The Four Noble Truths of intimate relationships

http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/the-four-noble-truths-of-intimate-relationships

The Four Noble Truths of intimate relationships

December 21, 2015 

 Bodhipaksa

Because the Buddha was a celibate monk, there can be a tendency for us to see intimate relationships as a distraction or hindrance to the spiritual life. But the Buddha himself described marriage as potentially a source of great happiness.

UPAYA: Rohatsu 2015 Talks 1-6 : Miracle of Each Moment

http://us9.campaign-archive2.com/?u=6b52ef25342e3408ae4f12d65&id=87a9996565&e=16ce74c530

UPAYA: Rohatsu 2015 Talks 1-6 : Miracle of Each Moment

A new Settlement : religion and Belief in Schools

http://faithdebates.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/A-New-Settlement-for-Religion-and-Belief-in-schools.pdf

A new Settlement : religion and Belief in Schools

by Charles Clarke and Linda Woodhead 

Living with Difference: Community, Diversity and the Common Good

http://www.corab.org.uk/

Living with Difference: Community, Diversity and the Common Good

The report of the Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life, convened by the Woolf Institute and chaired by Baroness Butler-Sloss.
It is titled "Living with Difference: Community, Diversity and the Common Good".

RE for REal report and Recommendations

http://www.gold.ac.uk/faithsunit/reforreal/

In a context of deep religious illiteracy in the UK, RE for REal explores the role of schools in equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to engage effectively with religion and belief diversity, in schools, in their communities, in future workplaces and in wider social contexts.

The project analyses the views of pupils, parents and teachers in secondary education and of employers, on what school leavers need to know about religion and belief in relation to the current religion and belief landscape, as evidenced in research and current educational policy.

It builds on the Religious Education Council’s A Review of Religious Education in England (2013) by providing a new evidence-base to support and facilitate continuing national discussions. By engaging protagonists in the field in a cycle of reflective analysis, it will further stimulate and facilitate wider debate around the future role and shape of RE in schools.

Below, you will find supporting documents to accompany our recent study:

Full report (PDF download)

Executive summary (PDF download)

Recommendations (PDF download)

RE for REal brings together views on what children need to know and understand about religion with research evidence on the real religious landscape and explores the gaps between the two. It is unique in that it will bring together key groups of influence to create a forum in which to discuss how to align these two in future policy and planning for schools.

Secular Buddhist Association : Basic Meditation Instructions

http://secularbuddhism.org/meditation-support/basic-meditation-instructions/

Secular Buddhist Association : Basic Meditation Instructions

Mindfulness: Helping Youth Learn to Feel Emotions and Choose Their Behavior

http://youthtoday.org/2015/11/mindfulness-helping-youth-learn-to-feel-emotions-and-choose-their-behavior/

Mindfulness: Helping Youth Learn to Feel Emotions and Choose Their Behavior

By Lynne Anderson

Holistic Life Foundation instructors Michelle Lee (left) and Jazmine Blackwell lead students through an exercise during an after-school yoga and meditation program at Lillie May Carroll Jackson Charter School. The instructors told the girls to pull the "weight of the room" toward them and push it back away from them.

Tricycle : Ma Moune blog by Pamela Gayle White

http://www.tricycle.com/blog/ma-moune

Ma Moune : 

How a writer met her faithful companion

Pamela Gayle White, October 06, 2015

http://www.tricycle.com/blog/special-bond

A Special Bond: 

I'm grateful for my eye-catching dog, even when I'm not. 

http://www.tricycle.com/blog/aware-assumption

Aware of Assumption

It takes a conscious effort to recognize the extent we project our motives, weaknesses, and qualities on to our selves—and our pets. 

5 Common Myths About Meditation

http://imprific.com/blog/@budkowski/5-common-myths-about-meditation/

5 Common Myths About Meditation

by Maciej Budkowski

IFN Interfaith Bulletin Oct-Nov 2015

http://www.interfaith.org.uk/publications/ifn-e-bulletin/146-ifn-e-bulletin-october-november-2015/file

IFN Interfaith Bulletin Oct-Nov 2015

Event Report: Atheism research at the 2015 IAPR World Congress

http://blog.nsrn.net/2015/10/19/event-report-atheism-research-at-the-2015-iapr-world-congress/

← Event Report: American Psychological Association Annual Conference

Event Report: Atheism research at the 2015 IAPR World Congress

Posted on October 19, 2015 by katieaston

In this post, Thomas Coleman discusses the conference the International Association for the Psychology of Religion (IAPR) 2015 World Congress (17th-20th August 2015). Coleman takes us on a tour of the conference, through panels of interest to him on topics of atheism, disbelief and nonreligious mystical, or transcendent, experience.

Review of equality and human rights law relating to religion or belief

Review of equality and human rights law relating to religion or belief

NEW PUBLICATION

Peter Edge and Lucy Vickers, Review of equality and human rights law relating to religion or belief (EHRC Research Report no. 97, 2015)

 

This EHRC report draws on a detailed analysis of primary and secondary sources of British law, wider research and policy literature, and four workshops of experts to explore the legal framework on religion or belief. It covers definitional issues, the legal protection for religion or belief, the balancing of rights, a duty of reasonable accommodation and the public sector equality duty. Key findings included that:

 

·        The current domestic law in this area is comparatively recent and addresses complex issues in a context where there is considerable difference of opinion as to how the law should be framed and applied. Given this, the law is generally clear and consistent.

·        The review indicates the definition of belief, particularly in equality legislation, merits further assessment. The broad definition currently being applied by the courts is unclear, which results in apparent inconsistencies between judgments, particularly at Employment Tribunal level.

·        The impact on domestic law of some specific issues which have been tested at European level remains unclear.

·        The primary focus of the case law to date has been on the relationship of the religious employee and their employer. However, the position of the religious employer and the religious service provider remains relatively unexplored.

·        The role of the public sector equality duty in integrating religion or belief equality into the day to day practice of public sector organisations remains largely untested.

·        The extent to which a duty to accommodate religion or belief (as practised in Canada or the USA) might be beneficial to employees and employers remains uncertain and different views are held about its perceived advantages and disadvantages.

 

The report is available at: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/publication/research-report-97-review-equality-and-human-rights-law-relating-religion-or-belief

-- 
Namo Amida Bu

Acharya Modgala Louise Duguid

e.Bayda: The three things we fear most

The Three Things we Fear Most

http://www.zencentersandiego.org/files/articles/tricycle2009spring_fear.pdf

Financial Support for construction of Shanti Niketan Bouddha Vihara at Tuichawng Village, Mizoram

Subject : An earnest prayer for Financial Support for construction of Shanti
 Niketan Bouddha Vihara at Tuichawng Village, Lunglei District,
Mizoram, India.

Sir/Venerable,
 
In inviting the subject cited above, I, on behalf of the Buddhist Community of Tuichawng beg to state that, Shanti Niketan Bouddha Vihara was established in the year 1968 by a local Managing Committee with a very temporary structure. 
The village Tuichawng is located in south west corner of Mizoram India near Indo-Bangladesh Border. Most of the villagers are CHAKMA in tribe and BUDDHIST by religion. 
About 480 families live at Tuichawng and surrounding villages. 
 The total population is around 3500 who live on shifting cultivation. 
Due to unavailability of fertile land in the locality, they can not produce enough crops for their livelihood. So, they live a miserable life just hand to mouth. Being poor, our people can not contribute fund to develop the Buddhist monastery. 
During last twenty five years, it was anyhow constructed with sown timber structure with GCI sheet roofing in 1996. Now it has become very old. The villagers are trying to re-build it with concrete structure. 
An small amount has already been gathered which is not enough. It has become very difficult to gather more fund.
Therefore, I on behalf of the helpless Buddhist Community of this village would like to request your generous end to have a look into the matter sympathically to provide us financial support for the construction of Shanti Niketan Bouddha Vihara of this village. 

For which the act of your kindness, I shall remain ever grateful.

With a lot of Metta and regards,
Encl: Estimated Budget of the Building.
Dated Tuichawng, Yours in Dhamma,
(SUDIP CHAKMA)

https://www.facebook.com/dsdipckmu?fref=ufi
 

BARDO Teaching by Sey Namkha Dorje Guru in Aldershot

BARDO Teaching by Sey Namkha Dorje Guru in Aldershot

Dear Members & Dharma Friends.

for your kind information the above teaching BARDO (transition/time/gap between death and rebirth) will be conducted by Sey Namkha Dorje Guru.

Date: Saturdays 10 and 17 October 2015

Time:    0900 to 1700 hours both days.

Venue: Gumba, Aldershot.

Lunch will be provided but donation will also be accepted. any one wants to sponsor/ donate food/water then you are more than welcome, If you want to do so then please contact Gumba.

Please contact Gumba at 01252338765 to register your name for food estimation purpose.

The important thing is the whole teaching is divided in six headings. You are to attend for all or in another words you have to commit for both days. There will be no point or less point attending only one day. 

Maximum number of attendance is expected because this is a very important teaching by a very highly qualified Teacher. You better not to miss.

Please bring in your neighbours, friends and family members.

Yours sincerely,

AS BAHADUR GURUNG

General Secretary

Nuns' stories from around the world

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/wisdom-from-the-female-faces-of-zen/story-e6frg6so-1227544252211

Nuns' stories from around the world

A Buddhist cop’s approach to justice

http://www.lionsroar.com/a-buddhist-cops-approach-to-justice/

A Buddhist cop’s approach to justice

BY CHERI MAPLES| SEPTEMBER 23, 2015

Reports from the Sakyadhita International Conference Yogyakarta, Indonesia

http://americanbuddhistwomen.com/?utm_source=SUMMER+2015+Issue+7%2C+American+Buddhist+Women&utm_campaign=Summer+2015+Issue+ABW&utm_medium=email

Reports from the Sakyadhita International Conference Yogyakarta, Indonesia

June 23-30, 2015

Buddhist View on Evolution and Creation - - Khenpo Sodargye

http://buddhism.uk/events/english/buddhist-view-evolution-and-creation-khenpo-sodargye

Buddhist View on Evolution and Creation - - Khenpo Sodargye

Event type:

• Free

 City:

• London

 Date: 

22 Oct 2015

 Time: 

18.15 - 20.15pm

NATRE: RE Teaching: Beyond the Ordinary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzvZTFmp6qc

Published on Mar 20, 2015

Do you have the drive, interest and personality to teach one of the most diverse, questioning and relevant subjects in schools today?

Seen through the eyes of Lynsey Wilkinson, Head of RE at Redhill Academy near Nottingham and her students, the Beyond the Ordinary film shows how RE helps young people make sense of the world around them. The short film gives the teacher’s view on a subject, where the answers are rarely straightforward and sometimes raise more questions.

Beyond the Ordinary is a Religious Education Council initiative. Key partners involved in the project include the National Association of Teachers of RE, the Association of University Lecturers in Religion and Education and Culham St Gabriel’s Trust.

To find out more about the campaign visit www.teachre.co.uk/beyondtheordinary

NATRE: New RS Exams: Accreditation timeline

http://www.natre.org.uk/news/latest-news/new-rs-exams-accreditation-timeline/

New RS Exams: Accreditation timeline

Below is a timeline of the process for the specifications for the new Religious Studies GCSE and A-level.

Please note that these dates may be subject to change.

• 3 August 2015 - Awarding organisations submit draft specifications, sample assessment material and assessment strategy to Ofqual for accreditation.
• 7-10 September 2015 - Ofqual panels of subject experts review awarding organisations' submissions.
• 1 October 2015 - Ofqual decision on the accreditation of specifications.
• 8-9 October 2015 - Ofqual inform AOs of their decision on accreditation. AOs then make any necessary changes and submit revised specification and assessment material for re-accreditation.
• Late Autumn 2015 - Accredited specifications submitted to schools to allow teachers enough time to prepare for first teaching in September 2016.
• September 2016 - First teaching of new RS GCSE specifications in schools

Find more information on the draft specifications here

Invented Religions

http://www.religiousstudiesproject.com/podcast/podcast-carole-cusack-on-invented-religions/

Invented Religions

What is an “Invented Religion”? Why should scholars take these religions seriously? What makes these “inventions” different from the revelations in other religions? What happens when an author does not want their story to become a religious text?

Tricylce : Meditating with emotions

http://www.tricycle.com/practice/meditating-emotions

Meditating with Emotions

Drop the story and find the feeling.Pema Chödrön

We all have emotional experiences that feel terrifying, and in order to experience our natural state, we have to be willing to experience these emotions—to actually experience our ego and our ego clinging. This may feel disturbing and negative, or even insane. Most of us, consciously or unconsciously, would like meditation to be a chill-out session where we don’t have to relate to unpleasantness. Actually, a lot of people have the misunderstanding that this is what meditation is about. They believe meditation includes everything except that which feels bad. And if something does feel bad, you’re supposed to label it “thinking” and shove it away or hit it on the head with a mallet. When you feel even the slightest hint of panic that you’re about to feel or experience something unpleasant, you use the label “thinking” as a way to repress it, and you rush back to the object of meditation, hoping that you never have to go into this uncomfortable place.

http://www.tricycle.com/practice/meditating-emotions

http://wellcomecollection.org/secrettemple

Tibet’s Secret Temple: Body, Mind and Meditation in Tantric Buddhism

Wellcome Collection, EXHIBITION

19 November 2015 - 28 February 2016

'Tibet’s Secret Temple’ explores Tibetan Buddhist yogic and meditational practice and their connections to physical and mental wellbeing.

Inspired by an exquisite series of 17th century murals from a private meditation chamber for Tibet’s Dalai Lamas in Lhasa’s Lukhang Temple, the exhibition features over 120 objects including scroll paintings, statues, manuscripts, archival and contemporary film, together with a wide range of ethnographic and ritual artefacts.

‘Tibet’s Secret Temple’ will uncover the stories behind the ancient, esoteric and once secret practices illustrated in the Lukhang murals and show their relevance to the expanding and wide-ranging contemporary interest in meditative wellbeing.

War Remembrance in Japan's Buddhist Cemeteries

1. http://japanfocus.org/-Brian-Victoria/4353/article.html
2. http://japanfocus.org/-Brian-Victoria/4367/article.html

War Remembrance in Japan's Buddhist Cemeteries (1-2)

War Remembrance in Japan’s Buddhist Cemeteries, Part I: Kannon Hears the Cries of War The Asia-Pacific Journal, Vol. 13, Issue. 31, No. 3, August 03, 2015 Brian Victoria Abstract While the role of Yasukuni Shrine in both commemorating and eulogizing Japan’s wartime aggression is well known (and controversial), little to no attention has been paid to a similar role played by a number of Buddhist temples in contemporary Japan. For example, Kōa Kannon (Kannon for a Prosperous Asia) temple (興亜観音寺), located in Atami, a hot-springs resort south of Tokyo, is one such war-eulogizing Buddhist temple. This temple was initially established in the late 1930s at the initiative of Imperial Army General Matsui Iwane, supreme commander of the Japanese attack on Nanjing in December 1937, better known as the "Rape of Nanjing." In the postwar era, Kannon Bodhisattva, the Buddhist personification of compassion enshrined at Kōa Kannon, has gone on to become one of the main Buddhist figures employed throughout the country to comfort the “heroic spirits” (eirei) of all Japanese soldiers who died in the war while, at the same time, valorizing and eulogizing the war they fought in. In addition to Kannon-centric temples, the major Shingon sect-affiliated monastic complex on Mt. Kōya now plays a major role in the remembrance of the war dead, including an effort to transform convicted "war criminals" into national “martyrs” (junnan-sha), an effort backed by the current Japanese government. http://japanfocus.org/-Brian-Victoria/4367/article.html War Remembrance in Japan’s Buddhist Cemeteries, Part II:  Transforming War Criminals into Martyrs: “True Words” on Mt. Kōya The Asia-Pacific Journal, Vol. 13, Issue. 34, No. 3, August 24, 2015 Brian Victoria

HuffPost: Is There Anything Spiritual About Mindfulness?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-mayya/is-there-anything-spiritu_b_8021384.html

Is There Anything Spiritual About Mindfulness?

These days mindfulness is the buzzword. Celebrities such as Goldie Hawn, Richard Gere and Tina Turner have been some of it's strongest proponents. Mindfulness seems to be embraced in the west, more as a practice and discipline rather than as a religion, although its origin is in Buddhism. But does mindfulness have a spiritual and transformational quality to it?

Buddhism and Quantum Physics

Buddhism and Quantum Physics

http://seanrobsville.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/quantum-physics-excellent-tv-program-by.html

Einstein's Nightmare by Jim Al-Khalili on BBC 4.  Do we create reality? Fascinating TV program on quantum physics

This is the most readily understandable and accessible treatment of 'quantum weirdness' I've seen.   

Please note that this TV program will be unavailable after mid September.  Watch it soon,then check out Quantum Buddhism, Buddhism, Quantum Physics and Mind  and Buddhist Particle Physics.

12 Life Tips From The Amazing Pema Chödrön!

http://launchyourgenius.com/2014/02/11/12-life-tips-from-the-amazing-pema-chodron/

12 Life Tips From The Amazing Pema Chödrön!

Our desire for passion

http://zennist.typepad.com/zenfiles/2015/08/our-desire-for-passion.html

AUGUST 10, 2015

Our desire for passion

The first noble or aryan truth (satya) is suffering.  The first noble truth is also the Five Aggregates (skandhas) consisting of corporeality, feeling, perception, volitional formations and sensory consciousness which, incidentally, are said to be previous karma according to the Buddha.

'Buddhism New' Saddhā,Buddhist Confidence

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cpcHqEc38s

'Buddhism New' Saddhā,Buddhist Confidence

'Buddhism New' Secular Buddhism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22C1sGbE-XE

'Buddhism New' Secular Buddhism

Theravada Bhikkhuni and the Buddha's Four-fold Assembly

http://buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=70,12420,0,0,1,0#.VccHJ61ywg4

Theravada Bhikkhuni and the Buddha's Four-fold Assembly

by Dr Dion Peoples, The Buddhist Channel, Aug 8, 2015

A properly functioning Sangha has four aspects: bhikkhus, bhikkhunis, lay women and lay men. All are equally required to uphold and support the Buddha's doctrinal tradition and practices.
Bangkok, Thailand -- When I was in the US Air Force, stationed in Germany, I was given a set of books - the writings of Nicherin, by an older woman co-worker.  I also came into contact with a Taiwanese Buddhist woman who owned and operated a Chinese Restaurant, near the base where I was stationed.  

HH The Dalai Lama on Ahimsa, 20 sep 2015 at the Coliseum

HH The Dalai Lama on Ahimsa, 20 sep 2015 at the Coliseum

“India, despite its great diversity, maintains a peaceful and harmonious society.  Clearly the ancient Indian doctrine of Ahimsa, or nonviolence, has flourished and been adopted as a principle of peaceful coexistence by all faiths. This is a tremendous achievement, and one from which other countries can learn.”

His Holiness the Dalai Lama – BEYOND RELIGION

Tibet House is honoured to host a visit to the UK by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in September. His Holiness has a high respect for India as the quote above from His Holiness's book demonstrates. He acknowledges the central role played by Ahimsa in a peaceful and harmonious society, He is revered as one of the great spiritual leaders of our time, reaching out to people of all faiths.

We are taking this opportunity to organise a talk at the Coliseum Theatre in London on Sunday, 20 September 2015 from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm.

We anticipate a significant demand for tickets for this event but we are giving priority to members of Indian faith organisations like yours for the booking of tickets before it goes on sale to the general public.  

I would be grateful if you could kindly circulate details of this event to all your members so that they can take advantage of the priority booking. Tickets can be booked online now from:    http://www.eno.org/whats-on/other/dalai-lama

Meanwhile, if you have any queries on this event, please do not hesitate to contact me.

          Dolma Pemba,  (Mrs)
          Events Officer
          Tibet House

          Office    020 7722 5378
          Mob:     07404 068494
http://www.dalailama2015.uk/tibet-house-trust.php

http://buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=9,12419,0,0,1,0#.VcRnKSZViko

Monks, critical thinking and how Theravada Buddhism would benefit the world

by Kooi F. Lim, The Buddhist Channel, Aug 6, 2015

Bangkok, Thailand -- The Buddhist Channel catches up with the manager of the International Association of Buddhist Universities (IABU), Dr. Dion Peoples. The following are his views on saddha (faith, or as he prefers - confidence) vs critical thinking, Asian monks' knowledge in general of the Buddha Dhamma and how Theravada Buddhism would benefit the world.

Re Council Newsletter : Aug 2015

http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=a742773f8f89e11e47d388c29&id=3d5b8364a6

Re Council Newsletter : Aug 2015

In this Issue:

 

• What’s new at the REC?
• Welcome, goodbye and thank you
• What’s new in the RE world?
• New on the RE Council website
• All Party Parliamentary Group for RE
• RE Quality Mark
• Teacher Recruitment Campaign
• Young Ambassadors update
• AULRE conference: Belief in Dialogue
• NATRE: 2016 national conference
• Institute of Jainology: a talk from the Dalai Lama
• JAINpedia
• Hindu Council UK: GCSE Hinduism Resources
• RE Regional Strategy
• Teach:RE Course
• Free RE conference: 'Energising RE 2015'
• The Shap Calendar 2015-16
• BHA Happiness photography competition
• RE PD Portal