Venerable Old Master Xu Yun [虚云]: No Difference Between a Monk and a Lay-Person! (14.10.2023)

For instance, by cross-referencing the below May 1955 Dharma-Talk with the text of ‘Empty Cloud’ for that year – a more all-round picture can be built of exactly what was happening and how Master Xu Yun was reacting to it. To be clear, Master Xu Yun was adamant that an ordained Buddhist monastic must follow ALL the rules of the Vinaya Discipline and that a lay-person must follow a least five, eight or ten of the basic vows contained in the Vinaya Discipline. This is a practical distinction Master Xu Yun upheld – as he rejected the Japanese Zen tradition of monks being allowed to eat meat, drink alcohol and get married. Such individuals are ‘lay-people’ and NOT monks. This being the case, what is Master Xu Yun referring to when he states that there is ‘no difference’ between the ordained Sangha and the laity?

The Case for Abolishing the False Construct of ‘Whiteness’! (6.7.2023)

DNA tests of this clan has apparently demonstrated a genetic link to this area. Obviously, the Vikings had not yet arrived in Eastern Europe around 1,700 BCE – and would not do so for around another 2,000 years! Whoever these people were who migrated into India as ‘Aryans’ – they were NOT Western or Northern Europeans. This proves that the idea that the ‘Aryans’ were ‘Europeans’ is a myth. They may well have been some type of Central Asian with a typical ‘light’ complexion routinely found in the Far East – although examples of these indigenous people still exist within Eastern Russia (a collection of different people who look ‘Chinese’).  

Assessing Sanskrit and Chinese Definitions of ‘Shakya’ (Sakka) and ‘Scythia’ – Dispelling Far-Right Anti-Intellectualism! (25.6.2023) 

The far-right ‘lies’ to its audience. This stems from Adolf Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf’ – within which he advocates ‘lying’ about everything as a means to leverage political advantage, control and influence. The Sanskrit terms ‘Shakya’, ‘Buddha’ and ‘Aryan’, etc, have absolutely NOTHING to do with the modern notions underpinning the ideology of ‘White Supremacy’! As the average person lacks the specialist knowledge required to navigate this complex territory in the West – the far-right ideologues deceitfully take advantage of this fact and attempt to fill the vacuum with inaccurate, misunderstood or misleading information! As the saying goes – ‘The price of freedom is eternal vigilance!’

Laos Buddhist-Socialist Republic: The Head of the Office of the President of Laso – Welcomes the (Respectful) Visit of the Singaporean Ambassador! (14.6.2023)

On this occasion, Ms. Chimmani Phalsena expressed her warm welcome and congratulations to Ms. Liao Sui Lin – for completing her diplomatic duties in the Laos People’s Democratic Republic, which has contributed to the strengthening of the friendship and close cooperation between the two countries (Laos and Singapore) which has been steadily developing as a consequence! At the same time, Ms. Chimmani Phalsena also expressed the deep gratitude and high appreciation felt by the Laotian people to the people and government of Singapore – for contributing to the well-being and development the Laos PDR – through aid in the recent past – and wished Ms. Liao Sui Lin success in her new posting (and a safe journey to the ‘new’ country)!

Laos Buddhist-Socialist Republic: Youth Centre Celebrates International Children’s Day and National Tree Planting Day! (7.6.2023)

The Laos People’s Revolutionary Youth Centre organized various events to celebrate International Children’s Day and National Tree Planting Day – on May 30th, 2023 – held at the Lao-ITech Shopping Centre (old building)! Mr. Kikeo Thikhampithun – Deputy Prime Minister – and relevant parties participated in and watched art performances and other (related) activities performed by the young people of Laos! This included such activities as singing, dancing, playing sports, reciting kapkorn and playing the duliang drum, etc!

Battersea Park: Revolutionary Flags! (27.5.2023)

Buddhism – like Socialism – belongs to humanity! Violence in the outer world can only be ended when one dominant class stops oppressing another! Peace can only be achieved if the capitalist world (in its exploitative aspect) is vanquished and the Bourgeoisie stops resisting and oppressing Socialism! If we – as the working class – stop fighting then we abandon the field to our oppressors and encourage them to inflict an even greater injustice upon us! Genuine peace will only come when the working class siezes the mean of production! As Marx once said – peace is the state achieved when there is an absence to the process of developing Socialism! These photographs were taken at the (Japanese) Buddhist London Peace Pagoda which is situated to the North of Battersea Park!

1 4 5 6 7 8 33