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).

UN: Israeli War Crimes & Crimes Against Humanity are Ongoing!

UN Report: Israel Forcibly Displaced 33,000 Palestinians from 3 West Bank Refugee Camps! (6.9.2026)

The report warned that the large-scale, prolonged and systematic displacement of more than 33,000 Palestinians from the three camps raises serious concerns over the commission of the crime against humanity of forcible transfer. It said the use of airstrikes, armoured bulldozers and controlled demolitions to render entire camps uninhabitable, while forcing residents to leave and preventing their return in the absence of imperative military necessity, is prohibited under international law and appears to amount to collective punishment, raising concerns over ethnic cleansing. 

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the manner in which the offensive was carried out indicated that its aim was to remove as many Palestinians as possible and make way for further illegal Israeli colonies, describing this as a flagrant violation of international law.

Tourists buy souvenirs in Liuxing block of Yining, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 8, 2025. Liuxing block in Yining is named for its hexagonal alleys where people of multiple ethnic groups live together. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo)

China: Milk Tea Nourishes Grassroots Governance & Ethnic Unity in Xinjiang! (11.8.2026)

For some, the tea gathering may help boost their business. Local craftsman Abduxukur Abdukadir has a problem. His handmade leather boots are of fine quality, yet the steady stream of tourists during peak season has not translated into sales. At the gathering, the neighbours suggested he turn the boots into souvenir keychains, while Zulayat Nurat, a local gourd painting artist, offered to help.

Zulayat Nurat also put forward demands for wider promotion of her traditional gourd painting craft. The community responded swiftly, promoting her works on official platforms and offering a 30-square-metre studio free of rent. “The community truly values our efforts,” she said.

The milk tea gatherings started in 2023 and have been held monthly ever since, according to Nijat Parhat, Party chief of the community.

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.

A grand public parade is held during a celebration marking the 60th founding anniversary of Xizang Autonomous Region at the Potala Palace square in Lhasa on Aug. 21, 2025. (Photo: China News Service/ Li Lin)

China: What the West’s “Assimilation Accusations” Reveal About its Own Historical Burdens! (6.8.2026)

This policy was pursued by forcibly removing children from their families and placing them in foster homes, adoptive families, and correctional institutions through the “Kinder der Landstrasse” (Children of the Open Road) Project. Much of this barbarism was premised on the very “Eugenics” thinking that inspired Adolf Hitler – with Swiss policies before, during, and after WWII “mirroring” those of Nazi Germany. The “Yenish”, of course, are also referred to as “Gypsies” in other countries (they comprise one tribe of Romani people living in Switzerland). Even after WWII, the Swiss government continued to forcibly “Sterilise” Gypsy women of ALL tribes living in Switzerland – with the intention of “ethnically cleansing” this group from Swiss territory. During WWII, the Swiss government actively deported its own Gypsy population to Nazi German Concentration Camps – where they were exterminated en masse. Therefore, “Fan Yichou” – the Associate Professor at the Law School of Minzu University of China (quoted at length in the below article) – needs to carrying-out further research if he mistakenly thinks “Switzerland” offers a viable option to State-building in the West. Yes – there is a type of “Pluralism” in effect as seen in the “Canton” model operating in Switzerland, but this is achieved through a strict separation of the “races”. Throughout much of its contemporary history, Switzerland accrued wealth at the expense of other ethnic groups being displaced or exterminated, and sought to maintain its “Pluralist” racial purity by removing the ability of certain groups from reproducing. This situation might demonstrate how difficult it can be to shine a light into a different culture and interpret what is going on correctly. Switzerland, of course, provides the “Swiss Guard” for the Vatican. If that does not set alarm bells ringing – nothing will!

On April 20, one of the Pakistani representatives takes a selfie with local dancers. (Photo: China News Network/Xu Jiawen)

Xinjiang: Pakistani Journalists – No “Forced Labour” – Only Advanced Technology! (25.6.2026)

“The most important thing is the lifestyle of the people and how it has changed in less than 20 years,” said Noor Ullah, Senior Manager of Jang Media Group. He noted that Kashgar’s development experience offers valuable lessons for developing countries, including Pakistan. He added that this is not only about tourism development, but also about improving residents’ lives.

The delegation also visited Makit County in Kashgar Prefecture, located on the southwestern edge of the Taklimakan, China’s largest and the world’s second-largest drifting desert.

In the autumn of 2012, a large-scale ecological afforestation project covering one million mu was launched in this county to curb wind erosion and stabilizing sand.

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