Philosophy – Page 156 – SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR)

Laos: Buddhist Temple – “Golden Ground of Ram” [ວັດໃໝ່ ສຸວັນນະພູມາຣາມ – Wat Mai Suvanna Bhumi Ram]

04/02/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

Laos is a Socialist (Marxist-Leninist) State. Religious freedom is guaranteed as a private matter (through the separation of Temple and State) whilst Theravada Buddhism is the tradition religion of the people. Therefore, Laos may be considered a Buddhist-Socialist State – as the Buddhist Masters advocate Socialism and Dhamma in equal measure. In English, this old temple should be literally known as the “New Temple” – due to its relatively recent repair (just over 200-years) – by Royal Command. As to the Pali name – it translates as “Golden Ground of Ram” – “Ram” is an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. Throughout Southeast Asia and beyond, ancient Brahmanism spread far and wide from India – before the rise and spread of Buddhism. By the time Buddhism arrived in the region – Brahmanism was already in-place – with the Buddha being associated with Vishnu (even in modern India – many contemporary Hindus count the Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu [Ram] sent to earth to encourage vegetarianism).

Laos Buddhist Socialist Republic: Vang Vieng District Recognized as a National Tourist Destination! (3.2.2025)

03/02/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

The purpose of the Master Plan is to serve as a reference for the government, business, and other stakeholders in developing the tourist destination in a way that does not affect the environment and ensures sustainability. This Master Plan covers a total area of 23,456 hectares, including Vang Vieng City and the surrounding landscape along the valley and the Nam Song River. Currently, the city centre and surrounding areas cover a total area of 6,553 hectares, covering 15 villages and the city centre area covers an area of approximately 185 hectares.

Cuba: Soviet Sacrifice at Stalingrad Remembered! (3.2.2025)

03/02/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

Soviet troops not only completely surrounded and annihilated the German Sixth Army, but also demonstrated to the world that the Nazi military machine was not invincible. The precisely planned Operation Uranus struck at the enemy’s most vulnerable flanks and allowed more than 300,000 Wehrmacht soldiers to be encircled. No strategy of Hitler’s could save them.

The echo of Stalingrad resonated far beyond the battlefield. It inspired the peoples of Europe in their fight against fascism and pushed the Western Allies to intensify the opening of the second front. The ruined city, defended street by street, echelon by echelon, became a symbol of the indomitable will of the Soviet people.

Library of Congress“Dead Horse of Confederate Colonel; both killed at Battle of Antietam,” by Alexander Gardner

CSA: Piles of Thread-Bare Confederates at Antietam [Sharpsburg] – Notes on Their Sacrifice! (31.1.2025)

02/02/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

The Union Army paid the farmer $1 per dead Confederate body and the farmer made $60 out of the deal. He dug a new well in a different place for the cost of $2 – making a wartime profit of $58. No one knows the names of these Confederate soldiers – and if it was not for a report being made by the Union soldiers concerned – no one would know about these men today. Of course, there was great bravery on both sides – but the spin placed on the war by the winners has skewed how the Confederacy is viewed today. These Confederate men (and boys) advanced into the Union fire with the utmost discipline and determination. They believed 100% in their cause – which was for the freedom of their individual countries (termed “States”). At the time, this war was not only about slavery – but has been made ONLY about slavery since 1865. Many believed the federalisation of the United States was a betrayal of the 1776 War of Independence – and nothing short of a great evil!

DPRK: Kim Jong Un Inspects Nuclear-Material & Nuclear Weapons Production Institute! (2.2.2025)

02/02/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

The DPRK’s security situation, the world’s most unstable situation in which a long-term confrontation with the most vicious hostile countries is inevitable, makes it indispensable for the country to steadily strengthen the nuclear shield capable of strategically coping with not only the various existing threats but also new prospective security dangers and at the same time reliably guaranteeing the sovereignty, interests and development right of the state, as we should bear the responsibility for not only the present but also the future of the country, he said. And he said that everything should be subordinated to enhancing the prestige of the state and defending its interests and that it is our firm political and military stand and invariable noble task and duty to develop the state’s nuclear counteraction posture indefinitely.

UK: “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now!” Especially For Gee (from the Kids) – Remembering Spectrum Radio! (1.2.2025)

01/02/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

In the old days there was a thing called “Spectrum Radio” (I think on AM) that used to separate the 24-hour cycle into 24 different hours broadcasting music in languages different to English. I believe “Cantonese” (kind of our local Hong Kong language – despite being Hakka with a distinct language of our own) – was broadcast in the evening between 6pm – 7pm. In the early 1990s, I used to teach ethnic Chinese children English in the Sutton area. In the evening, our local Chinese community was much larger then than now – and we used to visit one another for dinner and a cup of tea. On occasion, and long before we were married, me and Gee used to listen to Spectrum Radio together – listening to contemporary (English) tracks rendered into Cantonese. Gee remembers “My Heart Will Go On” (Celine Dion) – the theme from the hit Movie “Titanic” – sang in Cantonese! Our children – Mei-An and Kai-Lin – have designed a post on this blog around our memories!

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