Buddhist International Summer Festival 2012 in England

Highlights : Modern Buddhism, the Path of Sympathy and Wisdom - Practicing the Union of Sutra and Tantra in Daily Life

The Summer Festival 2012 at Majushri KMC, Ulverston, England offers an exceptional occasion to get the oral teachings on the whole of Modern Buddhism.

Modern Buddhism, by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, educates the whole path to illumination. It is offered in a technique that is easy to perform and so provides great hope that people in this hectic modern world can come to understanding pure and peaceful lives and at last reach enlightenment.

The Summer Festival is moreover an amazing holiday. It is a public holiday that receives you into a different world where you can have an experience of religious sign and friendship. The insights grown during the celebration can be used all through the year to preserve the inner peace that is a stable foundation of happiness in daily life.

The Summer Festival is a two week event; you can focus all or any part of the event.

Russian Buddhist exhibition in India’s capital New Delhi

An exhibition devoted to the history of Buddhism in Russia has opened in India’s capital New Delhi.

The exhibition mainly displays photos, both old and present-day, of Buddhist monasteries located in those regions of Russia which are populated mainly by Buddhists – Kalmykia, Buryaia, Tuva, Altai and others.

Russia’s ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin is hoping that the exhibition will help Indians to learn more about the life of Russian Buddhists. Buddhism in Russia is steeped in rich traditions, and Russian Buddhists have always maintained close contacts with their Indian brothers and sisters in faith.

In 1741, a decree of Russian Empress Elizabeth II granted Buddhism the status of official recognition in Russia.

At present, there are 1, 4 mln Buddhists in Russia.

Angel in the clouds above Thai Buddhist temple

If Isres Chorphaka had wished to capture a heavenly vision, he had come to right place. The photographer saw this incredible angelic figure emerge from a dark, ominous sky as he visited a Buddhist temple in Thailand.

He feared a storm was brewing when he saw heavy clouds closing in. But he was stunned when rays of sunshine poured through gaps to form the stunning picture.

'There were a few hundred people at the spot but I didn't know how many saw it.

'I was also lucky because the Grand Palace in the foreground made the photo more dramatic.

'The phenomenon happened in less than 10 seconds. Luckily it was enough for me to get few photos before it disappeared.

'It was not only the best photo of that day but also the best photo I have ever taken.'

4 Online Tibetan Buddhism Courses are offered by Dharma Publisher’s

4 Online Courses In Buddhist Teachings Including Meditation Techniques For Making The Most Out Of Life In 2012 was announced by Dharma Publisher’s.

"When we are conscious of the possibilities for developing inner freedom, we can begin to open to the pleasure, health, and satisfaction that are all around us. Knowing ourselves better will prompt deeper insight, more understanding, and a sense of peace. We will grow healthy in body and mind; our work, family, and relationships will become more meaningful."

• Tarthang Tulku
• e-Skillful
• e-Meditation
• e-Dharma
• e-Kum Nye - Tibetan Yoga

For more information about Dharma Publishing's online programs, visit us online.

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World's largest gemstone Jade Buddha is now in Singapore

World's largest gemstone Buddha is now in Singapore. The world's largest gemstone Buddha was exposed at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza. The Jade Buddha began its five-year global tour in 2009 and has since stopped in Vietnam, Australia, the United States, Canada and various parts of Europe, The Straits Times reported. After the tour, it will be housed in the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo, Australia.

The world's largest gemstone Buddha was carved out of a single piece of jade that was discovered in northern Canada in 2000. Valued at $5 million, the 2.5m-tall Jade Buddha for Universal Peace was flown in here by the Amitabha Buddhist Centre with the aim of promoting universal peace and inter-faith harmony. Representatives from Singapore's nine major religions also lent their support and offered prayers for world peace. Mahayana Buddhism is the most common form of Buddhism in Singapore. Sizeable communities following other traditions include Theravada and Tibetan Buddhism. The representative organization of Buddhism in Singapore is the Singapore Buddhist Federation.

Ancient pillar carved with Buddha image found in Nalasopara

An ancient pillar carved with a figure of Gautam Buddha was discovered near a Buddhist stupa in Nalasopara on Friday. The stupa comes with Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The founder of Buddha Vihar and Buddhist monk Bikhoni Sangamitra said, “the pillar was discovered when workers were digging the ground to lay a garden". "The pillar is a proof of Gautam Buddha's visit to Sopara village."

Following the discovery of the pillar, the digging work was discontinued. The pillar will now be inspected by ASI officials and historians before being moved to safety. The state government, along with the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC), is working on converting the stupa into an international tourist spot. The stupa complex will house meditation centers, a museum and a mini theatre where films on the Buddhist stupa will be shown.

Celebrate Chinese New Year with Buddha's Delight Dishes

The idea of celebrating New Year with these Dishes resembles "Cleansing body and spirit with these traditional dishes". Buddha's Delight is a vegetarian dish eaten on the eve and on the first day of the New Year. This tradition stems from the Buddhist practice that encourages a vegetarian diet during the first five days of a new year, to cleanse the body and the spirit. Buddha's Delight usually includes at least 10 ingredients, but some variations are made up of 18 to 35.

Below are some of the traditional foods of Chinese New Year:

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International Buddhist conference in Sir Lanka next year

Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake said,”International Buddhist Conference 2012 will be held in Sri Lanka under the theme “New millennium challenges for Buddhism”. The conference will be held from February 17 to 19 at the Buddhasravaka Bhikshu University, Anuradhapura.

Over hundred Buddhist scholars from local and international Buddhist organizations will take part in the international conference, which is expected to be presenting over 100 research papers from different parts of the globe to discuss the progressive aspects of the Buddhist establishment in their respective countries. Besides, issues and challenges the Buddhist monks and lay Buddhists encounter at different levels will also be discussed.

In addition, the forum will draw its attention to several other goals such as to be inspected a meaningful mechanism to reform Buddhist education in Sri Lanka to be on a par with modern society, to share the different strategies adopted by different Buddhist traditions to upgrade and propagate the Buddhist establishment, to draft a coordinated plan to transmit the message of the Buddha to the ultra-modern society which is equipped with the state-of-the-art technology and people with a more updated mindset, to discuss the ways and means to re-introduce the age-old rapport between the Buddhist clergy and laity for a better and effective mechanism.

Minister Dissanayake said, “It is highly appreciated to set up such a forum to explore the possibilities of finding better resolutions to the multifarious challenges that the Buddhists are encountering today”.

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World's Most Unusual Buddha

Thailand’s city of Ayutthaya is the place of one of the world’s most unusual Buddhist statues. Along with the ruins of Wat Mahathat (The Temple of the Great Relic) is the remains of a stonework statue of the Buddha whose body has been vanished to the ages but whose head rests suitably in the climbing roots and vines of a Bodhi (Banyan) tree.

This piece of ancient historic is absolutely too precious to allow it just stay under a tree, hence there is a nominated security personnel sitting nearby to watch us though we were busy taking photos. Just about this famous figure are many other physique of the Ayutthaya period which have survived the destruction of time.

India's most famous Buddha

The Buddha statue positioned at the middle of an artificial lake in the city of Hyderabad is considered as one of India’s most famous Buddhist statues. This figure stands at a full of 17 meters (56 feet) in height and weighs about 320 tons over the lake from a top of the Rock of Gibraltar.

The single largest monolithic statue in all of India, the Hussain Sagar Buddha was shaped by a group of artisans from a single piece of stone. It was engraved by 200 sculptors for two years. Tragically, during the statue’s fixing in 1992 the figure tilted over and fell into the lake, causing the death of 8 workers. The governments recovered the statue and refurbished it to its full height and stature.

World's Popular Big Buddha

Tian Tan Buddha occasionally referred to as the Big Buddha, is located on the Lantau Island, in Hong Kong Formed of bronze and completed in 1993. The statue is considered as the main feature of the Po Lin Monastery, representing .concord between man, nature, people and religion. The statue is named as Tian Tan Buddha because its base is a imitation of Tian Tan, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

The statue sits on a lotus throne on the top of a three tiered altar. At 34 meters (110 feet) tall, the Tian Tan Buddha is presented in a position of peacefulness. His right hand is raised to remove problem. His left hand rests on his knee, representing happiness.

Monywa Buddha - World's largest Reclining Buddha

Monywa city is in central Myanmar located on the banks of the Chindwin River. In east of the city is the Po Khaung Taung, a range of hills wherever you can see the Monywa Buddha– the largest reclining Buddha statue in the world. This massive figure measures 90 meters (300 feet) in length. The head alone is 60 feet high.

The Monywa Buddha was built in the year 1991 and is empty space inside, allowing visitors to walk beside from the head to the feet. Inside the figure, there are 9,000 one-foot-high metal images of the Buddha and his followers, illustrating various representations of important events in the Buddha’s life.

World's Symbol of Buddha - the Gal Vihare

Located in north central Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa is the place of one of the most wonderful of the world’s representations of the Buddha - the Gal Vihare. This immense rock temple was built by Parakramabahu the Great in the 12th century.

The central attractions of the temple are 4 huge statues of the Buddha engraved into the face of a granite boulder. Among these gigantic stone figures are a Reclining Statue of the Buddha that measures about 14 meters (46 feet) in length and a standing figure measuring 7 meters (23 feet) high.

World's Tallest Statue - Ushiku Daibutsu

The Ushiku Daibutsu is located in the city of Ushiku in Japan. Completed in 1995, it is one of the world’s tallest statues, positioning a total of 120 meters (394 feet) high including the 10m (30 foot) base and 10m high lotus platform.

Visitors to the statue can take an elevator to a platform upto 85m from the ground where an observation decorate is situated. The bronze-plated figure represents Amitabha Buddha, and is also known as Ushiku Arcadia.

World's largest and oldest Reclining Buddha

Wat Pho is famous for the massive Reclining Buddha statue located in Bangkok. It is one of the oldest and also largest temples in Bangkok, built nearly 200 years before Bangkok became Thailand’s capital. Wat Pho holds the division of having both Thailand’s largest Reclining Buddha image and also the largest number of Buddha images in Thailand.

The fully gold-plated Reclining Buddha statue is 46 meters long and 15 meters high, and remember the passing of the Buddha into Nirvana. The statue’s eyes and feet are decorated with carved mother of pearl, the soles of the feet showing the 108 auspicious characteristics of the true Buddha.

World's famous Buddhist Temple - Kamakura Great Buddha

The Kotoku- is a prominent Buddhist temple of the Jodo shu sect situated in the city of Kamakura in Japan. The temple is famous for its great Buddhist statue (or daibutsu). A massive outdoor demonstration of Amida Buddha, is one of Japan’s most celebrated Buddhist figures.

Cast in bronze, the Great Buddha stands at over 13 meters(40 feet) in height and weighs nearly 93 tons.The statue reportedly dates from 1252 and is generally believed to have been spread by the Buddhist monk Joko, who also collected donations to build the temple for Buddha.

Although it initially was housed in a small wooden temple, the Great Buddha now stands in the open air as the original temple was cleaned away in a tsunami in the 15th century.

Temple of the Emerald Buddha oldest and most famous statues of the Buddha in the world

Bangkok’s Buddhist temple is Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, situated within the grounds of the Grand Palace. The primary building is the central ubosoth, which houses the Emerald Buddha, one of the oldest and most famous statues of the Buddha in the world.

A jade statue decorated in gold clothing, the Emerald Buddha was, according to legend, created in India in 43 BC in the city of Pataliputra, where it remained for 300 years. In the 4th century AD it was taken away to Sri Lanka by Buddhist monks to save it from damage by war.

Finally the statue made its way to Thailand and was moved to Wat Phra Kaew in 1779. The statue has three different sets of gold clothing, which is changed by the King of Thailand in a ceremony at the changing of the seasons.