SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR)

The Sangha Kommune (僧伽公社) – A Place of Spiritual and Physical Growth! (Founded 16.2.2010)

28/03/2017 Adrian (釋大道)

The Chinese Buddhist monastic community is referred to as a ‘Sangha’ (Sanskrit for ‘spiritual community’), whereby men and women form a voluntary association premised upon following a strict set of rules known as the ‘Vinaya Discipline’. Within this community, there is ‘equality’ between all members, with the leaders being those who have followed these rules for the longest times. This is because such people are thought to have more experience at adhering to the Vinaya Discipline (which includes celibacy and vegetarianism), and are therefore able to effectively advise all others through the difficult times they my face in their practice. As those with little experience have less to share, they are not considered leaders whilst more experienced practitioners live in the vicinity.

UK: Email – What Do I Think About the Balathal Skeleton? (22.9.2026)

22/09/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

Although 700 BCE is touted around the internet – the remains could be as late as the 4th century CE (well within the date for Yoga). The site is not Indian – the skeleton is Indian. My own view is that if this is a holy man – we are probably talking about the disciples of the Buddha who dwelled at the base of trees – a “root-dweller” no-less. Of course, this is just speculation on my part and I am running with the “meditating in isolation” angle. There is absolutely no evidence for the “holy man” interpretation except for the conveniently positioned hands and fingers (the academic authors of the second paper go out of their way to insert an elaborate Hindu origin for this). This seems unprofessional to me. There is no surrounding (qualifying) evidence for the holy man hypothesis. What should usually happen is that a note would be added that draws the reader’s attention to the fact that these remains, when viewed in a certain light, possess a passing similarity to certain well-known religious postures found within the practices of a number of religious and spiritual paths. Whatever the case, more evidence is needed and none has been forthcoming (these are not “new” digs).

Laos: Unexploded US-Bombs Still Indiscriminality Kill & Maim Civilians! (22.9.2026)

22/09/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

After surveying and identifying the bombs, UXO Lao teams coordinated with local authorities and informed nearby residents about the planned destruction process.

Following safety assessments, the bombs were moved approximately 1,500 metres away from the community to a secure demolition site.

Authorities said the explosives were destroyed using low-order demolition techniques in accordance with technical safety standards.

The operation was conducted to ensure the safety of local residents and prevent potential risks from unexploded ordnance remaining from US aggression in Laos.

Prime Minister calls on education authorities, teachers, parents, students and society as a whole to strengthen efforts to improve education quality!

Laos Buddhist-Socialist Republic: PM Calls for Strong Improvement in All Education Standards During New Academic Year! (22.9.2026)

22/09/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

He commended education administrators, teachers, students, local authorities and development partners for their contributions during the 2025–2026 academic year, particularly in improving school infrastructure, expanding school meals in remote areas, promoting non-formal education, increasing student allowances and reducing school dropout rates.

For the new academic year, he called for stronger measures to address teacher shortages, reduce dropout rates, improve vocational and higher education enrolment, and enhance teaching quality through modern techniques and technology.

The Prime Minister urged teachers to uphold professional ethics and continuously improve teaching methods, while encouraging parents to ensure their children remain in school through at least compulsory lower-secondary education.

BMA (UK): India – Deconstructing the Balathal “Samadhi” Skeletal Remains! (21.9.2026)

21/09/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

Such hate-filled ignorance is the modus operandi of the Hindutva ideologue. Christianity was in India long before the British came. In Pakistan – formerly North India – the Muslims preserve a tomb said to be that of Jesus Christ (who supposedly lived-out his life in India following the survival of his crucifixion). Then there is the story of St Thomas who is believed to have been martyred whilst praying in a cave in Tamil Nadu. Even if neither of these stories are true – Christianity probably arrived in India long before it arrived in England. The Buddha, of course, was “Indian” and born a high caste Hindu (Kshatriya). Buddhists are reformed Hindus and were not foreign (or violent) invaders (Marx refers to Buddhists as practicing “rational Brahmanism”). Muslims did invade a “Buddhist” India, and did use violence against the Buddhists who refused to fight back. Only the followers of Brahma took to the field before being defeated. Yes – followers of Brahma still existed in Buddhist India – being a manifestation of Buddhist tolerance.

Voters fill their ballots at a polling station in Magdeburg, Germany, Sept. 6, 2026. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has won Sunday's state election in Saxony-Anhalt with a record 44.5 percent of the vote, according to an exit poll released by public broadcaster ARD. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)

Germany: Left Party Wins Berlin Election – Far-Right AfD Takes Mecklenburg-Vorpommern! (21.9.2026)

21/09/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

Germany’s Left Party was leading the state election in Berlin with 25.1 percent of the vote, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) took first place in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with 37.7 percent, projections from broadcaster ARD showed on Sunday evening. In Berlin, the AfD surged from 9.1 percent in the 2023 election to 15.6 percent, coming in third after the Left Party and the incumbent Christian Democratic Union (CDU). It is also the far-right party’s best result ever in the capital. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) took 35.5 percent of the vote in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, trailing the AfD. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU suffered heavy losses in the state, gaining only 5.2 percent, less than half of its 2021 result., Faced with mounting pressure, Merz called the result a “disaster” and vowed to rebuild confidence.

Police escort Atichote Thammavaro, formerly Phra Vajirayan, out of Wat Phutthaisawan in Ayutthaya after he was defrocked on Thursday

Thailand: Head-Monk Expelled from Sangha for Breaking Vinaya-Discipline! (20.9.2026)

20/09/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

Buddhist Head-Monk in-charge of a wealthy temple under royal protection (he was filmed engaging in sexual activity with a 47-year old female lay practitioner – as well as embezzling billions of baht into a private bank account. Many Buddhist temples exist in impoverished locations – with the monastics being told that they must be sustained entirely upon “Dhamma”. Now, having said that, this is not to imply that the Dhamma is not upheld in temples sponsored by the King of Thailand. The temple in Wimbledon is a very good example of a well-run Buddhist institute. Monastics living in the remote jungle areas of Thailand often do not eat for days on end – with some sieving water for nourishing algae found in flowing rivers to stave-off starvation. Either the laity are non-existent – or are too poor to even provide scraps of food to monastics during their daily begging rounds. The Theravada tradition is very good and it is important for Buddhism that its practices are upheld properly.

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