The Center for Buddhist Studies Weblog

CBSS Podcast: Ute Hüsken

Ute Hüsken, Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Olso (Norway), presented her talk on "Global or Local or Both? On the Establishment of a Tibetan Nuns' Order" on December 3rd, 2009 as part of the Columbia University Buddhist Studies Seminar series. A handout that was distributed at the talk is available as a PDF download here.

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CBSS Podcast: Michael Walsh

Michael Walsh, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Religion at Vassar College, presented his talk on "The Intimate Religious Life of the Nation: Visions of Buddhism in Colonial Missions to China" on November 19th, 2009 as part of the Columbia University Buddhist Studies Seminar series.

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CBSS Podcast: Dominic Steavu

Dominic Steavu, currently a research fellow at the McGill University Centre for East Asian Research, presented his talk on "The Tao of Tea: Macrobiotic Hygiene in the 'Kissa yojo ki' of the Zen Master Eisai" on October 22, 2009 as part of the Columbia University Buddhist Studies Seminar series.

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EcoBuddhism: A Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change

Message from Bhikkhu Bodhi <venbodhi@gmail.com> 

Dear Friends,

I am sending you the link to a Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change, which I helped to compose, along with David Loy and John Stanley, a British micro-biologist. If you agree with the statement, please sign it and return it to the Ecobuddhism website. Thank you.
 
Please also pass it on to your own Buddhist friends and colleagues. Those involved with organizations should feel at liberty to post the declaration, or a link to it, on their websites.
 
 www.ecobuddhism.org/buddhist-declaration.php 
  
Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
Chuang Yen Monastery
2020 Route 301
Carmel NY 10512
U.S.A.

Giving concrete expression to the Buddha's great compassion in today's world:
www.buddhistglobalrelief.org/main.html

The Dalai Lama at the Beacon

Despite ongoing rain showers yesterday, the Beacon Theatre was filled to capacity to welcome the 14th Dalai Lama-Tenzin Gyatso to New York City. The event was organized by Tibet House (US) and was a teaching on the "Quintessence of Compassion," a topic illuminated in the opening chapter of Chandrakirti's Entry Into the Middle Way.

The teaching was originally intended to be two days, however, it was reduced to one on the cautionary advise of the Dalai Lama's medical team. (He has recently tapered back all his teachings after being hospitalized last August in Mumbai.) Nonetheless, the septuagenarian was in fine form — performing a well ordered exegesis that was both comprehensible and erudite.

As director of Tibet house, Columbia Professor Robert Thurman was master of ceremonies for the event. At the close of the teaching he performed the traditional offerings of gratitude in a manner that attested to his genuine reverence for the Dalai Lama. Uncharacteristically taciturn, Thurman's closing remarks were simply expressions of gratitude and full disclosure of the fiscal particulars (no monetary profit was garnered).

The chapter of Chandrakirti's text that the Dalai Lama taught was originally translated by the Venerable George Churinoff and subsequently edited by Annie Bien, Robert Thurman, and Tom Yarnall. The Tibetan edition was edited by Tenzin Gelek, Dr. Lozang Jamspal, and Tom Yarnall. The teaching itself was greatly enhanced by the stellar translation services of Thubten Jinpa.

Please note that Venerable George Churinoff will be leading a free follow-up class on the Dalai Lama's teaching this Thursday at 7pm at The Tibet Center (25 Washington Street, Suite 304, Brooklyn, NY 11201).