It’s the rawest of sensitive matters, the heaviest of historical burdens. I am referring to the shadow of past pain, bloodshed, and war crimes inflicted by Japan against China during the Pacific War that raged from 1937 until 1945. Yet behind the scenes of turbulent political relations and unhealed wounds, influential Buddhist forces in China […]
Raymond Lam
The Calling of Buddhist Dialogue with the Other
Today I wish to celebrate Vesak with an interfaith twist. It’s a public holiday here in sunny, hot Hong Kong, but tomorrow Buddhistdoor Global will be attending an Iftar dinner held by the city’s Muslim community, with guests from the Christian, Baha’i, and Confucian communities. I believe deeply in the maxim of comparative theology (you […]
Old Man Bai
Original story in Chinese by Prof. Lee Chack-fan; retold by Raymond Lam No one knew Old Man Bai’s given name. Nor did he actually turn up to this year’s graduation ceremony, so it was all a bit awkward when it was his turn to be honored by the school assembly. Draped in his fancy academic […]
The Forever Beggar
Original story in Chinese by Prof. Lee Chack-fan; retold by Raymond Lam There is a bustling street somewhere, far removed from our eyes and limited perceptions. Beside this road stand cafés that never close their doors and shops that stay open even when their owners have long since moved on. Spirits—strange things we don’t quite […]
Your True Face
Original story in Chinese by Prof. Lee Chack-fan; retold by Raymond Lam Abel Dubois liked taking his Lamborghini to Pierre’s Car Repairs. He would sometimes stop there, on the outskirts of Paris, before driving into his favorite nightclub district on hilly Montmartre. The service was crisp and efficient, his car always emerged as if it […]
Into the Dharmadhatu: China, India, and Asia’s Buddhist Destiny
At a recent meeting with Buddhistdoor Global, British-born Lokamitra, who has long been involved in Indian (particularly Dalit) affairs since the 1970s, ended his presentation on his institute, Nagaloka Centre in Nagpur, with an observation: “The future of the world will be strongly influenced by relations between India and China. The Buddhist connection can contribute […]
The Sheep Thief and the Saint
Original story in Chinese by Prof. Lee Chack-fan; retold by Raymond Lam In Old Scotland, from a century long past… “That shall teach you to steal sheep from Mister Dunn again, scummy ingrates!” bellowed three burly men. They grabbed William and Christopher and threw them out of the sweltering blacksmith’s. The brothers wailed in pain, writhing on […]
Terry’s Candies
Original story in Chinese by Prof. Lee Chack-fan; retold by Raymond Lam No student in their right mind wanted to have to see Mr. Tao at lunchtime. The uniformed boy shuffled his leather shoes nervously in the principal’s office, the clock’s arms inching right at a tortuously slow pace. There was a small chair, but […]
Landscapes of the Heart
Buddhistdoor Global presents Landscapes of the Heart, a series of Buddhist themed short stories on Tea House, Buddhistdoor Global’s webzine. This collection features stories originally written in Chinese-language anthologies by emeritus professor Lee Chack-fan, director of the Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole at The University of Hong Kong. Now retold in English prose by Buddhistdoor Global […]
Kelaniya University: Looking East
I’ve long admired the monk and academic Prof. Ven. Dhammajoti, who founded the Buddha-Dharma Centre of Hong Kong, in the heart of Shek Tong Tsui near Kennedy Town. I like to call BDC one of the “big four” institutes of Buddhist Studies in our city: there’s the Centre of Buddhist Studies at The University of […]