Good morning! Two tech companies in China have been brought on board to upgrade Xian’er, a robot monk who can follow simple instructions, recite scriptures, and play Buddhist music, with a more modern feature set. Xian’er is the diminutive robotic member of Longquan monastery’s sangha in the outskirts of Beijing. He became an instant hit following […]
Justin Whitaker
The Pitfall of Moral Outrage
Lately, a discussion I have had among many friends, both online and off, has been about how deeply engaged in the world we can be as Buddhists. Did the Buddha espouse a philosophy of world-denial and escape? Or was his teaching aimed at creating greater engagement through understanding and compassion? Over the last couple years, […]
A Ladybug on Carpet: Lessons on Ignorance and Responsibility
Almost every week I go to a Zen meditation group near my apartment. This group meets in the beautiful sanctuary of a large Unitarian Universalist church. Our small handful of practitioners, usually 5-10, join in a circle just in front of the main stage. We chant a liturgy, meditate, walk, meditate, and then have tea […]
Dharma Dispatch, 16-27 April 2018: Prayers on the Korean Peninsula, Chinese IPOs, and Ambedkar Memorial
Good morning! Before the landmark meeting between South Korean president Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which led to the official ending of the Korean War, Buddhist organizations met in South Korea to pray for peace, stability, and unification on the Korean Peninsula. On 12 April, 400 Buddhist nuns from 12 countries, including South […]
Dharma Dispatch, 2-11 April 2018: World Buddhist Forum, Vajrayana International Center, and Plastic-free Supermarkets
Good morning! The China Religious Culture Communication Association (CRCCA) has announced that the fifth session of the World Buddhist Forum will be held at the coastal city of Putian, in China’s Fujian province. The announcement was made by Chen Zongrong, vice chairman of the CRCCA, at a press conference, on 8 April in Beijing. Several senior […]
Dharma Dispatch, 26-30 March 2018: Bhutan, Xuanzang’s Translations, and Celebrations in Kolkata
Good morning! The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is hosting the second international Vajrayana Conference in the capital Thimphu. The three-day Buddhist conference opened on Tuesday and ran from 28–30 March. The event offered practitioners, researchers, and academics from around the world a platform upon which to share and exchange their research, findings, and experiences related to Vajrayana […]
Dharma Dispatch, 12-17 March 2018: Sri Lankan Conflict, International Women’s Day, FGS Celebrations
Good morning! We start with some encouraging news amidst a sad backdrop of religious and ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. Buddhist monks and activists gathered in their hundreds on the streets of Colombo on Friday to protest violence between Buddhists and Muslims. The protesting monks were joined by activists that included academics, artists, and representatives of civil society […]
Dharma Dispatch, 5-9 March 2018: New BDG Newsroom, Venice and Dunhuang, Abuse in Shambhala
Good morning! Buddhistdoor Global has moved offices from its temple base of Wang Fat Ching She to a new newsroom address. Administered by the charitable organization Tung Lin Kok Yuen since 1960, Wang Fat Ching She was built in 1938 and is a unique structure among the Hong Kong Buddhist community. Do feel free to contact or visit us at […]
Activism and Reflection: Finding the Middle Way
These certainly are trying times for any person alive to the suffering of others. We read about new stories of respected teachers abusing their power, new waves of bombings in Syria, a new school shooting in Florida, new worries about global warming, new concerns about the fragility of democracy and human rights in much of […]
Bodhisattva Vows as Liberation Theology
I was raised in what I consider to have been a very “liberal” Catholic household. Outside our evening “grace” before dinner and weekly church service, God and religion were rarely discussed. When I was of confirmation age, I was given the option to go forward or not. I chose not. Fast-forward through the nearly 25 […]