Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from American Buddhist Perspectives
From all of us to all of you, many wishes of joy, peace, and happiness this holiday season. For many Americans and Europeans, the cultural trappings of Christmas make it a default holiday, even those...
View Article“Some wish for peace, I make it happen”– a guest post by Bhikkhu Subhuti on...
I just got back from inviting 2 Muslims to serve at the head of the meal line for Tomorrow’s lunch at Pa-Auk. Everyone thought I was crazy and that the Muslims would kill me or at least shout at me as...
View ArticlePracticing Compassion, a review
Frank Rogers Jr’s book, Practicing Compassion, is a welcome addition to the field of books bringing the positive insights and wisdom of religious traditions to a wider audience. The book sets out with...
View Article“Why am I here?”– an interview with Zen priest and interfaith dialogue...
Last week I caught wind of an event with a very intriguing title “Why Am I Here? An Austin Interfaith Dialogue” and an even more interesting set of speakers representing Judaism, Christianity, Islam,...
View Article“Why am I here?” – a post-event interview with veteran journalist and...
Wrapping up what has been an unexpectedly interview-filled month here at American Buddhist Perspectives, I am pleased to present Eileen Flynn, who co-moderated last week’s interfaith panel on the topic...
View ArticleBuddhist leaders: sign to raise awareness of the psychological, spiritual,...
The Resource Innovation Group (TRIG), a non-profit organization affiliated with the Sustainability Institute at Willamette University, has asked faith leaders to join a “Call to Action for U.S. and...
View ArticleResponding to Pat Robertson’s comment that a Christian could ‘get infected...
Today Pat Robertson, on his well-known Christian Broadcasting Network show The 700 Club, told a viewer who works with Buddhists and fears she is being preached to by them that: If you are healthy and...
View ArticleUnderstanding Buddhist-Muslim relations in Burma (Myanmar)
This post is part of the Interfaith Ramadan: Shared Vision of Inclusion & Co-Existence series, cross-posted there at Interfaith Ramadan here. As our series host Sara Ager writes: Ramadan is a time...
View ArticlePope Francis “Beaming” as he leaves meeting with American Buddhist leaders
In a meeting hosted by the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops this week, the Pope today met with around fifty Buddhists from America: A...
View ArticleBuddhist monastery serves meals to fasting Muslims in Ramadan
Agence France-Presse reported today that Dharmarajika, a Buddhist monastery in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka, is serving food to Muslims this Ramadan, “in a rare example of social harmony between...
View ArticleThe Santa Claus Sutra, Christmas becomes Buddhist (Video)
Christmas is less than a week away now, and if Star Wars mania doesn’t completely eclipse the popular winter holiday, we’ll all be left with the usual yearly questions like “Happy Holiday” or “Merry...
View ArticleThe Dalai Lama’s inspiring appeal to love, human values, and inter-religious...
Even at the age of 80 (or 81 by Tibetan standards), the Dalai Lama continues to blaze a trail of wisdom and compassion across the globe. Last month the Dalai lama spoke from a hospital in Rochester,...
View ArticleHappy Birthday, George Takei – American Buddhist, Actor, Author, Activist
Today is George Takei’s 79th birthday. In honor of the occasion; and perhaps in horor of the latest Trump primary victory, we revisit George Takei’s remarks about growing up with Japanese heritage in...
View ArticleDalai Lama: There is no “Muslim Terrorist” or “Buddhist Terrorist”
Addressing the European Parliament last week, the Dalai Lama said: “Buddhist terrorist, Muslim terrorist. That wording is wrong.” “Any person,” the Dalai Lama continued, “who wants to indulge in...
View ArticleThe First Nidana – A Christmas Song for Buddhists
Growing up Catholic in the US, I have a certain fondness for Christmas songs – especially loving the voices of Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Elvis Presley, and others of a...
View ArticleThe Arc of the Moral Universe, January 20, 2017
The local store is out of White Poster Board. Hmmm… I wonder where it all could be. The quote, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice” is often attributed to the Rev. Dr....
View ArticleTrump has already led me to the Bible: 7 Passages near to my Heart
Many of my Christian friends over the last few months have assured me that part of their reason for supporting Donald Trump for the presidency has been his grasp of Christian values. “God will be back...
View ArticleA message on the Rohingya from young Burmese American Buddhists
Setting their discussion in the context of traditional blessings to family and the three jewels of Buddhism, a group of young Burmese American Buddhists have put together a moving portrait of their...
View ArticleBuddhists and Christians share a Saint: Barlaam & Josaphat
This was the proclamation made on June 3, 1870 by F. Max Muller, described by Donald Lopez as “the most famous scholar of Asian Religion in the 19th century.” In a 2012 lecture at Harvard, Lopez offers...
View ArticleThe Three Jewels of Buddhism and Multi-faith Affiliations
The Three Jewels (triratna in Sanskrit, tiratana in Pali) represent what for many is the quintessential hallmark of being or becoming a Buddhist: going for refuge. The refuges and jewels are: the...
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