Arun at Angry Asian Buddhist is all over it. Don’t miss his blog this month.
In addition, yesterday he conglomerated links to posts from across the Buddhist blogosphere regarding the occasion. Take a look!
Today’s quote is from Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, abbot of the Bhavana Society in High View, WV, and author of the hugely popular Mindfulness in Plain English. This is it:
Don’t cling to anything and don’t reject anything. Let come what comes, and accomodate yourself to that, whatever it is. If good mental images arise, that is fine. If bad mental images arise, that is fine, too. Look on all of it as equal, and make yourself comfortable with whatever happens. Don’t fight with what you experience, just observe it all mindfully.
This from our friend and past interviewee Erick D. White: Seth Kane’s reflection on Buddhism and current Thai politics in Asia Times Online. Here’s a snippet:
Thailand’s community of Buddhist monks, the Sangha, has traditionally occupied a ubiquitous and hallowed place in Thai society. However, globalization and decades of rapid economic development have challenged the Sangha’s traditional position, seen in its dwindling membership, plethora of scandals and diminished role as educators and conflict resolvers.
The country’s current political divide has further strained the Sangha, exposing rifts and presenting hard dilemmas for an institution that is in many ways struggling to adapt to modern Thai society. Increasingly, Thailand’s Buddhist monks face a stark trade-off: risk further marginalization by remaining on the sidelines of entrenched political conflict or wade into the struggle in a way that could compromise their transcendental legitimacy.
Erick and I addressed some of the goings-on in Thailand in a past “On the Buddhism Beat” post for Shambhala Sun Space. Take a look here.
Image via the AP.
Mary Beth Markey, President of The International Campaign for Tibet, considers the possibility in an editorial for The Wall Street Journal today. Check it out.
