2010 April « Rev. Danny Fisher

From August 9th to 14th, 2010, the Zen Peacemakers will be hosting “The First Symposium for Western Socially Engaged Buddhism”, in Montague, MA. It will be a gathering of leading Western activist practitioners, sponsors, and academics in this field.Throughout the coming months, we at Tricycle will be posting a series of video interviews with prominent figures from the world of Socially Engaged Buddhism, beginning with this one with Bernie Glassman, who is a pioneer of the movement, founder of the Zen Peacemaker order, and co-organizer of the symposium.

Announcement from His Holiness the 17th Karmapa’s Office of Administration – RE: Signature Campaign “Free His Holiness the Karmapa”

This from the Official Website of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje:

April 23, 2010

It has come to the attention of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa and Tsurphu Labrang (the Office of Karmapa’s Administration) that a signature campaign to a global petition, addressed to the Government of India under the heading “Free His Holiness the Karmapa”, is being circulated on the internet.

In this petition some false accusations are made. While it is true that the proposed Karmapa’s Dharma tour to Europe in mid-May was not approved, it is not correct that the Karmapa is kept under any confinement or duress in India nor is he under any harassment. Therefore, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa and Tsurphu Labrang categorically deny these unfounded accusations.

Ever since His Holiness’s arrival in India in 2000, the Karmapa has received every kindness and consideration from the Government and the people of India. He is allowed free movement throughout the country except to a few border areas.

The Karmapa and Tsurphu Labrang are grateful for all the generosity, kindness and assistance received from the people and the Government of India.

Lama Phuntsok
Director, Information & Communication
Tsurphu Labrang (HH the Karmapa’s Office of Administration)
Camp: Gyuto Tantrac University, Dharamshala, H.P.
India

The Daily Show on Religion and Comedy

Via our bud and Shambhala Sun Space editor Rod Meade Sperry at The Worst Horse:

Today’s dharma quote is from the Vidyādhara, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche (1939-1987), whom I first quoted and wrote a little bio for here. The hat must be tipped once again to the Chronicles of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, which always offers great quotes from the Vidyādhara:

It seems that a feeling of basic guilt has been passed down from one generation to another and pervades many aspects of Western life. For example, teachers often think that if children do not feel guilty, then they won’t study properly and consequently won’t develop as they should. Therefore, many teachers feel that they have to do something to push the child, and guilt seems to be one of the chief techniques they use. This occurs even on the level of improving reading and writing. The teacher looks for errors: “Look, you made a mistake. What you are going to do about it?” From the child’s point of view, learning is then based on trying not to make mistakes, on trying to prove you actually are not bad. It is entirely different when you approach the child more positively: “Look how much you have improved; therefore we can go further.” In the latter case, learning becomes an expression of one’s wholesomeness and innate intelligence.