Seeing where Shinto and Buddhism cross

by Sachiko Tamashige, Special To The Japan Times, May 16, 2013

Tokyo, Japan -- “The number of Shinto shrines in Japan has changed over centuries due to various political and social changes. There were about 190,000 shrines during the early Meiji Era (1867-1912), before a drastic change came about in the merging of shrines and temples. The number of shrines was greatly reduced, and now there are only around 80,000. That’s not much more than the number of convenience stores across Japan.”

China Is Transforming Tibet's Holiest Area Into A Tourist District

by Michael Kelley, Business Insider, May 10, 2013

Lhasa, Tibet (China) -- China is transforming the ancient part of Tibet's capital into a tourist district according to a visiting native of the area, Amy Li of the South China Morning Post reports.

Students search for emotional benefits in Buddhist studies

by Lee Chack-fan, Sout6h China Morning Post, Friday, 10 May, 2013

In today's high-pressure world, some young people turn to philosophical input to cope

Hong Kong, China -- It is a known fact that teaching and research constitute the prime tasks of a university. Teaching is, of course, the dissemination of knowledge. Research, on the other hand, is the creation of new knowledge.

Enter the Buddhist College at the foot of Mt. Emei

People's Daily Online, May 3, 2013

Mt. Emei, China -- At the foot of Mt. Emei in SW China's Sichuan province, stands a unique college - Emei Buddhist College. The college is built in Dafo Temple. Unlike other temples filled with worshippers, the Buddhist College is tranquil and solemn.

Two more Buddhist Monks Self-Immolate in Tibet Protest

VOA News, April 24, 2013

Beijing, China -- Two Buddhist monks are reported dead in southwestern China, after setting themselves on fire at a monastery to protest Beijing's policies in Tibet.

Chinese Buddhist leader dies at 66

Xinhua, April 29, 2013

HOHHOT, China -- Jia Lasen, vice head of the Buddhist Association of China and a top Buddhist leader in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, died at the age of 66 on Sunday, according to local authorities.

Tibetan Buddhists practice sky burial for the dead

The Straits Times, Apr 20, 2013

Tibet, China -- Sky burial is a funerary practice in China's Tibetan regions, where the dead are laid out in a high flat place and ritually cut up, usually by a monk and rogyapas (body-breakers) and then fed to birds of prey, most commonly the Eurasian Griffon vulture.

Massive investment losses rock leading Buddhist sect

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN, April 22, 2013

Kyoto, Japan -- One of Japan’s oldest and largest Buddhist sects has been thrown into turmoil over hundreds of millions of yen in latent losses from risky fund management operations.

Buddhist monks outraged at plans to bulldoze centuries-old temple

The Telegraph, Apr 11, 2013

Xi'an, China -- Buddhist monks in central China are up in arms over government plans to demolish large sections of a Tang dynasty temple along the ancient Silk Road.

A Buddhist monk dies in latest self-immolation protest in Tibet

by Yeshe Choesang, The Tibet Post International, March 29, 2013

Dharamshala, India -- Reports are emerging from Amdho region of Eastern Tibetan that a Tibetan monk has set himself ablaze to death in protest against Chinese rule, pushing the estimated toll to 114 in Tibet.