Buddha & St Benedict United!

UK: Buddha & St Benedict Entwined – a Retrospect! (10.9.2026)

Now, whilst in Hereford I befriended an Irishman (my family are part Irish) named “Brian Gray” – who was training to be a Catholic Priest. He was fascinated by Buddhism and liked to “spar” with me in gloved-boxing matches (I was a nasty bit of work in my late teens – as I discovered my natural physical strength). He introduced me to a “Father Thomas” the Abbot of the Catholic Hereford Cathedral. He wanted me to go to the Vatican to meet the Pope – and to join the Catholic faith – but of course, this was not my path. I am not attuned to entering these paths that discriminate against non-members for not being members. Also, at that point I was learning about how the Vatican supported fascism before, during, and after WWII. So you can see my predicament. Although I had friendly interactions on the personal level, there were certain political realities that had to be acknowledged and balanced. Anyway, the upshot of all this was that I was introduced to the study of the Rule of St Benedict followed by the monastics of the Catholic Church (and given the ring you can see here – although I am unaware of its significance).

Brigadier General Sivilay Phengsantisouk, Standing Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Luang Prabang Political Military Command!

Laos: Luang Prabang Military Command Extends Greetings on Vietnam’s National Day! (6.9.2026)

The Japanese had invaded Vietnam in 1940 – although the Vichy French had partly collaborated. This was a betrayal of a former British ally. Vietnam had been split down the 16th Parallel during the Potsdam Conference during WWII – with Nationalist Chinese troops occupying North Vietnam and the British Army occupying South Vietnam. The French retook the South and when the Nationalist Chinese lost in the Mainland – these troops withdrew leaving the Viet Minh in-charge of the North. The French invaded to the north of the 16th Parallel in 1954 – forcing a battle at Bien Dien Phu with the Viet Minh – which the French lost suffering a humiliating defeat. The UN officially recognised “North Vietnam” – whilst the US occupied South Vietnam – effectively beginning the Vietnam War (which the Americans would lose by 1973 – and its fabricated “South Vietnam” being militarily defeated in 1975). The Viet Minh in the North became the (regular) “North Vietnamese Army” (NVA) – whilst the South Viet Minh (living under the tyranny of the US and Catholic Church) became the (guerrilla) “Viet Cong”. With the liberation of Vietnam – the Laotian people secured their freedom.

Krishna & mohsha

UK: Emails – Looking for “Inner” Moksha! (22.8.2026)

Younger people today, perhaps due to the instant gratification the internet entails, seem to lack the ability to be diplomatic and to ration perception. This leads to violence and aggression between groups due to differences in perception. The interior differences spill-out into the material world – and violence ensues. The stone passage in the temple prevents any unnecessary lateral movement of the body – but the individual should also limit the inner movement of the mind. Then it does not matter whether the body “moves” through the gap or not. Remember, Western sentiment does not operate in this temple. Even if the body “dies” – a mind free of the cycle of birth, life, and death – is a mind (and spiritual-being) free of all suffering. Losing the body in this context is viewed as a win-win for the liberated individual. A disembodied spiritual being is now free to roam in any dimension (and epoch of time) whilst being no longer limited to this plane of existence. What, then, is the issue? Well, it seems that a trapped-body results in a confused and frightened mind – which fastens the individual ever-tighter to the cycle of birth. life, and death. Once the Indian Fire Brigade extracts the compressed being from the birth-canal – an enhanced suffering unfolds!

Mahayana Buddha is Trans Gender

BMA-UK: The Buddha – Gender Fluid or Gender Irrelevant? (6.8.2026)

Of course, even in Shakespeare’s time in England – men dressed as women because women were not permitted to act on the stage. The Vinaya Discipline seeks to completely “cut-off” all sexual activity in the environment, body, and mind. This includes heterosexual, homosexual, and beastiality. This is what a Buddhist monastic is expected to follow – whilst a lay-person may get married and have children – providing there is an element of sexual control. This often comes down to use in the West as “No Adultery” – but in the old Pali Suttas, it is explained in a slightly different manner. In the time of the Buddha, a rich lay-man could marry up to four wives – and as it was the Hindu custom for a man to marry sisters – the Buddha advised that “control” in this instance was not to engage in sexual activity with anyone outside his wife’s family. Replacing this with “Adultery” is a clear example of how the bourgeois (Christian) West has tinkered with Asian Buddhism – and attempted to alter its essential nature. Adultery in the monogamous (modern) West is not the same as adultery in polygamous (ancient) India.

‘Buddha Boy’ Bomjan acquitted by court – Where did he go after release? https://english.nepalnews.com/s/nation/buddha-boy-bomjan-acquitted-by-court-where-did-he-go-after-release/

Nepal: The Curious Case of the “Buddha Boy” – His Paedophilic Conviction – Imprisonment – and High Court Acquittal! (18.7.2026)

What I do not understand is how one court can convict him premised upon the evidence pertaining to over a decade of complaints – and then a High Court “acquit” him of all charges. More to the point, nobody seems outraged by any of this. Either the “Buddha Boy” was set-up and falsely accused by an out of control Nepalese version of “metoo” – or he is a very dangerous sexual predator who has been “let-off” by an equally corrupt Nepalese justice system. So, which is it? Bear in mind that in countries outside of Europe – and not subject to religious indoctrination – the dichotomising Judeo-Christian sense of “good” and “evil” does not exist. Within Buddhist morality, there is the false path of following greed, hatred, and delusion – and the correct path of uprooting greed, hatred, and delusion. As there is no “god” concept punishing each of us for our actions – we are responsible for what we think, feel, and experience. As greed, hatred, and delusion are suffering inducing – it logically follows that non-greed, non-hatred, and non-delusion is the path that does not induce suffering. Of course, all this will be viewed in Nepal as being a product of “karma” – or a type of morally-enthused “cause and effect” pertaining to each individual. For us in the West, as debauched as we are, drunk on the fruits of hundreds of years of deluded imperialism, all this is something akin to a “fetish” form of gossip regarding the exotic “East” – and the strange behaviour of these odd little people!

Lao authorities are accelerating efforts to determine the cause of a land subsidence incident in Nong Kadeng village, Vilabouli District, Savannakhet Province!

Laos: Detailed Survey Launched Into Savannakhet Land Subsidence! (15.7.2026)

Lao authorities are accelerating efforts to determine the cause of a land subsidence incident in Nong Kadeng village, Vilabouli District, Savannakhet Province, with officials pledging to provide regular public updates as the investigation progresses. According to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Department of Geology and Minerals (DGM) is working with local authorities, relevant government agencies and Lane Xang Mineral Co., Ltd. to conduct a detailed geophysical survey of the affected area. While experts have preliminarily concluded that the subsidence is a natural phenomenon associated with underground limestone formations, the additional survey aims to collect comprehensive geological data to verify the cause with scientific evidence.

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