Tricycle | Awake in the World

Rev. Danny Fisher wonders why Buddhists seem to be underrepresented in Washington; after all, he points out, Buddhists in the US outnumber Hindus and Muslims, and yet while both are represented on Obama’s 25-member Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, Buddhists are not. Read Danny's piece here. Sharon Salzberg, who holds retreats in Washington, DC frequently, has this to contribute to Buddhist life in the capital: A few years ago, when I first started going to Washington, DC regularly to lead a sitting group, my friend Eileen would take me to a “tourist” site each visit—Arlington National Cemetery, or one of the memorials. More »

It's not surprising that China would warn President Obama against meeting with the Dalai Lama later this month, but the way Beijing warned/chastised Obama did come across as strange: "He is a black president, and he understands the slavery abolition movement and Lincoln's major significance for that movement," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters. Qin pointed out the Chinese government had abolished slavery, which was widespread in Tibet during the regime of the Dalai Lama, in 1959. Obama should also realize that the Dalai Lama was trying to split China and was a serious challenge to its national unity. "Lincoln played an incomparable role in protecting the national unity and territorial integrity of the United States," Qin said while referring to Obama’s admiration for Lincoln. More »