Rev. Danny Fisher

Just a Buddhist Minister Trying to Benefit Beings
April 21, 2008

Religion & Ethics Newsweekly: Army Chaplain Boot Camp

Religion & Ethics Newsweekly recently did a story about “an army boot camp for chaplains where they learn to carry out their ministry within the military culture.” This boot camp is the US Army Chaplain Center and School (USACHCS) at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Correspondent Saul Gonzalez reports. Check it out to learn a bit more about military chaplaincy.

At present, there are no active duty Buddhist chaplains in the U.S. Army. (In the whole of the U.S. Armed Forces, there is only one active duty Buddhist chaplain: Navy chaplain Lt. Jeanette Shin, CHC, USN, who many readers will know from her terrific site Buddhist Military Sangha.) There is, however, one Buddhist chaplain candidate in the U.S. Army: my friend Rev. Somya Malasri. I recently did an interview with Somya that I will post on the blog soon. Keep your eyes peeled for that.

April 21, 2008

Items on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s U.S. Visit

I recently posted a video report from the Associated Press about His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s address to 15,000 in Seattle. Beyond that, though, I haven’t really touched on His Holiness’ visit stateside. Below are some stories about his travels here that I have been reading:

  • First of all, don’t miss the Minneapolis Star Tribune‘s wonderful coverage of His Holiness’ visit to the Mayo Clinic. Especially fantastic are their video clips of His Holiness’ comments–he offers a hilariously deadpan explanation of why he actually came to the historic medical center that gets a huge burst of laughter from the audience.
  • The Ann Arbor News offers a terrific write-up about Buddhist monks and nuns who came from great distances to see His Holiness at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor. (Some came from as far away as England!)
  • The Associated Press has a good write-up about His Holiness’ comments to the Ann Arbor crowd about other religions and interfaith relations. As a chaplain, one of the things I love about His Holiness is his emphasis on people practicing (or not) whatever works best for them–he celebrates different means (religious paths) to similar ends (developing kindness and compassion). As one observer puts it in the article, “The most valuable thing for me was that he said there are so many (religious) traditions leading to the same self-improvement, but we need to allow people to follow the tradition that’s most effective for them.”
  • Those interested in Buddhism and the arts will want to take a look at the Detroit Free Press‘ coverage of an event at Ann Arbor’s Jewel Heart Center involving Kyabje Gelek Rimpoche, Richard Gere, Philip Glass (who I blogged about yesterday), and Bobby McFerrin. The four discussed the influence of Buddhist practice on their respective arts. The article recounts a funny moment, when an audience member shouted that he or she wanted to see Rimpoche dance. This caused Gere to quip, “Believe me, you don’t want to see that.”
  • Finally, the Ann Arbor News reports in detail on the pro-China demonstrations in front of Crisler Arena during His Holiness’ talk.

    • April 21, 2008

    The Latest from Erick

    Here are three stories sent in by our staff anthropologist Erick today:

  • He dubs this New York Times piece on the opening of Beijing’s first museum exclusively dedicated to the party’s official line on Tibet as “an interesting piece on conflicting historiography.”
  • Erick also sends us another story from the Times, this one about the sentiments of pro-China demonstrators.
  • Finally, he sends in this International Herald Tribune piece about the efforts of the French to “limit the fallout” of the protests there.

    • Follow

    Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

    Join 45 other followers