Buddhist horror film: Mantra

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.

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“Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian”

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.”

64 for Aung San Suu Kyi

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^th Birthday, 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

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.

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.

Facebook the Thai Temple!

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.

Buddhist Superhero Movie

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."

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Buddhism and Journalism

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.