Third anniversary of Ven. Beopjeong's passing commemorated

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Seoul, South Korea -- The third year funeral ritual of Ven. Beopjeong was held on March 7th, 2013 at Kilsangsa monastery in Seoul, Korea.

Venerable Beopjeong’s secular name is Park Jae-cheol. He was born in Haenam in 1932. While he was in university in 1954, he became a Buddhist monk by becoming the leading disciple of revered priest Hyobong.

Beopjeong trained himself and worked hard on his Buddhist studies at Songgwang Temple in 1975. After publishing his essay collection, “Without Possession,” in 1976, he continued to print other essays and other translation works. That’s how his spiritual philosophy became well-known to the public.

We need to meditate on the meaning of “pure poverty.” It means to suppress one’s urge to possess more. People need to feel satisfied with what they have right now. Pure poverty means not to envy others or become jealous of what others have, but to be satisfied with what has been bestowed to them in reality. It’s not to have unnecessary things.

People need to understand underprivileged people. We can’t own everything. We are all integrated in some ways, depending on each other. It’s unreasonable for a human being to possess a lot while their neighbors suffer. Though the things they own are theirs, it’s like taking away something others should have possessed.

The “non-possession” philosophy was born at the Buril hermitage, a small temple built in the deep mountain behind Songgwangsa. The secluded home was built by Beopjeng at his own expense. It was here where the late monk put his teaching of “non-possession” into practice by preparing his own meal, doing his laundry, and cultivating the soil. (excerpted from the biography of Beopjeong sunim)

The abbot of Kilsangsa temple states that, “Ven. Beopjeong did not allow us to have a funeral ritual for him. But despite his wishes, as his students we decided to have a funeral ritual out of great respect to the formalities and morals.”

Currently, the students of Ven. Beopjeong are also working to reconstruct the house that their master grew up in in Haenam.

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Myanmar to hold grand religious function to mark 2600th anniversary Shwedagon Pagoda

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YANGON, Myanmar -- Myanmar is making preparation to hold grand religious function to mark the 2600th anniversary of the world's famous Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, the official daily New Light of Myanmar reported Monday.

<< Shwedagon pagoda

Renovation work on the Shwedagon pagoda is underway for the event falling on a full-moon day of Myanmar calendar in March 2012 under the supervision of the Yangon region government.

Newly tiling of prayer halls and shrines for convenience of pilgrims, installing of elevators at museum, repository of Buddhist scriptures and archives of the pagoda, building separate staircase to Buddha's Life Museum with landscape gardening, modernized display of life of Buddha at the museum are being done, the report said.

Colorful illumination during the anniversary Buddhist function, offering Lord Buddha with 84,000 pieces of blooming flower and construction of two gateways of grandeur to the pagoda are also underway, the report added.

The Shwedagon Pagoda, enshrining four Buddha hair relics, was built by King Okkalapa and two-brother merchants in B.C. 588, the year when Lord Buddha gained enlightenment.

Over the past 2600 years, the height of pagoda increased from 20 meters to 99 meter through repeated renovations in different dynasties and eras.

Shwedagon Pagoda, a symbol of Myanmar, traditionally remained famous to the world.

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Peaceful Protest Marks Saffron Revolution Anniversary

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Rangoon, Burma -- Dozens of Rangoon residents marched peacefully through the city on Monday to mark the fourth anniversary of the Saffron Revolution only to be stopped by security forces, according to local sources.

<< The September 26, 2007 "Saffron Revolution", saw thousands of monks protest against the Burmese military regime, which ended in a brutal crackdown

Onlookers watched around 200 marchers, some of them were wearing yellow shirts, set off peacefully from Sule Pagoda in downtown Rangoon at around 1 pm local time towards Kabar Aye Pagoda in North Okkalapa Township.

The Saffron Revolution was led by Buddhist monks across Burma in September 2007. The peaceful protests were brutally quashed by government troops in a crackdown which claimed 31 lives including many monks, according to government figures.

Security guards closely followed and monitored Monday's protest with many officers also deployed near Sule Pagoda. But there is no violent crackdown against the protesters and the event took place peacefully.

“They didn’t shout and hold placards. They just marched peacefully but some wore yellow shirts,” said a witness.
Dozens of people also launched a separate demonstration in North Okkalapa on Monday. They were blocked by Burmese authorities before ending the march peacefully. They repeated the “Metta Sutta” (Buddhist chant for compassion) after being blocked by security forces but then decided to end the march, said a protester.

Meanwhile, separate ceremonies to mark the fourth anniversary of the Saffron Revolution were also held in Rangoon today. Burma opposition party the National League for Democracy held a ceremony at a monastery in southern Okkalapa Township with around 1,000 attendees including monks, party members, representatives of the 88 Generation Student Group, individual MPs and other politicians.

They also called for the immediate release of all political prisoners without condition. An estimated 1,998 political prisoners are currently detained across Burma, according to Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

While some of the protesters present on Monday were activists who demand the release of political prisoners, others were campaigning against the Myitsone Hydropower Dam in Kachin State on the Irrawaddy River.

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Sri Lanka Embassy in Germany commemorates the 2600th Anniversary of the Sambuddattva Jayanthi with an all-night recitation of Pirith

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Berlin, Germany -- The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Germany in association with Das Buddhistische Haus (Berlin Buddhist Vihara) in Berlin – Frohnau, held an all – night recitation of Pirith Ceremony at the premises of the Embassy beginning at 8.00 p.m. on Friday June 10th 2011.

<< Photo (Left to right): Ven. Halyale Wimalaratana (Switzerland),Ven . Kruwalagaswewa Anuruddha (Switzerland) Ven.Lendiyagala Sudassi (Switzerland) Ven.Kannimahara Piyasiri (München) Ven.Kongaspitiye Santharakkhitha (Berlin) Ven (Dr.)Wijayarajapura Seelawansa Nayake Thera (Vienna, Austria) Ven Thalpawila Kusalagnana (Hamburg), Mr. Piyasena (Seated) Kapakaru.

14 Buddhist Monks based in various cities across continental Europe and some visiting monks from Sri Lanka attended the function at the Embassy.

This event was held pursuant to a decision taken by the President Mahinda Rajapaksa to commemorate the 2600th Anniversary of the Sambuddattva Jayanthi on an all year basis commencing from the Vesak full moon Poya day of 2011.

In this context the understanding of the President and the Government is that appropriate religious activities, including programmes of religious work would be carried out by the Vihares, Institutions and overseas Missions to the best of their ability. This would include Buddhist sermons, Dhamma discussions, and meditation programmes (dhamma, seela bhavana etc.) among others.

Ven. Kongaspitiye Santharakkhltha Thero of Das Buddhistische Haus (Berlin Vihara) co-ordinated all activities regarding the all night Pirith ceremony pursuant to an invitation sent to him and all other monks by Major – General Jagath Dias, Deputy Chief of Mission, acting on behalf of the Ambassador. Eight of the venerable monks resided at the Berlin Vihara during their temporary stay in Berlin.

Mr. Tissa Weeraratna, Vice – President, GDS and Manager in charge of the Berlin Vihara ensured that the visiting monks were well looked after. A couple of monks remained at the Temple until the 20th of June.

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Hoa Hao Buddhists celebrate founding anniversary

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Hanoi, Vietnam -- Celebrations of the Hoa Hao Buddhist sect’s 72nd founding anniversary have been held across Vietnam’s 15 provinces and cities with support of local authorities.

The sect?s Central Executive Committee said the celebrations took place on the 16th,17th and 18th of the fifth lunar month, complying with religious rituals and the State laws and embracing the spirit of solemnity, solidarity and thrift.

Seventy-two years ago, Hoa Hao Buddhism was founded by prophet Huynh Phu So, a native of Hoa Hao village, Tan Chau district, Chau Doc province (now Phu My town, Phu Tan district, An Giang province).

The religion, which advocates the practice of Buddhism at home, is thriving in 15 provinces and cities from the central coastal province of Phu Yen southwards with more than 2 million followers and 358 executive committees and places of worship.

With more than 800,000 followers, An Giang province is regarded as the Holy Land of the sect.

Best conditions have always been provided for faith practices and religious activities by Hoa Hao dignitaries and followers, who have also enthusiastically participated in social and charitable activities at their localities as guided by their seniors.

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