One day forum to explore Buddhism's adaptation to the 21st Century

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Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- The Buddhist Gem Fellowship (BGF) will be organizing a one day forum entitled "Adapting Buddhism to the 21st Century", The event is organized in memory of the late Ven Dr K Sri Dhammananda, commemorating his legacy as a far sighted monk.

The forum will be held at Hall 3, Level 1 of the Graduate Centre, Sunway University on August 31, 2013. Programme will feature talks from renowned Dharma teachers, scholars and practitioners from the United States, Singapore and Malaysia.

Among the venerable and lay speakers are Ven. Mahinda, Ven. Sing Kan, Dr Brooke Schedneck, Datuk Dr Victor Wee, Yap Ching Wi, Dr. Lim Tuck Meng, Tan Huat Chye and Lim Kooi Fong.

This forum invite participants to explore issues of balancing modernity and tradition, with a keynote address by Dr Brooke Schedneck showcasing a case study of Thailand, Burma and Cambodia. It will also discuss whether tradition is an obstacle or enabler of Buddhist growth. A panel discussion will cap off the day's programme by discussing new approaches to revitalize Buddhism.

A key event at the forum will the launching of the book "One Dharma: Many Buddhist Traditions - A Festschrift in Memory of K. Sri Dhammananda Maha Thera (1919 - 2006)". Edited and compiled by Benny Liow, the book is a compilation of articles written by students of the late venerable.

For more information and programme details, please visit:
http://bgf.org.my/index.php?31-aug-2013-adapting-buddhism-to-21st-century-forum-in-memory-of-ven-dr-k-sri-dhammanandas-7th-year-memorial

If you go:

Forum: Adapting Buddhism to the 21st Century
Hall 3, Level 1 of the Graduate Centre, Sunway University
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
August 31, 2013

Special note to participants driving to the forum's venue:

Due to on-going expansion works, car parking bays on campus are limited. Visitors are advised to park vehicle at Sunway Pyramid, Entry C, Blue Zone and enjoy a scenic 6-minute walk to Sunway campus via the Canopy Walk which is located near the entrance to Sunway Lagoon.

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14th century Goryeo Buddhist painting found in Rome

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Rome, Italy -- The National Museum of Korea recently found “Buddha Amitabha,” a 14th century Goryeo Buddhist painting in Rome, Italy during a research on the collection of the National Museum of Oriental Art.

The National Museum of Korea (Director Kim Young Na) has been recently working on more official support for the Korean galleries in various foreign museums across the globe. The Goryeo Buddhist painting found in Rome was unearthed during a research on the Korean and Asian collection of the National Museum of Oriental Art by a curator of the National Museum of Korea in October, 2012.

This Goryeo Buddhist painting portrays strong facial features and a traditional red robe patterned with gold lotus flowers, and is estimated to be from the early 14th century. Although there was a slight scratch on the halo, overall the painting was in fairly good conditions.
The Goryeo Buddhist paintings are known for their intricate athestics in the Korean Buddhist Arts, and currently there are only about 160 known artifacts across the globe, and are very rare.
The Buddhist painting that was found is a portrait of the “Buddha Amitabha”  who is handing out his right hand to the dead. This portrait is also known as the “Amitaneyong - do” which also means the portrait of where the Amitabha is greeting you. 

Moreover, this piece is regarded as a masterpiece with the Amitabha is dressed in a traditional red robe patterned with gold lotus flowers.

The National Museum of Korea states that, “there is a similar Amitaneyong-do at the Guimet Museum in France, and there are similar Buddhist paintings in Jion-ji temple and Zenrin-ji temple in Japan.”
Additionally, a 7th century Seated Maitreya bodhisattva statue on square pedestal  was also found. The Seated Maitreya bodhisattva statue on square pedestal is about 8cm tall, rather small, and has the similar jewel crown as the Seated Maitreya bodhisattva statue on square pedestal of the 83rd Korean National treasure. This statue also has a very compassionate and gentle expression with distinct facial features and lines in the garments are all characteristics of the statues of the Three Kingdoms period.

The National Museum of Korea will be working very closely with the National Museum of Oriental Art of Italy to restore the recently found Goryeo Buddhist painting and is planning to open exhibition in the near future.
Furthermore, the National Museum of Korea will strengthen their support to various foreign museums who cannot employ Korean curators and are having a difficult time exhibiting and making use of Korean artifacts.

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Historians dig out 9th century Buddhist relics

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BHUBANESWAR, India -- Historians have stumbled upon what is believed to be remnants and relics of a Buddhist monastery belonging to the Bhaumakara dynasty of the ninth century, near Panaspur village in Cuttack district.

The backyard of a temple in Panaspur village is the place where these relics were first located. Locals informed about the relics to historians Harish Chandra Prusty and Nihar Ranjan Patnaik, who is also the chairman of the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE).

The two historians started digging the spot and found what seems to be the tip of the iceberg in terms of Buddhist relics. ?We have strong reasons to believe that the relics are part of a Buddhist monastery during the Bhaumakara period. We are yet to put a precise date to the relics, but can safely say that they belong to the ninth century,? said Patnaik.

The relics form an interesting assortment like the Buddha in the Bhumisparsha and Dharmachakra Pravartana (with the head missing) mudras, Padmapani Bodhisattva carved out Khondolite stone and many more. A huge pillar has also been found and the historians guess that it must be a part of the monastery. ?With a well-planned and more thorough excavation, more vital relics can be dug out. This can open up a plethora of knowledge about the times in which the Buddhist monastery flourished,? explained Patnaik.

The two historians are now hoping that the Odisha State Archaeology or the Archaeological Survey of India would take up future excavation of the site. ?With more experienced people with good resources working on the site will help unravel a lot more relics than what we have found till now,? said Patnaik.

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