Frederik L. Schodt’s “My Heart Sutra: A World in 260 Characters”

The pithy Heart Sutra is celebrated as perhaps the most profound Mahayana Buddhist scripture that remains relatively famous and accessible, frequently appearing not just onstage at pop stars’ concerts in China but also referenced in East Asian films and Japanese manga. For forty years, this Buddhist text has hung on the bedroom wall of Frederik […]

Budding Buddha: A Conversation with Artist James Stanford

James Stanford, “Budding Buddha.” From artfixdaily.com James Stanford is a longtime Buddhist artist with a distinct aesthetic and inspiration. Last November, he donated his “Budding Buddha” art to the Art for Tibet exhibit and auction at Gallery Eight in New York, which was organized by Students for a Free Tibet. Can you describe a bit your background in […]

Woodenfish and Shenzhen: Building Networks with Researchers in Buddhism and Science

On 22 August,  I travelled with my wife from Hong Kong to Shenzhen in Mainland China to present a paper at a conference titled, Buddhism, Science, and Future: Brain Science and Mental Well-Being. The Woodenfish Foundation, an international Buddhist educational NGO, organized this conference at the Interlaken OCT Hotel Shenzhen from 23–24 August. Woodenfish was an […]

Kumarajiva Project: A 60-year Tibetan-Chinese Translation Initiative from Khyentse Foundation

Statue of Kumarajiva outside the Kizil Caves. From China Discovery There are two “buzzwords” in the Buddhist world today. One is obviously mindfulness and has dominated contemporary discourse for decades. The other is translation, and despite being overshadowed by mindfulness to some extent actually remains one of the most important activities of the global Buddhist […]

Sitatapatra: Goddess of Protection from Evil Forces

Sitatapatra with one face and two hands. From liveinternet.ru Sitatapatra (Tib. Dugkarmo) is a goddess of protection from supernatural dangers such as demons and any other harmful influences. Her name means “White Parasol” and she is perceived as a wrathful aspect of the bodhisattva of compassion Avalokiteshvara (Tib. Chenrezig). As an embodiment of one of […]

Resolutions of Character

“Resolution” has several meanings. The commonly held definition, particularly at the turn of each New Year, is the idea of committing to doing something differently, to improve oneself. Yet people often forget the other definition that needs to accompany this kind of resolution: the resolution denoting a strong will, the idea of perseverance and tenacity. […]