Akong Rinpoche cremation ceremony planned in Tibet

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Akong Rinpoche founded the Samye Ling Tibetan centre and monastery in 1967 Akong Rinpoche's body is being taken to Tibet for cremation

Beijing, China -- The body of the founder of the Samye Ling Buddhist centre at Eskdalemuir in Dumfriesshire is being taken to his native Tibet for cremation.

Akong Rinpoche was killed in China on Tuesday along with his nephew and his driver.

A statement on the Samye Ling website confirmed plans for a ceremony in accordance with his high standing.

It will take place at his monastery, Dolma Lhakang, in the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

That was where, at the age of four, he was identified as the reincarnation of an earlier leader, enthroned, and began the spiritual education required for a future abbot.

A statement from his brother - Lama Yeshe - said Akong Rinpoche was travelling in China to distribute funds to projects supported by the charity Rokpa International which he founded - and was killed by individuals trying to rob him.

Chinese police have already said that three Tibetan men are in custody for the triple killing.

Akong Rinpoche left a wife and three children and they have expressed thanks to people in the UK and overseas for the many messages of condolences they have received.

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Jogye Order Buddhist School of International Studies holds first graduation ceremony

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Seoul, South Korea -- After 2 years since the opening, The Jogye Order Buddhist School of International Studies held it’s first graduation ceremony with 9 monastic graduates at Hwaunsa temple in Gyeonggi province on February 22nd, 2013.

These 9 monastics enrolled 2 years ago in aims of further propagating Korean Buddhism to the rest of the World. Ven. Hyun ung, the head of the Jogye Order education institute was the keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony. During his speech, he stated, “... these nine graduates will be an important resource for the promotion of Korean Buddhism in the World.”
The principal venerable, Ven. Beob in, handed out the diploma to each of the nine graduates and congratulated on them on their accomplishments.

It was noted in the keynote speech that there had been no drop outs and all nine monastics had completed the course from the beginning.

Ven. Cheong ha and Ven. Jeong Hyo will go back to the United States to continue their work on Korean Buddhist propagation, and other monastics will continue to propel the advancements for International affairs, Temple stay programs, to further propagate Korean Buddhism to the rest of the world.

Native English teachers and the 16 students who entered the school last year and this year congratulated the graduates for their accomplishments. The Jogye Order Buddhist School of International Studies will continue to develop monastics with bilingual skills to further propagate Korean traditional Buddhism to the rest of the World to liberate people across the globe from suffering.

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Thousands of Buddhists turn up at blessing ceremony in Malaysia

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SHAH ALAM, Selangor (Malaysia) -- Chants and prayers filled the air at the Shah Alam Stadium as thousands of Buddhists took part in a mass blessing ceremony organised by the Malaysian chapter of the internationally-renowned Taiwan-based Mahayana Buddhist monastic order Fo Guang Shan.

<< It’s about faith: Ven Master Hsing Yun (front, with mini flag) being driven round the stadium during the blessing ceremony.

The order's founder, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, who also established the Buddha's Light International Association, presided at the gathering that was dubbed the Buddhist Cultural and Dharma Blessing ceremony last night.

Fo Guang Shan is the largest Buddhist monastry and one of the biggest charity organisations in Taiwan while the 85-year-old Hsing Yun is said to be one of the most influential Buddhist monks in the world.

He is on a five-day visit to Malaysia and had called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Friday and presented him with a Chinese calligraphy tilted Ji Xing Gao Zhao, which means “Auspicious Star Shining High Above.”

The evening's event, which started at around 7pm and ended about three hours later, was aimed at strengthening the faith of Buddhists and to propagate divine qualities taught by Buddha.

Graphic design graduate Angu Lim, 22, said just seeing the Master was a blessing.

“They say he won't come here again. I am lucky to have the opportunity to hear him speak,” she said.

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Blessing ceremony to mark start of construction of Woods Bagot-designed Buddhist Campus in Wollongong

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Wollongong, Australia -- A “piling and blessing ceremony” is to be held this Sunday 18 November at the site of the new Nan Tien University and Cultural Centre, with architecture by Woods Bagot.

<< Nan Tien (credit: Woods Bagot)

Designed by Woods Bagot, Nan Tien Institute’s new campus will become home to a new education facility and multicultural art gallery that will eventually service over 3,000 students in the Wollongong area.

Working in close consultation with Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere, Woods Bagot used the Buddhist symbol of the lotus flower to inspire the design of the building.

“Woods Bagot’s design motivation for this project was to create a relevant new teaching and learning environment for all students interested in pursuing a higher education grounded in Buddhist wisdom. The design is a cultivation of Humanistic Buddhism which welcomes visitors to be immersed in its environment and culture,” said Woods Bagot Principal Georgia Singleton.

The main goal of this project was to translate the cultural significance of this site through to the educational and arts facility. In keeping with the Buddhist teachings of Fo Guang Shan, the design will be devoid of excess and materialism.

“The main focus for this facility is a spiritual one, so the design of the education facility had to first and foremost pursue an ideal, in order to make the transition between the temple and education facility seamless,” said Woods Bagot Associate, John Prentice.

The concept for the building is that it is to be a gateway to the Institute comprised of linked ‘pods’ that perform as a mini campus that embodies an atmosphere that is welcoming to all and has a strong connection to its environment.

“The ‘pods’ are linked by active bridges allowing for the movement through the building to be a journey comprised of moments, destinations and thresholds. The orientation of the voids between the pods are deliberately set to key aspects of the site,” continued John.

The ‘pods’ also place emphasis on the in-between spaces of the campus, which allow for serendipitous interaction between tourists, students, lecturers and visitors.

“This project is designed to not only enrich the local community, yet aspires to continue to attract the international community to not only come and visit but to also to stay and gain the full cultural and educational experience,” said Georgia.

Nan Tien Institute’s new campus (stage 1) facility is scheduled for completion in 2014.

See Woods Bagot’s website for more information Nan Tien University and Cultural Centre
http://www.woodsbagot.com/en/Pages/Nan_Tien_Cultural_Centre.aspx

Or to find out more about Nan Tien Institute visit: Nan Tien or phone (02) 4272 0618.

About Nan Tien

Nan Tien Temple known as “Southern Paradise” is the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. The temple focuses on the exchange of eastern and western cultures; the interchange of the traditional and the modern; and also the adaptation with the local communities. Not to mention, the nurturing and educating of devotees and the general public.

Over the past ten years, Nan Tien Temple has become one of the favourite venue for religious study groups, school excursions and community group outings. Nan Tien Temple offers regular events, such as meditation retreats, excursions, art and craft classes etc. Nan Tien Temple is not only a place of Buddhists attraction in Sydney but also one of the most well known international tourist attractions.

It attracts more than a few hundred thousand visitors from all over the world all year round. In addition, it plays an important role of propagating the Buddha Dharma and promoting the exchange and harmonization of the eastern and western cultures as well as all religions.

About the Ceremony

Nan Tien Institute (NTI) will hold a ‘Piling & Blessing Ceremony’ to bless the start of construction of the Illawarra’s newest Tertiary education campus and Cultural Centre and Art Gallery, on Sunday, November 18, 2012.

Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, Governor of NSW and Chancellor of University of Sydney, Premier of New South Wales, Barry O'Farrell, Wollongong Lord Mayor Council, Gordon Bradbery OA and Gareth Ward, MP, Member for Kiama are among the invited dignitaries.

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Shinnyo-en Buddhist 'Eye Opening' Ceremony In Japan

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Tokyo, Japan -- Shinnyo-en Buddhism celebrated the re-inspiriting of the Nirvana Buddha sculpture in the renovated Nirvana Hall at Oyasono, the head temple complex of the order in western Tokyo prefecture.

The ritual to enshrine the peaceful and elegant image is called “the eye-opening ceremony,” which has long been a part of many Buddhist traditions. The ceremony inspires people to seek personal growth and awakening through acts of kindness, generosity and compassion in daily life.

Shinnyo-en is considered a layperson’s Buddhism that uses the last teachings of the Shakyamuni Buddha as its central text. The third enshrining ceremony represents a significant step for Shinnyo-en as it brings renewed energy to spiritual community.

It was Master Shinjo Ito who was inspired to begin sculpting the Buddha image in 1957, who prayed, “May you cultivate the inherent Buddha nature that lies within each of you, so that you become Buddhas.”

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Buddhist festival offers food, ceremony

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TOWN OF BARKER, NY (USA) -- Usually the grounds of the Wat Lao Samakhitham Buddhist Temple are silent, except for the whoosh and rumble of trucks going by on Route 11.

This week, though, the place is abuzz with preparation. On Saturday and Sunday, an annual festival will take place on the temple's 31-acre grounds, located south of Whitney Point and north of Castle Creek in the Town of Barker. Just look for the towering saffron archway, and the line of flags leading to a nest of ornate and colorful buildings.

Called Boun Phravet, the holiday celebrates the life of Buddha.

The festival is free and open to the public. Vendors will sell sticky rice, egg rolls, soup and other ethnic food and fare -- but spirituality and tradition are at its heart.

Some monks and other hosts can speak English and explain the unfolding religious ceremonies and symbols, as do booklets written in both Lao and English, said monk Phayvanh Chanthalangsy. He has a temporary home at this Wat Lao, but monks are considered homeless and with few possessions, he said, going wherever they're sent to serve and depending on the grace of others for their natural sustenance.

Beginning at about 10 a.m. Saturday will be "Alm Laos," reminiscent of the daily life of a monk in his native land, when he takes his alms bowl in hand to ask his neighbors to give what they can.

At 1 p.m., a rarely performed "sprinkling ceremony" will honor two monks who have earned a promotion in rank, said temple spokesman Khamhune Chanthavongsa of Endicott.

That caused part of the week's racket: building the structure where the two honorees will sit. They'll be drizzled with water from a snake-like metal channel above them in a ritual purification rite.

That solemn rite begins inside the temple and moves outside, where lay people and monks will walk around the temple three times before returning inside. There, they'll gather for prayer and recitation of the Five Precepts, abstentions at the heart of Buddhist morality, said Chanthavongsa, a former monk who moved to the area in 1975.

At 2:30 and 3:30 p.m., the ceremony will move to the property's pond and into the nearby woods, then back into the temple, the chanting punctuated by the sounding of gongs.

At various points in the day, guests will be treated to Lao folk dancers and music, meet white-robed Buddhist nuns and orange-garbed monks, and can wander the grounds to take in the unique architecture and culture.

Sunday's events begin at 3 a.m. with a "thousand blocks of rice" procession. The balance of the day is devoted entirely to a sermon chanting the story of a man named Phravetsandon. Believers at this Theravada Buddhist temple of the Hinayana sect believe Phravetsandon was reborn as Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha.

"I've been there and I loved it," said Anne Bezek of Johnson City. "Everyone was very friendly and welcoming."

If you go

The Wat Lao Samakhitham Buddhist Temple at 2040 Route 11 in the Town of Barker will host a two-day Boun Phravetsandon Festival this weekend. Hours are approximately 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday and 3 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday. Events -- including religious ceremonies, traditional dance and music -- are free and open to the public. Food and other ethnic fare will be available for purchase. For more information, call the temple at (607) 692-7401.

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