Awesome Buddhist / World History Timeline

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

Vesak Day 2009 is in TWO days!

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

Vesak Message from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown

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.

Celebrate Vesak Day at UCLA!

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/

Colors in Buddhism

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

Colors of Religion: Buddhism

The Buddha as Astute Businessman, Economist, Lawyer

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.

Buddhists protest Buddha Bar

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.

From Father to Son

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.

Indonesian Monks against Buddha Bar

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.

What would the Buddha buy?

The Buddhist Channel features an interesting article by Gary Gach, the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Buddhism and a member of the International Panel of Advisers for the Buddhist Channel.

So what would the Buddha buy? Here's what Gach has to say:

"What would the Buddha buy? Not too much, not too little. Picture him with his own reusable grocery bag slung over his shoulder, talking to a shopper about making mindful choices: “Do you really need it?” “Where does it come from?” “How will it affect the environment when you’re done?” He might have enjoyed celebrating International Buy Nothing Day on November 29 as a spiritual retreat from frantic holiday shopping (the “shopocalypse,” as Reverend Billy calls it)."

"Neither capitalism nor socialism has prevented children from starving in Somalia. We should be trying to base contentment on being, rather than having. Then the question of buying that fourth shirt or that new gizmo on display might be dwarfed by the prospect of creating more space in one’s life by donating your extra stuff. "

Chanting prayer ceremony at Bodh Gaya

Starting Monday, hundreds of Buddhist monks and practioners from all over the world gathered in Bodh Gaya for an eleven-day chanting prayer ceremony.

At the Mahabodhi temple, monks and nuns chanted from the "Tipitaka", praying for world peace and prosperity for all living beings. It is said that the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, where 250 years later, emperor Ashoka built the Mahabodhi temple.

Bodh Gaya is a city in the Indian state of Bhihar.

News Roundup

This week, there's all sorts of juicy Buddhist news out there. Here's a brief list of what's been happening:

'Buddha's skull' found in Nanjing
"Chinese archaeologists have claimed that a 1,000-year-old miniature pagoda, unearthed in Nanjing, holds a piece of skull belonging to Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism."

World Buddhist forum to be held next year
"Buddhist monks and scholars from around the world will gather at a forum in China in March next year to discuss how Buddhism can contribute to the building of a harmonious world, organizers said Sunday."

China's Xinhua publishes criticism of Dalai Lama
"China's state press Monday condemned the Dalai Lama and his followers for their "support of secession" in the first comments published in the country since Tibetan exiles decided to stick with a moderate China policy."

Thai protesters ready for "final battle"
"Thousands of anti-government protesters have gathered at Thailand's Government House for what's being called the 'final battle' against the government of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat."

Miss Tibet, a Pageant Loaded With Controversy and Drama
"The Miss Tibet pageants, seen by many as a showcase of feminine beauty, have been fraught with controversy and drama. Even though the contests take place in a drowsy Himalayan town in India -- home to the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan exiles -- the Chinese government and some Tibetan elders have pressured contestants to withdraw."

The Dalai Lama, South Park, and more...

I love it when Buddhism is featured in American pop culture, just as long as its not a ridiculously inaccurate portrayal. Here two recent examples:

Rev. Danny Fisher posts part of an episode of South Park with the Buddha in it (quite an interesting portrayal of the Buddha). While its obviously just a caricature, I'm still glad that it was included in American pop culture.

Also, the Tricycle posts an entry on a new biographical manga on the Dalai Lama! The site has a photo slideshow of clips from the manga and so far it looks great!

Termites build Buddha-shaped nests

People in Cambodia have discovered five oddly shaped termite nests in the form of a seated Buddha figures.

"The iconic insect homes appeared on the cement floor of 56-year-old Kuong Keo Ry's house near Phnom Penh, shortly before a traditional death festival held in October when she was mourning her late husband.

'I am happy that my house has been chosen. After other people and I pay respect to the Buddha shapes, we all feel content,' the widow told AFP by telephone.

She said she first became curious about the nests in October because she would sweep them away every day -- but that the wood-munching bugs would rebuild them overnight."

Colbert says Buddha isn't a god!

Stephen Colbert corrects a pastor who claims Buddha as a god. Click here for the video clip.

Buddhist pilgrimage sites

I learn something new everyday from writing this blog and here's something new about Buddhism I didn't know before. This article lists seven historically important Buddhist sites that people can visit. The image above is a picture of the first site listed on this article, Bodhgaya. It is there that the Buddha attained his enlightenment.

"India is the country where the seeds of Buddhism were first sown. It was here that Lord Buddha first propagated the doctrines of this noble religion. There are around 16 Buddhist pilgrimage sites, among which 4 deserve a special mention for their religious importance. Embarking on Buddhist tours will make you have an idea of the origin and growth of the religion in the country. Some of the renowned pilgrimage sites of Buddhism are located in the Ganges Valley in the northern part of India. It is in these places that Lord Buddha imparted his first teachings on the doctrines of Buddhism."

Oprah and enlightenment

"In just half an hour, Oprah earns enough money to buy a car."

Watch the slide show to see how much celebrities earn and what they can buy with their earnings. Though not directly Buddhist related, it's interesting to think about this (and money in general) from a Buddhist perspective. In order to reach enlightenment, the Buddha relinquished his life of luxury in the palace for a life of asceticism among monastics. I wonder if anyone nowadays would be able to sacrifice that.

Shake your Buddha!

I recently saw this t-shirt at Buffalo Exchange, a store that buys and sells used clothing, and I didn't know what to think. At first, I thought it was funny though not the most witty t-shirt I've ever seen. Then, I began to wonder what it's supposed to mean. Shake your Buddha? Obviously, the designers played off the word "booty" with "Buddha", but why? The phrase "Shake your Buddha" doesn't even make sense; the closest possible meaning I can think of is flaunting your Buddhist faith in the same way one would flaunt their "booty" when they shake it. Though that may be the meaning behind this shirt, I think I took the phrase a little too literally.

The way I see it, the only reason the designers incorporated the word and image of Buddha is because he is a pop-culture, fashion icon. One of my favorite Buddhism-related articles, "Buddhamania" featured in the LA Times, tries to make sense of modern pop-culture using the Buddha as a fashion and decorative icon. What was supposed to be an icon of an enlightened teacher revered for rediscovering and spreading Buddhism has now become a popular image completely disconnected from its religious context. So the question is, is that good? Is it disrespectful to the Buddha to wear a t-shirt that says "Shake your Buddha"?

Personally, I tend to believe that wearing a t-shirt like this one isn't disrespectful. Its message isn't meant to be crude or profane. If anything, I think it's great that icons of the Buddha are appearing more often in Western culture, even if it is out of religious context. It helps spread awareness of Buddha's existence and though there may not be any accurate historical or religious information attached to the icon, the image eventually leaves a lasting impression. The more they see the Buddha out of context, the more people will one day wonder who is the Buddha anyways and what does Buddhism teach? If there were no Buddha icons in form easily accessible to the mainstream public, such as fashion and pop culture, such thoughts and curiousity over the Buddha may never arise. If images of Buddha never appeared in Western pop culture, Amy Winehouse and the Beckhams may never have turned to Buddhism when their friends suggested it.

Though sometimes immature and shallow, popular images of the Buddha give people unfamiliar with Buddhism an early sense of distant familiarity with the religion so that they may feel more comfortable approaching it if ever necessary. I believe it is our job (as Buddhists, a Buddhist organization, the Sangha, and just anyone involved in Buddhism) to welcome those intersted in learning about Buddhism and guide them to the appropriate resources for their faith. That is what I hope we can do as the UBA.