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International Buddhist Festival Held in Sanchi, India, with Exhibition of Relics of the Buddha’s Disciples

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By Shyamal  Sinha
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The Great Stupa at Sanchi. From pinterest.com
The Buddhist vihara at Sanchi, famous for its Great Stupa, is located at Sanchi Town in Raisen District of the state of Madhya Pradesh, India.

The International Buddhist Festival was held on 27 November at Chetiyagiri Vihara in the town of Sanchi. Sanchi is 46km to the northeast of Bhopal in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The event attracted hundreds of local and foreign tourists, hailing from as far afield as Japan, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan, who gathered to pay homage to holy relics of the Buddha’s two foremost disciples, Shariputra and Maudgalyayana. This tradition has been observed annually for the past 65 years, usually on the last Sunday of November.

According to Chandri Bodhi Patil, chief of the Buddhist Society of India, the relics were exhibited on Saturday and Sunday this year because more devotees came to the vihara to seek blessings from the relics during the festival. “Earlier, the relics were displayed only on Sunday, but now as more devotees are pouring in, it was decided to exhibit the relics on Saturday also,” Patil told the Hindustan Times.

According to archaeologist Dr. Narayan Vyas, the British archaeologist Alexander Cunningham found two boxes of gray sandtone inside the Great Stupa at Sanchi in 1851. The Great Stupa is the oldest stone structure in India, dated to the 3rd century BCE. Originally a humbler hemispheric building erected over the relics of the Buddha, it was commissioned by Ashoka (304–232 BCE), one of India’s most acclaimed emperors and a pious Buddhist ruler. Sanchi also is home to two other stupas that house the relics of several of the Buddha’s disciples.

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Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena visiting Sanchi on 16 May 2016. From omlanka.net

“The relics from both stupas [the Great Stupa and another] were removed to England and placed in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Maha Bodhi Society and Jawahar Lal Nehru [the first PM of India] played a key role in getting the relics back,” Vyas said to the Hindustan Times, adding: “The [Maha Bodhi] society requested the British government to return the relics to India in 1937 and after years of lobbying and struggle the relics were handed over to India in 1947.”

According to research scholar Torkel Brekke from the University of Oslo, the Maha Bodhi Society sent a delegation to the governor of Bhopal in 1946 to get the permission to enshrine the relics at Sanchi. Besides granting permission, the governor promised to donate the equivalent of about US$366 for the enshrinement. On 30 November 1952, Nehru had the relics placed inside the third stupa at the complex of the historical Buddhist monuments in Sanchi. In the same year, the Maha Bodhi Society of Ceylon established Chetiyagiri Vihara in the stupa complex.

As the event is held at the temple sanctum, it is also known as the Chetiyagiri Vihara Festival. Since then, the Maha Bodhi Society of India has taken on the responsibility of organizing the festival.

Sanchi, especially Stupa 1, has a large number of Brahmi inscriptions. Although most of them are small and mention donations, they are of great historical significance

His Holiness the Karmapa Awards Khenpo Degrees at Dzongsar Institute

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By Shyamal Sinha

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Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, right, greets His Holiness the Karmapa. From kagyuoffice.org
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche was born in far Eastern, Bhutan in 1961.[1] At the age of seven he was recognized, by H.H. Sakya Trizin Rinpoche, as the third incarnation (Wylie sprul sku) of the founder of Khyentse lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.

Renowned Bhutanese lama, filmmaker, and writer Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche recently underlined the close relationship between the Karmapa and Khyentse lineages by inviting His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, to award diplomas to four new khenpos* at the Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö Institute, a shedra (monastic collage) founded by Rinpoche in Himachal Pradesh, northern India.

Born in Bhutan in 1961 and now based in Himachal Pradesh, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche is the son of Thinley Norbu Rinpoche and was a student of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He is recognized as the third incarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, the founder of the Khyentse lineage. His projects include the Khyentse Foundation, which provides the financial support to fulfill his aspirations; 84000, which oversees the translation of the Word of the Buddha into modern languages; Lotus Outreach, which directs a wide range of projects to help refugees; and most recently The Lhomon Society, which promotes sustainable development in Bhutan through education.

After Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche made the traditional mandala offerings to mark the beginning of the ceremony, His Holiness the Karmapa addressed the assembled monastics on the special ties between the Karmapa and the Khyentse lineages and the importance of monastic education.

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The Karmapa addresses the assembled monastics at the Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö Institute. From kagyuoffice.org

“When I was still in Tibet, of all the collected works I read, the one I looked at the most was that of the first Khyentse, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (Pema Ösel Dongak Lingpa, [1820–92]). I read it cover to cover and returned to it many times,” His Holiness recalled, noting that Khyentse Wangpo was truly Rimé (nonsectarian). “These days saying ‘Rimé’ sounds good, but often it is just ornamental, merely for show. To be a true master of these teachings is not at all easy. Many people are said to be experts, but if you look through history for a master of the teachings, you will find that Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo was an authentic one.” (Karmapa)

Speaking warmly of the relationship between Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1813–99), who together founded the Rimé movement, the Karmapa continued: “In the predictions of the 5th Karmapa Deshin Shekpa [1384–1415], the coming of the Khyentse and Kongtrul incarnations was foretold, and Deshin Shekpa also prophesized that whoever made a connection with them would find it deeply meaningful.” (Karmapa)

His Holiness praised Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche’s approach to teaching, which he described as “unambiguous, straightforward, penetrating, practical, and touching the heart,” remarking: “I have true devotion and pure vision for this lineage. I am very happy that I could meet Khyapje Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche here at his seat with all the khenpos and students, and that I could be present with everyone in a single mandala.” (Karmapa)

On the subject of monastic academic achievements, the Karmapa noted that it was important to maintain Tibetan traditions within the context of the 21st century: “Tibetans should not just follow their own tradition, but also look into the way things are done in this present age. In particular, we should pay attention to how education is given and include history in our curriculum,” he stated. “For example, we might study [Chandrakirti’s] Entering the Middle Way for a year, but if asked who translated this root text into Tibetan, we cannot answer because we have not looked into the historical background. This needs to change.

“If we know about the generations stretching into the distant past, when we are looking at a text, a different perspective and feeling can happen,” His Holiness said. “On the other hand, if we are not aware of the history and look straight off at the text, we will not know about the scholars who wrote it, or when and where they lived. We will just know their name, but not the relationships they had with other masters and what their life’s situation was. Without this knowledge, our understanding of a text is not complete,” he said. (Karmapa)

In his concluding remarks, the Karmapa observed that in continuing the Rimé tradition of the Khyentse lineage, the Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö Institute welcomed students from all traditions. His Holiness prayed for the minds of all the students to be in harmony, their discipline pure, and that they dedicate their time to the study and practice of the Dharma.

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The Karmapa and Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche with the new khenpo degree holders. From kagyuoffice.org

The institution of the Karmapa is the oldest tulku lineage in Tibetan Buddhism, dating back to the first Gyalwa Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa (1110–93), and predating the Dalai Lama lineage by more than two decades. The movements of His Holiness, who is based in the town of Sidhbari in Dharamsala after fleeing Tibet at the age of 14, remain closely watched by the Indian government.

* A title given to holders of the diploma, equivalent to a doctoral degree in divinity.
In 1989, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche founded Siddhartha’s Intent, an international Buddhist association of non-profit centres, most of which are nationally registered societies and charities, with the principal intention of preserving the Buddhist teachings, as well as increasing an awareness and understanding of the many aspects of the Buddhist teaching beyond the limits of cultures and traditions.

Japan Seeks World Heritage Status for Country’s Oldest Buddhist Pilgrimage Route

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By Shyamal Sinha
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An estimated 100,000 people attempt at least part of the 1,200km pilgrimage route each year. From mlit.go.jp

Pilgrimages have played an important part in Japanese religious practice since at least the Heian period. Typically centred upon holy mountains, particular divinities, or charismatic individuals, they are usually to Buddhist sites although those to the shrines of Kumano and Ise are notable exceptions.

Japan’s Shikoku region is petitioning to have a centuries-old Buddhist pilgrimage trail that includes 88 temples listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The governments of Shikoku’s four prefectures and 58 municipalities have petitioned Japan’s Cultural Affairs Agency in their application, describing the sacred trek as “our nation’s typical form of pilgrimage.” (The Japan News)

The pilgrimage is closely associated with the renowned Buddhist monk Kūkai (774–835, also known, posthumously, as Kōbō Daishi), founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism, a major school of Buddhism in Japan and one of the few surviving Vajrayana lineages in East Asia. Born at Zentsū-ji (the 75th temple on the route) and known as a civil servant, scholar, poet, and an artist, Kūkai is famed for his calligraphy and for his work as a civil engineer. He is also credited with the invention of Japan’s phonetic, syllabic kana scripts, which have become part of the written Japanese language and is said to have introduced Tantric Buddhism to Japan after studying in China.

The Shikoku pilgrimage is reputed to have been founded in Kūkai in 815, although the actual historical circumstances are unclear. The first known reference to this theory is in a Meiji-period (1868–1912) document authored by a monk affiliated with the Shingon school. Many of the 88 temples along the route are also believed to have been founded by Kūkai.

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Buddhist pilgrims en route. From independent.co.uk

The pilgrimage route encircles Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s four main islands, covering some 1,200km. Pilgrims (known as henro) who undertake to walk the entire length of the pilgrimage can expect to spend 30–60 days to reach the end, although approaches to undertaking the pilgrimage are extremely flexible—it’s not necessary to visit the 88 temples in order; henro are welcome to begin and end their pilgrimage at any point along the route and some people spread their journey out over many years. Many modern pilgrims also use cars, buses, bicycles, or motorcycles to navigate the route.

The pilgrimage is “characterized by its casual nature, and anyone can start it from anywhere and at any time,” said Masato Mori, associate professor of cultural geography at Mie University in central Japan and the author of a book on the famous pilgrimage. (The Japan News)

Shuji Matsuki, 67, the secretary-general of a citizen’s group in Matsuyama that is helping to promote the initiative for UNESCO recognition, views the flexible nature of the pilgrimage as one of its strengths: “We hope to promote the ritual as something that represents a culture of coexistence because it welcomes anyone from any religion.” (The Japan News)

The number of the temples included in the pilgrimage has changed over the years. Documents from Japan’s Kamakura period (1192­–1333) list 33 temples along the route, but the total had expanded to 88 by the Edo period (1603­­–1867). Local governments in Shikoku now face the challenge of drawing up a formal plan to preserve the route and the 88 temples as cultural assets.

“Since those days, more and more media outlets have been promoting [the Shikoku pilgrimage] by focusing on its ties with Kūkai,” Mori acknowledged. “In addition, an increasing number of young people try the holy trek on foot to seek a challenge or embark on a journey of self-discovery.” (The Japan News)

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Pilgrims gather at Kongofuku-ji, the 38th temple on the pilgrimage route. From sacredsites.com

Among the pilgrims at Ishite-ji, the 51st temple along the route in the city of Matsuyama, 34-year-old Shinsuke Tosa from Okayama Prefecture is on the 27th day of his journey to pray for his sick mother. “My legs ache and I feel lonely, but I’ve been encouraged by meeting other people,” said Tosa. “[This pilgrimage] has given me a chance to self-reflect.” (The Japan News)

Many pilgrims begin and complete the journey by visiting Mount Kōya in Wakayama Prefecture, which was settled by Kūkai and remains the headquarters of Shingon Buddhism. The 21 kilometres (13 mi) walking trail up to Koya-san still exists, but most pilgrims use the train.

Home Kalon Addresses Thousands Participating in Annual Tawang Yatra

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By Staff Writer

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Home Kalon Mr Sonam Topgyal Khorlatsang and Shri R K Khrimey with the participants of Tawang Yatra.

TAWANG, Arunachal Pradesh: Under the radiance of the sun beaming in all its glory over the soothing calm of the historical Tawang monastery, the streets of Tawang district witnessed the gathering of the 5th Tawang Yatra on 21 November. The Tawang Yatra, an annual pilgrimage defined by the triple concepts of spiritualism, naturalism and nationalism, began in the year 2012 with more than 175 participants from 22 states of India.

This year, the Yatra saw over a thousand participants. The Yatra (pilgrimage) began from Guwahati in Assam on 18 November and was flagged off by Shri Indresh Kumar, a senior leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

The Yatris (pilgrims) passed through Nagaon, Tezpur and halted for a night at Bhalukpong. They left Bhalukpong the next morning and crossed Nechi Phu (Zero Point), Tenga, Bomdila, Dirang, Sela, Jang and Khrimu before arriving at Tawang. At Tawang, the pilgrims were given a special reception hosted by Tawang monastery with special prayers and a tour of the monastery.

From Tawang monastery, the pilgrims – along with monks, nuns and the local Tibetan public – embarked on a peace procession till Kalawangpo Convention Center. The participants raised slogans calling for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibetan freedom and India’s security during the procession.

At Kalawangpo Convention Center, a brief ceremony was held to mark the success of the Yatra. The chief guest at the ceremony was Mr Sonam Topgyal Khorlatsang, Kalon of the Department of Home, Central Tibetan Administration. The guest of honour at the ceremony was Shri R K Khrimey, National Convener, Core Group for Tibetan Cause – India.

Other guests at the ceremony include Shri Sang Phuntso, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Tawang; Shri Jampa Tsering, Chairperson, Zila Parishad; Ven Dr Rigya Lhuve Rinpoche, Shri Maling Gombu, State President Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch; Shri Sangey Chodup, District President, Bharatiya Janta Party, Tawang and Mr Yangdup, Tibetan Settlement Officer, Tenzingang.

Home Kalon Sonam Topgyal, in his address, emphasised Tibet’s strategic importance in South Asian geopolitics and the historical bond between Tibet and India. He pointed out that Tawang, the birth place of the 6th Dalai Lama, is spiritually significant for Tibetan Buddhists.

He further condemned China’s expansionist ideology and expressed his concern over the damming of Tibetan rivers, which could threaten the livelihood of millions living in downstream countries.

Shri R K Khrimey underlined the importance of restoring Tibet’s right to self-determination and the resumption of dialogue between the Chinese government and envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He shared his optimism for a fruitful resolution of the Tibet issue and expressed his fervent hope for the successful return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet. He further urged the public to persuade their local leaders to raise the Tibet issue. Read press release by Core Group for Tibetan Cause – India.

The ceremony also saw a colorful presentation of cultural performances by students from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya, Orphanage Manjushri Vidyapeeth and many others. The theme of the cultural presentations was Akhand Bharat and Unity in Diversity.

The next day, on 22 November, the participants visited Bumla – a border town between India and Tibet. The objective behind visiting this place – which stands at a height of 14776 ft – is to emphasise India’s commitment to unity in diversity and Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India. With this, the pilgrims left Tawang and concluded the Yatra on 23 November at Guwahati, from where it began.

– Report filed by India-Tibet Coordination Office (ITCO) –

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The participants of Tawang Yatra holding a peace procession from Tawang monastery to Kalawangpo Convention Center.

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Home Kalon addressing the gathering at Kalawangpo Convention Center.

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Dignitaries and participants during the ceremony at Kalawangpo Convention Center.

 

 

Meeting with the Press before Returning to Japan

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By Staff Writer

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 23 November 2016 – Before leaving for the airport this morning, His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with about 50 members of the media at his guest house. He told them he was happy with the way his ninth visit to Mongolia had gone, and that he considered it to have been a meaningful success.

“Wherever I go,” he remarked, ”I always stress that I am just one among the seven billion human beings on this planet. We all seek happiness and do not want suffering. I consider it part of my responsibility to try and promote the human values that are a true source of happiness, keeping in mind the oneness of humanity.

As for Tibet and Mongolia, we have had close relations for well over 1000 years—even before Buddhism was introduced in our two countries, I am sure we responded to each other like neighbours. The Tibetan and Mongolian peoples are like twin brothers and sisters. We have the blue birthmark on our behinds in common.

bd1“Both peoples uphold the practice of Buddhism as taught by the great Nalanda masters. In my various meetings and talks over the past four days, I have stressed that since Mongolia has many monasteries and temples it is very important for monks, and lay people too, to study what the Buddha taught.

“These days there are several hundred Mongolian monk students studying in the Tibetan monasteries that have been re-established in India. Some have already been studying for 15 to 20 years and are preparing to obtain their Geshe degrees. I am confident these monks will be well able to serve the Buddhadharma here in Mongolia”.

Concerning the reincarnation of the 9th Jetsun Dhampa, His Holiness told the reporters,

“Previous Jetsun Dhampas have been close to the Dalai Lamas in the past. I knew the 9th Jetsun Dhampa from childhood. As the time of his death approached, he asked me where and when he should pass away, which surprised me a little. However, during our last meeting, when he was already in poor health, I told him that it was important for him to be reborn in Mongolia. Considering the significance of his reincarnation and bearing in mind that he is a personal friend, I feel I have a responsibility to look after his reincarnation.

“I am convinced that his reincarnation has been born in Mongolia. However, the boy is very young right now, so there is no need for haste in making an announcement. When he is 3, 4 or 5 years old, we’ll see how things are. Placing a small child on a high throne is not what’s important. What is much more important is that he is able to study and become learned so he will be able to contribute to the flourishing of the Buddhadharma.”

bd2Finally, His Holiness expressed his gratitude to the concerned officials who had permitted and supported his visit and to Gandan Tegchenling Monastery for organizing it.

Asked about the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, His Holiness replied that he had long considered America to be the leading nation of the free world. He said that no matter what complicated issues had been raised during the election, the people had made their choice. He added that while they are campaigning, candidates are free to say what they like. However, once the election is over the winner needs to work within the actual reality in which he or she finds themselves, so he said he wasn’t worried about it. Finally, he remarked that he expects to be visiting the United States next year and looks forward to having the opportunity to call upon the new President.

Regarding Chinese government complaints about His Holiness visiting Mongolia and other countries, he retorted,

“This is just the usual Chinese government routine. Japan and Mongolia are the only two Buddhist countries I am able to visit. There are more than 400 million Buddhists in China. Many of them ask me to visit them there. Meanwhile, Chinese government propaganda accuses me of being a separatist. The reality is that since 1974 I have not sought independence, but what I am looking for is genuine autonomy. Many Chinese and many more in the wider world know this. There are even some Tibetans who criticise me for not seeking independence. But right from the start I have been concerned that we should not be striving for the victory of one side and the complete defeat of the other. We need to find a mutually beneficial solution, acceptable to both sides.”

His Holiness took time to make his way through the large crowd of Mongolians clamouring for his blessings as he left the guest house to drive to Chinggis Khaan International Airport. At the airport, he bade farewell to Khambo Lama Choi Gyamtso and other senior monks of Gandan Tegchenling Monastery before boarding the plane for Tokyo.

His Holiness will rest for the next two days before giving a public talk in Saitama, Japan, on 26th November. The following day he will return to India.

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Buddhist monk of the Tibetan tradition Inspires Hollywood Stars

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By Shyamal Sinha

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Venerable Gelong Thubten. From walesonline.co.ukGelong Thubten has been a Tibetan Buddhist monk for more than 20 years. He teaches monthly classes at Google’s headquarters in Dublin and says there are three ways that mindfulness can help you at work.Stress Reduction,Mental Clarity,Compassion and empathy.

Venerable Gelong Thubten, a Buddhist monk of the Tibetan tradition and a mindfulness teacher based in the United Kingdom, has been actively involved in teaching mindfulness meditation at businesses, schools, and prisons for years. However, his latest students are somewhat more glamorous, including top Hollywood stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Tilda Swinton, and other cast members of the recent Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbuster Doctor Strange, which hit theaters in October.

British actor Tilda Swinton, who plays the mystical character the Ancient One in Doctor Strange and is also a friend of Ven. Thubten, invited the monk to get involved in the film, which is themed around the idea of mind training. “I introduced him to the project and he’s been hanging out with us and teaching everybody, if they don’t know, about mindfulness and about how to still the mind,” Swinton said. (Reuters)

Ven. Thubten accepted the invitation and subsequently spent time on the set of the film in London, teaching mindfulness to the cast and crew. “I said yes, but I didn’t realize I’d end up there all the time during filming. It was great fun,” said Ven. Thubten, who also directs the Samye Foundation Wales in the UK. Ven. Thubten was even able to attend last month’s premiers for the film in London and Los Angeles. (Yorkshire Coast Radio)

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Ven. Gelong Thubten with Benedict Cumberbatch, left, and Tilda Swinton, right. From walesonline.co.uk

Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays the titular superhero, is also not new to Buddhism and has previously worked on mindfulness-related projects. Cumberbatch expressed his appreciation for the on-set mindfulness training provided by Ven. Thubten during filming. “As an actor it’s great because it brings you into that moment of stillness and presence. You’ve got a lot of people demanding your attention in filmmaking,” said the star of The Imitation Game (2014) and the narrator of the forthcoming Walk With Me, a documentary about the monastic community of Zen monk and teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, due to be released next year. (Reuters)

Talking about his experience working on the set of Doctor Strange, Ven. Thubten conceded that it was quite unusual for a Buddhist monk to end up in Hollywood. During breaks in filming, Ven. Thubten said he would gather the actors and have them practice mindfulness, which helped to prepare their minds for the next shoot. “It was an interesting challenge to practice mindfulness on quite a noisy set with 400 crew members rushing around,” he recalled. Admitting that working with the actors had given him a unique opportunity to promote mindfulness, Ven. Thubten also observed that, like the fictional superhero’s mystical abilities, mindfulness is about the power of the mind: “The film presents the idea that you can create your reality with the power of your thoughts, and that the mind has limitless potential.” (Wales Online)

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Swinton and Cumberbatch in a still from Doctor Strange. From indiewire.com

According to Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery, Ven. Thubten has been a monk for 24 years and has received extensive meditation training from some of the world’s most accomplished practitioners. He also has spent more than five years in intensive meditation retreats. Ven. Thubten does not accept payment for his work, but encourages his clients to make donations to the Rokpa Trust charity, which runs projects to help the community and of which he is also a trustee.

Path to enlightment

• Buddhism is one of the world’s most tolerant and logical faiths, marked out by its non-violence and lack of dogma

• There is no worship of a God, Individuals seek their own path to enlightenment, or Buddha-hood

• Buddhists do not believe in a pre-ordained fate, everyone is offered the possibility of change

• Buddhism is essentially positive: it regards people as naturally good There are three main aspects to Buddhist practice: doing no harm; wholesome actions; and training the mind through meditation

Jackie Chan does Bollywood style song for Kung Fu Yoga

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By Shyamal Sinha ,New Delhi

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In the 20th century, Indian cinema, along with the Hollywood and Chinese film industries, became a global enterprise.] As of 2013, in terms of annual film output, India ranks first, followed by Nollywood,[ Hollywood and China.[

Earlier we had given glimpses of Kung Fu Yoga when the shooting took place in the picturesque lanes and around the monuments of Rajasthan. Now, the latest poster of the Indo-Chinese film reflects the desi flavor of the film and here’s the same.

Disha Patani, who plays one of the leading ladies in the film, took to the social media to share her excitement about the release of the film and posted this picture with a caption, “Can’t wait 4 D track choreographed by @TheFarahKhan & my lovely cast @EyeOfJackieChan @AmyraDastur93 #aarif_964 @SonuSood #stanleytong.”

The film, though extensively shot in China, has few locations from India too which play a prominent role. While Sonu Sood plays the role of Randall, Amyra and Disha play the role of Jackie’s assistant Kyra and professor Ashmita respectively. The film is said to have elements of Bollywood which includes music and dance choreographed by Farah Khan.

Directed by Stanley Tong, Kung Fu Yoga focuses on the journey of retrieving the lost treasure from the Magadha era and is slated to release on January 28 next yea

Farah Khan, who has choreographed Jackie Chan for the upcoming Sino-Indian film “Kung Fu Yoga”, says the legendary actor is a fabulous dancer.

“It was fabulous (choreographing for Chan). He is a fabulous dancer and he picked up the Bollywood moves so easily and he loved doing it,” Farah told IANS.

Asked if he showed any interest in starring in a Bollywood film, she quipped: “I don’t know if we can afford him. He charges hell of a lot of money. The entire budget would just go to him.”

Farah, who is currently judging the ninth season of “Indian Idol” aired on Sony Entertainment Television channel, has even directed hits like “Om Shanti Om”, “Main Hoon Na” and “Happy New Year”.

So would Farah like to direct Chan?

“I would love to…He is a joy to work with,” said Farah, who will be seen judging along with composer Anu Malik and singer Sonu Nigam in “Indian Idol”.

“Kung Fu Yoga” is part of the three-film agreement signed between the two countries during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India.

Directed by Stanley Tong, the action comedy film has been shot in Dubai, Iceland, Beijing and India.

Some of the indo chinese film got good public appreciations in both the countries.

Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani
The 1946 film Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani based on a story by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, had V Shantaram, who is also the director of the film, essaying the role of protagonist Dr Dwarkanath Kotnis – an Indian doctor who worked in China during the Japanese invasion in World War II. While in China, providing medical assistance to the troops fighting against the Japanese, Kotnis courts a Chinese girl called Ching Lan, played by Jayashree.

In the film Howrah Bridge (1958), the famous song Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu, sung by Geeta Dutt, has Helen mouthing the lines, “Babuji main Chin se aai, Chini jaisa dil layi.”

The 1964 film Haqeeqat is said to be the only film that featured the India-China border war.

Chandni Chowk to China (2009)
The film, panned by both critics and the audience, had Akshay Kumar playing Sidhu, a worker at a roadside food stall in Chandni Chowk. When two Chinese men tell him that he is a reincarnation of war hero Liu Shen and wish to take him to China, Sidhu, egged on by charlatan Chopstick (Ranvir Shorey), believes he will be treated as a hero in the neighbouring country. What he doesn’t know is that his job is to assassinate the smuggler Hojo (Gordon Liu). The film also starred Deepika Padukone in a double role – as an Indian-Chinese spokesmodel and Chinese femme fatale Meow Meow. Chopstick, Meow Meow… could this flick have ashamed itself any further? Actor Roger Yuan played Deepika’s father and Akshay’s trainer in the film. The only credit that can be given to CC2C is that it genuinely made an attempt to show the Chinese martial art Kung-Fu in Bollywood style.

Both India and China have a rich history and culture, but not a shared one.

Kathmandu’s Boudhanath Stupa Formally Reopens After Reconstruction

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By Shyamal Sinha
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Buddhist monks perform the purification ceremony for Boudhanath Stupa. Photo by Niranjan Shresth. From the guardian.comThe Buddhist stupa of Boudhanath dominates the skyline. The ancient Stupa is one of the largest in the world. The influx of large populations of refugees from Tibet has seen the construction of over 50 Tibetan Gompas (Monasteries) around Boudhanath. As of 1979, Boudhanath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along with Swayambhunath, it is one of the most popular tourist sites in the Kathmandu area.

In a moving demonstration of the resilience and resourcefulness of the people of Nepal, the Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu was formally reopened to the public on Tuesday, some 18 months after the country was devastated by a massive earthquake and a series of deadly aftershocks that killed nearly 9,000 people and displaced millions with the destruction of homes and businesses—damage that extended to hundreds of historic monasteries, temples, and monuments.

The iconic stupa, a richly symbolic expression of the Vajrayana tradition and one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal, was draped in colorful prayer flags and covered in flowers to mark the opening, which followed three days of purification rituals performed by Buddhist monks that began last Friday.

“I am here almost every day and was heartbroken to see [the stupa] damaged after the quake,” said 66-year-old Dawa Lama, who had come to the site to offer prayers. “But it is now open to us, I am very happy to see it standing tall.” (Channel News Asia)

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The three-day purification ceremony began last Friday. From thehimalayantimes.com

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, Boudhanath—the first major monument to be fully restored since the quake—is one of the largest stupas in the world, standing some 36 meters high. It is generally believed to have been founded by King Shivadeva (c. 590–604), although some chronicles date its origin to the reign of King Manadeva (464–505). Boudhanath lies on an ancient trade route from Tibet that enters the Kathmandu Valley through the village of Sankhu, to the northeast of the stupa. Today, it remains a center of Nepal’s Tibetan community, which has constructed more than 50 monasteries around the stupa, most of which also suffered significant damage during last year’s quakes.

“I could see it from my window every day. It was so sad,” said Ratna Bazra Lama, 63, who lives and works near the stupa. He expressed joy that the stupa was finally complete: “So we’re happy it’s been restored.” (The Kathmandu Post)

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A monk carries incense around the stupa. From thehimalayantimes.com

The restoration effort, which began in May last year, cost a total of US$2.1 million and included more than 30kg of gold, according to the Boudhanath Area Development Committee that oversaw the project. The reconstruction was funded with donations from devotees and from Buddhist organizations around the world.

Artist Hom Bahadur Tamang, who has been selling his thangka paintings at the complex for 21 years, said business had been slow since last year’s tragedy, but he felt heartened by the reopening of the monument: “The reconstruction of the stupa has given us new hopes that we will rise again.” (Channel News Asia)

The government has been the target of a barrage of criticism over the lack of speed and effectiveness in its response to the disaster. Nevertheless, in a speech at the stupa, Nepal prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal praised the privately funded restoration effort as a demonstration of “proof that we can rebuild our heritage. This example puts pressure on us in government to reconstruct all the houses and temples that have been damaged.” (The Kathmandu Post)

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The newly repainted eyes of the Buddha are returned to their rightful place, their watchful gaze restored. From the guardian.com

Reconstruction work in the wake of the disaster, a mammoth task in itself given the extent of the devastation, has been hobbled by political red tape, inefficiency, and infighting—it took almost a year for the government to set up an earthquake reconstruction authority. As a result, an estimated 4 million people in this Himalayan nation were still homeless last winter. Eighteen months on and many are still waiting for government compensation to rebuild their shattered homes and millions face the prospect of a second winter without adequate shelter.

The Stupa is commonly known as Boudha or Boudhanath, meaning lord of Wisdom, It is a protective,purification and wish-granting stupa.

Korean Buddhist Cuisine Helps France and Korea Celebrate 130 Years of Diplomatic Ties

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By Shyamal Sinha
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Ven. Seonje shows off Buddhist cuisine to chefs at Le Cordon Bleu. From koreajoongangdaily.joins.com
Buddhist cuisine is an East Asian cuisine which is followed by monks and many believers from areas historically influenced by Chinese Buddhism. It is vegetarian or vegan, and it is based on the Dharmic concept of ahimsa (non-violence). Vegetarianism is common in other Dharmic faiths such as Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism as well as East Asian religions like Taoism. While monks are vegetarian year-round, many believers follow the Buddhist vegetarian diet temporarily, similar to Christian Lent.

France and Korea this year marked the 130th anniversary of the establishment of Franco-Korean relations. To celebrate the occasion, Venerable Jaseung, president of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, visited Paris with her cultural promotion team from 25 October–9 November. On 28 October, the bhikkhuni Ven. Seonje, considered a maestro of temple cooking, delivered a special lecture on Buddhist cuisine attended by nearly 100 students and teachers at the prestigious French cooking and hospitality academy Le Cordon Bleu at an event titled “Voyage au pays du Buddhism Coreen.”

“When we prepare food in temples, we view nature and ourselves as one,” said Ven. Seonje. “The Buddhist scriptures say, ‘Bees do not hurt the flowers when they collect honey from them.’ Buddhist cuisine goes along the same line. We cook using nature’s products but never hurt nature itself.” (Korea JoongAng Daily)

“This soy sauce has been matured for 20 years,” said Ven. Seonje as she handed over samples to students. “Try it.” The students who smelled and tested the samples said that they enjoyed the rich taste of the aged soy sauce. (Korea JoongAng Daily)

“I’ve tasted various kinds of soy sauce in Japan and China, but none were as tasty as this,” said Philippe Groult, assistant culinary arts director at Le Cordon Bleu. “For a second, I wondered if this really was soy sauce because it wasn’t salty at all. This was like a bottle of well-aged wine, a product of ancestors’ wisdom.” (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Ven. Seonje gives a presentation of Korean Buddhist cuisine at Le Cordon Bleu. From koreanbuddhism.netVen. Seonje gives a presentation of Korean Buddhist cuisine at Le Cordon Bleu. From koreanbuddhism.net

According to the Korea Joongang Daily, Ven. Seonje also introduced other Buddhist dishes, such as kimchi, stir-fried mushrooms, and seasoned eggplant. While preparing the kimchi, she held up a head of cabbage and explained to the students the spirit of simplicity and purity of taste in Buddhist cuisine. “People label these cabbages by price,” Seonje said. “But in the world of Buddhism, we never distinguish food by price. This cabbage needed sun, soil, wind, water, and the farmers’ efforts to grow into a vegetable this size. In other words, it was created through the power of the entire universe, which is why we need to respect food.” (Korea JoongAng Daily)

“This is my first time trying out Korean food,” said a student from Poland. “I’m surprised that the spicy taste forms this remarkable harmony with fresh cabbage. I’m thinking of checking out one of the Korean restaurants in Paris.” (Korea JoongAng Daily)

Ven. Seonje also emphasized that temples never throw food away. “The part where she mentioned that they used every part of the ingredients was very impressive,” said another student. “It gave me a chance to look back on how much time and effort is required for a vegetable to grow.” (Korea JoongAng Daily)

“If I were to choose three words to describe Korean Buddhist cuisine, they would be ‘fresh,’ ‘healthy,’ and ‘peaceful,’” said a student from Canada. “I find the philosophy behind these foods very appealing.” (Korea JoongAng Daily)

“It’s quite easy to get what we want with money these days, but we can never buy happiness,” said Eric Briffard, head of Le Cordon Bleu’s cuisine department. “If we compare that to food, seeking simplicity is what really brings us happiness. The spirit of Buddhist cuisine fits well with the modern trend.” (Korea JoongAng Daily)

in most parts of East Asia where Buddhism is most practiced, rice features heavily in as a staple in the Buddhist meal, especially in the form of rice porridge or congee as the usual morning meal. Noodles and other grains may often be served as well. Vegetables of all sorts are generally either stir-fried or cooked in broth with seasonings and may be eaten with various sauces. 

Joseon Korea and the French Third Republic concluded the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation on 4 June 1886.

Poet, Musician, and Zen Buddhist: the Legacy of Leonard Cohen

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By Shyamal Sinha

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Leonard Cohen. From feelgrafix.com

Leonard Cohen September 21, 1934 – November 7, 2016 was a Canadian singer, songwriter, poet and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, sexuality, and personal relationships. Cohen was inducted into both the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was a Companion of the Order of Canada, the nation’s highest civilian honour. In 2011, Cohen received one of the Prince of Asturias Awards for literature and the ninth Glenn Gould Prize.

A native of the province of Quebec, born in Montreal in 1934, Cohen left a legacy of work spanning some 50 years. Best known as an influential singer-songwriter, renowned for his insightful, penetrating lyrics, and sparse musical arrangements, Cohen also made his mark as a novelist and was noted for his poetry, which he continued to publish throughout his life, alongside his flourishing musical career.

A notice posted on Cohen’s Facebook page last Thursday read, “It is with profound sorrow we report that legendary poet, songwriter, and artist Leonard Cohen has passed away. We have lost one of music’s most revered and prolific visionaries.” (Leonard Cohen Facebook)

Born and raised in the Jewish faith, Cohen maintained a close relationship with the religion of his birth, even after his spiritual explorations led him to Zen Buddhism in the mid-1970s, a practice that would remain with him throughout his life. Between 1994 and 1999, he spent time living at the Mount Baldy Zen Center in California, ordaining as a Buddhist monk in 1996 and working as a personal assistant to the Japanese Rinzai Zen teacher Kyozan Joshu Sasaki (1907–2014). His experiences at the monastery resulted in the publication of a collection of poems and drawings titled Book of Longing (McClelland and Stewart, 2006).

At the monastery, Cohen found the freedom to step back from his high-profile music career to engage in a simpler lifestyle centered on cooking, cleaning, and Zazen meditation “When you stop thinking about yourself all the time, a certain sense of repose overtakes you,” he said of that period of his life. “It happened to me by imperceptible degrees and I could not really believe it.” (Quartz)

Cohen continued to acknowledge his Jewish faith and saw no conflict with the observance of either practice, noting in 2004, “I’m not looking for new religion. I’m quite happy with the old one, with Judaism.” According to a statement from Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, the synagogue in the Montreal district of Westmount, “Leonard’s wish was to be laid to rest in a traditional Jewish rite beside his parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.” (My Jewish Learning, The Globe and Mail)

In the lead up to the release of his 14th and final collection of music You Want It Darker in October, Cohen reflected on his failing health, observing in an interview that he was somewhat at peace with his imminent mortality. “I am ready to die. I hope it’s not too uncomfortable. That’s about it for me.” (The New Yorker)

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From ub.life

During his time at the Mount Baldy Zen Center, Cohen was given the Dharma name Jikan, meaning “ordinary silence.” An ironic appellation, perhaps, for a man who spent much of his life filling silence through the power and insight of his music.

Citizens and officials in Montreal, Canada, where he spent his early life, are considering honoring him by naming a street and other locations, including a library, after him. Mayor Denis Coderre announced that the city of Montreal will organize a tribute concert to Cohen.

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