International Visakha Puja Day at the United Nations

International Visakha Puja Day at the United Nations

The 2600th Anniversary of the Enlightenment of the Buddha

Monday the 14th Waxing Moon of Visakha B.E.2554, May 16, A.D.2011 Year of the Rabbit

Click here to view the Slideshows

On Vesak Day, Buddhists all over the world commemorate events of significance to Buddhists of all traditions: The birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Gautama Buddha. As Buddhism spread from India it was assimilated into many foreign cultures, and consequently Vesak is celebrated in many different ways all over the world.

The full moon night of Vesak marks the greatest celebration on earth. Prince Siddhartha came to be born on earth with the purpose of enlightenment. He was born to be the light of the world on which all sentient beings have been suffering in the never-ending samsara.

Video document will be available soon. 

Visakha Puja Day is one of the greatest Buddhist holidays which falls on the 15th day of the new moon in the 6th lunar month that is the month of May, in the year with extra eighth lunar month; the Visakha Puja Day will fall on 15th day of the new moon in the 7th lunar moth.

Cambodian Buddhists march to mark Buddha's day

May 18, 2011
Xinhua

Thousands of Buddhists and Buddhist monks on Tuesday morning marched around Preah Reach Trap Mountain, where the relics of Buddha are housed, in order to mark Visak Bochea's day, or Buddha's day.

In Cambodia, the Buddha's relics are housed at the cliff of Preah Reach Trap Mountain, located in Kampong Speu province's Oddong district, some 40 kilometers north of Phnom Penh.

The event was also attended by the President of the National Assembly Heng Samrin and Deputy Prime Minister Kong Sam Ol, minister of the royal palace.

Cambodian government orders removal of "Judgement Day" adverts

Is the CPP scared of JUDGMENT DAY?

May 18, 2011
DPA

Phnom Penh - Authorities in Phnom Penh have told a local advertising firm to take down billboards claiming that May 21 would see the beginning of the end of the world, national media reported Wednesday.

The adverts, posted by a US evangelical group called Family Radio, state: 'Judgement Day, May 21, 2011. The Bible Guarantees It.'

Family Radio predicted that all souls would be judged Saturday with worldwide chaos in store for five months until earth's destruction on October 21.

Pol Sopheap, the general manager of the Cambo Advertising Co, told the Cambodia Daily newspaper that city authorities had ordered his firm to remove the messages from five billboards.

Learn Meditation and Vipassana at Wat Kirivongsa Bopharam in Massachusetts

Wat Kirivongsa Bopharam will hold an annual 10-day Meditation and Vipassana classes between June 17-28, 2011.

-Welcome Buddhist monks and everyone to enroll

-Vipassana master Ven. Dejapanno Phorn Pheap, abbot of Wat Kirivongsa Bopharam and former Vipassana student of the late and renowned Vipassana Master in the Kingdom of Cambodia Ven. Ketodhammo Som Bunthoeun

- English translation will be provided for any students who do not understand Khmer.

To enroll, call: 413.367.9526, 413.367.0280, 978.758.0286, or 978.935.3287.

The Buddha was bald

Please read the original article here: The Buddha was bald.

December 30th, 2010

By Eisel Mazard, Guest Contributor

The Buddha was Bald … but is Everywhere Depicted with a Full Head of Hair

By Eisel Mazard (大影)

Written in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 2010, with special thanks to Rev. Nyanatusita (of Kandy, Sri Lanka) for drawing my attention to several sources quoted in this article.

§1.

One of the most obvious fallacies of modern Theravāda Buddhism is the depiction of the Buddha with a full head of hair. Living in Southeast Asia, asking the average Buddhist about this results in a range of answers, from a shrug and smile (admitting that it is incorrect but supposing that it is not worth worrying about) over to the opposite extreme of taking offense and demanding to know how anyone could dare to raise the question. Some might ask how we could know what the Buddha looked like after so many centuries, if we didn’t blindly trust in a succession of statues and amulets. It is needless to say that the Pali canon does not contain photographic evidence, but it does contain evidence of another kind, and this article tries to answer the question (that almost nobody dares to ask) in as few words as possible, by working from the primary sources.

In broaching this issue, we deal with another in passing: the core of the Pali canon does contain some useful descriptions of what the historical Buddha looked like, however, these are not found in devotional poetry that simply provides effusive praise of him (without providing useful details). Although the issue is not philosophical, the method used to find the answer is much the same as we use in the study of Buddhist philosophy: the details emerge from the context of debate, from contrasting claims and (sometimes) even accusations and insults.

Call for Papers on Politics of Religion in Asia International Conference

CALL FOR PAPERS

Politics of Religion in Asia: An International Conference

Center for Asian and Pacific Studies, International Programs

University of Iowa

Date: May 12-13, 2012

This conference will focus on the relationship between religion and politics in Asia, including but not limiting to China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and India. It intends to address two related topics: the development of religion and the role of religion in politics. We encourage paper proposals examining the above topics by relating to any aspect of state policy, economic modernization, and traditional culture. Both single-country and cross-country studies are welcome. We are particularly interested in theoretically informed studies using primary research materials.

The conference will pay for the participant's airfare and lodging if his/her paper is accepted. The final papers will be published in an edited volume. The deadline for submitting the paper proposal is October 1, 2011, and the deadline for submitting the conference paper is April 13, 2012.

The proposal should include:

• Author's name
• Current job title
• Institutional affiliation
• Contact information (email, mailing address and phone number)
• Paper abstract (100-300 words)
• Author's CV (no more than 3 pages)

Please send your proposal via email to:

Professor Wenfang Tang

wenfang-tang@uiowa.edu,

Department of Political Science

University of Iowa

Cremation for Wat Samakki Dhammikaram’s late abbot Ven. Samvarasilo Long Mean

Wat Samakki Dhammikaram’s late abbot Ven. Samvarasilo Long Mean cremated

Templenews TV, Sunday January 23, 2011

The late Ven. Samvarasilo Long Mean, age 92, was cremated on Saturday the 3rd Waning Moon of Phussa, Year of the Tiger, BE2554, January 22, AD2010 at Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York city, New York, United States of America.

Click here to view the slideshow of the event

Op-Ed by Ven. Hok Savann

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Bulletin of the Union of Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Buddhist Students No. 12 Vol.6 is now available

Click here to read the bulleting (PDF)

Soata-batekphal - Op-Ed by Ven. Hok Savann

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Invitation to listen to Suon Serey Ratha in Bangkok, Thailand

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Tears of Khmer Buddhism - Op-Ed by Ven. Chey Khemara

Lord Buddha was a sociologist - Op-Ed by Ven. Hok Savann

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Kan Ben Ceremony at Wat Preah Buddha Raingsey Temple in Philadelphia

Boh Bay Ben ceremony at Wat Mongkul Serey Kien Khlaing

Something to think about: While I understand that our religious customs and traditions call for us to throw food on the ground during Pchum Ben for the spirit of our departed ancestors, socially-speaking, I have always been baffled by the amount of food wasted, especially when a horde of beggars are waiting for charity right outside the pagoda's door. Wouldn't it be better to honor our ancestors' spirits by feeding the poor and hungry instead? Please share your opinion - Thank you!

(All Photos taken on 24 September 2010 by Sek Bandith, Radio Free Asia)

Beggars eagerly waiting outside the pagoda

Westerner follows in Buddha's footsteps

Charles Adams, a 24-year-old student at North Carolina State University, accompanies monks as they make their morning alms round at Phraeng Nara community in the old Rattanakosin area. PHOTOS BY APICHART JINAKUL

US anthropology student joins monks on their morning alms round to learn about religion first-hand

27/09/2010
Apinya Wipatayotin
Bangkok Post

Residents of Phraeng Nara community in the old Rattanakosin area are used to seeing temple boys carrying food for monks during their morning alms round. But a couple of weeks ago, they were taken by surprise when a young American man started doing the job.

The Westerner helps carry the food given to the monks, walks calmly after them and performs a wai when the monks bless the alms offerers.

"During the first few days, the residents looked very surprised to see me. They asked me lots of questions _ what's my name, what am I doing here and where I come from," said Charles Adams, a 24-year-old student at North Carolina State University.

His majors are culture, anthropology and religious studies, and he felt he needed real experience to better understand these subjects.

Mr Adams also has strong determination to learn about Buddhism from masters outside of the classroom. So he applied and was chosen for the five-month student-exchange project under the Thai studies programme at Thammasat University's Pridi Banomyong International College.

As the university is located near Wat Mahathat, Mr Adams decided to go to the temple compound one day, hoping to find someone who would be able to clear his doubts about Buddhist principles.

"I spoke to a novice, but he didn't understand what I said. So he took me to the living quarters of Phra Maha Charan Rajawong, a senior monk who was kind enough to answer my questions and accept me as his disciple," Mr Adams said of his first day at the temple.

After that, the American visited the temple twice a week.

He arrived early in the morning to join the monks' morning alms round, which starts at 6am.

His daily route covers about three kilometres, starting from Wat Mahathat and then moving to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Ministry of Defence, Klong Lot, Phraeng Nara community, City Hall, the Hindu shrine and returning to the temple.

He sometimes asks his friends to accompany him.

Mr Adams said that before he came to Bangkok some people told him Thais no longer offer food to the monks in the morning.

But the practice still exists and the amount of food given to the monks was amazingly substantial, he said.

He also learned that offering food is a way to learn about selflessness.

Mr Adams said he believed the Thai characteristics of kindness and forgiveness came mainly from Buddhist principles.

Apart from being a temple boy, the American said he was practising basic meditation.

"Meditation is good for you, whether you are Buddhist or not.

"Although I am a Christian, I love to learn meditation, which is totally different from other religious practices. It focuses on self-learning practices, not a belief," he said.

Phra Maha Charan Rajawong said the American was a good student who was full of energy to learn.

He is welcome at the temple as a new student.

"He helps clean up the temple's compound and volunteers to do other work in exchange for our teachings," he said.

Mr Adams's strong determination to learn about Lord Buddha's teachings should serve as an example and inspiration to Buddhists who have neglected their religion, the monk said.

Pchum Ben Announcement in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Click on the announcement in Khmer and English to zoom in

SRP Philadelphia announcement for Kan Ben ceremony

Hello everyone,

Bonn Pchum Ben is coming! Bonn Pchum Ben is the festival held for commemoration of the spirits of the dead. The festival does not just begin and end on one day. In fact, it lasts 15 days, each of which is called a day of Kan Ben. A Ben is an offering. During the first 14 days, people take turns offering food to the monks of their local pagoda in the hope that their offering will reach the souls of their ancestors by virtue of the monks’ sermons.

This year I would like to inform that we took turn of Kan Ben. Please see attachment for complete detail information of the events. Everyone is invited and hope to see you at the temple.

Best regards,

R. Visal
Philadelphia, PA

Cambodian Baptists seek partnerships

Sep 3, 2010
By Mark Kelly

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Baptist Press)--God has blessed Baptist work in Cambodia -- with 304 churches started since 1993 -- but partnership is needed for the work to move forward, the president of Cambodia's Baptist Union said.

Nivath Nhem, who was re-elected in 2010 for a second five-year term as president of the Cambodia Baptist Union, traveled to the United States in August to explore prospects for church-to-church partnerships that would help advance a visionary plan to start 1,621 new congregations in next five years. He was hosted by Albert W. Wardin Jr., emeritus professor of history at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.

"We want to see every person in Cambodia accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord," Nhem told Baptist Press in a mid-August interview. "The goal of the Cambodia Baptist Union is to reach Cambodia with the Gospel of Jesus Christ by planting churches throughout Cambodia."

Nhem led Cambodia's congregations to set a goal of reaching all 13,871 villages in the country and has challenged each church to reach that goal by starting a new church each year. He also has led them to establish goals of expanding the union's program of pastor training and starting general education schools for the nation's children.

"We need partners if the work is going to move forward," Nhem said. "We know these goals are inspiration from the Lord. There is openness to the Gospel in our country right now. We cannot delay because the door may close at any time. We must take advantage of this openness, but we need partners to do that."

Like neighboring Vietnam and Laos, Cambodia has a communist government and is traditionally Buddhist, but right now Cambodia is the country that is more open, Nhem said.

"Cambodia is more soft than hard," Nhem said. "The people are more open to the Gospel. There are some restrictions on our work, but the Baptist union is recognized by the government."

Thavy Nhem, a believer who is a member of Cambodia's parliament, helped start Baptist work in the country and still is an adviser to the Baptist union, which was organized in 1995. The union has had a strong emphasis on church planting since its inception, and now has churches in 17 provinces of the country's 24 provinces. Its 304 congregations have 13,238 members, and 50 of them have permanent facilities. The union operates pastor training schools in the capital, Phnom Penh, and two provinces, and wants to expand the training to five provinces in the next five years.

"We want to see the church grow and be established all over Cambodia. We want to see believers and churches be a blessing for Cambodia," Nhem said. "Our mission is for Cambodia to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God, that He is salvation when people accept Him as their Lord and Savior.

"If anyone feels led by the Spirit of God," Nhem said, "we invite them to partner with us."

In the meantime, Nhem requested prayer for the Baptist union's plans in starting churches and schools, and that they would be able to establish the physical facilities needed for progress. He also requested prayer for adequate finances and for the Lord to lead congregations into five-year church-to-church partnerships.
------
Mark Kelly is an assistant editor with Baptist Press. Nivath Nhem can be contacted by e-mail at cbcambodia@yahoo.com. The Cambodia Baptist Union on the Internet at
www.cambodiabaptistunion.com.

Invitation to the Coronation of Buddha Statues at Wat Khemara Raingsey San Jose, California

Click on the announcement in Khmer and English to zoom in