest-growing religions in China. Some foreign estimates put the estimated number of Christians even higher, from 50 to 70 million. Many attend independent, unregistered house churches."

So what's the status of Buddhism in China?

"Looking at it from a different perspective, particularly with regard to Buddhism, is Master Xuecheng, vice-president of the Buddhist Association of China, and abbot of four monasteries including the Longquan monastery in Beijing. He argued that once people have satisfied their basic needs and wants such as housing and food, they would have more spiritual demands.

He added: “Only when a society has prospered and developed can it have the strength to tolerate different kinds of thinking…Only after a society has prospered to a certain level can it have considerable numbers of people with relatively high standards of knowledge and, therefore, the qualification to devote themselves to the study of Buddhist scriptures.”

He cited as evidence the fact that Buddhism flourished during ancient China’s golden age, the Tang Dynasty, particularly in the region of Chang’an (present-day Xian), at the Chinese end of the Silk Road.

Liu, who has also explored Buddhism, finds Buddhist scriptures too difficult to grasp. They run into thousands of volumes compared with the one-volume Bible for Christians and the Koran for Muslims.

Besides, Buddhism “requires you to give up a lot in life”, said Liu, adding that she found this hard to accept. Buddhists strive ultimately to chushi, withdraw from the world, she argued."

Read full article.

Interpretation of Yogacara Philosophy in Huayan Buddhism

2009-01-12T22:16:00.000-08:00

The UCLA Center for Buddhist Studies is pleased to announce the next talk in our Numata Colloquium Series:

Interpretation of Yogacara Philosophy in Huayan Buddhism

by Professor HAMAR Imre of Eotvos Lorand University (Budapest, Hungary), currently Visiting Fulbright Professor at the University of Virginia

Friday, January 16, 2009
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
243 Royce Hall, UCLA

Free and open to the public

Parking available for $9

For more info, please go to http://www.international.ucla.edu/buddhist

Thank you for your ongoing interest in Buddhist Studies.

Week 2 - Welcome back!

2009-01-11T17:47:00.000-08:00

Hello UBA friends,

It was so great to see so many of you this past week! Just a quick note to remind you that we continue our weekly meditation meetings this Tuesday, January 13 from 5:30-7 pm at the University Catholic Center (633 Gayley Avenue, across from the UCLA campus). Our meetings are facilitated by Reverend Kusala, who leads us in a dharma discussion followed by a chance to ask questions and a meditation. Previous dharma discussions are available in podcast form at Rev. Kusala's website: www.dharmatalks.info.

This week's meeting may be taking place in another room of the UCC, due to another event in our usual meeting place in the chapel, but just take a look around for us on the first floor and you should be able to find us.

Also, we would like to remind everyone that we are still selling UBA t- shirts! To see a sample, visit http://theuba.blogspot.com/ and take a look at the right sidebar of the page. If you would like one, bring $15 to one of our meetings, or contact Eric Ku at eriku@ucla.edu.

Hope to see many of you there on Tuesday - have a great week!

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for events, we would love to hear them. Just send us a message at ucla.uba.online@gmail.com .

Religious Diversity in the 111th Congress

2009-01-09T23:55:00.000-08:00

I am happy to be able to start posting again. I recently sent my computer to be fixed and now that I just picked it up, I feel reconnected with the world. This bit of news is quite interesting, another addition to all the other diversity issues in 2009 politics.

"Two years ago, Keith Ellison became Congress’ first Muslim member; shortly after Rep. Pete Stark outed himself as Congress’ first openly atheist elected official. The 110th Congress also saw the arrival of two Buddhist politicians, another first. Those Buddhists, as well as Ellison and another Muslim, are back for the 111th Congress, which began today and the Pew Forum says looks a lot more like the people it represents:

Although a majority of the members of the new, 111th Congress, which will be sworn in on Jan. 6, are Protestants, Congress - like the nation as a whole - is much more religiously diverse than it was 50 years ago."

Read full article.

Photo from The Jewish Journal.

Week 1: Welcome to the New Year

2009-01-04T22:04:00.000-08:00

Hello UBA friends,

Here we are in 2009! Please join us for our first meditation meeting of winter quarter this Tuesday, January 6th from 5:30 to 7 pm. We meet at the University Catholic Center (UCC), which is located at 633 Gayley Avenue (across the street from the UCLA campus, between Strathmore and Le Conte, near the fraternity houses). Our meetings are led by Reverend Kusala, who leads us in a dharma discussion followed by a chance to ask questions and a meditation. Previous dharma discussions are available in podcast form at Rev. Kusala's website: www.dharmatalks.info.

As a non-denominational Buddhist group, our meetings are great for followers of all forms of Buddhism as well as those new to the practice who are looking to learn more. Throughout the quarter we will also continue to offer various events such as talks, field trips, socials, community service days, and retreats. Keep checking our website (www.theUBA.org) for more info on these and other events.

We will be offering a variety of events outside of our regular meetings as well, so stay tuned for that. We are also looking for some new staff members - if you'd like to get involved, let us know! We are looking for all kinds of skills, whether or not you have prior leadership experience.

To wrap things up, if you're a returning member, we look forward to seeing you again, and if you're new, welcome! If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask, and if you have suggestions for events, feel free to share them with us.

A happy and peaceful new year to everyone!

Daily quotes

2009-01-03T15:15:00.000-08:00

Here are some daily quotes as posted by amidabuddha.org.

- January 3, 2009 -

Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little. - Buddha

-January 2, 2009 -

All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else. - Buddha

- January 1, 2009 -

These teachings are like a raft, to be abandoned once you have crossed the flood. Since you should abandon even good states of mind generated by these teachings, How much more so should you abandon bad states of mind! Conquer the angry man by love. Conquer the ill-natured man by goodness. Conquer the miser with generosity. Conquer the liar with truth. - The Dhammapada

Faith Q&A

2009-01-03T15:06:00.000-08:00

Lama Chuck Stanford from Rime Buddhist Center & Monastery and the Rev. R.L. Baynham, pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church, offer answers from their respective faiths.

Q: Do you think it's possible to have a society that doesn't believe in God and yet is law-abiding and peaceful?

For their answers, please go to the full article.

Vegatarian Bodh Gaya Campaign

2008-12-31T17:01:00.000-08:00

Tibetans for a Vegetarian Society, a nonprofit public charitable trust, is campaigning for the Bodh Gaya to be a vegetarian zone.

"We are trying to create awareness and mobilise support of locals as well as tourists transforming Bodh Gaya into a vegetarian zone.

Abstaining from buying, selling, or consuming any form of meat during the pilgrimage tour in the holy land is the key to the success of the campaign"

Read full article

Buddhist's New Year

2008-12-29T00:13:00.000-08:00

Here's a Buddhist's New Year Guide from Shambhala Sun Space:

"Still not sure how you’ll celebrate the arrival of 2009? Well, for meditators, there are seemingly as many possibilities as their are methods and schools. Here are just a few. Just click on their links for more info."

Read full article

Photo from Shambhala Sun Space

DharmaNet International

2008-12-26T01:16:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone is having a safe and happy holiday.

Here is a website recommended to me by Venerable Kusala called DharmaNet International.

"The new DharmaNet is providing an independent, non-sectarian informational and educational resource on Buddhism to the ever-widening world-wide audience of people impacted by Buddhism. While there are hundreds of Buddhist web sites, there is still no seminal, non-sectarian informational and educational web site that presents the full range of the Dharma to those seeking to engage the teachings."

DharmaNet also offers videos in copperation with BDK, of which Kusala and many others are featured:

"In 2005, the Society for the Promotion of Buddhism (Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai) [BDK] initiated a BDK TV Series shown in Southern California. The weekly 15-minute shows featured interviews and teachings from major American Buddhist followers and teachers. In cooperation with BDK, DharmaNet will gradually be adding these programs to this page. Four new and different segments will be previewed each month. We invite the world to share in the Buddha-Dharma through this new means of communication."

For videos, click here.

Q: As a Catholic, am I allowed to pray to the Buddha for guidance?

2008-12-24T02:25:00.000-08:00

In this article from Buffalo News, Rabbi Marc Gellman answers the question of learning from faiths other than your own. The full question was:

"Q: I’m a practicing Roman Catholic and I recently purchased a book about Jesus and the Buddha. It’s interesting to see that Jesus and the Buddha did say and act in much the same ways, which leads me to ask: As a Catholic, am I allowed to pray to the Buddha for guidance, wisdom and understanding, or is that a big no-no in the eyes of Roman Catholic teaching?

I don’t view or recognize the Buddha as a god, but I do see him as a very holy and wise man, and after all, Catholics pray to saints because they were holy and wise men and women who can intercede for us. — S. "

My favorite part of Rabbi Gellman's answer was:

"Human beings naturally possess different interests, so it’s not surprising that we have many different religious traditions with different ways of thinking and behaving. But this variety is a way for everyone to be happy. If we have a great variety of food, we will be able to satisfy different tastes and needs. When we only have bread, the people who eat rice are left out. And the reason those people eat rice is that rice is what grows best where they live.

So go and study, but remember to eat what grows best where you live."

Read full article.