Buddhism
In remote Himalayan India, Buddhist monks and Indigenous tribe fight government hydropower projects
By Priyadarshini Sen — October 14, 2021
(RNS) — The Buddhist monks have united with the nomadic Monpa to protest projects that could destroy the monasteries, hot springs and temples that dot the snow-capped Himalayan region.
China pushes adoption of language, cultural symbols in Tibet
By Associated Press — August 19, 2021
BEIJING (AP) — A top Chinese official said Thursday that 'all-round efforts' are needed to ensure Tibetans speak standard spoken and written Chinese and share the 'cultural symbols and images of the Chinese nation.'
There’s a religious revival going on in China — under the constant watch of the Communist Party
By Mario Poceski — August 9, 2021
(The Conversation) — President Xi Jinping’s nationalist agenda includes supporting traditional Chinese religious beliefs and practices – as long as their leaders support the Chinese Communist Party.
Teachers turn to mindfulness after a stressful pandemic year
By Megan Sweas — July 22, 2021
(RNS) — After a challenging year, mindfulness practice, based in Buddhism, is helping teachers maintain compassion for his students — and themselves.
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama celebrates 86th birthday
By Associated Press — July 6, 2021
DHARMSALA, India (AP) — The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama celebrated his 86th birthday on Tuesday, thanking his supporters and expressing his appreciation to India, where he has lived since he fled his homeland in 1959. “I want to express my deep appreciation of all my friends who have really shown me love, respect […]
Lack of burial space is changing age-old funeral practices, and in Japan ‘tree burials’ are gaining in popularity
By Natasha Mikles — June 9, 2021
(The Conversation) — In a Japanese tree burial, cremated remains are placed in the ground and a tree is planted over the ashes to mark the gravesite. Environmental responsibility is part of Buddhism.
‘We’ve been here all along’: Author pushes back against erasure of young Asian American Buddhists
By Alejandra Molina — June 3, 2021
(RNS) — In her debut book, ‘Be the Refuge,’ author and former Buddhist chaplain Chenxing Han asks: ‘Where are all the young adult Asian American Buddhists, and what can we learn from them?’
In ‘The Salvage Crew,’ a Buddhist AI poet seeks aliens and enlightenment
By Bob Smietana — February 17, 2021
(RNS) — Yudhanjaya Wijeratne's new novel was created with the help of an AI poet and a few computer programs — and explores his love of poetry and his Buddhist background.
Buddhist temple attacks rise as COVID-19 amplifies anti-Asian American bias
By Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil — December 10, 2020
(RNS) — Incidents have included vandalism of temples and Buddhist statues outside private homes, as well as verbal harassment of Asian Americans at their houses of worship.
Dying ‘the Buddhist way’ gains in hospice centers in the West
By Ken Chitwood — November 12, 2020
(RNS) — The emergence of Buddhist-oriented hospices in the U.S. and elsewhere is said to show a dissatisfaction with conventional Western views of life and death.
Stressed by COVID, online seekers discover Buddhism’s calming practice
By Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil — November 10, 2020
(RNS) — Buddhist teachings about suffering and the impermanence of all things, many find, have particular relevance in this moment.
Why ‘namaste’ has become the perfect pandemic greeting
By Jeremy David Engels — October 1, 2020
(The Conversation) — As people the world over are choosing to ditch the handshakes and hugs for fear of contracting the coronavirus, namaste is becoming the perfect pandemic greeting.
Buddhist monks have reversed roles in Thailand – now they are the ones donating goods to others
By Brooke Schedneck — August 7, 2020
(RNS) — As a result of the pandemic, Buddhist monks in Thailand are increasingly providing material goods, such as hot meals and nonperishable items, for laypeople – thereby reversing roles within this moral economy.
My spiritual path through the COVID-19 darkness
By Kalpana Jain — July 21, 2020
(RNS) — The medical system had done all that it could for me. Now I had to listen to my body and have faith in its wisdom.
Young Japan priests try to breathe life into fading Buddhism
By Malcolm Foster — June 12, 2020
TOKYO (AP) — Buddhist leaders say a third of the country’s 75,000 temples are barely functioning, but a younger generation of priests is working to reverse the faith’s downward spiral.
