Welcome to our series of conversations with participating speakers at this year’s Tung Lin Kok Yuen International Conference – Buddhist Canons: In Search of a Theoretical Foundation for a Wisdom-oriented Education (27–28 November 2021). In each blog post, I speak with keynote speakers and paper presenters about their subject at this conference. Register for this […]
Raymond Lam
The Collective Buddhist Studies Manifesto: New Challenges, New Voices
After the havoc of COVID-19 (which has not technically ended) and renewed self-reflection by many in the field of Buddhist Studies after 2020, there is a new mood in many scholarly communities that I am in contact with. There is a sense that Buddhist Studies needs rethinking and reforming if it is to make progress […]
Buddhist Canons: In Search of a Theoretical Foundation for a Wisdom-oriented Education
There is a sea change coming to Buddhist Studies. The precarious state of the world, which is riven by environmental crises, deepening geopolitical fault lines, and social turmoil in democratic countries, means that Buddhist Studies scholars are increasingly keen to teach and research through a lens quite different to past conceptions of Buddhist academia. Philosophy […]
A Lion: Mr. Shakti Sinha, Director General of International Buddhist Confederation
A core figure in India’s largest Buddhist organization has departed. Mr. Shakti Sinha (b. 1957) passed away on Monday at the age of 64. He was director general of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), second in seniority only to Ven. Dr. Dhammapiya, the secretary general. Beyond his immediate contact with the Buddhist community, Shakti Sinha was […]
In a milestone for Buddhist film, “Carving the Divine” is coming to Raindance
It is no secret that the film industry is going through an accelerated evolution. What should always remain at the core of the debate, however, is quality content. I find it very heartening that Yujiro Seki’s Carving the Divine, one of the most original Buddhist-themed films to have come out in recent years, will be […]
“The Extraordinary Life of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama: An Illuminated Journey”
“As I have often said, I am a simple Buddhist monk. Nothing more, nothing less.” This is a famous catchphrase by His Holiness, which had it been from the lips of anyone less than a holy figure, would probably have turned into a meme on social media a long time ago. In more world-weary eyes, […]
Prime minister Modi and President Kovind take Asadha Poornima 2021 Online
Highlighting its enduring presence among the Indian Buddhist community since 2011, on 24 July the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) hosted this year’s Asadha Poornima over YouTube and Facebook Live, bringing together Buddhist leaders and supporters of the Buddhist tradition from around the world. Asadha Poornima is otherwise known as Dharma Chakra Day, and commemorates the […]
Healing the World with Thangtong Gyalpo’s Prayer
Since 1 August 2020, Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) Sangha have been coming together as a global community reciting “Thangtong Gyalpo’s Prayer” to reduce the suffering caused by the COVID pandemic. This 1 August marks its first year – a milestone that the founders themselves would have preferred not to reach. […]
Tony Miller’s “The Missing Buddhas”
“In the absence of any government restrictions, China’s Gods have become a lively trade article.” Friedrich Perzynski, Hunt for the Gods (1913) In the early days of the Republic of China, a unique group of sixteen Buddhist sculptures called the “Yixian Luohans” (luohan means arahat in Chinese) appeared on the embryonic market of Chinese art. […]
Celebrating Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche’s 60th birthday
Happy birthday, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche! You are the exquisite and peerless flower of heaven (tshangs pa lha’i me tog). Your arrival on this day, 18th of June, sixty years ago have revealed the truth of non-duality that aims to cut through our confused state of mind. Your immaculate speech is not separate from Lord […]