Monthly Archives: November 2009

Beautiful Trip Through Indochinese Buddhism in Photos and Text

Posted on by
Reply

Alan Brigish sends the following:

In my recently published book, Breathing in the Buddha, I show how people, with far less than we manage to find a richness and satisfaction in their lives. And I discovered and explored a shocking truth ─ that the contentment and joy that go along with western ideas of Nirvana seem to exist, in some abundance, in worlds in which most of us would never choose to live.

Breathing in the Buddha is a photographic exploration of Buddhist life in Indochina. Join me in the most amazing trip of my life as I dive, head first, into Burma, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia, accompanied only by my guide, my curiosity and my camera.

The book tells two parallel stories. The first explores with images and extended captions, the daily life of people in four countries of Indochina. The second story is an exploration of the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. The intent is for the reader to explore Buddhist philosophy in the context of daily existence of people, who, in the most densely populated part of the world, still practice Buddhism.

You can preview the book online at www.blurb.com/books/943361

We  have partnered with three reputable and successful organizations, run by American entrepreneur/ philanthropists that work in rural Asia.  100% of the gross profits from the sale of our books will go to one or more of these organizations.

Alan’s book is indeed gorgeous, and his photography outstanding.  Check it out.

Interfaith Power & Light

Posted on by
Reply

Energy From Heaven |Triple Pundit

IP&L defines itself as “a national religious response to global warming, promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation.” Its enrolled 10,000 congregations cover 30 states. Its five year goal is to have 30,000 congregations in all fifty states.

U.S. and China Forge Climate, Clean Energy Partnership (Scuttle Copenhagen?)

Posted on by
Reply

U.S. and China Forge Climate, Clean Energy Partnership

During President Obama’s first state visit to China, the two leaders said at a joint news conference that the two sides are “committed to working together and with other countries in the weeks ahead for a successful outcome at Copenhagen.”

There, from December 7 through 18, governments will attempt to limit the greenhouse gas emissions that are increasingly warming the climate. Whatever agreement they reach is expected to take effect when the Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period expires at the end of 2012.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong addresses the APEC meeting. (Photo courtesy APEC)

But the meaning of what a “successful outcome” is shifted over the weekend….

In binge-tolerant Japan, alcoholism not seen as disease

Posted on by
Reply

In binge-tolerant Japan, alcoholism not seen as disease | Reuters

Alcoholic beverages are readily available at convenience stores and vending machines, liquor ads are often on evening television and building work ties by going drinking is common.

Katsuya Maruyama of Kurihama Alcoholism Center, a leading hospital for treating alcohol dependency, said Japan is too tolerant when it comes to drinking too much, which makes it hard for both society and alcoholics to realise they have a problem.

“There is no proper teaching on how alcohol can be dangerous, so no one knows alcoholism as a disease,” he said.

Japanese Government Funding Cuts Could End ‘Research’ Whaling

Posted on by
Reply

Japanese Government Funding Cuts Could End ‘Research’ Whaling

The spending review committee established by Japan’s new Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama, has recommended that funding for the Overseas Fishery Cooperation Foundation be cancelled after 2010.

The OFCF is the largest financer of the Tokyo-based Institute of Cetacean Research, which runs the Japanese whaling program. The whaling fleet usually sails for the Southern Ocean in mid-November, hunting whales for scientific research regardless of a moratorium on commercial whaling set by the International Whaling Commission in 1986.

Playing for Keeps — Derrick Jensen

Posted on by
1

Would we listen to nature if our lives depended on it?

PEOPLE WHO READ MY WORK often say, “Okay, so it’s clear you don’t like this culture, but what do you want to replace it?” The answer is that I don’t want any one culture to replace this culture. I want ten thousand cultures to replace this culture, each one arising organically from its own place. That’s how humans inhabited the planet (or, more precisely, their landbases, since each group inhabited a place, and not the whole world, which is precisely the point), before this culture set about reducing all cultures to one….

Playing for Keeps | Derrick Jensen | Orion Magazine

Extreme Buddhism

Posted on by
1

Extreme Buddhism | Home

Like “extreme” sports, we bring an urgency, intensity and exhilaration to the practices of self-discovery and the pathway to enlightenment that are distinctly non-ordinary.

Whatever happened to the Middle Path?

*hums*

Somebody’s gonna make a buck
Before th’ night is through
Nobody’s gonna get ‘er done
A’pushin’ for th’ truth….