Rev. Danny Fisher

A few days ago, I attempted to start a viral campaign of people reading the Metta Sutta in response to efforts by Burma’s ruling military junta to keep monastics from chanting it at least one large monastery. I have been pleased with the response so far.

There have been kind shout-outs from Shambhala Sun Space, Go Beyond Words: Wisdom Publications’ Buddhist Blog, Barbara’s Buddhism Blog, Progressive Buddhism, the Amida Trust, and others.

In addition, there have been videos created by the great Nate DeMontigny of Precious Metal, my old pal Nick Vail at 2nd Wave American Buddhism, and the estimable Bodhipaksa of Bodhi Tree Swaying and Wildmind Buddhist Meditation (all embedded below).

On the other end of the spectrum, the idea has also received critiques from Arun at Angry Asian Buddhist.

I hope there will be more interest in contributing this effort. For ideas about getting started, check out my original post.

I received an email today from the Rev. Tom Gilbert, asking me if I knew what was going on with Plum Village’s website.

Plum Village (or, in Vietnamese, Làng Mai), of course, is the well-known Buddhist meditation center in the south of France founded by the Very Venerable Thích Nhất Hạnh and Bhikkhuni Chân Không in 1982.

As Rev. Gilbert let me know in his email, Googling “Plum Village” and then clicking on the link to its official website right now results in a warning that indicates accessing the site would be “harmful for your computer.” (Simply typing the URL into your browser, though, takes you there without incident.)

Rev. Gilbert wondered, and so do I, if this has anything to do with the recent trouble at Bat Nha Monastery in Vietnam, where several members of Thich Nhat Hanh’s Order of Interbeing have been staying.

Here’s the story very quickly: The monastery itself is not affiliated with Nhat Hanh’s movement, but rather the official Buddhist Church of Vietnam. Following Nhat Hanh’s return to his homeland in 2005, the abbot at Bat Nha invited Order of Interbeing members to study and teach at the temple. The Order spent upwards of $1 million on new land and buildings at the monastery so that they might have appropriate space to do their work and not interfere with the other trainings taking place at Bat Nha. Then, presumably upset with some of Nhat Hanh’s outspokeness on several hot-button political issues, local authorities cut off water, electricity, and telephones to the group. Then things turned violent. International concerns about religious freedom have long confronted the Vietnamese leaders, who responded to criticism about the situation at Bat Nha Monastery, saying they only want to “manage” Nhat Hanh’s community, not “control” it.

Anyway, this may or may not have anything to do with what’s going on with Plum Village’s website. Anybody have any information?

The wonderful EdaMommy at Budding Buddhist points us to the news that the Taiwanese Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation has mobilized 10,000 of its members to help with Typhoon Morakot relief efforts. Here’s a press release:

Relief for Victims of Typhoon Morakot:
Over ten thousand Tzu Chi volunteers mobilize immediately to provide disaster relief

Hualien, Taiwan – Severe flooding and damage caused by Typhoon Morakot in Southern Taiwan since August 7 have left many residents hungry and homeless.

In response, Tzu Chi volunteers residing in disaster areas have offered 170,000 hot meals to their affected communities. Tzu Chi volunteers continue relief efforts, providing relief kits as well assistance through emergency cash assistance, medical care, cleaning, and care.

Each relief kit contains a towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, and instant rice or noodles to meet the daily needs of affected residents. On August 10, three thousand relief kits were distributed in Kaoshiung area alone.
Tzu Chi volunteers offer comprehensive care for affected residents. In response to the different circumstances for each affected household, Tzu Chi has provided emergency cash, ranging from NT$5,000 to NT$10,000, per household. For vulnerable families, Tzu Chi will continue to provide medium- and long-term care and financial assistance based on further assessment. Tzu Chi will also distribute 50,000 eco-friendly blankets (made from recycled plastic bottles) to affected families during home visits.

All Tzu Chi Hospitals of Taiwan and Tzu Chi medical volunteers have begun to provide free medical assistance in disaster areas. Medical personnel from Guanshan Tzu Chi General Hospital in Taitung have provided free on-site medical care in Taimali. Guanshan Tzu Chi General Hospital has set up temporary medical stations at Tzu Chi’s recycling stations in the Taimali area, with doctors on-site over August 10-14. In addition to seeing patients at medical stations, doctors have traveled to local shelters to provide assistance.

According to one medical doctor volunteer, most common conditions include common colds, body aches and chronic diseases, as well as post-traumatic stress. Doctors and medical personnel will continue to follow Tzu Chi volunteers to provide aid and care as long as needed.

On August 9, Tzu Chi headquarters in Hualien prepared 16,000 kg of instant rice and noodles to be delivered to Pingtung, Kaoshiung and Tainan. Each portion of instant rice and noodles are presented in an eco-friendly bowl. For the first two days after the typhoon, Tzu Chi volunteers delivered hot meals to needy households. Once the water recedes, Tzu Chi volunteers will demonstrate how to prepare instant rice and instant noodles at home to affected residents, in order to free more volunteers to help clean homes in the community. Tzu Chi volunteers has started clean up homes in the following areas: Dong Gang (Pingtung), Ren De, Shan Hua and Yong Kang (in Tainan).

Each household that received aid from Tzu Chi has also received a letter from Master Cheng Yen, the founder of Tzu Chi Foundation. In the letter, Master Cheng Yen and Tzu Chi volunteers from around the world expressed deep concern and offered them heartfelt wishes and blessings. Master Cheng Yen prays that affected residents will recover quickly and safely from this disaster, and that all people will continue to help one another physically and emotionally and to rebuild homes. In addition, Master Cheng Yen continues to urge all to love all sentient beings and to protect our environment.

Donation information
Institution: Taiwan Post
Account name: Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation
Account number: 06887791
For more information, please contact Grace Chen at 0970-333-735 (Taiwan).

I was touched and honored to be included by Kyle among his own personal list of the “Twelve Best Buddhist Blogs by Individual Practitioners” at Progressive Buddhism. Take a look at his picks–company I’m further flattered to be listed with.

The Denver Post writes that “Buddhism is not only accepted as a mainstream American religion, it is a path increasingly trod by faithful Christians and Jews who infuse Eastern spiritual insights and practices such as meditation into their own religions.” Some of my old friends from Naropa University are interviewed. Take a look.