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Politics |
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Language Classes for Peace
Express India reports that Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka will begin taking Tamil language classes. The classes are part of an effort to "create greater harmony and heal the decades-old animosity between the majority Sinhalas and minority Hindu communities," according to the report. The Sinhalese are traditionally Buddhist. Tamil-speaking Hindus represent the largest ethnic minority in Sri Lanka. In 1970, Tamils formed a movement seeking an autonomous Tamil state in response to perceived discrimination by the Sinhalese majority. More » -
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"Abbey Dharma" on Politics: Respect Others' Opinions
I think that calling oneself a Buddhist implies a dedication to non-greed, non-hatred, and non-delusion—a dedication that certainly transcends political stance. It would be wonderful if our sanghas welcomed political diversity and used practices of skillful speech to explain our opinions to one another. In situations that do not feel combative to me, I can work collegially. I can modify my position to accommodate others. I can recognize situations in which an attachment to a particular view has kept me from realizing a larger truth. More » -
World Cup 2010: Oh Peace, Korea
As political tension rises between South Korea and North Korea, Euronews.net reports that a Buddhist temple in Seoul organized a live viewing of the North Korea vs. Portugal world cup game in order to promote peace between the two Korean nations. One thousand South Koreans gathered at the event in Seoul on Monday to cheer on the North Korean team. More » -
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On disagreeing with the Dalai Lama
A few posts back I cited an AFP article in which the Dalai Lama, in advocating nonviolence, appeared to criticize the Sea Shepherds, a group of anti-whaling activists who have been much in the news lately. More » -
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SGI president calls for fast-tracking nuclear weapons ban
As we approach the 65th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Daisaku Ikeda, president of Soka Gakkai International (SGI) has called for an early start to negotiations to abolish nuclear weapons. More » -
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Happy Birthday Aung San Suu Kyi!
We would like to wish Aung San Suu Kyi a happy 65th birthday today. Sadly however, the Burmese opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner will be celebrating while still detained under house arrest in Rangoon. Yesterday, in celebration of her birthday, a series of previously unreleased photographs of Aung San Suu Kyi and her family were made available to the public. As reported by guardian.co.uk, She is known to the world as a human rights activist who has spent 14 of the last 20 years under house arrest as punishment for demanding democracy in her home country. More »
