Rev. Danny Fisher

In my recent posting for MahaSangha News about the 30th Anniversary Reunion of Antioch Education Abroad’s Buddhist Studies in India Program, I mentioned that one of the activities included a screening of a short documentary entitled Dhamma Dana. Made by Theodore Martland (a program alumnus from just last year), the film documents Buddhist monastic life in Burma, and is full of striking images.

Teddy is selling copies of the DVD at his website for $12.82, and 100% of the profits will go to benefit the good work of our mutual friends Sister Molini and Sister Dhammavijaya at the Dhamma Moli Project. The Dhamma Moli Project, which is based in Nepal, provides shelter and education to young Nepalese girls who are at risk of falling victim to the South Asian sex trade or other forms of exploitation.

Buy a copy of Teddy’s film here, and take a look at the trailer and a clip below.

Image via Reuters.
Here’s the latest on what’s happening in Burma, especially with regards to the junta’s sham-military trial of Nobel Peace laureate and Prime Minister-elect Daw Aung San Suu Kyi:

I’ve posted a bit recently about Episcopal priest and Zen practitioner Kevin Thew Forrester’s possible ordination as a bishop, and the controversy surrounding his selection. The Episcopal News Service has the latest:

While some unofficial tallies show that Kevin Thew Forrester will not receive the canonically required consents to his ordination as bishop of the Diocese of Northern Michigan, he said June 5 that he and the diocese will “respect” the entire 120-day consent period.

“I continue to respect that 120 days,” Thew Forrester told ENS. “The process has a wisdom and integrity of its own. The diocese and I have respected that all the way through and will continue to do that. When the process concludes, I will have something more to say.”

Thew Forrester, chosen during a special convention on February 21 to succeed James Kelsey who died in June, 2007, has come under intense scrutiny since his election.

Initially, concern centered on Thew Forrester’s status as the only candidate at the convention and the question of whether his practice of Zen Buddhist meditation has diluted his commitment to the Christian faith, making him unsuitable to serve as a bishop. That attention led to the internet publication of some of Thew Forrester’s sermons and writings along with a revision he made to the Episcopal Church’s baptismal liturgy, raising further concern among some about his theology.

Under the canons of the Episcopal Church (III.11.4 (a)) that apply for all episcopal elections, a majority of bishops exercising jurisdiction and diocesan standing committees must consent to Thew Forrester’s ordination as bishop within 120 days from the day after notice of his election was sent to them. In Thew Forrester’s case, standing committees have until July 19 and bishops with jurisdiction have until July 25.

[Image via Episcopal Life Online. "The Rev. Kevin Thew Forrester."]