Category: Buddhism

Exploring the philosophy (and practice) of Early and Later Buddhism.

Red Square 2025

Russia: President Putin Meets President of Laos – Thongloun Sisoulith! (11.5.2026)

The Second World War became the greatest tragedy in the human history. During the war the Soviet Union was the main battleground in Europe, standing shoulder to shoulder with China fought in the Far East.

It was the USSR that took the main blow of Hitler’s Germany and satellites united under its banners and played the key role in destruction of fascism and militarism. Soviet people, having overcome the hardships created by the treacherous invasion, having endured through all horrors of that war, engaged in fierce combat with aggressors and paid the cost of innumerable lives to gain the Great Victory.

This triumph was ultimately significant for the whole world – the defeat of Nazi Germany and militaristic Japan signified the end of claims of the disciples of the inhumane ideology of fascism to global domination, their intentions to enslave whole nations.

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My New English Translation of the Yijing!

UK: Honouring Richard Hunn – My Finished Translation of the Book of Change! (4.5.2026)

I was studying the reading (interpretation) of ancient and traditional Chinese ideograms with my teacher – Richard Hunn (1949-2006) – between 1989 and 2006 (as a private student). An offshoot of this was the mastering of the modern (simplified) Chinese text and its corresponding “pinyin” (spell-hear) phonetic alphabet. Since 1949, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has worked wonders reversing the 90% illiteracy-rate and turning it completely around. Today, throughout the entirety of China (a big place) around 90% of the people are literate with some elderly and/or disabled people suffering various (understandable) barriers to being able to read and write. In these cases, various literate citizens are tasked with reading and writing for these individuals – so as to ensure that all their rights are fully pursued and applied under the 1956 Socialist Constitution (and its various updates and improvements).

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1745 Coaching Stone - Original 18th Century GPS!

Sutton: 18th Century Coaching-Stone – the Original GPS! (13.4.2026)

I may well have written about the old coaching-stones scattered around Sutton and Cheam – I now of two – but was unaware of the date they were established. Basically, these devices informed travellers on foot, horse, or carriage – how many miles it was from where they were to the centre of London. Coachmen could either read the inscription engraved on the stone – or was taught what the stone said and remembered where it was when driving on the road – either way – these coaching-stones served as the original GPS system for travel. I think the Roman established something similar thousands of years ago – so the concept was not new in 1745. What I did not realise is that these stones have now received official recognition of being historically important monuments worthy of preservation and protection. The iron-bars and plaque are the new editions which I only saw when taking a rare walk through Sutton.

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Meditating Cells Skellig Michael - Ireland

BMA-UK: Qumran: How Meditating Jews Borrowed from Buddhism to Build Christian Monasticism! (12.4.2026)

The Jewish community in Qumran chose to sit in meditation cells to seek a communion with their god. Why did some Jews do this? This is not a Jewish tradition and is certainly not recognised as a Jewish practice – even in a peripheral sense. Meditating in a cave must have come into Judaism from an alien teaching and different culture. Two prime candidates are Buddhism and Hinduism – with the edge leaning toward Buddhism (due to the lack of polytheism). Not only this, but Buddhism was flourishing in India during the 3rd century BCE and the 1st century CE – the time era attributed to the Qumran texts (the Dead Sea Scrolls). Christian monasticism (as practiced by the Celtic Church) must have originated in Buddhist India – and was adopted by a small group of Jews in the Qumran area of the Judean Desert (situated on the North-western shore of the Dead Sea). This meditational practice was continued by the early Jewish followers of Jesus Christ and was spread to the Egyptian Desert – where the first (distinct) Christian monastic communities were first formed.

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A double-decker bus in Godagama - Sri Lanka - a British Colony

Sri Lanka: Census Shows Overall Literacy Reaches 97.4%! (12.4.2026)

This creates begging and a sense of “lacking” (there is no money to purchase the necessities of life). Within the traditional modes of existing – money – a) does not exist and b) therefore does not dictate well-being or existence. On the other hand, tradition never changes or is permitted to alter – as such deviation from established norms present a “danger” to the well-being of those who live under its sway. Buddhist monastic life was developed within an ancient agrarian system – but not a modern or capitalistic version. It was a reaction to the Brahmanic caste system. The Buddha lived in a North Indian Republic which elected its secular officials. Followers of Brahma definitely existed – but at that time Brahmin priests had not yet usurped the kings and warriors (Kshatriya) who then administered society (the Buddha was of the Kshatriya caste – before he rejected Brahmanism) and his father the elected leader, etc. Later, the Brahmins would manoeuvre themselves above the warriors and kings – creating a revolutionary repositioning within the caste system (this is where matters stand in India). Sri Lanka, of course, is a Buddhist country with only a small Hindu population – although I did witness Buddhist monks carrying-out various (vegetarian) rituals for local Hindus living in areas around Colombo. This might be because Hindus today view the Buddha as an avatar of the god Vishnu.

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dalai lama chooses a new tantric partner

US: Dalai Lama’s Office Denies Rumours of “Daily Lama” Newspaper! (21.3.2026)

“Within Tantric Buddhism every vow is immediately negated by it’s opposite – as two-sides make a whole. Therefore, when I support extreme violence in the physical world – I am also demanding extreme peace in the spiritual world.” A Xinhua reporter then asked about his public display of amorous behaviour with young boys in public, and the Holy One opined,” This is a very good question and I am glad you raised it. Peace to you and your family. Yes, it can seem odd and strange to see man-boy love unfold in public – but if you examine Tantric texts and iconography – it is common to encounter every kind of sexual expression. Afterall, I am a Tantric leader and not a member of those sects of Buddhism which take vows seriously, or follow vows in a one-sided sense. All my interactions with young children arise from their adult parents who think they are gaining a karmic boost for free by navigating their children towards me. In reality it is I who am the victim in this situation.”

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