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(public domain image from www.pixabay.com)
Every year in May, near the day of the full moon, Vesak or Buddha's birthday is celebrated. It's the most important day in the Buddhist calendar.
Each Buddhist culture and country has its own traditions for the day, but it is celebrated across Asia such as - India, Thailand, North and South Korea, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and more. Many Buddhists will go to their local temple and some might even stay there throughout the day and night of the full moon. Many will increase the doing of good deeds, take part in chanting and meditation, reflect on Buddhist teachings, bring offerings to the temple and share food with people.
Families may decorate their homes with lanterns, take part in processions and wear special white clothes to mark the occasion. Friends and family may also send cards to each other.
A ceremony called Bathing the Buddha may also be held, when water is poured over the shoulders of the Buddha to remind people to clear their minds of negative thoughts like greed and hatred.
Please join us in Tulsa on Friday, May 24th to celebrate Vesak - Buddha's Birthday - at at 2 hour meditation retreat, 6 - 9 pm.
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Actress, singer and entertainer died this week at 97. Though she is most remembered for her television show and the songs she recorded (Que Sera Sera) it's likely her long term influence will be on behalf of animals.
Throughout her illustrious career, Day fought for animal-rights and is famously quoted saying, “I’ve never met an animal I didn’t like, and I can’t say the same thing about people.” In 1971, Day founded the non-profit organization Actors and Others for Animals with the mission to implement animal welfare standards within the film industry. And, in 1978, the activist founded the Doris Day Pet Foundation (now called the “Doris Day Animal Foundation”) to help control the homeless companion animal population through initiatives such as World Spay Day—which helped spay and neuter 1.5 million animals in its first 15 years.
Day also supported various initiatives to shut down puppy mills, created the Doris Day Animal League (now a part of the Humane Society of the United States) as a voice for the animals in legislation, and helped airlift the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina to safety in 2005. On her 90th birthday, in lieu of gifts, Day asked fans to donate to Doris Day Animal Foundation, raising approximately $100,000 to support her cause.
(source: veg news)
Throughout her illustrious career, Day fought for animal-rights and is famously quoted saying, “I’ve never met an animal I didn’t like, and I can’t say the same thing about people.” In 1971, Day founded the non-profit organization Actors and Others for Animals with the mission to implement animal welfare standards within the film industry. And, in 1978, the activist founded the Doris Day Pet Foundation (now called the “Doris Day Animal Foundation”) to help control the homeless companion animal population through initiatives such as World Spay Day—which helped spay and neuter 1.5 million animals in its first 15 years.
Day also supported various initiatives to shut down puppy mills, created the Doris Day Animal League (now a part of the Humane Society of the United States) as a voice for the animals in legislation, and helped airlift the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina to safety in 2005. On her 90th birthday, in lieu of gifts, Day asked fans to donate to Doris Day Animal Foundation, raising approximately $100,000 to support her cause.
(source: veg news)
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When we spend time with people who
are calm and peaceful, we become
calm and peaceful.
When we spend time with people who
are agitated and angry, we become
agitated and angry.
Our choice!
- Victor M. Parachin
are calm and peaceful, we become
calm and peaceful.
When we spend time with people who
are agitated and angry, we become
agitated and angry.
Our choice!
- Victor M. Parachin
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The path to perfection will only lead to exhaustion and disappointment; meanwhile, your actual life will be passing you by. - Mark Van Buren
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Though Buddhism is classified as a world religion, it's really a solid, practical psychology for dealing with life. Buddhism has much to offer any person struggling and seeking to recover from alcohol, drug and other behavioral addictions. Here's an insight I appreciate very much from a Buddhist view but with application to the good work AA does:
“I find that using certain Buddhist teachings as higher powers—the power of karma, the power of mindfulness, the power of lovingkindness—is very useful for people who struggle with the kind of theistic tone of the language in the 12 steps,” said Kevin Griffin, a Buddhist teacher, writer of Recovering Joy: A Mindful Life After Addiction
“I find that using certain Buddhist teachings as higher powers—the power of karma, the power of mindfulness, the power of lovingkindness—is very useful for people who struggle with the kind of theistic tone of the language in the 12 steps,” said Kevin Griffin, a Buddhist teacher, writer of Recovering Joy: A Mindful Life After Addiction
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A Buddhist monk received a call from a lay member of his temple. "Would you please come to my house today and perform a blessing?"
"I'm sorry, I can't come because I'm busy" replied the monk.
"Well, what are you doing?" inquired the caller.
"Nothing! That's what monks are supposed to do," he answered.
"Okay" said the caller and hung up.
The lay Buddhist called again the next day asking: "Would you please come to my house today and perform a blessing?"
"I'm sorry, I can't come because I'm busy," replied the monk.
"What are you doing?" asked the caller.
"Nothing" replied the monk.
"But that's what you were doing yesterday," complained the caller.
"Yes" replied the monk. "But I'm not finished yet!"
"I'm sorry, I can't come because I'm busy" replied the monk.
"Well, what are you doing?" inquired the caller.
"Nothing! That's what monks are supposed to do," he answered.
"Okay" said the caller and hung up.
The lay Buddhist called again the next day asking: "Would you please come to my house today and perform a blessing?"
"I'm sorry, I can't come because I'm busy," replied the monk.
"What are you doing?" asked the caller.
"Nothing" replied the monk.
"But that's what you were doing yesterday," complained the caller.
"Yes" replied the monk. "But I'm not finished yet!"
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You may not always be
an ocean of bliss,
but
think that way anyway
and it will help.
- Maharishi Mahesh
an ocean of bliss,
but
think that way anyway
and it will help.
- Maharishi Mahesh
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“Consider the eight-part program laid down in Buddhism: Right view, right aim, right speech, right action, right living, right effort, right mindedness and right contemplation. The Buddhist philosophy, as exemplified by these eight points, could be literally adopted by AA as a substitute for or addition to the Twelve Steps. Generosity, universal love and welfare of others rather than considerations of self are basic to Buddhism.”
- from the Akron Pamphlet; “Spiritual Milestones in Alcoholics Anonymous” edited by Dr. Bob, co-founder of AA.
- from the Akron Pamphlet; “Spiritual Milestones in Alcoholics Anonymous” edited by Dr. Bob, co-founder of AA.
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Silence is very important. It is food for the soul. If we can make our mind absolutely silent, our body absolutely silent and our emotions absolutely silent, just for a few minutes, we can quiet down. We then begin to draw divine energies from the central core of the universe itself. The noise of the mind, the noise of the emotions and the noise of the physical body often block these divine energies. - Sivya Subramuniyaswami
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Reverend Doctor Gene Reeves, respected Buddhist scholar and teacher, and Unitarian Universalist minister, died on Wednesday, May 8, 2018 according to www.buddhistdoor.com.
Born and raised in a small industrial town in New Hampshire, Reeves graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a psychology degree, and then pursued a degree in theology at Boston University, subsequently gaining a PhD in philosophy from Emory University.
Before he retired, Reeves taught at the University of Tsukuba and Rikkyo University in Japan, the University of Peking in China, and at the University of Chicago Divinity School and Meadville Lombard Theological School, Wilberforce University in Ohio, and Tufts University, and Antioch College in the United States.
Reeves lived in Tokyo for more than two decades, where he studied, taught, and practiced Buddhism as encapsulated in the Lotus Sutra, for which he also published a widely respected modern translation from Chinese into English--The Lotus Sutra: A Contemporary Translation of a Buddhist Classic (Wisdom Publications 2008)—that was intended to appeal to readers with little familiarity with Buddhist vocabulary, as well as long-time practitioners and students.
In an article for Dharma World Magazine, Reeves recounted of his life: “. . . I was raised Christian. At 20 I became a Unitarian. At 30 I became a Unitarian Universalist. And at 50 I became a Buddhist. But not once did I think of those becomings as a conversion from one faith to another. And so I remain, in my own self-understanding, Christian, Unitarian, Universalist, and Buddhist.”
Born and raised in a small industrial town in New Hampshire, Reeves graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a psychology degree, and then pursued a degree in theology at Boston University, subsequently gaining a PhD in philosophy from Emory University.
Before he retired, Reeves taught at the University of Tsukuba and Rikkyo University in Japan, the University of Peking in China, and at the University of Chicago Divinity School and Meadville Lombard Theological School, Wilberforce University in Ohio, and Tufts University, and Antioch College in the United States.
Reeves lived in Tokyo for more than two decades, where he studied, taught, and practiced Buddhism as encapsulated in the Lotus Sutra, for which he also published a widely respected modern translation from Chinese into English--The Lotus Sutra: A Contemporary Translation of a Buddhist Classic (Wisdom Publications 2008)—that was intended to appeal to readers with little familiarity with Buddhist vocabulary, as well as long-time practitioners and students.
In an article for Dharma World Magazine, Reeves recounted of his life: “. . . I was raised Christian. At 20 I became a Unitarian. At 30 I became a Unitarian Universalist. And at 50 I became a Buddhist. But not once did I think of those becomings as a conversion from one faith to another. And so I remain, in my own self-understanding, Christian, Unitarian, Universalist, and Buddhist.”