Singing The Diamond Sutra in English

Here's a site that sings the Diamond Sutra in English.

misc

An interesting map is about the spread and territory of Mahayana and Teravadan schools of buddhism.

I continue to enjoy Dhammarati's blog, he's got some interesting posts, including a summary of a discussion with Bante.

We've been studying the five spiritual faculties on sangha night.

In mitra study we're studying Know Your Mind by Sangharakashita, published by Windhorse. On my own I'm reading Bante's The Eternal Legacy. I've been feeling a little scattered in my studies, I wonder if I should just focus on one area. I listen to lovely free talks from Dharmachakra. And I suplament my reading by getting sutras off the web, by going to the Wikipedia article on the Diamond Sutra, for instance,and then priting out one of the free versions. I recently printed out the latest Chan Magazine.

There's a translation from the Chinese of the chapter in the Lankavatara Sutra about not eating meat. Also the Avatamsaka Sutra. I've discovered these looking up what is available on line reading The Eternal Legacy.

Bloggers and mass conversion

One blogger covers the mass conversion. But my hitherto favorite blogger is actually in India, and hasn't mentioned it at all. BNN, which collects articles on Buddhism into their web site, has had the best coverage and commentary on the 50th Anniversary of the mass conversion to Buddhism. Of course there are the special blogs previously linked, and Vishvapani has recently been on night radio in New Zealand.

Sign Me Up!

The next ordination retreat for me has been set! There a nice picture of some of the North American GFR mitras. That's me to the left of the Buddha, standing up.

A friend says that the weekend retreat I was just on led by Nagabodhi was very influenced by Breathworks.

I'd better stop writing here, and work on my monthly reporting in to the community of men who have asked for ordination in the FWBO.

I quite like the poems of Jane Kenyon. The poem linked has a sense of pratitya samutpada.

Retreat

I went up to Aryaloka with Alyssa. Also from NYC were Sita, Faye, and Andrew. Poor Trebor was snowed in, in Buffalo. Nagabodhi led the retreat, plus Amala and Khemavassika were there. It was a lovely retreat. I love it on so many levels: The people, the meditation, dharma talks, puja, nature, and even the food is lovely.

I think I've been to about 20 retreats up in Aryaloka over the past 4 years, but I never get enough of it, I cling to the experience, want more than life is giving me. It's hard to really describe what goes on, but threw being with other Buddhists, and being in the retreat atmosphere, you really feel something happening deep inside, even on a short weekend retreat.

Driving home we added in Andrew who works for Tricycle, writing an excellent blog, and is very much into Reginal Ray and has enjoyed many of his retreats.

Meanwhile in London England, the venerable Sangharakshita made a speech at the London Buddhist Center

Mass Conversion

As BNN reports, there is to be mass conversion on the 50th Anniversary of Ambedkar's origional conversion (I've lost the aritcle for now). I find this wonderful news. BNN also has some further analsyis.

Psychology Today Magazine

For me meditation is more than just an efficiency enhancer. But...

Psychology Today Magazine trumpets meditation!

Upcoming Anniversary of Ambedkar

As reported on the TBMSG/FWBO web site, Oct. 14th is the 50th anniversary of the conversion of Ambekdar to Buddhism. A special blog has been created to chronical the events and celebrations.