Can Nirvana be attained now?

Courtesy Keerthi Wijayatunga, The Island, The Buddhist Channel, Monday August 23, B.E.2554, A.D.2010 Year of the Tiger

Colombo, Sri Lanka -- Nirvana is the ultimate goal of all Buddhists. According to Theravada school it can be attained in this life. The only path to attain Nirvana is the Noble Eightfold Path (NEP) which leads to the realization of Four Noble Truths (FNT) and the fourth noble truth is the- NEP itself. Therefore, NEP and FNT are mutually interdependent and attaining Nirvana is the full realization of FNT. Read more...

Philadelphia City Hall gives green light to Wat Khmer Palelai to construct a new Buddhist temple

Courtesy Wat Khmer Palelai, R. Visal, Monday August 23, B.E.2554, A.D.2010 Year of the Tiger

What would the historic Lord Buddha, H.H. Samdech Dr. Jotannano Chuon Nath and H.H. Samdech Dr. Maha Ghosananda say about corruption.

Courtesy AP, Monday August 23, B.E.2554, A.D.2010 Year of the Tiger

Convention of wonder

Courtesy The Phnom Penh Post, Friday August 20, B.E.2554, A.D.2010 Year of the Tiger

Obituary: The Late Mr. Pok Som Im

1930 - 2010 Year of the Tiger

Courtesy The Angkor Borei News

The 2010 Buddhist Lent and Fundraising Ceremony

Courtesy Wat Khmer Palelai, R. Visal, Tuesday July 20, B.E.2554, A.D.2010 Year of the Tiger

Buddhist observance marking the beginning of Vassa, also known as Buddhist Lent.

Vassa (from Pāli vasso, Sanskrit varṣaḥ, both "rain" also called Rains Retreat, is the traditional retreat during the rainy season lasting for three lunar months from July to October. During this time Buddhist monks remain in a single place, generally in their temples. In some monasteries, monks dedicate the Vassa to intensive meditation. During Vassa, many Buddhist laypeople reinvigorate their spiritual training and adopt more ascetic practices, such as giving up meat, alcohol, or smoking (Vassa is sometimes known as "Buddhist Lent", though at least one prominent Theravada monk has objected to this usage. Commonly, the number of years a monk has spent in monastic life is expressed by counting the number of Vassas he has observed.

The Vassa retreat has largely been given up by Mahayana Buddhists, as Mahayana Buddhism has typically flourished in regions without a rainy season, however for Mahayana schools such as Zen and Tibetan Buddhism other forms of retreat are common.

The observation of Vassa is said to originate with the Buddha himself. Gautama Buddha ordered his disciples to observe a pre-existing practice whereby holy men avoided travel for a three month period during the rainy season, in order to avoid damaging crops.

Vassa begins on the first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month; the preceding day is Asalha Puja. The focus of celebration by the laity is the first day of Vassa during which worshippers donate candles and other necessities to temples.

The end of vassa is marked by joyous celebration. The following month, the Kathina ceremony is held, during which the laity gathers to make formal offerings of robe cloth and other requisites to the Sangha.

Everyone is invited.

Venue: Wat Khmer Palelai, 2701 South 58th Street, Philadelphia, PA

Date: July 23 - 25, B.E.2554, A.D.2010

For complete program and schedule, please download:

Khmer

"He who sees me sees the teaching," the Buddha said, "and he who sees the teaching sees me.”

Dalai Lama asks Japanese priests to produce Buddhist scientists

Courtesy Tsering Tsomo, The Buddhist Channel, Tuesday June 21,B.E.2554, A.D.2010 Year of the Tiger

Nagano, Japan -- At an informal discussion with over 200 Buddhist priests, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said Japan with its highly developed scientific knowledge combined with its ancient Buddhist tradition can produce Buddhist scientists. Read more...

The historic Lord Buddha quotes,

“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”

Buddhist flag marks 125th anniversary

Sunday Observer, May 16, 2010
Courtesy The Buddhist Channel

This flag was first hoisted in public on Vesak day, April 28, 1885 at the Dipaduttamarama, Kotahena, by Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera in Sri Lanka.

At the inaugural conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists on May 25, 1950, its founder President Professor G P Malasekera proposed that this flag be adopted as the flag of Buddhists throughout the world; this motion was unanimously passed.

Colombo, Sri Lanka -- Of all things Sri Lanka has bestowed on the world the Buddhist flag, which celebrated its 125th anniversary on April 28, is probably the most important. The 125th anniversary is special for several reasons. The Buddhist flag was first hoisted on - April 28, 1885 - an Adhi Vesak poya day, after a long struggle to establish Buddhists religious rights.

The Colombo Committee comprising Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera, Don Carolis Hewavitharana (father of Anagarika Dharmapala), Andris Perera Dharmagunawardana, William de Abrew, Peter de Abrew, Charles A. De Silva, H.William Fernando and N.S. Fernando and chaired by Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera with Carolis Pujitha Gunawardana as Secretary originally designed the first Buddhist flag when the country was under colonial rule. The Buddhists had lost their freedom to worship and conduct religious activities, during the colonial period. Full Story

The Legendary Daun Penh

Heroic monk His Holiness Samdech Dr. Maha Ghosananda, age 94, the Supreme Patriarch of Cambodian Buddhism, the Gandhi and Gem of Cambodia, the international figure, the non-violent and peaceful monk and Khmer intellect, established many Khmer Buddhist temples in the late 1970s - 1990s in the Khmer refugee camps along Cambodia-Thailand borders, North America, Australia, and Cambodia.

His Holiness is one of the architects in ending the Cambodian conflict, the 1991 Paris Peace Accord, strong advocate for human rights respect, and peace, not just in Cambodia, but throughout the world.

Let all of us make a tribute to H.H. Samdech Dr. Maha Ghosananda for all His staunch support for a peaceful, non-violent, democratic, human rights respect, and free Cambodia and the world.

Let His words be heard throughout the globe.

Letter of lamentation on the great loss of H.H. Samdech Dr. Maha Ghosananda from Khmer Buddhist monk-student Ven. Aggadharo Im Udom, resident ot Wat Pasalvana, Nokor Raja Seima, Thailand, in pursuit of Bachelor of Arts in Buddhism, to Wat Khmer Palelai Buddhist monks and the respected Buddhist monks in the United States of America.

Petition to Save Lumbini, the Birthplace of Buddha

Courtesy The Buddhist Channel, Saturday April 24, B.E.2553, A.D.2010 Year of the Tiger

Lumbini, Nepal - - Lumbini is said to be the location of the birthplace of Buddha, which is located in present day Nepal. The importance of Lumbini is not only marking the region where Siddhartha was born but with his birth it is also where Buddhism itself was born.

However, the site has fallen into disarray and ruin, unlike it's more famous pilgrimage site of Bodh Gaya where Buddha was said to have awoken from delusion and realized full enlightenment.

In recognition of its religious significance, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Lumbini as a World Heritage Site in 1997.

Today, environmental pollution from heavy industry (cement and steel plants) that have located in the Lumbini region of Nepal is degrading air and ground water quality and local agriculture. Read more

World Buddhist Conference, WBC

Living In Harmony, When Things Fall Apart

September 25 - 26, B.E.2553, A.D.2010

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

A matter of transparency

The 2009 Financial Report of Preah Buddha Ransey Temple

Courtesy Wat Bra Buddha Ransi

Full text

Appeal to help build a new vihara at Wat Moeung Jaarya Likkhetaram of Takeo province

Complete appeal

Appeal to help build a new Vihara [or main Buddhist worship hall] at Wat Khpob of Kandal province by abbot Ven. Sirivisodhi Seng Sambo

To watch video click here

A building is under construction at Wat Khpob located in Ang Snuol district, Kandal province, Cambodia.

New Year Wish from the Khmer Buddhist University Student Ven. Aggadharo Im Udom

Thursdays 8:00PM on LTC channel 95
Fridays 8:00PM on LTC channel 8

The Threefold Refuge

Buddham Sharanam Gachaami, Dhammam Sharanam Gachaami, Sangham Sharanam Gachaami

I go to the Buddha for refuge. I go to the Dhamma for refuge. I go to the Sangha for refuge.