Japan (CHAKRA) — After a four year interval, the Asian Buddhist Film Festival (ABFF) returns and this time around a portion of its proceeds are set to go to Japan earthquake and tsunami victims. Ambassador K. Kesavapany, director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) said that helping people is in line with Buddhist […]
Preservation of Buddhist Sites is Made Priority by the Gujarat Government
Ahmedabad, Gujarat (CHAKRA) – The BJP government of Gujarat has prioritized its efforts to preserve sites that are going to be apart of the Buddhist tourism circuit in the Central Gujarat region. The tourists sites are going to include the caves of Saurashtra as well as the remains of the Buddhist monastery. The Archaeological Survey of […]
Buddhism Conference to be Held in Kandy
(CHAKRA) In March, India will hold an international Buddhism conference in Kandy to celebrate the 2600th year of Lord Buddha’s enlightenment. A meeting was held between a visiting Lok Sabha Speaker, Meira Kumar and President Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss the upcoming conference as well as the commissioning of the 16-feet high Buddha statue of Lord […]
Deadly Shooting of Five Buddhists in Thailand by Militants
By Tan Ong Buddhist villagers sit next to the dead bodies of their relatives in Pattani Thailand on Feb 3, 2011 Pattani, Thailand (CHAKRA) — In the Southern part of Thailand, five Buddhists have been shot and killed because of an ongoing conflict of many years between the government and Malay Muslims. Thailand is a majority […]
Arsonists Blamed for Fire at the Construction Site of Buddhist Temple in Turku
By Tan Ong Turku, Finland Turku, Finland (CHAKRA) – A fire thought to be set out deliberately, almost destroyed a Buddhist Temple under construction in Turku last Saturday. The fire was started at about 2:00 AM and is thought to be set deliberately. Deputy Chairman of Finland’s Vietnamese Buddhist community, Ari Vuokko, said that they […]
Buddhist Princess of Halifax, Canada
By Karishma Patel Halifax Citadel and Skyline Halifax, Nova Scotia (CHAKRA) – A new Buddhist Princess has been born in Halifax causing the Shambhala Buddhist community to celebrate. The Shambhala website recently announced the birth of Drukmo Yeshe Sarasvati Ziji Mukpo. Mother, Sakyong Wangmo Khandro Tseyang and father, Sakyong Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche happily carried her for […]
Representative of Eastern Religion for UN Secretary-General Post Next Time?
Using the principal of geographical rotation, every ten or so years the post of UN Secretary-General is given to individuals from various continents. Each candidate is usually kept for two terms of five years each. The individual selected has a duty and responsibility to represent the people of his/her continent by sharing the beliefs or values […]
Buddhist Woodblocks May Gain UNESCO Heritage Recognition
Vietnam (CHAKRA) – After being recognized last year, The Truc Lam Zen Buddhist Prayer Woodblocks located in northern Vietnam have been submitted for an opportunity to be recognized for the UNESCO World Documentary Heritage. The Woodblocks are part of the Nguyen Dynasty. The Truc Lam Blocks origins are from the Vinh Nghiem Pagoda which follows […]
Attack in Thailand Kills 6 Buddhist Villagers and Injures 10
By Tan Ong A Buddhist villager in southern Thailand was found slaughtered by suspected Islamic militants Narathiwat, Thailand (CHAKRA) – In Thailand’s South, six people were shot dead and ten police officers were wounded by a roadside bombs during the latest attack by militants. Most of the people attacked during this outbreak were in serious condition […]
Some Sri Lankan Buddhists Not Amused with Akon’s Music Video
By Linda Brock Akon is a popular Hip Hop Artist Colombo, Sri Lanka (CHAKRA) – Buddhist Monks and 12 000 other people took offence to Akon’s music video, which has led to a decision by the Sri Lankan government to decline a visa to Akon for a visit to Sri Lanka. A facebook group was […]