Tag: Sangha

Buddhism: The Marxist-Dhamma Interface! (14.12.2023)

Although Buddhism is apolitical – in the rel world even an apolitical entity has a political function – even if that function involves the permanent position of ‘opposing’ any and all manifestations of human ignorance known as “political” structures! What are these structures? These unwanted structures are any manifestations premised upon greed, hatred, and delusion, and which function within the inverted world of dualistic being. Such constructs are inherently suffering producing and are not conducive to human happiness. This is why Buddhists strive to uproot greed, hatred, and delusion from their minds and bodies – and in so doing generate the conditions for a better outward world. Click on the above link to read more…

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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?

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China: Gansu Buddhist ‘Smile of the Orient’ Said to Equal That of the ‘Mona Lisa’! (5.9.2023)

The early Buddhist groups in China mirrored that of the extant Confucian scholiastic system – often forming around married laymen – with disciples taking the surname of the teacher as their ‘Dharma-Name’ and essentially becoming an extension of his family. Grottoes such as that featured below were places where Buddhists could meet, share and practice their understanding of Indian Buddhist philosophy. An understanding of Buddhist monasticism started to arrive and distinguish itself in China from the existing lay-practice around the 5th century CE – the date I believe this ‘smiling’ monk appears to date from. Whereas Buddhist lay-practitioners did not shave their heads (like Daoists and Confucians) – monastic Buddhists (male and female) were required to shave their heads – indicative of their ‘rejecting’ of the desire-laden conventions that define, guide and justify the external world.

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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)!

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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!

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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!

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