(L-R) Philip Glass and Robert Thurman at the 2010 Tibet House benefit at Carnegie Hall. Photo by Richard Perry for The New York Times.
The New York Times reports on last night’s annual Tibet House US benefit at Carnegie Hall. Take a look.
Via the Won Institute:
Conference on Asian Buddhism
28 March 20109 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
The Won Institute offers a premiere conference on the American Adaption of Asian Buddhism: A day of presentations and discussions led by distinguished Buddhist scholars, including:
Kenneth Kraft, author of The Wheel of Engaged Buddhism
Paul Numrich, author of North American Buddhism in Social Context
Robert Buswell, author of Zen Monasticism in Contemporary Korea
Glenn Wallis, author of Basic Teachings of the Buddha
Issues that will be addressed include:
What challenges does Asian Buddhism face and how does each order respond to those challenges?
How Won Buddhism and other Asian Buddhist orders can create a collaborative effort to root Asian Buddhism in the United States.
Contact: Dr. Bokin Kim, Academic Dean, Won Institute of Graduate Studies (www.woninstitute.edu), 137 Easton Rd. S, Glenside, PA 19038, (215) 884-8942.
This via Arun at Angry Asian Buddhist: HBO is looking for Asian Americans to share their story…
So do you have a story to tell about your experience as an Asian American? Can you tell the story on camera? Your story could be funny or inspirational or touching. It could be about your grandmother or your education or your favorite food. It could be your immigration story, your family’s unique approach to holidays, your job. As long as it’s real and as long as it’s uniquely you.
As an example, we currently have a story of a Korean kid who was adopted into an Italian family in Pennsylvania. He grew up 100% culturally Italian while looking very Korean to his peers. He won the outstanding Italian American scholarship for college and accepted the award in front of a room full of confused old Italians. Hilarity ensues and lessons are learned.
We also have a story of a grandfather who came to America from China. He couldn’t read the menu at McDonalds but was hungry as hell. All he could read were the words “Happy” and “Meal” so that’s what he ordered. He still cherishes the toy he received on that day.
We want a wide range of stories about how being Asian in America has shaped you in some way. We can also explore issues such as Asian fetishes and why Asians seemingly love break dancing and rap (I’m learning a lot about that one). And it would be great to hear from some folks who left a lot behind to come here and do not regret their decisions one bit. But most of all we want to show strength and color from all ages, demographics and backgrounds.
Email asianheritageproject@gmail.com with your story and a little about your background and we will be in touch. And if you’re camera shy (or if this isn’t relevant to you) but know someone who is amazing, who is a great storyteller (maybe it’s your uncle, maybe it’s your best friend growing up), let them know. Spread the word.
I am looking for all Asian nationalities (East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia). Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Vietnamese, Laotian, Hmong, Sri Lankan, Thai, Malaysian, Cambodian, etc. etc. (the list is endless). I am also looking for Bi-Racial folks, Adoptees, Transplants (Asian Americans from non-Asian countries – Brazil, Argentina, UK etc), Gay and Lesbian, 1st Generation, 2nd Generation, 3rd Generation, etc.
Religious or non-religious (Buddhist, Christian, Catholic, Shinto, Muslim, Hindu, Jain, Judaism, and others). Individuals who embrace or question their “Asian Heritage/Identity.” All ages, all incomes and all genders.
Today’s dharma quote is yet another from the Vidyādhara, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche (1939-1987), whom I first quoted and wrote a little bio for here. It comes to us courtesy of Jon Rubinstein, and is from Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior, pg. 53,
Look. This is your world! You can’t not look. There is no other world. This is your world; it is your feast. You inherited this; you inherited these eyeballs; you inherited this world of color. Look at the greatness of the whole thing. Look! Don’t hesitate – look! Open your eyes. Don’t blink, and look, look – look further.
Today’s quote comes to us from the great Tibetan saint Jetsun Milarepa (1052-1135), whom I previously quoted and wrote a little biography for here. This is it:
My religion is to live and die without regret.
