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The Buddhist Channel, 16 March 2024
Archaeologists uncover evidence of Malaysia’s historical significance as a vibrant trading hub.
Kedah, Malaysia - - Residents of Bukit Choras, nestled amidst rice fields near a verdant hill in northwest Malaysia, recently discovered an archaeological marvel in their midst.
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The Buddhist Channel, 4 March 2024
Sanam Luang, Thailand -- The "Ganga-Mekong Holy Relics Dhammayatra" (pilgrimage) from India to Thailand were put on display for public view in Thailand for the first time in 30 years.
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by Kooi F. Lim, The Buddhist Channel, 29 Feb 2024
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- In heart of Jalan Berhala (Temple Road), where churches, mosque and Hindu temples lined its street, a grand temple - the Buddhist Maha Vihara - stands as a beacon of the Buddhist faith. As one steps through its "Sanchi inspired" gates, they are embraced by a sense of calm, a refuge from the frenetic pace of this modern city.
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by Parvez Sultan, New Indian Express, 21 Feb 2024
The last time the relics were taken out of the country was in May 2023, when they were exhibited at an exposition in Mongolia. NEW DELHI, India -- Four bone fragments of Lord Buddha, also known as Kapilvastu Relics, presently kept in the National Museum, will be taken to Thailand on Thursday after about 30 years. They will be displayed in four cities including Bangkok and Krabi, where people will pay their obeisance to the sacred remnants.
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The Buddhist Channel, 6 Feb 2024
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- On 3 February 2024, a significant dialogue took place between Malaysian Buddhists and the recently appointed Secretary General of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), Khensur Rinpoche Jangchup Choeden. Hosted at the Sri Jayanti Buddhist temple in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, the gathering also saw the presence of its chief monk, Bhante B. Sri Saranankara Nayaka Maha Thero.
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Hanoi times, 1 Feb 2024
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The lack of archives has led to inappropriate renovation and rebuilding of Buddhist temples. Digitization is a solution to improve the documentation of those architecture.
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The New Straits Times, 29 January 2024
Sandakan, Sabah (Malaysia) -- Positioned about four kilometres from the heart of Sandakan, Puu Jih Shih Temple emerges as a dignified testament to ancient Chinese architectural splendour, beckoning visitors into a tranquil realm infused with cultural and spiritual significance.
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The Buddhist Channel, 18 January 2024
PHNOM PENH -- The Ministry of Environment in Cambodia is taking steps to establish a meditation site within the Buddhist Cultural Centre, located in the Preah Suramarit-Kossamak Kirirom National Park. This initiative aims to encourage local and international Buddhists to embrace meditation and delve into the teachings of Buddha.
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The Buddhist Channel, 7 January 2024
Alor Star, Kedah (Malaysia) -- Wat Samosorn Rachanupradit (Thai: วัดสโมสรราชานุประดิษฐ์) is a Thai Buddhist temple situated in Alor Setar, Kedah. It is located in the suburb of Bakar Bata, by the banks of Sungai Kedah. The temple is often just known as Wat Siam Bakar Bata.
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By Amos Simon, The Buddhist Channel, 25 December, 2023
Singapore -- The 12th Global Conference on Buddhism was held at the Max Antria Singapore Expo from 16-17 December 2023. The organizer, the Buddhist Fellowship (BF) welcomed over 800 participants from 12 countries from the Sangha and other delegates.
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VNS, 25 December 2023
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam -- Buddhist leaders from Việt Nam, Laos and Cambodia have vowed to strengthen relationships between their countries and other Buddhist nations to foster a peaceful and harmonious world at their second annual conference being held in Ho Chi Minh City.
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The Buddhist Channel, 19 December 2023
Jogjakarta, Indonesia -- The Candi Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist temple located near the central Javanese city of Yogyakarta, has undergone a significant transformation in recent times.
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The Buddhist Channel, 15 December 2023
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- In a bid to uphold the sanctity and reputation of Buddhism, Senate President Say Chhum delivered a compelling address during the 31st National Congress of Buddhist Monks at the National Institute of Education in Phnom Penh.
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The Buddhist Channel, 9 December 2023
Shah Alam, Malaysia -- Dato' IR Ang Choo Hong, President of the Buddhist Research Society Malaysia (BRSM), said academic research was one of the ways to open up new horizons for the propagation of the Dharma in Malaysian Buddhism.
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By Kooi F. Lim, the Buddhist Channel, 19 November 2023
Rawang, Selangor (Malaysia) -- The Temple of the Ten Thousand Buddhas at Golden Dragon Mountain (金龙山万佛寺) stands as one of Malaysia's largest and finest temples, exuding grandeur amidst the tranquillity of the Rawang countryside in Selangor.
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by Pravit Rojanaphruk, https://www.khaosodenglish.com, 12 Nov 2023
Bangkok, Thailand -- The quixotic National Office of Buddhism is back on the news. This time they want the individuals behind a few AI-generated photos of naughty monks playing rock music, drinking alcohol, smoking and singing with beautiful ladies at a karaoke bar, and racing motorcycles literally behind bars – citing the Computer Crime Act.
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The Buddhist Channel, 1 Nov 2023
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The Buddhist Channel, 21 Oct 2023
Inle Lake, Myanmar -- Thousands of Buddhists participated in the Phaung Daw Oo pagoda festival, which features four sacred Buddha images placed on a golden barge and rowed through lakeside villages in eastern Shan State.
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The Buddhist Channel, 14 Oct 2023
Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands (Indonesia) -- The Riau Islands Province now boasts Indonesia's tallest pagoda, the Sata-Sahasra Buddha Pagoda, nestled within the Avalokitesvara Vihara complex, W. R. Supratman Street, Kilometer 14, Tanjungpinang City.
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The Buddhist Channel, 14 Oct 2023
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- In a poignant twist on an age-old tradition, this year's Pchum Ben festival in Cambodia's Kampong Tralach district is tinged with sorrow, as local monks face a shortage of food offerings amidst economic challenges. The 15-day festival, marking the end of Vassa (Buddhist Lent), typically sees devotees prepare food for monks and offer alms as a way to honor their deceased ancestors. However, the economic slowdown has cast a shadow over these cherished rituals.
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The Buddhist Channel, October 9, 2023
Nakhon Pathom, Thailand -- The Buddhist community of Nakhon Pathom is plunged into mourning following the peaceful passing of Pranee Intawaso, an esteemed royal ecclesiastical advisor. Pranee Intawaso, who served as the advisor to the head of the 14th region and as assistant abbot at Wat Rai Khing, a prestigious royal temple in Nakhon Pathom, breathed his last on October 7 at Sam Phran Hospital in Nakhon Pathom.
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The Buddhist Channel, 30 Sept 2023
UPDATE (25 Oct 2023) The Buddhist Channel has been informed that Kunzang Chokhor Ling has amended their website which reflects the true reason for the establishment of the society. With the update, the issue of contradiction raised by this article has been resolved. The amendments in their website can be seen here:
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Recent developments have sent shock waves through the Tibetan Buddhist community in Malaysia, with two concerning incidents coming to light. The first involves the arrest and detention of a Tulku accused of sexual assault on a woman six years ago.
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The Buddhist Channel, 27 September 2023
SERDANG, Selangor (Malaysia) -- Vajrayana teacher Chagtrul Thupten Thinley Rinpoche has been detained in connection with allegations of sexual assault involving a woman in Puchong. The alleged incident reportedly occurred on February 17, 2017, within the confines of Puchong.
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The Buddhist Channel, 22 September 2023
YAN, Kedah (Malaysia) -- The National Heritage Department and Universiti Sains Malaysia's Global Archaeology Research Centre (GARC) proudly announce the uncovering of the largest Buddhist temple structure in Bukit Choras, with roots dating back 1,200 years.
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The Buddhist Channel, 16 September 2023
IPOH, Perak -- Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) expressed disappointment over a recent court decision regarding a century-old Buddhist monastery in Gunung Kanthan, Chemor, Perak. The Court of Appeal granted permission for Associated Pan Malaysia Cement (APMC) to evict the monastery, located within Gunung Kanthan. Gunung Kanthan is one of the 19 Kinta Valley geological sites and was expected to be part of the Kinta Valley National Geopark.
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The Buddhist Channel, 8 September 2023
IPOH, Perak -- One of the last 12 remaining limestone hills in the Kinta Valley National Geopark, Gunung Kanthan, is surrounded by abundant greenery that shelters endangered species of flora and fauna like bent-toed geckos, snow-white orchids and tiny snails.
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The Buddhist Channel, 2 September 2023
Bangkok, Thailand -- In a bid to address the growing need for compassionate caregivers in modern institutions, a three-day workshop for Buddhist chaplains is set to take place, offering insights into the evolving role of chaplaincy in today's society. The workshop is sponsored by the International Buddhist Psychotherapy and Chaplaincy Working Group & the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB). It runs from September 29 – October 1, 2023 and will be held at Wongansit Ashram, Thailand.
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The Buddhist Channel, 24 August 2023
Hanoi, Vietnam - Amidst the lush jungles and sprawling fields of the Vietnamese landscape, a remarkable structure more akin to old Angkor emerges, captivating all who lay eyes upon it. The Kŕ Ốt Pagoda, with its distinctive Khmer architectural style, stands as a testament to the cultural and spiritual heritage of the ethnic Khmer community in the region.
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The Buddhist Channel, 9 August, 2023
Naypyitaw, Myanmar -- In the midst of Myanmar's ongoing civil conflict, the country's military leadership has unveiled a towering Buddha statue, an emblematic display aimed at fostering national cohesion and religious devotion.
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The Buddhist Channel, 29 July 2023
Bangkok, Thailand -- In the Land of Smiles, a unique cultural tradition has long captivated observers: young Thai men, after completing their studies, embark on a transformative journey as temporary monks. This revered rite of passage has been an integral part of Thai society, offering men an opportunity to show gratitude to their families and immerse themselves in the teachings of Buddhism.
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by Kooi F. Lim, The Buddhist Channel, 13 July 2023
Palembang, Indonesia -- On November 17, 1920, just 8 months after becoming the Resident of Palembang, the Dutch diplomat Louis Constant Westenenk found himself at the foot of Bukit Seguntang, in the village of Talang Tuo. His foray here with his entourage led to a stunning discovery of an ancient stone tablet.
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ANTARA News, 8 July 2023
Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands (Indonesia) -- The tallest pagoda in Indonesia, the Sata-Sahasra Buddha Pagoda, which is located in Tanjungpinang City, Riau Islands Province, was inaugurated on Saturday by an official from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
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Op-Ed, The Buddhist Channel, 30 June 2023
Bangkok, Thailand -- Thai Buddhism finds itself in a state of crisis, plagued by a series of deep-rooted issues that threaten the very fabric of this ancient spiritual tradition. From the misconduct of wayward monks to the distortion of Buddhist teachings, the erosion of public faith has reached alarming levels.
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The Buddhist Channel, 2 June 2023
Magelang, Indonesia -- In a remarkable display of tolerance and harmony, Indonesian communities warmly embraced a group of Buddhist monks embarking on the Thudong pilgrimage, a traditional practice of walking long distances to emulate the Buddha. The streets leading to Magelang, Central Java, were filled with enthusiastic crowds as dozens of bhantes (Buddhist monks) made their way towards the Borobudur Temple, their final destination.
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The Buddhist Channel, 21 May 2023
Bangkok, Thailand -- A series of multi-million baht cases involving monastic fraud has prompted the police in Thailand to contemplate their investigation into temple funds.
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The Buddhist Channel, 16 May 2023
Sungai Buloh, Malaysia -- The congregation on Sunday morning, 14 May 2023 at Ariya Vihara was waiting in high anticipation for the monks and nuns to arrive for the Puja and opening ceremony. This congregation is not common for a Buddhist centre in Malaysia because it consists mainly of female devotees. After all, Ariya Vihara was formed as the 1st Theravada Bhikkhuni Nunnery and Dhamma Training Centre in Malaysia with much interest from women wishing to ordain both from within Malaysia and abroad.
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The Buddhist Channel, 28 April 2023
Bangkok, Thailand -- Meditation is usually not associated with heavenly locations. More so Buddhist meditation such as Anapanasati (mindfulness of breath) and Vipassana (insight meditation), where practitioners are urged to look into their discomfort while practicing in a dimly lighted temple room and humid conditions.
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By Kalinga Seneviratne, Lotus News Features and IDN-InDepthNews, 9 December 2019
BANGKOK, Thailand -- On a Saturday morning a couple drives into the Santi Asoke community in the north-eastern outskirts of Bangkok, and walks into a large warehouse stacked with clothes, shoes, books, electrical goods, mobile phones, washing machines, furniture and other household items. The couple inspects a stack of clothes scattered on a mat, picks some up and puts it in a basket. It is then taken to a volunteer cashier, who weighs it and quotes a price.
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The Buddhist Channel, Nov 20, 2019
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- A significant milestone was reached in the Malaysian Vajrayana scene when all 18 centres and groups from the Gelugpa Tradition came together to jointly organize an event to commemorate the 600th year of Lama Tsongkapa.
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The Star, 14 May 2019
HANOI, Vietnam -- The United Nations (UN) Day of Vesak has kicked off in Vietnam’s northern Ha Nam province, with the participation of more than 1,650 international delegates from over 100 countries and regions.
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The Buddhist Channel, September 1, 2018
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- An exhibition dedicated to the life of Ven. Dr K Sri Dhammananda Maha Nayaka Thera is currently open for public viewing from 31st August to 2nd September 2018 at the Buddhist Maha Vihara, Kuala Lumpur. Entrance is free.
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by Muktita Suhartono, The Hindu, Aug 14, 2018
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Buddha, in his laughing incarnation, is often depicted with a jolly smile and a giant, quivering belly. That model of plenitude seems ever more apt in Thailand, where the waistlines of the country’s Buddhist monks have expanded so much that health officials have issued a nationwide warning.
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The Bangkok Post, 24 Jul 2018
Bangkok, Thailand -- Eleven boys from the “Wild Boars” soccer team - rescued from the flooded Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district in a drama that gripped global audiences - took their first steps on Tuesday to be ordained as Buddhist novices in a ceremony steeped in tradition.
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The Phuket News, 26 May 2018
PHUKET, Thailand -- The major Buddhist holiday Visakha Bucha Day will be honoured on May 29 with most government offices closed.
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by Liam Cochrane and Supattra Vimonsuknopparat, ABC, May 28, 2018
Bangkok, Thailand -- The daily afternoon fasting of Thai Buddhist monks is making them fat, thanks largely to modern sugary drinks, says a leading nutritionist.
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by Khoe Wei Jun, The Straits Times, May 29, 2019
Singapore -- The Singapore Buddhist Federation and other experts are encouraging devotees to not release animals to mark Vesak Day, but to consider alternatives instead, including going vegetarian.
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The Jakarta Post, May 28, 2018
Jogjakarta, Indonesia -- Sixteen Buddhist monks and journalists from Thailand and Vietnam are among the participants of the Vesak Day 2562 familiarization trip (famtrip) to Yogyakarta and Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java initiated by the Tourism Ministry from May 27 to June 1.
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By Alan Teh Leam Seng, The New Straits Times, May 27, 2018
Penang, Malaysia -- “UNCLE Wong’s house is near the junction of Lebuhraya Bodhi and Jalan Nirvana,” remarks my father as I slowly turn into the North-South Expressway. My parents had just heard of their former colleague’s ill health and decided to pay him a visit. Since it’s the weekend and there’s nothing on my schedule, I offered to drive them to Penang for a day trip. With images of sumptuous hawker food dancing in my mind, this will be like killing two birds with a stone.
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The Straits Times, May 13, 2018
SINGAPORE -- As a young boy in the 60s, Mr Lim Keng Boon would accompany his parents, who are devout Buddhists, to the Wat Ananda Metyarama Thai Buddhist Temple in Jalan Bukit Merah for prayers.
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By Pravit Rojanaphruk, Khasod English, March 20, 2018
BANGKOK, Thailand -- A Buddhist scholar and foreign correspondent both warn in recent books of the rising specter of Buddhist nationalism in Thailand.
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The Irrawaddy, 22 February 2018
Yangon, Myanmar -- Religious Affairs and Culture Minister U Aung Ko has urged the nation’s highest religious authority to take action against monks who disgrace Buddhism through their activities or speech.
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by Sanitsuda Ekachai, The Bangkok Post, Feb 3, 2018
Bangkok, Thailand -- People who believed that the majority of monks do not follow the Buddha's path have increasingly turned to meditation retreats led by non-monk teachers outside temples. A religious group called Techo Vipassana is one of them.
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by KING-OUA LAOHONG, The Bangkok Post, 9 Jan 2018
Bangkok, Thailand -- In July 2015, Sathien Damrongkadeerat, who at the time served as the director of the Songkhla Provincial Office of Buddhism, contacted the three temples, saying he would earmark budgets for them on condition they repay a fixed amount to him, according to Mr Worawit.
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Asia News Network, December 30, 2017
Yangon, Myanmar -- In a further sign that Myanmar is clamping down on the spread of ultra-nationalist Buddhism, six monks have been sentenced to 18 months’ hard labour for leading an anti-government protest in Mandalay.
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by San Ha, VietNamNet Bridge, Nov 19, 2017
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam --- Situated along Nhieu Loc Canal in HCM City’s District 1, Van Tho (Longevity) Pagoda has been a trusted place for free traditional cures for sprains, fractures and muscle and bone injuries for more than 30 years.
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By Jacob Goldberg, Coconuts, Nov. 2, 2017
Yangon, Myanmar -- Myanmar’s most revered Buddhist leader gave a speech on Monday in which he urged hundreds of military officers to not to fear the sinfulness of taking human life. Despite building a reputation on his interfaith and humanitarian activities, Sitagu Sayadaw has long made excuses for the military’s abuses against Rohingya Muslims. This week, critics said the monk veered into promoting genocide.
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The Nation, October 11, 2017
Chiang Mai, Thailand -- A Chiang Mai temple which is taking care of about 700 abandoned children and orphans has appealed for urgent donations of sanitary napkins for girls.
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Reuters, 11 October 2017
VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis will meet Myanmar’s top Buddhist monks, its military generals and civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in November when he visits that country and Bangladesh, both caught up in a crisis over the self-identifying Rohingya Muslim minority.
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Channel News Asia, 26 Sep 2017
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand has reinstated as the head of a state body charged with administering the Buddhist religion an official who was sacked last month, the prime minister said on Tuesday.
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Channel News Asia, Sept 8, 2017
Singapore -- The Singapore Buddhist Federation has weighed in on the crisis in Myanmar's Rakhine state, saying that the escalation of violence there is of "grave concern".
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The Star, 25 August 2017
Penang, Malaysia -- A SACRED week-long Buddhist ceremony will be held in Butterworth, Penang, this year-end.
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VNA, Aug 27, 2017
Danang, Vietnam -- As Vietnam and Indian developed ties in the third century, Buddhist monks played a major role in cementing the relationship.
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By Kalinga Seneviratne, IDN-InDepthNews, 10 August 2017
YANGON, Myanmar -- A Myanmar government commission that investigated allegations made by an international human rights organisation and the media about the country’s security forces abusing the human rights of Muslims known as Rohingyas in Rakhine State has found these allegations to be “unproven” and slammed its critics, including the United Nations, for carrying out an international “smear campaign” against the country.
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By Jonathan Head BBC News, 22 July 2017
Bangkok, Thailand -- It was a jarring image; a group of Buddhist monks, with shaven heads and orange robes, sitting back in the soft-leather seats of an executive jet, passing luxury accessories among themselves.
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By Htun Htun & Pe Thet Htet Khin, the Irrawaddy, 18 July 2017
YANGON, Myanmar -- The State Buddhist Sangha authority - also known by its Myanmar acronym Ma Ha Na - will not issue further instructions regarding the signboards of Buddhist ultranationalist association Ma Ba Tha, said Sayadaw Bhaddanta Pandavabhivamsa, a Ma Ha Na member.
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AFP, July 14, 2017
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand’s Buddhist monks could soon be issued “smart ID cards” flagging any drug or criminal records, in the latest move by the junta to restore the tarnished image of the men in orange robes.
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Coconuts Yangon, Jun. 29, 2017
Yangon, Myanmar -- Religious and cultural affairs minister Thura U Aung Ko told reporters in Naypyidaw yesterday that he will not give in to demands to resign, saying: “I was not appointed by [nationalist protesters], but by the leader democratically elected by the people.”
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The Bangkok Post, 16 Jun 2017
Bangkok, Thailand -- The government will propose a law to force its tens of thousands of Buddhist temples to declare their finances, the head of the National Office of Buddhism told Reuters.
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By Moe Myint, The Irrawaddy, 15 June 2017
YANGON, Myanmar -- The Arakan National Party (ANP) led 300 people, including Buddhist monks and local Arakanese, in a protest outside the UN offices in Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State on Wednesday, urging the agency to protect the Buddhist minority Chakma in Bangladesh.
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By MRATT KYAW THU, Myanmar Frontier, May 23, 2017
YANGON, Myanmar -- Hardline nationalist group Ma Ba Tha has been ordered to cease all activities by the middle of July or face legal action, after a decision by senior clerical leaders.
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The Star, 10 May 2017
GEORGE TOWN, Penang (Malaysia) -- A float bearing a 3m-tall statue of Buddha stands proud with thousands of flowers donated by devotees at the Malaysian Buddhist Association premises in Burmah Road.
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The Straits Times, May 10, 2017
Singapore -- More than 20,000 people turned up at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery to perform rituals in reverence of Buddha - the founder of Buddhism - yesterday on the eve of Vesak Day.
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Afp, 10 May 2017
Ipoh, Malaysia -- Thousands of devotees gathered in Malaysian temples Wednesday to celebrate Buddha's birth, death and enlightenment -- a festival marked on different days across the region, which is also known as Wesak day.
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by Adrian Chan, the Star, 8 May 2017
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Religious leaders should lead by example to promote a moderate way of life among the people, says Venerable Datuk K. Sri Dhammaratana Nayaka Maha Thero.
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by Yip Yoke Leng, The Star, 9 May 2017
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The weeks leading up to Wesak Day this year have been a grand display of volunteerism and compassion as thousands of Buddhists prepare for the occasion tomorrow to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha.
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by Chin Kee Thou, Today Online, May 8, 2017
Singapore -- The report “NParks, PUB teaming up to warn against releasing pets into the wild” (May 3) comes at the right time.
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by SUNTHORN PONGPAO, The Bangkok Post, 7 May 2017
Bangkok, Thailand -- A total of 10,000 copies of a book said to be the world's first and formal international version of the Tripitaka Buddhist scriptures will be distributed to countries around the world, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University revealed on Saturday.
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by Gan Pei Ling, the Star, 8 May 2017
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia -- A national Buddhist centre and houses of worship of other major faiths will be built here as part of the Government’s plan to have a multi-religious enclave at the nation’s administrative capital.
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VNS, May 5, 2017
Hanoi, Vietnam -- President Tran D?i Quang paid a visit yesterday to Most Venerable Thích Pho Tue, Supreme Patriarch of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) on the occasion of the Buddha’s 2561st Birthday Festival 2017.
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Reuters, April 11, 2017
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's junta lifted restrictions on movement at the country's biggest Buddhist temple on Tuesday, a month after police ended a siege of the complex whose former abbot is accused of money laundering.
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by Oliver Holmes, The Guardian, 10 March 2017
Ruling junta has kept Dhammakaya temple under siege for nearly three weeks in bid to find monk wanted for money laundering Bangkok, Thailand -- Thailand’s highest religious body has begun a process that could defrock a Buddhist abbot wanted for money laundering, escalating a conflict between the military government and a hugely popular temple.
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by Kyaw Thu, RFA’s Myanmar Service, March 20, 2017
Yangon, Myanmar -- Religious authorities in Myanmar’s Mandalay have warned the outspoken and controversial leader of an ultranationalist Buddhist movement to not give sermons under a one-year ban on making public speeches because of his repeated hate speech and anti-Muslim rhetoric, a religious official said Monday.
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South China Morning Post, 6 March, 2017
Phra Dhammachayo is accused of money laundering but has not turned himself in and police say his followers have hampered the search Bangkok, Thailand -- The former Buddhist abbot at the heart of a stand-off with authorities at Thailand’s biggest temple has been stripped of his monastic rank by the king, the military government said on Sunday.
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by Sanitsuda Ekachai, Bangkok Post, March 2, 2017
Bangkok, Thailand -- So the Dhammakaya Temple is a cult. So its leader reportedly claims to be a doomsday saviour who takes rich donors on a tour to heaven to see the Buddha. So it teaches its followers to buy premium spaces in heaven by donating to the temple. So its doctrine on the permanence of self is against Buddhism. So what?
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By Wa Lone, Reuters, Feb. 24, 2017
YANGON, Myanmar -- Around 100 Buddhist monks and nationalists in Myanmar staged a protest against Thailand on Friday, denouncing the government of the neighboring country for its actions against a temple that has defied orders to hand over a wanted monk.
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by ANDREW BIGGS, The Bangkok Post, 12 Feb 2017
Thought police are doing Thailand's religion no favours with their intrusive false advertising aimed at tourists Bangkok, Thailand -- The billboard rises, like a Buddhist temple, up ahead on the right-hand side of the airport highway.
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By Panu Wongcha-um, Channel NewsAsia, 12 Feb 2017
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand will soon welcome a new Supreme Patriarch. Somdet Phra Maha Muniwong, 89, was appointed last week by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and will be officially installed in a ceremony in Bangkok on Sunday (Feb 12).
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By Euan Black, Southeast Asia Globe, February 1, 2017
As Cambodia modernises and sex and drug scandals rock the monkhood, the famed saffron robes no longer command the respect they once did Phnom Penh, Cambosia -- In 1959, May Mayko Ebihara became the first American to write an anthropological dissertation on Cambodian village life. Published in two volumes nearly a decade later, Svay: A Khmer Village in Cambodia depicted a pre-modern agricultural idyll governed by family and religion, in which monks were seen as the “living embodiments and spiritual generators of Buddhism”.
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by Leong Weng Kam, Straits Times, Jan 31, 2017
Tan Lee Huak aims to strengthen confidence of devotees and promote Buddhist teachings Singapore -- Since last Friday night, more than 20,000 devotees have visited the Singapore Buddhist Lodge in Kim Yam Road, as they do every Chinese New Year, to give offerings, exchange greetings and pay respects to their ancestors.
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by Sanitsuda Ekachai, The Bangkok Post, Jan 19, 2017
Bangkok, Thailand -- The National Office of Buddhism (NOB) is attempting to encourage Phra Dhammajayo, the embattled former abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, to turn himself in to officials in the money laundering case associated with the multi-billion-baht Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative embezzlement scandal.
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by Sanitsuda Ekachai, The Bangkok Post, Jan 11, 2017
Bangkok, Thailand -- If you think any Thai can pay respects to the late revered monarch, you will be in for an unpleasant surprise.
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by Khy Sovuthy, Cambodia Daily, January 11, 2017
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- The Minister of Cults and Religion was questioned by a National Assembly commission on Tuesday over efforts to promote Buddhism in the country and an assortment of other concerns affecting the religion, according to the opposition lawmaker who summoned him.
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By SETH MYDANS, The New York Times, Dec. 20, 2016
PATHUM THANI, Thailand -- It is a temple for a changing Thailand: clean, unadorned, high-tech and unashamed of praying for wealth.
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The Bangkok Post, 11 Dec 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- His Majesty the King presided over an annual ceremony on Monday to promote senior Buddhist monks in the cleric ranking system.
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By Kalinga Seneviratne, IDN-InDepthNews, 27 November 2016
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- A grand Chinese temple on the hills of central Kuala Lumpur overlooking the Malaysian capital was the site of a unique event on November 27 where a Sri Lankan born Buddhist monk’s vision to empower the education of poor Malaysian children, most of them Muslims, was taking place without the glare of any television cameras or the national media.
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by Michiyo Tanabe and Lee Jay Walker, Modern Tokyo Times, November 25, 2016
Buddhism is illegal in Muslim nations like Saudi Arabia (however the same Sunni Islamist nation is intent on spreading Salafi Islam into the heart of Buddhism with the connivance of local 'Buddhist' politicians who act oblivious to the rapidly declining plight of Buddhism in traditional Buddhist countries) Yangon, Myanmar -- The mass media in both the West and Islamic world needs to find space in order to simplify hatred. It matters not if turning a blind eye to Sunni Takfiri massacres in Syria and the nations that are endorsing this, nor that in Myanmar’s recent history more Christians than any other non-Buddhist faith group have been killed based on ethnic and religious tensions. Instead, the simple version – while negating the Christian angle – is that Muslims are killed and targeted by radical Buddhists.
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By Arun Saronchai, Anadolu Agency, Nov 24, 2016
Abbot of wealthy Dhammakaya temple wanted on charges of illegally receiving money from scandal-ridden credit fund BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thai police said Thursday that an influential abbot of a wealthy Buddhist temple has until the end of the month to turn himself in and face money laundering charges.
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by Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, November 19, 2016
Sumatra, Indonesia -- Hundreds of Buddhists in Medan, North Sumatra, held a joint prayer for peace and tolerance in Indonesia, amid rising religious tensions across the country.
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VNS, November, 4, 2016
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) has contributed to enriching and developing the country’s culture, the rector of HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities said at conference held on Wednesday.
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By Akhilesh Pillalamarri, The Diplomat, October 15, 2016
Rama IX served as a revered symbol and also shielded his country from the worst consequences of its political instability. Bangkok, Thailand -- What makes an ideal king in the Buddhist tradition?
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The Buddhist Channel, Oct 18, 2016
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Maha Karuna Buddhist Society will be organizing the annual “Student Monks Education Dana” this year on 20th November, 2016. The event will be held at the village of Kirinda, in the district of Mathara, Sri Lanka. The venue was selected as it coincides with the 10th anniversary memorial of the late Ven. Dr K Sri Dhammananda, who hails from Kirinda.
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by Melissa Goh, Channel NewsAsia, 14 Oct 2016
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- Nestled in a quiet neighbourhood in Petaling Jaya in Selangor state, is the majestic Chetawan Thai Buddhist temple.
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Channel News Asia, 14 Oct 2016
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Buddhist monks on Friday chanted prayers over the remains of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the riverside Grand Palace in Bangkok, ahead of a traditional royal cremation that will need months to prepare.
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Japan Times, Oct 6, 2016
MANDALAY, Myanmar -- A Myanmar court on Thursday jailed a Dutch tourist for three months with hard labor for insulting religion after he unplugged an amplifier relaying a late-night Buddhist sermon.
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by Natnicha Chuwiruch and Grant Peck, The Associated Press, October 6, 2016
Thai activists lean over the Oct. 6 Memorial to offer lighted candles at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016. (AP / Sakchai Lalit) BANGKOK, Thailand -- Buddhist monks, mourners, activists and the merely curious gathered Thursday to mark the 40th anniversary of one of the darkest days in Thailand's history, when police killed scores of university students at a peaceful protest, and ghoulish vigilantes defiled the dead.
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By Yee Xiang Yun, The Star, 24 September 2016
JOHOR BARU, Malaysia -- Buddhist associations should remain united to spread the right teachings of Buddha, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
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AFP, 26 September 2016
Mandalay, Myanmar -- A Dutch tourist has been detained in Myanmar for insulting religion after being accused of pulling the plug on a speaker relaying a late-night Buddhist sermon in Mandalay.
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Radio Free Asia, Sept 12, 2016
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Government authorities in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City have destroyed a Buddhist pagoda from which they recently evicted monks, and have moved all of the temple’s contents to another location, the head of the religious institution said Monday.
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by Melody Zaccheus, The Straits Times, Sept 10, 2016
SINGAPORE - The Buddhist College of Singapore now has its own $35 million building, placing it in a better position to serve its students - monks from the region.
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The Buddhist Channel, Sept 8, 2016
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- News portal "Free Malaysia Today (FMT)" reported on September 3 that the chief monk of the Sri Lankan Buddhist temple in Sentul was assaulted by a small group of demonstrators, who were protesting the visit of former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa to Malaysia.
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Newslaundry, Sep 5, 2016
Narendra Modi invited all the monks to visit India - the land of Buddha - and especially to Varanasi "which I represent in the Indian Parliament." Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited the historic Pagoda temple in Hanoi and the stilt house where revered leader Ho Chi Minh lived, apart from enjoying fishing with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Addressing Buddhist monks at the temple, Modi said Vietnam was an inspiration for everyone to shun violence and follow Buddha’s path of peace and harmony.
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By Min Kyi Thein And Esther Htusan, The Associated Press, Aug. 25, 2016
Some of the structures, constructed from the 10th to the 14th centuries, were engulfed in huge clouds of dust when the tremor struck, while others lost their iconic tips. BAGAN, BURMA -- Using brooms and their hands, soldiers and residents of an ancient Burma city famous for its historic Buddhist pagodas began cleaning up the debris Thursday from a powerful earthquake that shook the region and damaged nearly 200 temples.
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AsianCorrespondent.com, 19 August 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- THAILAND’S smallest monk was disrobed this week after a senior monk decided he was too small.
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By LAWI WENG, THE IRRAWADDY, August 17, 2016
RANGOON, Burma -- Plans are underway to form a new commission to resolve the communal and humanitarian crisis in Arakan State, which will include Muslim and Buddhist Arakanese representatives—but from Rangoon rather than Arakan State.
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The Nation, August 6, 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- POLICE yesterday vowed to hunt down ever person who blocked the arrest of Dhammakaya Temple abbot Phra Dhammachayo on June 16.
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The Bangkok Post, Jul 30, 2016
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesian authorities detained seven people in northern Sumatra island on Saturday on suspicion of attacking several Buddhist temples the previous night, officials said
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Channel News Asia, 21 Jul 2016
NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar -- Muslims make up just over two per cent of Myanmar's population, government census figures showed on Thursday (Jul 21), undercutting claims by Buddhist hardliners that Islam poses a threat to the dominance of their faith.
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AFP, July 13, 2016
YANGON, Myanmar -- The body representing Myanmar’s top monks has distanced itself from Buddhist hardliners behind an incendiary anti-Muslim campaign blamed for a surge in sectarian violence across the country.
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by Anapat Deechuay and Sakda Samerpop, The Nation, July 12, 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha has pledged not to submit the nomination of Somdet Chuang as the new supreme patriarch for royal endorsement for fear it would spark turmoil.
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ThaiPBS, July 13, 2016
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha on Tuesday hit back at a senior monk who threatened to lead a mass protest of monks if the former does not submit the nomination of Somdet Chuang as the new supreme patriarch to His Majesty the King for endorsement within seven days.
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by Ate Hoekstra, Deutch Welle, July 7, 2016
Cambodia has one of the world's highest deforestation rates. But a group of Buddhist monks are stepping up efforts to save forests by publicly revealing wrongdoings and mobilizing local villagers. Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- His memories often bring But Buntenh back to Cambodia thirty years ago. There were jungles as far as the eye could see. Centuries-old trees gave shade and provided shelter to birds and wild animals.
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by Jarod Lim, The Star, 11 July 2016
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- THE Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields is organising a charity dinner to raise funds for an expansion project for the Buddhist Institute Sunday Dhamma School (BISDS).
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Archive of Images of the funeral
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by MOTOKAZU MATSUI, Nikkei Asian Review, June 29, 2016
YANGON, Myanmar -- An anti-Muslim Buddhist nationalist group in Myanmar is rapidly extending its influence, growing into a political force that could pose a serious challenge to the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi.
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SCMP, 3 July, 2016
Yangon, Myanmar -- Myanmar’s bitterly-divided Rakhine State saw mass protests on Sunday as thousands of Buddhists, including monks, demonstrated in a show of opposition to a government edict referring to Muslim communities in the restive province, organisers said.
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AFP, June 25, 2016
YANGON, Myanmar -- Scores of police have been deployed to guard a village in central Myanmar where religious tensions are running high after a Buddhist mob destroyed a mosque, authorities said Saturday.
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by Archis Mohan, Business Standard, June 18, 2016
India-Thailand to negotiate a new bilateral investment treaty New Delhi, India -- India and Thailand today agreed to negotiate a new Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) and increase cooperation in areas of defence and maritime security.
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The Nation, June 9, 2016
Even abbots must obey the secular law of the land, and certainly the faithful must report wrongdoing Bangkok, Thailand -- It would be going too far to say that predominantly Buddhist Thailand is suffering a crisis of faith, but the litany of "sins" being committed against the spirit of the Lord Buddha's teachings continues to grow, with several alarming instances recently making headlines and involving legal prosecution.
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Associated Press, June 9, 2016
KANCHANABURI, Thailand -- A Buddhist temple denied that its abbot was involved in illegal trafficking of tigers at a news conference Thursday that was its first detailed response since Thailand's wildlife authority removed scores of big cats from the popular tourist attraction and found dead cubs in jars and freezers.
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Mizzima, 8 June 2016
Yangon, Myanmar -- A Senior Buddhist monk, Parmaukkha, a member of the central committee of the powerful ultranationalist Buddhist monk organization Ma Ba Tha, has stepped down over political differences with the group, RFA reported on 7 June.
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The Star, June 1, 2016
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thai wildlife authorities found 40 tiger cub carcasses in a freezer in Thailand's infamous Tiger Temple on Wednesday as they removed live animals in response to international pressure over suspected trafficking and abuse.
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by PONGPAT WONGYALA, AEKARACH SATTABURUTH, KING-OUA LAOHONG, The Bangkok Post, 30 May 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- Thousands of Wat Dhammakaya followers in and outside the country have become increasingly frustrated with the way the abbot is being treated and the monastery is beginning to worry it might not be able to keep them in line, their spokesperson said.
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Vietnam News, May 18, 2016
Hanoi, Vietnam -- President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan yesterday visited the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)’s Executive Council on the occasion of Buddha’s 2,560th birthday.
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By Joy Fang, Today, May 21, 2016
Singapore -- With temples located islandwide, options are aplenty if you’d like to join in the Vesak Day festivities, soak in the atmosphere and, perhaps, gain some peace.
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NNT, 20 May 2016
TAK, Thailand -- A large number of Thai and Myanmar people performed a religious activity together on the occasion of Vesak Day.
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by Dr. Lalit Kishore, Merinews, 19 May, 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- Under the auspices of the International Association of Buddhist Universities, a two-day 13th Annual United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) Celebration was held recently with the theme "The Buddhist Path to World Peace". The opening day, a short seminar on "Buddhist Education for Peace" was held.
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NNT, 20 May, 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- Civil servants and residents of all provinces are participating in alms giving and merit-making activities on the occasion of Vesak Day.
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Reuters, May 18, 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- Thai authorities issued an arrest warrant for an influential Buddhist abbot on charges of money-laundering and receiving illegal donations, justice ministry officials said on Tuesday.
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By Majorie Chiew, The Star, 17 May 2016
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- SOME 200 devotees at the Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple in Petaling Jaya, held a ceremony to apply gold leaves on five Buddha statues at the chief abbot’s premises.
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By MING TEOH, The Star, May 21, 2016
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- It was almost dusk. The sky had turned a deep blue and the street lamps which had come on grew brighter in the increasing darkness. Despite a light drizzle, a crowd had gathered – families with children, elderly folk, young people, and Caucasians – to watch the Wesak Day procession from Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.
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Channel News Asia, 18 May 2016
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Tensions between Thai police and a powerful Buddhist sect have spiked this week after an arrest warrant was issued for an abbot at the centre of an alleged multi-million dollar scandal.
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The Nation May 13, 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- The parents of a Buddhist monk, environmentalist Phra Supoj Suwajo, who was killed on June 17, 2005 at Suan Metta Dharm forest monastery in Chiang Mai’s Fang district, yesterday filed a petition with the Justice Ministry asking the reopening of their son’s murder case.
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RFA, May 11, 2016
Yangon, Myanmar -- Religious officials in Myanmar have condemned the actions of an influential Buddhist monk and his followers who are erecting Buddhist pagodas on the grounds of churches and mosques in eastern Myanmar’s Karen State.
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by Adrian Chan, The Star, 26 April 2016
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- A BUDDHIST bookstore in Petaling Jaya will be closing its doors at the end of this month, after having served the community for nearly two decades.
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Prachatai Engliah, March 16, 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- A controversial Thai temple has reportedly given an award to a radical anti-Muslim Burmese monk on his visit to Thailand while a group of Thai monks openly showed him support.
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by Nay Rein Kyaw for RFA’s Myanmar Service. Translated by Kyaw Kyaw Aung. Written in English by Paul Eckert, Apr 27, 2016
Yangon, Myanmar -- A senior Myanmar official vowed on Wednesday to stop an influential Buddhist monk from building pagodas near churches and mosques as Christian and Muslim leaders appealed for calm in a country that has struggled with religious tensions.
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TUOI TRE NEWS, Apr 28, 2016
Thua Thien-Hue, Vietnam -- Gandharan Buddhist manuscripts dating back 2,000 years have been put on display at an exhibition in Vietnam’s central province of Thua Thien-Hue.
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by NANCHANOK WONGSAMUTH, The Bangkok Post, April 17, 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- Female Buddhist monks at a temple in Rayong suspect the burning down of one of their dormitories was an attack by arsonists disgruntled with the role of women in the clergy.
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by Sanitsuda Ekachai, The Bangkok Post, Apr 20, 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- A case of arson at a bhikkhuni centre in Rayong is shocking. Although it is yet to be determined what caused it -- land conflicts, gender discrimination, or both -- it is clear that it is not easy being a female monk. And the next charter -- if it passes the referendum -- will not make it any easier.
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The Buddhist Channel, April 21, 2016
Yangon, Myanmar -- The last rites ceremony for the late Sayadaw U Pandita who passed away in Bangkok on April 16, 2016 was carried out yesterday at the main Dhamma Hall of Shwe Taung Gon Sasana Yeiktha.
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by PATHUM THANI, The Economist, Apr 2 2016
A squabble in the clergy widens Thailand’s dangerous divides
Bangkok, Thailand -- JUST north of Bangkok, the Thai capital, stands an enormous golden stupa designed to last 1,000 years. Its gleaming exterior is made not from smooth tiles but from 300,000 tightly-packed statues of the Buddha; 700,000 more are hidden inside.
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The Buddhist Channel, April 9, 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- The President of the World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth (WFBY), Dr. Pornchai Pinyapong was unanimously voted out by the body's executive committee in an emergency meeting held at it's headquarters in Bangkok, on Monday, April 4, 2016.
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by Our Special Correspondent, The Buddhist Channel, April 7, 2016
Yangon, Myanmar -- Myanmar's retired junta General Thein Sein has become a monk. He has been ordained as U Thandi Dhamma. According to reliable sources, it was the well known Dhamma teacher Dr. Ashin Nyanissara or better known as Sitagu Sayadaw who implored him to take up monkhood.
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The Straits Times, April 5, 2016
YANGON, Myanmar -- The retired junta general who steered Myanmar's last five years of reforms has temporarily become a monk, according to state media, days after he ceded power to a new government led by Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party.
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by Oliver Holmes, The Guardian, 29 March 2016
Supporters of Somdet Chuang, frontrunner for the post of supreme patriarch, say tax evasion claims are politically driven
Bangkok, Thailand -- A 90-year-old monk is under investigation for tax evasion in Thailand and will be summoned by police after he refused to answer their questions about his classic Mercedes-Benz.
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AFP, March 30, 2016
Yangon, Myanmar -- TEETERING on bamboo scaffolding, craftsmen are busy attaching blocks of gold to a Buddhist pagoda in downtown Yangon, Myanmar, burnishing one of the city’s major landmarks and racking up spiritual credit for devotees.
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By LAWI WENG, THE IRRAWADDY, March 18, 2016
YANGON, Myanmar -- A group of nationalist Buddhist monks and supporters are preparing to protest the National League for Democracy (NLD) for appointing a Christian vice president-elect this month.
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by Philip Sherwell, The Telegraph, March 16, 2016
They are renowned for meditation and moderation, but more than half the country’s Buddhist monks are obese, according to new research
Bangkok, Thailand -- The early morning alms round by saffron-clad monks holding their donations bowls to collect food and drink is a familiar daily ritual in Thailand.
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By Panu Wongcha-um, Channel NewsAsia, 7 Mar 2016
The abbot and founder of the Dhammakaya sect, Dhammachayo, is currently under investigation for allegedly embezzling the temple’s donation money.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Dhammakaya, the world’s fastest growing group within Buddhism, has more than 4,000 monks and claims to have millions of followers in Thailand and abroad. In recent months however, the sect has come under increasing scrutiny over a raft of issues.
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By Nay Aung, Myanmar Times, 3 February 2016
Yangon, Myanmar -- The Dhamma School Foundation says it aims to establish more than 9000 Buddhist Sunday schools over the next five years, nearly quadrupling the current number.
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by Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Phnom Penh Post, 19 January 2016
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Pailin province’s chief monk, along with other monks, yesterday visited the Pailin Provincial Prison to “educate” the prisoners through dialogue.
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by Rosemary McClure, Los Anegeles Times, March 5, 2016
Phuket, Thailand -- A funny thing happened on my way to a beach in Phuket (poo-KET). I came upon the annual Vegetarian Festival, a nine-day Chinese celebration thought to bestow good fortune.
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ANI, March 4, 2016
Ayutthaya, Thailand -- Buddhist monks from around the world gathered at Thailand's ancient Ayutthaya city on Thursday for the last day of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) during which they laid emphasis on actions to tackle climate change.
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by Tan Hui Yee, The Straits Times, Feb 25, 2016
Row over appointment of kingdom's most senior monk causing unrest
Bangkok, Thailand -- It is not often you see a monk performing a headlock, much less on a soldier. But that's exactly what happened last week, when soldiers confronted monks who had gathered in a Buddhist park to pressure the Thai military government to speed up their appointment of the most senior monk in the kingdom.
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The Bangkok Post, Feb 28, 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- Most people believe the prime minister should defer a proposal for His Majesty the King to appoint the new Supreme Patriarch until conflicts in monastic circles are resolved, according to an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration or Nida Poll.
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The Bangkok Post, Feb 18, 2016
PM promises to ease tensions over top monk
Bangkok, Thailand -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has promised to hold a formal debate over the appointment of a new supreme patriarch to hose down the volatile situation.
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The Bangkok Post, 12 Feb 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- Paiboon Nititawan, ex-chairman of the defunct National Reform Council committee on religious affairs, is pursuing legal action against the Sangha Supreme Council (SSC) and the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) after the two Buddhist bodies refused to defrock a controversial monk.
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The Bangkok Post, Feb 15, 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- Several thousands monks and their supporters have assembled at Phutthamonthon in Nakhon Pathom province to demand a prompt endorsement of the 20th Supreme Patriarch.
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The Associated Press, Feb 15, 2016
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thai soldiers Monday tussled with monks seeking to support their candidate to lead the Buddhist hierarchy in Thailand, taking a politically-tinged religious power struggle to the streets.
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The Star, 17 February 2016
Penang, Malaysia -- IN the spirit of Chinese New Year, Than Hsiang Temple together with 34 Buddhist organisations organised a grand celebration at SMJK Phor Tay in Jalan Sungai Dua, Penang.
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The Bangkok Post, 10 Feb 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Sangha Supreme Council says controversial abbot Dhamachayo of Wat Phra Dhammakaya will not be defrocked because complaints against him were withdrawn before a hearing could begin.
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by JAKKRAPAN NATHANRI, The Bangkok Post, 29 Jan 2016
KHON KAEN, Thailand -- A temple abbot caught in a locked hall at night with a woman follower explained to angry villagers he was not having sex with her - he merely hungered for jujubes and had asked her to bring him his favourite fruit.
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Thai PBS, January 29, 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- The popular Buakwan temple in Nonthaburi today put up a sign announcing the halting of the performance of Buddhism ritual for the "child angels" after many people flocking the temple with their superstitious dolls for the rituals.
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Bangkok Post, 28 Jan 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- Police are continuing their investigation into the death of a former Sangha Supreme Council member, but say they have found nothing that points to foul play.
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ANI, February 1, 2016
As Myanmar moves towards new government formation, Indian Buddhist monks initiated a 'Peace Yatra' in Yangon, Myanmar led by His Eminence Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche, a spiritual regent to His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa.
Yangon, Myanmar -- As Myanmar moves towards new government formation, Indian Buddhist monks initiated a ‘Peace Yatra’ in Yangon, Myanmar led by His Eminence Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche, a spiritual regent to His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa.
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The Bangkok Post, 25 Jan 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- The former abbot of a well-known royal monastery in Bangkok was found dead at the temple on Monday morning. Police found the body of Phra Phromsuthi (Chao Khun Sanoh), 58, on a bed at Wat Sa Ket in Pomprap Sattruphai district at 8am. His brother and disciples said they had found him hanging in his quarters and brought the body down.
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by Patcharawalai Sanyanusin, Bangkok Post, 26 Jan 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Sangha Supreme Council's (SSC) nomination of Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn or Somdet Chuang to be the next supreme patriarch has sparked a series of heated debates and stirred up concerns in our Buddhist community over the weeks. The row mainly focuses on whether the 90-year-old monk who is abbot of Wat Pak Nam is truly qualified for the top job.
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By Vishal Gulati , IANS, Jan 26, 2016
Yangon, Myanmar -- After once trudging through war-torn Sri Lanka, their first outside India, Buddhist monks of the prominent Drukpa Lineage are now undertaking a similar foot journey for peace in Myanmar, which has witnessed decades of ethnic turbulence. The Drukpa monks are mainly based in India's Ladakh region in Jammu and Kashmir and have a long history of promoting inter-faith peace and celebrating diversity.
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By ZARNI MANN, THE IRRAWADDY, January 22, 2016
MANDALAY, Myanmar -- A diverse crowd of religious figures from around the world convened in central Burma on Friday for the start of the World Buddhist Peace Conference, an ambitious event with the stated aim of bridging religious differences in Burma and abroad.
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By Max Constant, AA.com, Jan 18, 2016
Locals in majority Muslim region express displeasure that authorities would propose $5.5 million, 80-acre project without consulting residents
Pattani, Thailand -- An 80-acre Buddhist park project planned in Thailand’s Muslim majority south is upsetting local Muslims and could trigger a wave of protests, local media reported Monday.
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by Tin Sokhavuth, Khmer Times, 18 January 2016
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Prisoners in Pailin’s Salakrao district received an unusual visit this Saturday, as a group of government officials and spiritual leaders dropped in to spread Buddhist teachings in an attempt to better prepare them for life outside bars.
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The Nation January 14, 2016
With more temples shunning belief in amulets and the like, hope grows for an end to wayward monks
Bangkok, Thailand -- A Buddhist temple in the province of Kamphaeng Phet has erected signs advising visitors to look elsewhere if they seek "superstitious" help from its monks - amulets for sale, the anointing of cars, even the distribution of holy water. The abbot has said the monks are there to discuss religious matters with the faithful, not offer voodoo guarantees of good fortune.
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by King-oua Laohong, The Bangkok Post, Jan 18, 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- The justice minister is demanding progress in the long-running DSI investigation into a luxury car tax evasion case involving the supreme patriarch nominee.
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by PATSARA JIKKHAM, The Bangkok Post, 13 Jan 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- It is clear who is in a position to become the supreme patriarch, but the nomination will continue to be postponed just as long as conflicts involving the appointment remain, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Wednesday.
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by Sanitsuda Ekachai, The Bangkok Post, 6 Jan 2016
Bangkok, Thailand -- Amid heated disputes over who will become the new supreme patriarch, one thing is certain: whoever that may be, there is no way he can tackle the ills plaguing monastic society.
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by Tin Sokhavuth, Khmer Times, 4 January 2016
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- After being dormant for 10 years, the Buddhist Institute is re-launching its monthly speakers’ program to bring the latest research to the public, an official at the institute said.
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Vietnam News, December, 25 2015
DA NANG, Vietnam -- The first Buddhist Culture Museum in the country was opened yesterday at the city's Quan The Am (Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) Pagoda with an exhibition of over 500 Buddhist antiques.
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By Oren Samet, Asia Sentinel, December 22, 2015
With the NLD’s landslide victory, have hardline monks lost their political power?
Yangon, Myanmar -- With the opposition National League for Democracy’s (NLD) landslide victory in Myanmar’s Nov. 8 election, the enduring popularity of its leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, was confirmed. The results also constituted a strong popular rebuke of military rule, as the former generals of the incumbent Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) suffered an embarrassing defeat.
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by Supinda na Mahachai, The Nation / ANN, Dec 18, 2015
Bangkok, Thailand -- THE cremated remains of His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, the late Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, were enshrined at Wat Bovoranives Vihara yesterday in a ceremony on December 17.
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The Bangkok Post, Dec 16, 2015
Crown Prince presides over cremation rites
Bangkok, Thailand -- Hundreds of thousands of people bid a final farewell to the late Supreme Patriarch Wednesday at a royally sponsored cremation ceremony.
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VietnamNet, Dec 15, 2015
Hanoi, Vietnam -- More than 500 Buddhist antiquities, including artifacts rated as national treasures, are on display at the Museum of Buddhist Culture in the central city of Da Nang.
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bdnews24.com, Dec 11, 2015
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Bangladesh embassy in Bangkok, celebrating its 40th anniversary, has highlighted the Buddhist heritage of Thailand and Bangladesh through an exceptional programme.
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by CHAIWAT SATYAEM, Bangkok Post, 1 Dec 2015
Hua Hin, Thailand -- A team of ice sculptors in Prachuap Khiri Khan plan to carve what they say will be the world’s tallest Buddha ice statue to mark His Majesty the King’s 88th birthday on Dec 5.
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by SWE WIN, MYANMAR NOW, 19 Nov 2015
The crushing defeat of Burma’s military-backed ruling party doubles as an outright dismissal of the extremist nationalist “Buddhist” movement called Ma Ba Tha.
RANGOON, Burma -- In both Myanmar and abroad, the National League for Democracy’s landslide election win is seen as a victory of the people over the military and its ruling political elite.
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RFA, Nov 19, 2015
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The head of a banned Buddhist church in Vietnam on Thursday expressed gratitude to the international community for advocating for his release from house arrest and reaffirmed his commitment to democracy activism in the one party communist nation
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by Sanitsuda Ekachai, The Bangkok Post, Nov 4, 2015
Bangkok, Thailand -- For a Buddhist monk killed in the deep South, a mosque should be burned down in retaliation. This violent proposal from a Buddhist monk stirred a heated debate on social media last week. Is it merely a storm in a tea cup? The answer is no.
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The Bangkok Post, 4 Nov 2015
Bangkok, Thailand -- A campaign to enshrine Buddhism as Thailand's state religion has been galvanised by a radical Buddhist movement in neighbouring Myanmar that is accused of stoking religious tension, the leader of the Thai bid said.
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By Christian Caryl, Foreign Policy, October 30, 2015
An unholy alliance between the government and extremist Buddhist monks is threatening to derail the transition to democracy.
Yangon, Myanmar - There’s a specter haunting Burma. It’s the specter of politicized religion.
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The Bangkok Post, 3 Nov 2015
YANGON, Myanmar -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hit out Monday at "extreme elements" in Myanmar who are sowing hate speech and bigotry towards religious minorities, days before the country votes in landmark elections.
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by Nanchanok Wongsamuth, The Bangkok Post, Oct 25, 2015
Several Buddhist groups are again hoping the constitution drafters will include Buddhism as the official state religion.
Bangkok, Thailand -- Supporters have declared that this time proposals to the drafters would be made peacefully, after a previous attempt failed during the coup-installed Gen Surayud Chulanont government in 2007.
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The Bangkok Post, Oct 13, 2015
Bangkok, Thailand -- The film censorship board of the Culture Ministry has banned the screening of Abat, a horror film about a Buddhist novice, less than a day before its premiere and media screening on Tuesday.
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By Jonah Fisher, BBC News, 8 October 2015
Yangon, Myanmar -- The most powerful political force in Myanmar's election has no candidates and will win no seats. But when the monks of the Ma Ba Tha speak, politicians listen.
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Tempo, 4 October, 2015
Jakarta, Indonesia -- Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Rizal Ramli said that he would make the Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java, to become the main tour destination for Buddhists from around the world.
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The Buddhist Channel, Oct 5, 2015
Bangkok, Thailand -- The International Association of Buddhist Universities has announced the dates for the 13th Annual United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) Celebrations. Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (Wangnoi, Ayutthaya) will again be the event host, which will take place from 17-18 May, 2016.
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Radio Free Asia, Sept 25, 2015
Yangon, Myanmar -- Politicians and activists in Myanmar have criticized an influential Buddhist national group for holding large public gatherings across the country to celebrate the passage of a set of four controversial laws, fearing the intermingling of religion with politics ahead of the Nov. 8 general elections in a country that has suffered major inter-religious violence in recent years.
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AP, Sep 14, 2015
NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND -- On a rural road just after daybreak, villagers young and old kneel reverently before a single file of ochre-robed women, filling their bowls with rice, curries, fruits and sweets. In Thailand, it is a rare sight.
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The Star, September 5, 2015
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Three female senior citizens, including two monks, perished in a 3am fire at a Chinese temple in Kampung Baru Air Panas, Setapak here early Saturday.
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TUOI TRE NEWS, Aug 29, 2015
Hanoi, Vietnam -- A large number of Vietnamese people on Friday flocked to pagodas across the country to observe the Buddhist “Vu Lan” Festival, where they expressed their gratefulness and appreciation toward their parents, especially their mothers.
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By Timothy Mclaughlin and Hnin Yadana Zaw, Reuters , Sept 2, 2015
YANGON, Myanmar -- Swathed in crimson robes, 77-year-old Ashin Tilawkar Biwonsa shuffles through a crowded conference room with the help of an aide, his supporters standing in respect as he takes a seat at the head of a table under a portrait of his own image.
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VietNamNet Bridge, July 27, 2015
Quang Ngai, Vietnam -- Vietnamese scientists were surprised to discover that the body of Venerable Thich Minh Duc was not decomposed after 26 years of burial.
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IANS, August 3, 2015
Bangkok, Thailand -- Monks from China's Shaolin temple gave a performance of Kung Fu as part of their six-day visit to promote Buddhist cultural exchange in Thailand.
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by Patinya Srisupamas, The Nation, August 3, 2015
Chiang Mai, Thailand -- The event is being held at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University in the northern province for the first time from August 1-4.
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by Supatra Sutham, ThaiVisa.com, July 27, 2015
Phuket, Thailand -- Bars and restaurants across the island will be forced to refrain from selling alcohol on Thursday and Friday (July 30-31) as the nation marks the Buddhist holidays Asarnha Bucha Day and Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent).
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by B. Kolappan, the Hindu, July 27, 2015
Chennai, India -- Even though Buddhism thrived in Poompuhar and Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, they do not figure in the list places to be visited by the pilgrims from South-East Asian countries. They tour North India and visit Buddhist pilgrim centres like Bodh Gaya.
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By Max Constant, Anadolu Agency, 26 July 2015
Monks often targeted by insurgents who see them as symbols of Thai state, reminder of past attempts to forcefully convert Malay Muslims
Bangkok, Thailand -- Thailand’s military has officially asked local administrations in the insurgency-plagued Muslim south to implement a series of special safety measures for Buddhist monks, a day after a fatal attack during an alms gathering round.
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by Justin Whitaker, Patheos, June 16, 2015
Yangon, Myanmar -- Is Myanmar approaching genocide?
This was the question, and in fact the headline haunting my google news feed for much of the month of May. Today the plight of the Rohingya in Myanmar (or Burma as many still call it)* is far from certain, and the history which has brought us here is even more clouded.
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by Pema Khandro, the Buddhist Channel, Jul 6, 2015
Yogyakarta, Indonesia -- The Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women met for one week in beautiful, humid, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Over a thousand people, from different countries and different Buddhist traditions, gathered to discuss the history, concerns and achievements of women in Buddhism.
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The Bangkok Post, July 6, 2015
Bangkok, Thailand -- An agreement was signed in Yangon less than two weeks ago for Thai Buddhists to provide equipment and expertise for Myanmar's first Buddhist radio station. The National Thai Buddhism and Culture Mass Media Association produces radio and TV programmes in Thailand.
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Lion's Roar, June 19, 2015
Yogyakarta, Indonesia -- The 14th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women will begin on June 23 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, running until June 30. Its theme will be “Compassion and Social Justice.”
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By Alice Chia, CNA, 18 Jun 2015
Titled "Treasures from Asia's Oldest Museum: Buddhist Art from the Indian Museum, Kolkata", the two-month-long exhibition features dramatic sculptures and paintings tracing scenes from the life of Buddha.
SINGAPORE -- More than 80 pieces of rare Buddhist art from the Indian subcontinent are on display at the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore. The exhibition, which features artworks from Asia's oldest museum in Kolkata, chronicles the evolution of Buddhist art from the 2nd century BC.
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Asia News, Jun 14, 2015
Yangon, Myanmar -- Burmese Buddhist extremist movements, backed by a group of nationalists monks, yesterday launched a new set of anti-Rohingya demonstrations in the western state of Rakhine, home to devastating sectarian violence.
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Reuters, Jun 2, 2015
Yangon, Myanmar -- A Myanmar court sentenced a writer to two years in jail and hard labor on Tuesday for insulting Buddhism, his lawyer said, a verdict derided by activists as a blow to free speech and religious tolerance.
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by Hul Reaksmey, VOA Khmer, 4 June 2015
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Thousands of monks and thousands more laymen gathered for a royal ceremony on Wednesday, to bestoy upon Cambodia’s king a new honorary Buddhist title.
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By Wilawan Watcharasakwet, The WSJ, May 12, 2015
Microlender sets interest according to borrower’s good deeds, avoids defaults with neighborly peer pressure
BAAN NA KLUEA, Thailand -- Buddhist monks aren’t really known for dipping into the material world of finance. Phra Subin Paneeto, though, says he felt he didn’t have much choice when he saw his neighbors near Thailand’s border with Cambodia were struggling to make ends meet.
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The Straits Times, May 31, 2015
Singapore -- Ever since he was in primary school, Goh Chun Kiang has wanted to be a monk.
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The Buddhist Channel, May 29, 2015
Bangkok, Thailand -- Some 5,000 delegates from over 80 countries are being gathered in Bangkok, Thailand to usher in the United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) from May 28-30, 2015. This year's edition, the 12th in the series is being hosted by Thailand, after Vietnam which played host last year. This year's theme is "Buddhism and World Crisis".
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AFP, May 25, 2015
BANGKOK, Thailand -- A tiger that mauled the abbot of a Thai temple under fire over the welfare of dozens of big cats in its care “didn’t intend” to attack him, the monk’s doctor said on Monday.
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AFP, 26 May 2015
YANGON, Myanmar -- Myanmar Buddhist nationalists vowed to protest against international pressure on the country to help boat people, a prominent monk said Tuesday, as humanitarian efforts to rescue desperate migrants stir festering anti-Muslim animosity.
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Zee News, May 25, 2015
Jakarta, Indonesia -- India has reached out to the large Buddhist community in Indonesia, which has the world`s largest Muslim population, by organising an exhibition on the Buddha.
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by Anna Fifield, The Washington Post, May 15, 2015
Scandals involving drugs, financial impropriety and lavish lifestyles have tarnished the reputation of the country’s dominant religious order
Bangkok, Thailand -- Think Buddhist monk, and bodyguards and bomb threats probably don’t spring to mind. But that’s exactly what Phra Buddha Issara is dealing with as he mounts a campaign to overhaul Thailand’s religious institutions.
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By Olivia Siong, Channel NewsAsia, 15 May 2015
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong calls on Singaporeans to reflect on the values that brought the country to where it is and that will keep it going.
SINGAPORE -- The Buddhist community is the largest religious group in Singapore, and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday (May 15) said he was grateful the group has set the tone of tolerance and acceptance of other faiths.
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By Chew Hui Min, The Straits Times, May 5, 2015
SINGAPORE -- Venerable Ming Yi, who donated his kidney to a stranger last week, said he was inspired to do so by a TV news report about kidney patients here.
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by Kooi F Lim, The Buddhist Channel, May 4, 2015
Malaysia is only one of three countries (apart from Cambodia and Sri Lanka) which is observing Wesak (or Vesak) on May 3, 2015. Kooi F Lim opts to spend the morning at one of Petaling Jaya's most beautiful temple, the Thai Wat Chetawan. Here are his observations.
Petaling Jaya, Selangor (Malaysia) -- It was just after dawn, but the crowd has started to teem into the massive Wat Chetawan compound, the most beautiful Thai temple in all of Petaling Jaya, and one of the most gorgeous outside of Thailand. The day was already bright, and the low sunlight breaks through the fog produced by smoky incense like light steaming through a comb.
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The Star/Asia News Network, Apr 27, 2015
GEORGE TOWN, Penang -- The historical moment marking the arrival of Buddha's 2,500-year-old relics was greeted with much pomp and grandeur at the iconic Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam here.
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Bernama, Apr 16, 2015
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Buddhist bikku (monk) Thich The Tuong has been working hard to turn his one hectare farm into a bamboo conservatory on the Son Tra Mountain, which is the home for over 110 bamboo species including the four considered on the verge of extinction in Viet Nam.
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CNA, Apr 7, 2015
SINGAPORE -- A new Buddhist monastery is set to be built in Woodlands, with construction expected to be completed by the end of next year. It will be located at the junction of Woodlands Drive 16 and Woodlands Avenue 6.
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CCTV.com, Apr 13, 2015
Bangkok, Thailand -- Buddhist New Year celebrations have begun in nations across South East Asia, with lively water-throwing festivities.
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by Dieu Thanh, The Buddhist Channel, April 8, 2015
Busan, Korea -- One of largest temples in South Korea, Sam Kwang Temple in Busan witnessed the hosting of the first Buddhist retreat for the Vietnamese community residing here. The event - organized by Chuyen Tu Monastery (Ba Ria–Vung Tau province, Vietnam) - was to enable participants to be engaged in Dharma practice.
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by Dieu Thanh , The Buddhist Channel, Apr 1, 2015
Vung Tau province, Vietnam -- To commemorate 49 days since the passing of Venerable Master Thich Thien Tanh, the late abbott of Chuyen Tu Monastery, his disciples organized a "One-Thousand-Monks Great Assembly" on the evening of March 14, 2015 at Tich Quang Tower.
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by STEPHEN B YOUNG, The Bangkok Post, 28 Mar 2015
Bangkok, Thailand -- I have recently hosted five round tables - one each in Germany, London, Paris, The Netherlands and Madrid - where Thai Buddhist ideas on governance were presented to appreciative audiences.
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By Isaac Neo, The Straits Times, Mar 27, 2015
Singapore -- Buddhists from all over Singapore met to remember Mr Lee Kuan Yew yesterday at a memorial service organised by the Singapore Buddhist Federation (SBF).
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By Kyle Lawrence Mullin, Asian Correspondent, Mar 23, 2015
Bangkok, Thailand -- Buddhist monks may have a reputation for being meek, mild mannered, and nothing less than well behaved. But two abbots defied that stereotype in Sikhiu district in Thailand on Sunday, after a bout of drunk driving led to a car accident and the pair’s subsequent expulsion from their monasteries.
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The Nation, March 11, 2015
The ban on the ordination of females is a violation of the Lord Buddha's teachings
Bangkok, Thailand -- Women's struggle to be afforded the same rights as men goes on, and the freedom to fulfil their spiritual aspirations is no exception. Buddhism, like other religions, still has mechanisms that prevent women from enjoying privileges given only to men.
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The Guardian, March 16, 2015
Human rights group Justice Trust claims that 57 monks suffered severe burns after police broke up demonstration at a mine in 2012
Rangoon, Burma -- Buddhist monks have prepared a lawsuit against Burma’s interior minister that accuses police of using poisonous chemicals to break up a protest in 2012 and inflicting severe burns on demonstrators.
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The Buddhist Channel, March 11, 2015
Petaling Jaya, Selangor (Malaysia) -- Buddhist Gem Fellowship (BGF) and the Buddhist Business Network (BBN) are collaborating to offer the “Inaugural Master Classes” for entrepreneurs. The programme aims to increase entrepreneurial opportunities, covering the entire venture creation process, from generating ideas to building viable global business.
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The Buddhist Channel, March 10, 2015
Petaling Jaya, Selangor (Malaysia) -- A significant and historic moment in the Buddhist Gem Fellowship's 25 year journey of Dhammaduta Service to the Community was recorded on March 7, 2015, by way of the inauguration of it's headquarters located at PJU, Petaling Jaya. The event was attended by local and international Buddhist monks and nuns, leaders, organizations, members, donors and well wishers.
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Channel News Asia, March 6, 2015
An abbot is under investigation for allegedly embezzling about US$24.6 million from donations since 1999.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand’s Buddhist governing body is in crisis after its decision to clear a controversial monk of any wrongdoing.
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AFP, March 6, 2015
Nakhon Pathom, Thailand -- It begins with moans, then screams and feverish dancing followed by mad dashes through a densely packed crowd.
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by Bambang Muryanto, The Jakarta Post, March 5 2015
Magelang, Central Java (Indonesia) -- Muslim and Buddhist leaders from South and Southeast Asia have issued the Yogyakarta Statement, which refuses the use of Islam and Buddha in the politics of discrimination and violence.
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By Amy Sawitta Lefevre, Reuters, Mar 1, 2015
NAKHON PATHOM, Thailand -- Phra Buddha Issara is a monk with a mission. From his Buddhist temple near Bangkok he is calling for a radical overhaul of Thai Buddhism, fearing millions of dollars in temple donations and a rapidly modernizing nation are corrupting monks.
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The Jakarta Post, March 3 2015
Jakarta, Indonesia -- A high-level summit of Buddhist and Muslim leaders opened in Yogyakarta on Tuesday aimed at strengthening cooperation to combat religious extremism.
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BBC, 2 March 2015
A Buddhist monk from north-east Thailand is so worried about the environment that he has been ordaining trees for 25 years.
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Daily Mail, Feb 24, 2015
Chiangmai, Thailand -- Police in northern Thailand are trying to locate a presumed Chinese tourist who was filmed kicking a prayer bell at a Buddhist temple.
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The Bangkok Post, Feb 19, 2015
Reformers want 16 year-old saga revived
Bangkok, Thailand -- The National Reform Council’s (NRC) committee on religious affairs has called for Phra Dhammachayo, abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, to be defrocked.
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The Rakyat Post, Feb 12, 2015
KANCHANABURI, Thailand -- Thai wildlife protection officers say they found no mistreatment of more than 100 tigers housed at a Buddhist temple that is a popular tourist attraction, though charges have been pressed for keeping rare birds there.
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By Pham Quynh Nhu, Thanh Nien News, February 11, 2015
VUNG TAU, Vietnam -- The best place to begin a Buddhist pilgrimage in Vung Tau is the Phuoc Hai Monastery - some 500 meters from Go Dau Industrial Zone on National Road 51.
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By Khuon Narim, Cambodia Daily, January 10, 2015
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- A temporary structure built on the Buddhist Institute’s land by NagaCorp, which added to swirling rumors late last year that the growing casino empire was planning to develop the land and prompted hundreds of monks to march in protest, has been removed.
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The Malay Mail, January 4, 2015
BUKIT MERTAJAM, Penang -- Police have arrested a man believed to be of unsound mind on suspicion of having damaged idols and prayer equipment at the Wat Chanthraram Buddhist Temple in Tanah Liat here last Friday.
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By Fiona MacGregor, NBC news, Jan 3, 2015
YANGON, Myanmar -- A clash of cultures fueled by simmering sectarian tensions and social media has left a Western bar manager and two local colleagues imprisoned in once-cloistered Myanmar.
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By Melody Zaccheus, The Straits Times, Dec 23, 2014
Singapore -- A $20 million Buddhist monastery will rise up in the north of Singapore in 2017.
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by Adrian Chan, The Star, December 23, 2014
Serdang, Malaysia -- THE school holidays are nearly coming to a close and many children will be suffering from an overdose of cartoons and video games.
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The Star, December 24, 2014
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Muslims and Buddhists produced a shining example of inter-faith cooperation when they joined hands in a presentation ceremony for Educare 2014, an annual charitable project by Siri Jayanti Association and Maha Karuna Foundation.
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By Ben Sokhean, The Cambodia Daily, December 8, 2014
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- A nationwide human rights march hit another roadblock over the weekend when activists and monks were reportedly prevented from sleeping in pagodas across the country, while the country’s two Buddhist sects released a statement Friday forbidding monks from taking part in public demonstrations.
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The Star (Reuters), Dec 4, 2014
The Vatican -- Datuk K Sri Dhammaratana, the Maha Nayaka Thera of Malaysia, joins world religious leaders in signing a declaration to end modern day slavery.
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Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia, Nov 7, 2014
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM) warns the public to be cautious when donating to Puzhao Buddhist Vihara in order to prevent fraud.
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The Buddhist Channel, Nov 10, 2014
Subang Jaya, Malaysia -- The first Buddhist Nuns’ Novitiate Programme in the Theravada Tradition will be held from November 7 - 16 2014 at the Subang Jaya Buddhist Association. This is the first time a programme such as this is held in Malaysia.
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by Brian Ashcraft, http://kotaku.com, Oct 15, 2014
Bangkok, Thailand -- A 700 year-old Buddhist temple in Thailand contains something visitors might find unusual: a blue robotic cartoon cat from the future. That's right, iconic anime character Doraemon.
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By Khuon Narim, The Cambodia Daily, October 12, 2014
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Despite being hemmed in by construction on all sides as NagaWorld expands its casino empire in Phnom Penh, the Buddhist Institute will not be sold off or rented out, Cults and Religion Minister Min Khin told a National Assembly commission on Thursday.
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By Khuon Narim, Combodian Daily, October 4, 2014
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Hundreds of Buddhist monks marched through Phnom Penh on Friday, demanding an end to construction in and around the Buddhist Institute, which is quickly being surrounded by structures and construction sites belonging to the NagaCorp.
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by Sanitsuda Ekachai, The Bangkok Post, Sept 21, 2014
A spiritual journey to four holy sites in India and Nepal offers a much greater chance for deeper reflection than the usual tours
Bangkok, Thailand -- As a producer of dhamma TV programmes, Somnuek Khemacheeva has visited holy Buddhist sites in India several times as part of her work. As a devout Buddhist practitioner, however, she found the so-called “pilgrimages” that millions of Buddhist Thais make each year to India are quite spiritually superficial.
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NNT, Sept 6, 2014
YALA, Thailand -- Yala Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) has held a ‘Buddhist-Muslim Families, Tighten Relationship Project’ in cooperation with the Yala Special Unit, National Office of Buddhism in order to encourage the faithful of both religions, to brainstorm answers to the problem of southern unrest.
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RT, August 23, 2014
Jogjakarta, Indonedia -- Indonesian police have been put on alert at the Borobudur Temple after a threat against the world’s biggest Buddhist temple and UNESCO World heritage Site was made on Facebook by Islamic State supporters.
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Bernama, Aug 20, 2014
Amsterdam, Netherlands -- A Buddhist religious ceremony was held for the remains of five Malaysian victims of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash, at a funeral home here, Tuesday morning.
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Eleven Myanmar, 13 August 2014
Yangon, Myanmar -- A Buddhist monk who walked from Bago to Yangon in a protest march calling for the release of the remaining political prisoners has said he will continue a hunger strike for 45 days.
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by Sek Odom and Holly Robertson, The Cambodia Daily, August 6, 2014
KOH THOM DISTRICT, Cambodia -- In this rural part of Kandal province, a 35-meter-high statue of a mustachioed Buddha towers incongruously above the surrounding fields of corn and rice, providing a glimpse into the mystical world of Thean Vuthy.
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The Star, Aug 5, 2014
Yangon, Myanmar -- Jason Polley is kicked out of Burma after photo of Buddhist tattoos on his leg went viral on Facebook in Southeast Asian country.
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by Steve Herman, VOA, August 5, 2014
BANGKOK, Thailand -- In Thailand, an urn has been carved from ivory to hold the remains of the country's top religious leader, who died last year. The production of the urn comes as Thailand faces international pressure to eradicate the world’s largest market for unregulated ivory.
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By AYE NAI, DVB, 5 August 2014
Rangoon, Burma -- A second attempt by five Buddhist monks from the Mahasantisukha Monastery in Rangoon to countersue the government-backed Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee – the highest order of Buddhist monks in the country – has been rejected by a local court.
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By Lim Yan Liang, The Straits Times, Jul 20, 2014
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Both secular and religious groups have come together in Kuala Lumpur since Friday to mourn those who perished in Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, just four months after the tragedy of Flight MH370.
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Eleven Myanmar, 20 July 2014
Yangon, Myanmar -- The planned launch of direct flight between Myanmar and Nepal might become a new option to facilitate the Myanmar-India-Nepal pilgrimage route for Buddhist followers.
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NNT, July 10, 2014
YALA, Thailand -- Buddhist Thais and Malaysians in Betong district joined together for an alms giving ceremony on the occasion of Asanha Bucha day, under the strict guard of authorities to make sure everything went smoothly.
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Dpa, 29 Jun 2014
YANGON, Myanmar -- Suzi's family has practiced freedom of religion for decades, including Muslims, Buddhists, and now even a Christian.
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Agence France-Presse, 19 June 2014
National Office of Buddhism says hotline idea emerged after Thai coup leader expressed concern about the religion's image
Bangkok, Thailand -- Buddhist monks face censure after Thai religious authorities said they had launched a 24-hour hotline for the public to report unruly acts.
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by Ezra Kyrill Erker, Phnom Penh Post, 21 June 2014
Surrounded by casino developments, the iconic Buddhist Institute in Phnom Penh faces the prospect of relocation or even closure as the modern world starts to close in
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- One bookshop by the remaining entrance remains open, its religious, cultural, reference and historical texts undisturbed, collecting chalky construction dust.
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Eleven Myanmar, 21 June 2014 12:41
Yangon, Myanmar -- Five Buddhist monks, including London Sayadaw U Ottara [former Head of Buddhist Mission in UK], who were forcibly defrocked and remanded at Insein Prison were brought to trial at Tamwe Township Court in Yangon yesterday. The trial comes 10 days after their eviction from Maha Thanti Thukha monastery in Tamwe Township in a night raid on June 10.
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Eleven Myanmar, 14 June 2014
Yangon, Myanmar -- Five Buddhist monks from Maha Thandi Thukha monastery in Yangon were disrobed and remanded at Insein prison for offending the religious ruling committee, temple followers said.
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By KYAW HSU MON, THE IRRAWADDY, June 5, 2014
HO PONG, Shan State, Myanmar -- Daw Eainda Sar Ri, 62, has lived at the Thathana Kari Monastery in Bhamo, Kachin State, since she was 9 years old. Since last year, she has helped the children of internally displaced persons (IDPs) whose schooling was disrupted by fighting in Burma’s north, taking them under her wing and providing them with a monastic education. The Buddhist nun and her school are also providing accommodation and food to the IDP children.
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AFP, 28 May 2014
Bangkok, Thailand -- Thai police say they have charged five defrocked Buddhist abbots with sexually abusing eight boys at monasteries around the northern city of Chiang Mai.
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By Khuon Narim, Cambodia Daily, May 28, 2014
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- An official at the Ministry of Cults and Religion on Tuesday held a press conference to deny rumors that the government has sold or swapped the Buddhist Institute in Phnom Penh to a private firm.
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The Jakarta Post, May 13 2014
Jogjakarta, Indonesia -- The seventh to ninth centuries were the glory days of Buddhist teachings in the heart of Java.
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by Cindy Lai, The Borneo Post, May 14, 2014
MIRI, Sarawak (Malaysia) -- Hundreds of Buddhists gathered at Miri Buddhist Society for the Buddha bathing ceremony and to offer prayers to him on the morning of Wesak Day.
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by Christina Low, The Star, May 13, 2014
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- SOME Buddhist temples are trying to ensure that this year’s Wesak Day will be a greener event by building their own floats with recycled materials and by not using disposable utensils.
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NNT, May 12, 2014
AYUTTHAYA, Thailand -- Leaders of Buddhism from 80 different countries around the world have joined the world Vesak Day Celebration, held at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Ayutthaya Province.
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Channel News Asia, May 13, 2014
Some Buddhist devotees think that handing their pets to a monastery is a liberation of life. But the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery points out that this is a misconception.
SINGAPORE -- Some monasteries often get requests to take in abandoned pets.
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Eleven Myanmar, 9 May 2014
Kabaaye, Myanmar -- An all-sect Buddhist conference will be held at Mahapathana Cave in Yangon’s Kabaaye Highland from May 11 to 13, according to the regional Sangha association.
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The New Straits Times, 12 May 2014
IPOH, Perak (Malaysia) -- PREPARATIONS are underway throughout the state's Buddhist temples ahead of tomorrow's Wesak Day celebration which commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha.
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By Chuah Bee Kim, The New Straits Times, 12 May 2014
JOHOR BARU. Johor (Malaysia) -- The Sia Tze Jee Buddhist Temple here have been abuzz with activities since 7am today.
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The star, May 11, 2014
SHAH ALAM, Selangor (Malaysia) -- The Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia (BMSM) from the Samadhi Vihara Temple here is holding its first exhibition on the teachings of the Buddha to mark Wesak Day celebration.
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Today Online, May 7, 2014
Releasing animals will do more harm than good, exposing them to natural predators and causing harm to the eco-system
SINGAPORE -- The National Parks Board (NParks) has reminded members of the public not to release animals into the parks and nature areas during the Vesak Day period.
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VietNamNet Bridge, May 9, 2014
Ninh Binh, Vietnam - Tens of thousands of Buddhists from across the country have flocked to Bai Dinh, the largest temple in Vietnam, to attend the opening celebration of Vesak 2014, the international Buddhist event that takes place from May 7 to 11.
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VietnamNet, May 12, 2014
Ninh Binh, Vietnam -- The 2014 UN Day of Vesak successfully wrapped up on Saturday in the northern province of Ninh Binh, with the adoption of a statement highlighting three sustainable development pillars.
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Asia News Network, May 12, 2014
Hanoi, Vietnam -- More than 10,000 Buddhists, dignitaries, scholars and guests from 95 countries and territories attended the opening of celebrations for the 11th United Nations Day of Vesak (Vesakha) at Bai Dinh Pagoda in Vietnam's Ninh Binh province last Wednesday.
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The New Straits Times, 12 May 2014
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- OFFERING prayers for the missing passengers of the lost MH370 is among the activities at the Wesak Day observance at the Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple in Jalan Berhala here.
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The New Straits Times, 12 May 2014
IPOH, Perak (Malaysia) -- PREPARATIONS are underway throughout the state's Buddhist temples ahead of tomorrow's Wesak Day celebration which commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha.
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The Bangkok Post, 6 May 2014
Exquisite Wat Rong Khun closed indefinitely
Chiang Rai, Thailand -- The Chiang Rai earthquake on Monday has left a celebrated visual artist in despair after his exquisite temple sustained substantial damage.
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By Linette Lai, The Straits Times, May 1, 2014
Singapore -- More than 300 people had their heads shaved on Thursday morning at the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, in a show of support for children battling cancer.
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NNT, 28 April 2014
CHACHOENGSAO, Thailand -- Chachoengsao is holding its monthly Buddhist sermon, urging the public to join in and apply Dharma to their daily life activities.
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The Bangkok Post, 24 Apr 2014
Bangkok, Thailand -- Expelled monk Phra Yantra cannot re-enter the monkhood, National Office of Buddhism director-general Nopparat Benjawatananun said on Thursday, as the disgraced former cleric who was involved in a sex scandal 20 years ago continued to receive visitors on his return to Thailand.
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The Nation April 28, 2014
Yantra's return opens old wounds
Bangkok, Thailand -- Few embody such a gross misinterpretation of Buddhism as that weird-looking guy who has just returned from a long exile abroad. The former phra Yantra Ammarobhiku radiates none of that aura that the popular monk whose sexual scandals rocked Thailand's ecclesiastic circles some two decades ago had. Press and social media photos show him dressed in strange clothing that some may call robes, and sporting a long beard that obscures much of his face.
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Xinhua, April 19, 2014
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The 27th General Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) will be held in northwest China's Shaanxi Province in October, WFB secretary-general said here Friday.
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Eleven Myanmar, 11 April 2014
Sittwe, Myanmar -- A government commission has said on Wednesday that a female aid worker for Malteser International did not intend to disrespect a Buddhist flag by removing it from her house.
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By DR PAUL FULLER, DVB, 5 April 2014
Yangon, Myanmar -- A new alliance is beginning to take shape in South and Southeast Asia with the news that the Bodu Bala Sena (Buddhist Power Force) has invited Wirathu, leader of the 969 movement in Burma, to visit them in Sri Lanka.
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Phayul, April 4, 2014
DHARAMSHALA, Tibet (China) -- Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama has on Tuesday expressed his sadness over the passing away of Vietnamese Patriarch Thich Tri Tinh. Thich Tri Tinh was the first Supreme Patriach.
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By Paul Armstrong, CNN, March 28, 2014
Sittwe, Myanmar -- The United States has expressed "deep concern" about mob violence reportedly targeting international NGOs operating in Myanmar's restive west.
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Bernama, Mar 9, 2013
BEIJING, China -- Fifty volunteers of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, among them 15 Malaysians, are ready to provide emotional support and care to families of passengers of a missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) aircraft.
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The Malaysian Insider, March 9, 2014
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has urged the families of passengers of the missing Malaysian Airline (MAS) flight MH370 to stay strong.
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by Kyaw San Wai, Today, March 5, 2014
Singapore -- Since religious violence erupted in western Myanmar in 2012 and subsequently spread to other parts, there has been a litany of analyses on the plight of the Rohingya and the underlying causes of the conflict. Regarding the causes, much emphasis is placed on the actions of nationalists and a controversial group of chauvinistic monks called the 969 Movement.
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by John Le Fevre, Establishment Post, Mar 4, 2014
Bangkok, Thailand -- With newspaper reports of errant monks being disrobed for drug, alcohol or sex offenses an almost weekly occurrence (See: Sex, Drugs and Graft Rock Sangha in Thailand), Buddhism in Thailand seems to be in a state of disarray when measured against the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. Read more: http://www.establishmentpost.com/thailands-bad-boy-monk-buddha-issara-keeps-getting-worse/
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Associated Press, February 7, 2014
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Cambodian police have recovered a precious golden urn stolen last year that contains what are considered to be remnants of Buddha's body, an official said Friday.
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by Nina Strochlic, The Daily Beast, Jan 23, 2014
Bangkok, Thailand -- In Thailand, the horrors of hell aren't just the stuff of kids' nightmares. Families can visit entire sculpture gardens featuring vivid depictions of what sinners face in the afterlife.
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CNTV, Jan 8, 2014
Yangon, Myanmar -- A two-week Chinese Buddhist picture exhibition dubbed "Homage to the Buddha" has opened at Myanmar's famous Shwedagon Pagoda. The exhibition aims to enhance ties between the two countries' Buddhist circles and people.
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Radio Free Asia, Jan 2, 2014
Hanoi, Vietnam -- A youth leader affiliated to the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) said Thursday that he has been placed under house arrest after he was detained and interrogated for 13 hours, in the latest religious crackdown in the one-party Communist state.
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The Buddhist Channel, Dec 17, 2013
Chiangmai, Thailand -- American-born Santikaro, prodigy of the 20th century’s most influential ascetic-philosopher monk Buddhadasa, was invited by The Cabin Chiang Mai – Asia’s top inpatient rehab, to talk about how Buddhist principles can be incorporated into the 12 Step treatment model.
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Associated Press, December 13, 2013
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Cambodian officials said Friday a golden urn containing what are considered to be remnants of Buddha's body has been stolen from its shrine near the capital.
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by Manpreet Singh, The Buddhist Channel, Dec 2, 2013
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Vietnamese Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Tu is a picture of enthusiasm and commitment as he passionately addresses a group of foreign delegates in Hanoi at the preparatory meeting for the United Nations Day of Vesak 2014 celebrations to be held in the Ninh Binh district of Vietnam.
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by AYE AYE WIN Associated Press, November 12, 2013
YANGON, Myanmar -- Dozens of Buddhist monks carrying banners that said "Get Out" and "Don't interfere in Myanmar's internal affairs" gathered outside the airport Wednesday to protest the arrival of a delegation from the world's biggest Islamic political bloc.
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The Star, October 25, 2013
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- More than 200 people are expected to attend a dialogue here on Nov 1 to promote Buddhist and Muslim relations in the region.
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Associated Press, 24 October, 2013
Bangkok, Thailand -- A bus carrying worshippers home from a temple at the end of Buddhist lent plunged into a ravine in northern Thailand, killing 22 passengers.
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by THANYARAT DOKSONE, Associated Press, Oct 25, 2013
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's Supreme Patriarch, who headed the country's order of Buddhist monks for more than two decades, died Thursday. He was 100.
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by Khetsirin Pholdhampalit, The Sunday Nation, October 6, 2013
A new museum at Wat Bovoranives Vihara pays tribute to its six abbots
Bangkok, Thailand -- ONE OF the most revered temples in Thailand, Wat Bovoranives Vihara marked the 100th birthday of His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, the Supreme Patriarch and its current abbot, last Thursday by throwing open the doors to a new museum that celebrates the lives of all six of its abbots.
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InterAksyon.com, October 10, 2013
Yangon, Myanmar -- A bill has been filed at the Myanmar parliament seeking to disallow Buddhist Myanmar women from marrying non-Buddhist men, InterAksyon.com learned.
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Associated Press, Oct 7, 2013
YANGON, Myanmar -- Authorities in Myanmar arrested 44 suspects for their alleged role in sectarian violence that wracked a coastal township in western Myanmar over the last week, state media reported.
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The Buddhist Channel, October 7, 2013
Yangon, Myanmar -- The ashes of the late Guruji S. N. Goenka arrived in Yangon today, 7 October at 2:00 pm by air from India.
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by PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK, The Nation, October 2, 2013
Criminalising anti-Buddhist acts is not very Buddhist
Bangkok, Thailand -- IS "KNOWING BUDDHA" - a group of Thai Buddhists who are relentlessly tackling what they see as a disrespectful act against the image of Buddha - the new face of Thai Buddhism?
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by Pravit Rojanaphruk, The Nation, September 28, 2013
Bangkok, Thailand -- In an ideal world, people caught making products or participating in acts that can be deemed disrespectful to the Buddha and the Buddhist religion would be sentenced to jail - this is what activist group "Knowing Buddha" told senators, monks and participants at a seminar yesterday.
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By ZARNI MANN & SAW YAN NAING, THE IRRAWADDY, September 30, 2013
Mandalay, Burma -- About 60 protesters on Sunday began a peaceful march from Mandalay to the controversial Letpadaung copper mining project in Sagaing Division, calling for the Chinese company developing the mine not to destroy an ancient religious building.
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By LAWI WENG, THE IRRAWADDY, September 19, 2013
RANGOON Burma -- Mon people on Thursday gave offerings and prayed in a festival to celebrate the story of a voyage by monks to Sri Lanka, which brought three Buddhist scriptures to southern Burma almost 1,000 years ago.
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by JARED FERRIE & MIN ZAYAR OO / REUTERS WRITERS, September 11, 2013
RANGOON, Burma -- A government-appointed body that oversees Burma's Buddhist monkhood has issued a directive intended to check the influence of a monk-led movement accused of stoking violence against minority Muslims.
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By Zurairi AR, The Malay Mail, September 8, 2013
TUMPAT, Kelantan (Malaysia) -- Buddhist monks in saffron robes with their clean shaven heads and bare feet were once a rare sight in Kelantan despite the state’s proximity to Thailand which is predominantly Buddhist.
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Al-Jazeera, August 8, 2013
Thousands of police deployed after recent violence, thought to be motivated by plight of Muslims in Myanmar
Jakarta, Indonesia -- Security measures were stepped up at Buddhist sites in Indonesia on Thursday amid fears of fresh attacks just days after a temple bombing and as tens of millions of Muslims across the country mark the end of Ramadan.
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CNA Daily News, August 19, 2013
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue sent a message of condolence to Thailand on the passing of senior Buddhist abbot Somdej Phra Buddhacharn.
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VietNamNet Bridge, AUg 26, 2013
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Two exhibitions using 3D virtual reality technology are now available on the Vietnam National Museum of History’s website, featuring the Buddhist cultural heritage and ancient lamps of Vietnam.
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BY ELIZABETH ZACHARIAH, Malaysian Insider, August 15, 2013
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- A Muslim politician and a local Buddhist group have taken the first step in fostering interfaith relations between the two religions.
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The Buddhist Channel, August 16, 2013
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.
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The Jakarta Post, August 13 2013
Jakarta, Indonesia -- The recent bombing at the Ekayana Buddhist Temple in West Jakarta will unlikely be the last terror attack in Indonesia to avenge the ongoing persecution of Rohingya Muslims in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, said top terrorism analysts.
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Associated Press, August 5, 2013
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- A senior official said Monday that an attack on a Buddhist temple in Indonesia’s capital was apparently aimed at avenging violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
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By CHUAH BEE KIM, New Straits Times, July 30, 2013
WALK THE WALK: An organisation which believes in holistic education is doing its bit for underprivileged schoolchildren by offering free tuition classes
JOHOR BARU, Malaysia -- THE Nalanda experience has found its way to Johor with the opening of the Nalanda Education & Outreach (NEO) Centre in Taman Johor Jaya here recently.
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by Pravit Rojanaphruk, The Nation July 27, 2013
Bangkok, Thailand -- Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists should try not to get trapped in a debate with Buddhists on whether Buddhism allows same-sex marriage, to avoid complicating matters, said Anjana Suvarnananda, pioneer LGBT activist and co-founder of Anjana Suvarnananda.
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The Buddhist Channel, July 12, 2013
Singapore -- Delegates from Singapore and overseas attended the two-day 8th Global Conference on Buddhism, held in Singapore on 6 and 7 July 2013. Drawing on the presence of 1,200 delegates from the various Buddhist traditions, the Conference culminated in the passing of two resolutions concerning the on-going violence against Muslims in Buddhist countries, and the bombing of the MahaBodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, India on 7 July 2013.
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The Buddhist Channel, July 12, 2013
Penang, Malaysia -- The International Buddhist College is deeply shocked and saddened to hear the news on the bombing at Bodhgaya on July 7, 2013.
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AFP, July 10, 2013
Bangkok, Thailand -- More than 30 Thai monks have been defrocked for illegal drug use, an official said today, in the latest scandal to hit the kingdom's Buddhist clergy.
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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, July 11, 2013
YANGON, Myanmar -- More than 20 Buddhists were sentenced to as much as 15 years in prison for murder and other crimes for a night of rioting, burning and killing in March in central Myanmar.
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Elevenmyanmar, 11 July 2013
"It is our duty to make people with weak faith to have stronger faith... Monks are the only method to make [them] have strong faith... The monks shouldn't act carelessly." - Ven. Dr Sandavarabivamsa
Yangon, Myanmar -- Esteemed monks from Mogok Vipassana League called for monks to preach in accordance to Buddhist teachings and not resort to hurting other religions.
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By David Eimer, The Telegraph, 6 Jul 2013
The controversial Buddhist monk whose flamboyant, jet-set lifestyle has sparked outrage in Thailand, is married and has been accused of being a fake.
Bangkok, Thailand -- Luang Pu Nenkham Chattigo has attracted attention ever since a video of him flying on a private jet, while wearing aviator sunglasses and carrying a Louis Vuitton bag went viral.
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Eleven Myanmar, 30 June 2013
Yangon, Myanmar -- Bhante Ashin Nyanissara, commonly known as Sitagu Sayadaw, one of the most prominent Buddhist monks in Myanmar, has urged the government and the people to work together to safeguard the religion and the nationality in the country.
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by Amy Dangin, Borneo Post, June 20, 2013
KOTA KINABALU, Sabah (Malaysia) -- The Buddha Bar Sabah, which was opened recently, was forced to have its controversial name changed after the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM) urged the City Hall to revoke its licence.
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Bangkok Post, June 17, 2013
Bangkok, Thailand -- The lifestyle of some of Thailand's more "successful" monks is again drawing criticism. The National Office of Buddhism says it has received many complaints about monks riding in luxurious cars and using brand-name items even as they are supposed to live a life of restraint and simplicity.
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Elevenmyanmar.com, 15 June 2013
Hmawbi, Myanmar -- More than 200 Buddhist monks took part in a two-day event aimed at promoting the peace aspect of the religion amid a growing criticism from the international community about the role of the religion in the ongoing communal violence.
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Associated Press, June 14, 2013
HMAWBI, Myanmar -- A meeting of more than 200 Myanmar Buddhist monks on how to solve deadly communal conflicts that have pitted majority Buddhists against Muslims declared Friday they seek peace and accused the media of tarnishing their religion's image.
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By Eko Armunanto, Digital Journam, Jun 13, 2013
Lashio, Myanmar -- More than a thousand Muslims are sheltering in a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar's northeastern town of Lashio after violence that killed one person and burned down Muslim properties.
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By LAWI WENG / THE IRRAWADDY, June 13, 2013
RANGOON, Burma -- About 200 senior Buddhist monks convening in Rangoon on Thursday have begun drafting a religious law that would put restrictions on marriages Buddhist women and Muslim men.
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By Jonathan DeHart, The Diplomat, June 6, 2013
Jogjakarta, Indonesia -- In the misty jungles of Central Java’s Kedu Valley, builders in the 8th and 9th centuries hauled 2 million stones from rivers and streams to erect Borobudur, a dazzling, 95-foot-tall, 55,000-square-meter step pyramid and Buddhist temple complex. Today, it serves as a reminder that a Buddhist kingdom, the Syailendra Dynasty, thrived for around five centuries (until the 10th century) in the heart of what is now Indonesia.
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by Bambang Muryanto, The Jakarta Post, May 26 2013
Magelang, Indonesia -- Thousands of Buddhists celebrating Waisak, or Buddha’s Day of Enlightenment, in the yard of Mendut Temple in Mungkid, Magelang, Central Java, on Saturday prayed for an end to the Rohingya ethnic conflict in Myanmar.
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By EDMUND NGO, BEH YUEN HUI and QISHIN TARIQ, The Star, May 24, 2013
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Visitors came as early as 7am to the Buddhist Maha Vihara here to commemorate Wesak Day on Friday.
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The Bangkok Post, 14 May 2013
Bangkok, Thailand -- Today, as Buddhists around the country celebrate the Visakha Bucha Day to mark the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, it is worth reflecting on his teachings and recalling his advice on how best to continue his spiritual legacy.
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Xinhua, May 24, 2013
KANDAL, Cambodia -- Thousands of Buddhist monks and Buddhists marched on Friday morning around Preah Reach Trap Mountain, where the relics of Buddha are housed, to celebrate the Visak Bochea's Day, or Buddha's Day.
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by Thanachot Anuwan, Pattaya Mail, 24 May 2013
Pattaya, Thailand -- Saha Farms’ Ban Sukhawadee and the Phra Yai Chaiyaphum Foundation organized a merit-making ceremony to raise funds for a 20 billion baht Buddhism center in Thailand’s northeast.
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The Star, May 13, 2013
PETALING JAYA, Malaysia -- It was a triple celebration as thousands gathered to mark the Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation's 20th anniversary, Mothers Day and Buddha Day.
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Nhan Dan, May 18, 2013
Truong Sa, Vietnam -- Since time immemorial, Vietnamese fishermen have built small shrines and temples on islands in the East Sea to pray for safety and good luck during their seafaring journeys. The following is a photo gallery of recently built and renovated Buddhist temples on the Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands
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The Nation, May 18, 2013
Bangkok, Thailand -- Critics say that, by ordaining as a monk, a celebrity transvestite is using the religion for selfish reasons, but, like everyone else, he has the right to seek solace in the temple
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Radio Free Asia, May 7, 2013
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Security forces in southern Vietnam surrounded the pagoda of a banned Buddhist group over the weekend and barred monks from leaving the monastery, in the latest crackdown on the group in the one-party communist state.
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The Buddhist Channel, April 29, 2013
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- Malaysia is facing a crucial general elections (GE) on May 5, 2013. The 13th GE promises to be the most heated to date, with home made bombs exploding at a few campaign sites. No injuries were reported.
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By CHUAH BEE KIM, The New Straits Times, Apr 12, 2013
JOHOR BARU, Malaysia -- BRAHMAVAMSO Mahathera, popularly known as Ajahn Brahm among the Buddhist community, will be in Johor Baru from April 29 to May 2.
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Irrawaddy, Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Rangoon, Burma -- A Burmese monk has been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle a group of Rohingya Muslims disguised in Buddhist robes from western Arakan State to Rangoon, Radio Free Asia reported on Monday.
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by Lindsay Murdoch, The Age, April 7, 2013
Orphanages are often run as businesses, the children being the assets.
Siem Reap, Cambodia -- Dozens of orphanages in Cambodia, including some run by Australians, have been accused of exploiting children to attract donations.
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by Myat Thu Pan, Mizzima, 1 April 2013
Yangon, Myanmar -- The recent communal violence between Buddhists and Muslims in central Myanmar seems to be a result of the conflict which took place in Rakhine State last year.
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By Gianluca Mezzofiore, IB Times, March 26, 2013
Yangon, Myanmar -- Buddhist Monk Saydaw Wirathu, the self-styled "Burmese bin Laden", has called for a national boycott of Muslim businesses in Myanmar in a controversial video that emerged on YouTube.
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by Sanitsuda Ekachai, The Bangkok Post, 20 Mar 2013
Bangkok, Thailand -- A decade or so ago, an official letter of warning from the Police Special Branch Division landed on my desk. It was about an article by a physician-turned-monk entitled "How the Buddha died" in the former Outlook section I was working on back then.
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By Phyo Wai Lin. Jethro Mullen and Kocha Olarn, CNN, March 23, 2013
Yangon, Myanmar -- Buddhist monks and others armed with swords and machetes Friday stalked the streets of a city in central Myanmar, where sectarian violence that has left about 20 people dead has begun to spread to other areas, according to local officials.
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The Buddhist Channel, March 20, 2013
Opening made in conjunction of the Buddhist Missionary Society of Malaysia's (BMSM) 50th anniversary.
Shah Alam, Selangor (Malaysia) -- The traditional Malay gong was hit three times by VIPs, an occasion witnessed by a host of monks, and a 200 strong audience. They had gathered inside the lotus sculptured hall, and together rejoiced at the official opening of the Samadhi Vihara in Bukit Raja, Shah Alam, Selangor.
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WWF, 9 March 2013
Bangkok, Thailand -- As world governments meet here to discuss global wildlife trade, revered Thai Buddhist leaders today held the first-ever Buddhist merit-making ceremony to pray for the tens of thousands of elephants poached annually. They also called on their congregations and other temples to reject the use and trade of ivory.
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ElevenMyanmar.com, 14 March 2013
Yangon, Myanmar -- Buddhist monks injured in the violent crackdown at the Letpadaungtaung copper mine protest expressed their disagreement over an official report that suggested that the project to continue.
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VietNamNet Bridge, Feb 26, 2013
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Much of Viet Nam’s most famous, traditional and valued cultural heritage has been provided or inspired by Buddhism, a religion which has for centuries been deeply embedded in the national psyche.
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by Omar Havana, The Jakarta Post, February 20, 2013
Siem Reap, Cambodia -- At first glance, the life of a Cambodian Buddhist monk does not differ much from the life of an ordinary person. They sleep, eat, shower, talk, and laugh just like anyone else.
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By Amy Lieberman, CSM, September 8, 2011
A quiet campaign to grant female monks legal recognition began this summer. Advocates hope that the minimal fanfare will help the 'Bhikkhunis' evade conservative religious opposition.
BANGKOK, THAILAND -- Dhammananda Bhikkhuni grips a wobbly stack of feminine hygiene products and sorts them on a long table. Her followers watch before mimicking her quick movements.
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AFP, 10 February, 2013
Jakarta, Indonesia -- As Indonesia and other countries with Chinese diasporas welcome the Year of the Snake, some Islamic leaders have ignited a religious row by declaring the celebrations “haram” and off limits for Muslims.
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By NYEIN NYEIN / THE IRRAWADDY| February 1, 2013
Arakan, Myanmar -- After a year that saw Buddhist and Muslim communities in Burma’s Arakan State engage in numerous bloody clashes, the state government has now taken the step of welcoming Buddhist Arakanese from neighboring Bangladesh. But it is resettling them in violence-wracked northern parts of the state.
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By COD SATRUSAYANG, ASIA SENTINEL, February 4, 2013
BANGKOK, Thailand -- If Thai Buddhism has been corrupted and lost its way, as critics are alleging, you would never know it by talking to Mod and her friends, whose devotion keeps them making merit and seeking solace at Wat Tha Mai, one of Bangkok’s scores of Buddhist temples, every weekend.
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KALADAN PRESS, 18 JANUARY 2013
Maungdaw, Myanmar -- Bangladeshi Buddhist families have resettled to Karayni Natala village in Maungdaw south, Arakan state, according to one Maungdaw officer.
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IRIN, Jan 16, 2013
HANOI/HUE, Vietnam -- Buddhist monks, nuns and their followers have long contributed to Vietnam’s disaster relief efforts. Sometimes equipped with canoes filled with instant noodles, woollen hats and psychosocial counsellors, this local cadre may lack standard operating procedures, but it constitutes a largely undocumented and significant disaster relief system running parallel to governmental efforts.
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The Asian Age, 7 Jan 2013
Siem Reap, Cambodia -- Ta Prohm is the modern name for one of the temples of Angkor, Cambodia. Built in the Bayon style, largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries, it was founded by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university and was originally called Rajavihara.
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Thanh Nien News, January 1, 2013
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Thich Tu Nghiem, a Buddhist monk, came across museums and exhibitions of Buddha idols in many Asian countries he went to, and decided that Vietnam needs one as well.
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by Cherry Thein, The Myanmar Times, Monday, 31 December 201
Yangon, Myanmar -- An international conference on Buddhist cultural heritage was held at Sitagu International Buddhist University in Yangon from December 15 to 17, with support from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
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VietNamNet Bridge, Dec 30, 2012
Bac Lieu Province, Vietnam -- Being considered one of the most beautiful Khmer Theravada Buddhist temples in the Mekong Delta, Ghositaram pagoda in Bac Lieu province has unique decorations, reflecting unique Buddhism cultural identity of the Khmer.
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By THOMAS FULLER, December 18, 2012
BAAN PA CHI, Thailand -- The monks of this northern Thai village no longer perform one of the defining rituals of Buddhism, the early-morning walk through the community to collect food. Instead, the temple’s abbot dials a local restaurant and has takeout delivered.
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by Marc Howe, The Global Post, December 21, 2012
Yangon, Myanmar -- Protests against a China-backed copper mine have spread throughout the South-east Asian nation of Myanmar, with members of the Buddhist clergy at the fore of demonstrations.
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Selangor Times, 14 Dec 2012
SUBANG JAYA, Selangor (Malaysia) -- Some 500 less-fortunate students from the area were presented with school bags, stationery and shoes donated by Subang Jaya Buddhist Association members last Sunday.
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By KYAW PHYO THA, THE IRRAWADDY, December 9, 2012
RANGOON, Burma -- Buddhist monks took to the streets in Burma’s former capital on Saturday to show solidarity with fellow monks who were injured during a crackdown on protests late last month and to demand an apology from the country’s president.
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By Feng Zengkun, The Straits Times, Dec 06, 2012
Singapore -- THE Buddhist College of Singapore located at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery in Bishan will have a new building by 2014.
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by Leven Woon, Free Malaysia Today, December 2, 2012
Ven. K Sri Dhammaratana found support from among the Buddhist temple committee members to defeat resolutions to remove him as the chief monk.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malayssia -- An attempt by several disgruntled members of the Sasana Abhiwurdi Wardhana Society to remove their chief monk failed today after they were defeated in their own extraordinary general meeting.
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By WANI MUTHIAH , The Star, November 25, 2012
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.
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Saigon GP Daily, Nov 24, 2012
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- The seventh Congress of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha themed "Inheritance-Stability-Development" opened in Hanoi on November 23 drawing more than 1,000 monks, nuns, and local and overseas dignitaries.
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The Buddhist Channel, Nov 22, 2012
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- The 2012 Contemporary Buddhist Seminar will be organized by the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM) to discuss about various topics and issues that constantly concern Malaysian Buddhists. The seminar will invite prominent scholars and speakers from various countries, including the USA, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia. The theme of this seminar is "The True Colours of Buddhism”.
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by THANYARAT DOKSONE, Associated Press, November 18, 2012
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Leaving behind chants of "Obama, Obama" by adoring crowds on the streets, the president of the United States stepped into the serenity of Thailand's most famous temple compound to marvel at its centerpiece -- a gigantic, golden statue of a reclining Buddha propped up on one elbow before passing into nirvana.
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VietNamNet Bridge, Oct 28, 2012
Thai Binh, Vietnam -- The Keo Pagoda in Duy Nhat Commune, Vu Thu District, in northern Thai Binh Province, has been recognised as a special national relic for its unique historical, cultural, architectural and artistic values.
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by B V PRAKASH, Deccan Herald, Oct 28, 2012
Yogyakarta, Indonesia -- The wave of Buddhism that spread from India to South East Asia around the first century AD lasted several centuries when many of the countries came under the Buddhist influence, with numerous temples and stupas springing up all over.
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By Dylan Loh, CNA, 28 October 2012
SINGAPORE -- The Singapore Buddhist Lodge Education Foundation gave out over S$345,000 in bursaries on Saturday.
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by Amelie Bottollier-Depois, AFP, Oct 27, 2012
SITTWE, Myanmar -- Disgruntled by international support for Muslim Rohingya in unrest-hit western Myanmar, ethnic Rakhine Buddhists are demanding recognition of their own plight and venting a rage that veers into racism.
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The Bangkok Post, Oct 21, 2012
Tourism sector leaders say the birthplace of Buddhism could attract many Thai pilgrims and tourists, but New Delhi needs to clean up its act first
Bangkok, Thailand -- Thai tour operators view Buddhist tourism in India as a potential boom market if the country's Ministry of Tourism improves tourist facilities in destinations that are of interest to Thai-Buddhist tourists.
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by Thu Rein Hlaing; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Alan Raybould, Reuters, October 15, 2012
YANGON, Myanmar -- Thousands of Buddhist monks marched in Myanmar's two biggest cities on Monday to protest against efforts by the world's biggest Islamic body to help Rohingya Muslims involved in deadly communal clashes four months ago.
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By Kang Soon Chen, The Star/Asia News Network,Oct 6, 2012
PETALING JAYA, Malaysia -- A group of Universiti Sains Malaysia medical students has allegedly been brainwashed into leaving their studies by a Buddhist monk.
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CNA, October 4, 2012
BANGKOK, Thailand -- About 300 Buddhist monks demonstrated in the Thai capital Bangkok on Wednesday against recent attacks by Muslim mobs targeting temples and houses in Bangladesh.
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PTI, September 29, 2012
New Delhi, India -- Government is planning to extend Visa-on-Arrival facility to nationals from countries having sizable Buddhist population such as Thailand and Malayasia.
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AFP, Sep 3, 2012
YANGON, Myanmar -- Hundreds of Buddhist monks marched in Myanmar Sunday to support President Thein Sein's suggestion that Muslim Rohingya be deported or held in camps, in the biggest rally since the end of junta rule.
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Khmer Radio / Hello VOA, 27 August 2012
Bhikkhu Hoeurn Somnieng receives a degree in business management from St. Ambrose University in Iowa, USA.
WASHINGTON DC, USA -- Because public management in Cambodia is still week, venerable monk Hoeurn Somnieng, is pursuing a graduate degree at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
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NST, Aug 21, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Several Buddhist organisations in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur are holding the World Buddhist Conference on Nov 3 and 4, at Istana Hotel, Jalan Raja Chulan, here.
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Al-Jazeera, Aug 18, 2012
Government forms 27-member commission to find causes of June clashes and suggest ways for for "peaceful coexistence".
Yangon, Myanmar -- Myanmar's government has formed a commission to investigate the causes of recent sectarian violence between Muslim Rohingya and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, in which at least 78 people were killed.
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by Thanh Nga
Hanoi, Vietnam -- If you get the chance to visit the northern province of Bac Giang, you should not miss the opportunity to take in the sacred landscape around Bo Da Pagoda in Thuong Lat Hamlet, Tien Son Commune, Viet Yen District. There you can see Buddhist woodblocks and ancient architecture that has been preserved for hundreds of years.
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By JAMES HOOKWAY, WSJ, Aug 14, 2012
Thailand's Buddhists are a bit annoyed with today's young monks. As mobile phones and other devices grow more popular, it's becoming harder for religious leaders to control the images of Buddhism in the media and marketplace. WSJ's James Hookway reports.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Each year as monsoon rains sweep their way over Thailand, tens of thousands of teenage boys shave their heads and are ordained as Buddhist monks in a traditional rite of passage.
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by Andrew Buncombe, The Independent, August 2, 2012
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Buddhist monks of Thailand are not known to be an especially active bunch. Prayers, chanting and the collecting of alms take up much of their time.
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The Jakarta Post, August 11 2012
Jakarta, Indonesia -- The Indonesian Buddhists Association (Walubi) has called on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to be lenient with its chairwoman, Siti Hartati Murdaya, who is a suspect in a bribery case
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by Palash R. Ghosh, IB Times, July 25, 2012
Rangoon, Burma -- In her first speech before the Myanmar parliament, pro-democracy activist and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has pleaded for the country to respect the rights of its various ethnic minorities.
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By LAWI WENG, THE IRRAWADDY, July 17, 2012
Chiang Mai, Thailand -- Around a thousand Burmese migrants joined a Buddhist dhamma talk at Wat Sai Moon in the center of Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, on Monday to discuss a Thai abbot taking charge of the Burmese monastery.
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by Weena Kowitwanij, AsiaOne, July 3, 2012
Bangkok, Thailand -- In June, celebrations were held to commemorate 2600 years of illumination of the "Awakened One". In a conference, hundreds of faithful, monks and nuns discuss the value of faith and the challenges of modernity. The risks of globalization, promoting an education system capable of forming good citizens.
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The Buddhist Channel, June 27, 2012
The Knowing Buddha Foundation is preparing a major march in Bangkok on 30 June, to show their respect for Buddha and to show how so many are disrespecting Buddha.
Bangkok, Thailand -- The KnowingBuddha Foundation is preparing a Buddhist March - the first time in history - on 30 June, in one of the Bangkok's most famous streets, Khao San Road, to speak out against the improper usage of Buddha's image in the modern world.
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By WINNIE YEOH, Photos by GOH GAIK LEE, All Malayisa, June 21, 2012
Penang, Malaysia -- Ancestor worship prayer has gone digital with a Buddhist temple in Bayan Lepas putting up two 50-inch LCD screens to display names of the deceased.
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by Salil Tripathi, Livemint.com, June 15, 2012
Communal violence flares up even as the country tries to return to democracy
Arakan, Myanmar -- A week ago, a Buddhist woman was raped, allegedly by a Muslim man in the Rakhine province (once known as Arakan) in Myanmar, once known as Burma. Incensed Buddhists stopped a bus which had many Rohingyas, who are Muslim, and killed at least ten, injuring others.
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MCOT News, June 4, 2012
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Buddhist Thais nationwide marked Vesak Day on Monday which this year also was in commemoration of the 2,600th anniversary of the enlightenment of the Lord Buddha, or Buddha Jayanti.
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NNT, June 4, 2012
Pattaya, Thailand -- On the full moon day of the sixth lunar month, Buddhists in Thailand celebrate the enlightenment of the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. It is this very same day that two other most important events in Buddhism are believed to have occurred—the birth of Buddha, 45 years before his enlightenment, and his passing away 35 years later.
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The Buddhist Channel, June 4, 2012
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- A group of Malaysians under the loose organisation "Support Network for Women Renunciants in Malaysia and Singapore" has established Malaysia's first dedicated Theravada Nuns Centre with the official opening of Gotami Vihara in a suburb of its capital city Kuala Lumpur.
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by Arjanyai, insnare.com, Published on the Buddhist Channel, June 4, 2012
Rangoon, Burma -- Burma under British rule was not so much subject to religious suppression as Ceylon. Europeanization was not so great there as to affect much the cultural life of the Burmese, since the British administered Burma only as a part of India and the British colonial period there was much shorter than in Ceylon.
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The Sunday Star, May 27, 2012
Kota Bahru, Kelantan (Malaysia) -- POLITICAL life may never be free of controversy, but controversies that are unnecessary or avoidable should never be acceptable. Kelantanese are now undergoing one such learning experience.
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Today, May 5, 2012
SINGAPORE -- An increase in awareness has led to fewer people releasing animals into the wild, according to the National Parks Board (NParks).
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The Star, May 6, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Buddhists throughout the country marked Wesak Day by thronging temples and offering prayers, as well as with colourful float processions.
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By CHRISTINA LOW, The Star, May 5, 2012
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- BUDDHISTS celebrate Wesak today by paying respect to Lord Buddha on his birthday, for attainment of enlightenment and to commemorate his death.
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by Bambang Muryanto, The Jakarta Post, May 3, 2012
Magelang, Indonesia -- Tens of thousands of Buddhists from across Indonesia and abroad are expected to observe Waisak (Buddhist Day of Enlightenment) 2556 this year at the two neighboring temples of Mendut and Borobudur in Magelang, Central Java, on Sunday.
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By Jennani Durai, The Straits Times, May 5, 2012
$5.5m project will add space to Jalan Bukit Merah shrine
Singapore -- The oldest Thai Buddhist temple here will get a drastic facelift by next year.
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AsiaOne, May 3, 2012
Singapore -- The National Parks Board (NParks) is reminding the public not to release animals into the wild this Vesak Day.
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by Amy Sawitta Lefevre, Reuters, April 24, 2012
Bangkok, Thailand -- Beam Atchimapon is already three days late for the new school term in her native city, the Thai capital of Bangkok – but for a good cause.
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The Bangkok Post, April 5, 2012
Criticised by a senator, the Wat Phra Dhammakaya temple's mass thudong pilgrimage through downtown Bangkok has been defended by the Office of National Buddhism
Bangkok, Thailand -- Wat Phra Dhammakaya has defended the temple's mass thudong pilgrimage through downtown Bangkok, insisting the walk by 1,500 novices and monks does not violate their code of ethics.
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The Buddhist Channel, Apr 2, 2012
Ayutthaya, Thailand -- On June 1st, 2012, the International Association of Buddhist Universities will be hosting its 2nd International Association of Buddhist Universities Academic Conference, on Buddhist Philosophy & Praxis.
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By OLIVIA MIWIL, The New Straits Times, Mar 20, 2012
Putra Heights, Selangor (Malaysia) -- THE Putra Heights Buddhist Society is appealing to the local authorities to look into its request to acquire a vacant land in Jalan Putra Kayangan 4/1 for the construction of a Buddhist temple.
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NNT, 10 March 2012
Bangkok, Thailand -- Vesak day generally commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Lord Buddha. However, Vesak 2012, which falls on June 4, holds a special significance as it will also mark the 2,600th anniversary of Buddha’s Enlightenment.
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by Jocelyn Gecker, Associated Press, February 24, 2012
YANGON, Myanmar -- Amid the towering golden spires of Myanmar's grandest Buddhist shrine there was talk of politics and hope for the future as thousands came last week for the return of an annual festival that was banned for more than 20 years by the former military regime.
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Associated Press, February 22, 2012
Myanmar Marks 2600th Anniversary Of Shwedagon Pagoda
YANGON, Myanmar -- Amid the towering golden spires of Myanmar’s grandest Buddhist shrine there was talk of politics and hope for the future as thousands came Wednesday for the return of an annual festival that was banned for more than 20 years by the former military regime.
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World Faiths Development Dialogue, January 13, 2012
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- This fall, Cambodia was hit by its worst floods in recent history, with over a million people displaced and countless crops ruined. In the aftermath of this natural disaster, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen, cancelled the 2011 Water Festival, one of the most important holidays in Cambodia.
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Bernama, February 2, 2012
QUANG NINH, Vietnam -- The Yen Tu Pagoda Spring Festival has opened in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh on the tenth day of the first lunar month, in the presence of Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan, according to Vietnam news agency.
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By FARIK ZOLKEPLI, The Star, January 29, 2012
KUALA TERENGGANU, Malaysia -- Two years after it was damaged in a fire, the more-than-200-year-old Ho Ann Kiong temple in Kampung Cina has been restored to its former splendour.
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by Weena Kowitwanij, Asia News, Jan 26, 2012
Bangkok, Thailand -- More than a thousand Buddhist monks trekked across six provinces, going from temple to temple, to bring peace and harmony to the areas most affected by last year’s floods, the worst in 50 years. Government estimates put the death toll at over 800 people and the damages at US$ 40 billion. Venerable Phrathepyanmahamunee, abbot at the Dhammakaya Temple and president of the Dhammakaya Foundation, is behind the initiative.
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Phuket Gazette, January 20, 2012
PHUKET, Thailand -- The 'monk police’ of Phuket are warning everyone on the island of con men who are impersonating Buddhist monks and tricking locals and tourists into giving them money.
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The Bangkok Post, Jan 14, 2012
Gay monk debate helps reveal a more fundamental problem which is affecting the clergy
Bangkok, Thailand -- While a coyote-dancing monk who sparked public uproar has been suspended, the episode has led to a continuing debate over gay monks in the clergy.
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Channel News Asia, 7 January 2012
SINGAPORE -- The Singapore Buddhist Lodge (Welfare Foundation) has given out twenty per cent more red packets for the Lunar New Year this year.
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The Star, January 1, 2012
KUCHING, Sarawak (Malaysia) -- Fa Yuan Vihara, a Buddhist temple here for youths, raised what was surely one of the last large amount of cash for charity in 2011.
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by Pakamard Jaichalard, The Nation, January 2, 2012
Bangkok, Thailand -- The New Year 2012 opened with an auspicious tone as over one million people attended the "across the year" prayer at Buddhist temples nationwide on New Year's Eve, an official said yesterday.
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Associated Press, January 04, 2012
Siem Reap, Cambodia -- It's still entwined in mystery and jungle vines, but one of Cambodia's grandest monuments is slowly awakening after eight centuries of isolated slumber, having attracted a crack archaeological team and a trickle of tourists.
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by Paisarn Likhitpreechakul, The Nation, December 16, 2011
Bangkok, Thailand -- The 20-year jail sentence handed down to Mr Amphon (last name withheld), aka Ah Kong (southern Chinese for "grandfather"), for sending four SMS messages deemed offensive to the monarchy, has stirred a debate on the Thai justice system.
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AFP, Dec 16, 2011
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- A top Khmer Rouge leader denied Thursday that the brutal 1970s regime persecuted Buddhists and outlawed religion, to the outrage of monks following his trial at Cambodia's UN-backed court.
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The Tibet Post International , 16 December 2011
Dharamshala, India: -- The spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressed his desire last week to visit Burma to pay homage at the country's holiest shrine of the Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon, the capital of Burma.
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The Buddhist Channel, Dec 15, 2011
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- The Ajahn Chah Remembrance Day (ACRD) is a special day devoted to one of the great contemporary Buddhist monks in Thailand, Venerable Ajahn Chah who is also known as Ajahn Chah Subhaddo.
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by Associated Press, December 13, 2011
HANOI, Vietnam -- Vietnam sentenced two Buddhist activists to prison Tuesday for distributing anti-government leaflets and CDs, a relative and state media said.
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The Bangkok Post, Dec 12, 2011
Monks race to get campus up and running after it suffered damage estimated at B200m (US$ 7 mil)
Bangkok, Thailand -- Monks are hard at work cleaning and repairing Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University after the floods.
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THE NATION December 8, 2011
Bangkok, Thailand -- Occupying more than 2,500 rai of land, the park is seen as an icon of Thai Buddhism and attracts thousands of worshippers on holy days for candle-lit processions around the Giant Buddha Statue.
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VNS, Nov 29, 2011
HA NOI, Vietnam -- Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, vice president of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha's executive council, passed away in Ha Noi on Saturday at the age of 85.
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by JAMES HOOKWAY, WSJ, Nov 27, 2011
BANGKOK, Thailand -- At the Glass Lotus Temple in northeast Bangkok, the Buddhist monks know how the flood inundating their country affects everything in daily life—even death.
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Philippine Daily Inquirer, November 13, 2011
Bangkok, Thailand -- A team of Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation volunteers has been carrying out relief work for the flood victims in Thailand, which is suffering its worst flooding in 50 years.
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VNS, November, 14 2011
THUA THIEN-HUE, Vietnam -- Free health care for the poor by Buddhist monks and physicians in Tue Tinh Duong clinics in central Thua Thien-Hue Province is saving lives and boosting moral.
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The Associated Press, October 27, 2011
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Archaeologists at Cambodia’s famous Angkor Wat temple complex say they have unearthed the largest Buddhist statues there in eight decades.
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Xinhua, Oct 24, 2011
YANGON, Myanmar -- Myanmar is making preparation to hold grand religious function to mark the 2600th anniversary of the world's famous Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, the official daily New Light of Myanmar reported Monday.
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CBS, Oct 16, 2011
AYUTTHAYA, Thailand -- Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, a monk university in Ayutthaya, Thailand was swamped by floodwaters.
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by P. Vijian, Bernama, Oct 9, 2011
LEH, Ladakh (India) -- A group of Malaysians have proven that charity is borderless and colour blind.
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by Didier Lauras, AFP, Sept 20, 2011
PATTANI, Thailand -- With its barbed wire, sandbag bunker and armed guard, Wat Lak Muang in Thailand's strife-torn deep south looks more like a military outpost than a typical Buddhist temple.
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The Buddhist Channel, Sept 17, 2011
Jakarta, Indonesia -- December 10 - 11, 2011 shall be marked as monumental days for the Indonesian Buddhist community as the 7th edition of the Global Conference on Buddhism (GCB) will be held in Indonesia for the first time.
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The Star, September 9, 2011
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- THE Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society Malaysia will organise a musical sign language drama concert entitled “Purity, Great Love, Innumerable Meanings” at Stadium Badminton Cheras in Kuala Lumpur this weekend.
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The Star, September 5, 2011
Penang, Malaysia -- A BLESSING ceremony at the Buddhist Tzu Chi Merit Society on Macalister Road, Penang, drew some 300 devotees keen to express gratitude to ancestors and parents.
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by Brendan Brady, TheWorld.org, Aug 30, 2011
A group of monks from remote Cambodia are protecting their local forests and fighting climate change with Buddhism, not science, as the inspiration
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Tha Soun and his fellow monks from nearby Samraong pagoda have presided over a 44-thousand acre forest known as Sorng Rukavorn, or simply Monk Forest, for a decade. These days it seems a serene garden, but it wasn't always so.
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by Kooi F Lim, The Buddhist Channel, Aug 24, 2011
Buddhist Gems Fellowship announces fund raising campaign with signature "flash and dash"
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- If you are looking for entertainment within a Buddhist establishment, you won't go wrong if you happened to take a glance at Buddhist Gem Fellowship, or BGF in short.
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by Sanitsuda Ekachai, Bangkok Post, Aug 18, 2011
Development monks help their poor communities with economic and educational needs, living examples of why monks still matter.
Bangkok, Thailand -- Fed up with rogue monks? Losing hope in ability of the lax and closed clergy to lead the way? Meet Luang Por Ang, Luang Por Chair, and Phra Kru Somsri. All Isan monks. All dedicated to lift the livelihood and spirituality of their villagers. All are living examples of why monks still matter. Probably more so now than ever.
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VNS, Aug 8, 2011
Bac Ninh, Vietnam -- On a hot summer day, it took Nguyet Anh an hour by motorbike to get to the Dau and But Thap pagodas from Ha Noi. The destination of this newly graduated journalism student from Ha Noi Social Science and Humanities University and her friends was located in the northern province of Bac Ninh.
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The Buddhist Channel, Jul 30, 2011
Conference aims to discuss "The Buddha Word, its Social Relevance & Application Today".
Live coverage viewable at http://www.justin.tv/wacana2011
Serdang, Selangor (Malaysia) -- WACANA is a Buddhist Conference which aims to gather distinguished members of the Buddhist Sangha and laity to discuss pertinent issues affecting the Buddha-Sasana. Organized by Nalanda Institute Malaysia, this year's Wacana 2011 conference carries the theme “The Buddha Word, its Social Relevance & Application Today”.
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Sapa-dpa, July 19, 2011
Chiang Khong, Thailand -- The 15-year-old aspiring "ladyboy" delicately applied a puff of talcum powder to his nose - an act of rebellion at the Thai Buddhist temple where he is learning to "be a man".
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The Nation/Asia News Network, Jul 17, 2011
Bangkok, Thailand -- In Nakhon Ratchasima's Muang district, a major contest of 59 carved candle floats was expected to generate at least Bt100 million during the four-day-long holiday period. Chok Chai district's Wat Mai Saprathum won the Category A prize - a trophy donated by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Bt100,000 cash - for the seventh year in a row.
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The Bangkok Post, July 14, 2011
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Public Health Ministry has ordered public health offices throughout the country to coordinate with police and other authorities to make sure the ban on thje sale of alcohol is strictly observed on July 15 and 16, an important Buddhist holiday.
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Malaysiakini, Jul 10, 11 9:40am
Malaysian Yong Vui Kong, 21, is on death row in Singapore for drug trafficking. Malaysiakini is publishing Yong's final letters to Yetian, a member of the Save Vui Kong Campaign, as he faces death.
Singapore -- Before I begin, I would like to thank everyone for reading this 12th letter. Time passes so quickly that this will be my last letter.
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by Jamie Khoo, The Buddhist Channel, July 1, 2011
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- Kechara House Buddhist Association in Malaysia will attempt to make it into the Malaysian Book of Records for a 24-hour recitation of the Lamrim Chenmo, a central text in Buddhist study, on July 2 – 3 2011.
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By R.S.N. MURALI, The Star, June 30, 2011
MALACCA, Malaysia -- Several Buddhist groups in Kuala Lumpur and Penang have sought the help of the “monk police” here to help eradicate bogus monks in their areas.
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by Hafizah Hoze Rizal, The Star, June 28, 2011
40 robberies, six fires - and 31 ignored appeals for relocation
Setapak, Malaysia -- ROBBED more than 40 times. Experienced six fires. Electricity and water supply constantly interrupted.
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Bernama, June 29, 2011
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's Ministry of Public Health is campaigning nationwide for local people to refrain from alcohol during the forthcoming three-month Buddhist Lent, which starts on July 16.
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AFP, Jun 27, 2011
BOROBUDUR, Indonesia -- HOLLYWOOD star Richard Gere meditated on Monday at Indonesia's Borobudur temple before touring the ninth-century Buddhist monument with his wife and son.
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by Hangga Brata & Arientha Primanita, Jakarta Globe, June 27, 2011
Magelang, Central Java (Indonesia) -- Hollywood star Richard Gere arrived at the eighth century Borobudur Temple on Sunday ahead of a Buddhist ritual today — in a trip that officials said would make the actor Indonesia’s “informal tourism ambassador.”
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By R.S.N. MURALI, The Star, June 21, 2011
MALACCA, Malaysia -- A Buddhist group here has set up its own vigilante corp to stop those portraying themselves as monks from soliciting money from the public.
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Antara News, June 23, 2011
Magelang, Central Java (Indonesia) -- The management of Borobudur Temple Tourism Park says they are ready for Hollywood star Richard Gere when her arrives at the famous Buddhist temple on Sunday.
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by Anthony Kuhn, NPR, June 20, 2011
Bangkok, Thailand -- Many of Thailand's tattoo tourists find their way to Bangkok's Khao San Road, where tattoo parlors are nestled among the Internet cafes, noodle stalls and other backpacker hangouts. A visitor along this road might pick up a tattoo, along with some beads and dreadlocks, and perhaps even a nose ring.
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VOV News, June 19, 2011
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Celebrations of the Hoa Hao Buddhist sect’s 72nd founding anniversary have been held across Vietnam’s 15 provinces and cities with support of local authorities.
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The Jakarta Post, June 19, 2011
Jakarta, Indonesia -- Hollywood star Richard Gere will visit one of the world’s most renowned and largest Buddhist temples, Borobudur, in Magelang, Central Java, on June 26, a Culture and Tourism Ministry official says.
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Today, Jun 16, 2011
SINGAPORE - The late Venerable Long Gen, the former Chairman of the Singapore Buddhist Federation, was fundamental in laying the foundation for Buddhism in Singapore, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
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The Phuket News, 10th Jun 2011
PHUKET, Thailand -- More than a hundred tattoo artists from all over Phuket met today with the Permanent Secretary of the Culture Ministry, Somchai Seanglai, and various other officials, to discuss the high-priority problem of foreigners being tattooed with Buddhist images.
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by Satnisusa Ekachai, The Bangkok Post, June 9, 2011
An upcoming conference in Thailand will bring together female Buddhist monastics from around the world.
Bangkok, Thailand -- Has the clergy's stern frown on female ordination stopped women's determination to pursue a monastic life.
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by Loka S K Ng, The Buddhist Channel, June 9, 2011
Shah Alam, Selangor (Malaysia) -- Local history was created on Sunday June 5, 2011 when more than 1,200 people gathered at the Auditorium Dewan Jubli Perak in Shah Alam to attend the first ever Selangor State Level Wesak Celebrations.
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by Kom Chad Luek, Phuket Gazette, June 2, 2011
PHUKET, Thailand -- The Culture Ministry has attacked the growing trend for tourists in Phuket and other parts of Thailand to have religious images tattooed on their bodies.
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The Buddhist Channel, June 5, 2011
Khao Lak, Thailand -- People staying in Khao Lak or anywhere in Thailand in July will embark on special ceremonies to mark the start of one of Buddhism’s most significant events.
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The Buddhist Channel, June 2, 2011
Shah Alam, Selangor (Malaysia) -- A historic and ground breaking event for the Malaysian Buddhist community will take place on Sunday, June 5, 2011 when Malaysia's richest, most advanced state of Selangor officially hosts the state level Wesak celebration.
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By Seth Kane, Asia Times, May 26, 2011
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's community of Buddhist monks, the Sangha, has traditionally occupied a ubiquitous and hallowed place in Thai society. However, globalization and decades of rapid economic development have challenged the Sangha's traditional position, seen in its dwindling membership, plethora of scandals and diminished role as educators and conflict resolvers.
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by Tarko Sudiarno and Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, May 18, 2011
Magelang/Bandung (Indonesia) -- Buddhists across Indonesia observed Waisak on Tuesday with a message that religion can be a vehicle to enlighten people and the world.
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VietnamNet, May 22, 2011
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Not only eating vegetarian food on the Vesak Day or Buddha’s birthday (May 16), many people in HCM City decide to take vegetarian in the entire fourth lunar month to wish for peace.
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The Star, May 18, 2011
GEORGE TOWN, Penang -- Buddhists from all walks of life flocked to temples and association premises to offer their prayers for Wesak Day.
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by Seet Sok Hwee and Sabrina Chan, Today, May 18, 2011
SINGAPORE -- Thousands of Buddhists around the world celebrated Vesak Day yesterday, a festival that commemorates the birth and enlightenment of Buddha and his entry into Nirvana.
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by Aidi Yursal & Vento Saudale, The Jakarta Globe, May 18, 2011
Jakarta, Indonesia -- Buddhist faithful across Indonesia turned out in large numbers on Tuesday to mark Vesak, a celebration of the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha.
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The Nation, May 18, 2011
Bangkok, Thailand -- Buddhists across the country yesterday observed religious rites, giving alms to monks in the morning and saying prayers at temples later in the day to celebrate Visakha Bucha Day.
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Xinhua, May 18, 2011
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Thousands of Buddhists and Buddhist monks on Tuesday morning marched around Preah Reach Trap Mountain, where the relics of Buddha are housed, in order to mark Visak Bochea's day, or Buddha's day.
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VietNamNet Bridge, May 18, 2011
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The Vesak Day, which fell on May 16, 2011, was celebrated throughout the country by Buddhists with various activities and events.
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THE NATION, May 17, 2011
Yala, Thailand -- The group was driving to a town to collect alms in Yala's Yaha district when a suspected home-made bomb was set off.
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MCOT Online, May 16, 2011
SA KAEO, Thailand -- A Thai Buddhist group and its Cambodian counterpart joined with 'Dhamma Yatra' Buddhist pilgrims to urge their compatriots to use dhamma as a means to end the armed conflict between the two neighbouring countries.
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Fee Malaysia Today, May 16, 2011
Buddhist across Malaysia celebrate Wesak tomorrow in commemoration of the birth and enlightenment of Lord Buddha
PETALING JAYA, Malaysia -- Buddhist nationwide celebrate Wesak tomorrow amidst unsubstantiated allegations of a “Christian Malaysia” plot and Perkasa’s “crusade against Christians”.
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By PRIYA MENON, The Star, May 14, 2011
SEVERAL activities have been planned for the Wesak Day celebration on Tuesday.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The joint Wesak Celebrations Committee (JWCC) said the main highlights at the Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields would be the visit by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at 9.30am as well as the float procession in the evening.
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The Buddhist Channel, May 10, 2011
Wesak 2011 marks the 2,600th year of the Buddha’s enlightenment and the preaching of His Dharma
Seri Kembangan, Selangor (Malaysia) -- Every year, on the full-moon day in May, Buddhists the world over celebrate Wesak to commemorate three significant events in the life of Lord Buddha – birth, enlightenment and passing away. This year’s Wesak Day falls on the 17th of May.
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The Buddhist Channel, May 10, 2011
Padang Sera, Kedah (Malaysia) -- The remains of the late Venerable Dr. Chao Khun Phra Thepmongkolayan, an influential Buddhist figure in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore was cremated here on May 1, 2011.
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The Bangkok Post, Apr 28, 2011
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Office of National Buddhism has forgiven a renowned Buddhist nun for telling her followers to rectify their sins through bizarre acts.
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The Buddhist Channel, April 20, 2011
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- On 16th April 2011, the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM) initiated a Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Relief Fund to assist victims of the earthquake and tsunami at Japan. As at 16th April 2011, a total amount of RM236,720.00 was collected.
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VOVNews, Apr 10, 2011
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Vietnam is a special nation in the preservation of Buddhist heritages, said the Deputy Head of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Yogeshwar Varma.
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The Buddhist Channel, April 4, 2011
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Kinrara Metta Buddhist Society (KMBS) is organising the Metta Run 2011 to help raise funds for the development of its new building.
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The Bangkok Post, Apr 4, 2011
Bangkok, Thailand -- The country's first and only college for Buddhist nuns has suffered a discouraging setback, with only 20 prospective students applying to join the institution this academic year.
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Jakarta Globe, April 3, 2011
North Sumatra, Indonesia -- The Religious Affairs Ministry has ordered a large Buddhist statue in North Sumatra to be taken down after it raised the ire of Muslims in the area.
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By Richard S. Ehrlich, CNNGo.com, 31 March, 2011
International volunteers pay to teach Buddhist monks in Chiang Mai and Ratchaburi. Journey to nirvana not guaranteed
Bangkok, Thailand -- Foreigners are being invited to teach English to Buddhist monks at two temples in Thailand -- at a cost of hundreds of dollars.
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The Bangkok Post, March 26, 2011
While many saffron-robed foreigners are genuinely interested in studying religion, some are entering Thailand illegally to beg for money from the public
Bangkok, Thailand -- The presence of more than 300 foreign Buddhists at a Bangkok temple has raised concerns that some might be bogus monks begging for money and preying on people.
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VOVNews, March 20, 2011
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Central Committee (VBSCC) hosted a solemn ceremony in Hanoi on March 17 to commemorate the 1,000th death anniversary of Imperial Councillor Khuong Viet, the first supreme patriarch of Vietnamese Buddhism.
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The Nation, March 18, 2011
Phasi Charoen, Thailand -- Authorities yesterday inspected Talom Temple in Phasi Charoen district following reports that 400 foreign Buddhist monks there go out begging in the afternoon and make money selling the alms.
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By Pathomporn Kaenkrachang, Phuketwan.com, March 12, 2011
Phuket, Thailand -- A BUDDHIST museum is to be built at the Big Buddha site atop a hill on Phuket amid claims and counter-claims about cash donations.
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Bangkok Post, March 8, 2011
Pattani, Thailand -- The Sangha Council of Pattani province has decided that Buddhist monks in three high-risk districts should stop making their morning alms collection for one month, following the slaying of a monk and wounding of two others in Khok Pho district early this month.
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AFP, March 5, 2011
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Gunmen killed a Buddhist monk and injured two others as they collected alms in Thailand's insurgency-plagued south, according to police.
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The Bangkok Post, March 6, 2011
A mae chi's takeover of a Thai Buddhist temple in India has brought the management of the facilities overseas and the role of female clergy to the fore
Bangkok, Thailand -- The controversy over a Thai Buddhist nun successfully petitioning an Indian court to gain control of a temple has raised broader questions surrounding the administration of temples overseas. It has also highlighted the ambiguous role nuns, or mae chi, face within the structure of Buddhism in Thailand.
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The Bangkok Post, March 5, 2011
Queen will preside over revered monk's funeral
Udon Thani, Thailand -- Up to one million faithful are expected to pay their last respects to Luangta Maha Bua Yannasampanno (Ajahn Maha Boowa) at his cremation ceremony today.
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The Buddhist Channel, March 5, 2011
Luang Ta Maha Bua cremation is slated to held on Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 1 pm bangkok Time (Malaysia - 2 pm, London - 6 am, San Francisco - 11 pm March 4).
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The Bangkok Post, March 3, 2011
The cremation of Luangta Maha Bua Yannasampanno is a logistical challenge
Udon Thani, Thailand -- Wat Pa Ban Tad forest temple in Udon Thani is abuzz with activity. More than 1,500 kitchens are being set up to cater to more than 2,500 monks residing at the temple and thousands of visitors streaming in every day.
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The Bangkok Post, March 3, 2011
Udon Thani, Thailand -- A conference of senior monks has agreed to divide Luangta Maha Bua's ashes into two.
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Pattaya Daily News, February 22, 2011
Pattaya, Thailand -- Mr. Anton Avdanin (42), a Russian businessman, had a premonition of seeing an image of a Thai Buddhist monk, leading him to fly to Thailand to research further. After meeting the monk, Mr. Avdanin first carefully observed the monk’s actions for 2 years.
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Pattaya People, Feb 20, 2011
Pattaya, Thailand -- On Friday morning at Tamsamakkee temple opposite the South Pattaya Junction on Sukhumvit Road, thousands of Buddhists gathered to conduct food offerings to the monks, with many of the worshippers wearing white outfits, to be in harmony with the purity that this day signifies.
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VNS, Feb 22, 2011
Ben Tre, Vietnam -- Nearly 20 years have passed since the Pagoda's doors were opened to orphans under the guiding hand of nun Thich Ngo Mai, an orphan herself. Thu Trang report.
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VNA, Feb 13, 2011
Quang Ninh, Vietnam -- Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan beat the drum, opening the Yen Tu Pagoda Spring Festival in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh on February 12, the tenth day of the first lunar month.
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The Star, February 14, 2011
GEORGE TOWN, Penang (Malaysia) -- More than 300 Buddhist devotees offered special prayers during a ceremony which took place aboard a chartered ferry.
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by Ajahn Sujato, The Buddhist Channel, Feb 11, 2011
"‘When ordinary people praise the Buddha, they do so only on the trivial and petty grounds of mere behavior.’ - The Buddha, Brahmajala Sutta, Digha Nikaya 1"
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- In recent days there’s been considerable discussion among Buddhists, especially in Singapore and Malaysia, over the conferring of the respected title ‘Datuk’ to the senior monk Venerable Dhammaratana, abbot of the Brickfields Temple in KL. The controversy is not over the honor, but over the fact that the Venerable received it wearing a suit!
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by Benson Ang, The New Paper, Feb 10, 2011
Using fake documents, a Chinese national managed to work in Singapore on the pretext of being a monk
Singapore -- For nine months, Mr Liu Bing worked as a monk at a Buddhist centre in Geylang.
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by Weena Kowitwanij, Asia News, Feb 11, 2011
Bangkok, Thailand -- A crowd of sad mourners has flooded the Buddhist temple of Pabaantad, in northern Thailand, to pay their respect to Phra Dharmawisuthimongkol, a monk who passed away on 31 January at the age of 97 from intestinal obstruction and pulmonary infection.
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by JAMES HOOKWAY, The Nation, February 09, 2011
Bangkok, Thailand -- When Bua Yannasampanno (Ajahn Maha Boowa), a hermit Buddhist monk, died in Thailand at the age of 98 on Sunday, his followers were convinced he had reached true spiritual enlightenment and wouldn’t be reborn.
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The New Straits Times, Feb 8, 2011
Johor Baru, Malaysia -- BUDDHIST devotees should keep Feb 16 and 17 free as the Venerable Ajahn Brahmavamso Mahathera will be in Johor Baru.
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The Star, February 5, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- The Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple in Brickfields was abuzz with visitors on the first day of Chinese New Year (CNY).
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By By Supitya Rattana, The Nation, February 8, 2011
Narathiwat, Thailand -- In the wake of insurgent attacks targetting Buddhists, monks residing at 13 temples in Narathiwat have stopped their routine morning alms walk for a month, starting today.
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by Michael Scharff, World Faiths Development Dialogue, February 19, 2010
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- The sun has just risen at Wat Nokorbachey, a Buddhist temple in rural northeastern Cambodia. I’m standing near the ruins of a temple building and the early morning mist creeps over the tumbled stones and statues creating a mystical sensation. I’ve come here today to meet with the Venerable Thorn Vandong, a monk who runs the faith inspired organization Buddhism and Society Development Association (BSDA).
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by Yen Feng, The Straits Times, Jan 14, 2011
Reasons cited by faith leaders, experts include rise of churches here
Singapore -- The decline in Buddhism over the past decade may be traced to the rise of churches, more people wanting to choose their own faith or the lack of one, and greater clarity between Buddhism and Taoism, said scholars and faith leaders yesterday.
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By THE IRRAWADDY, January 13, 2011
Rangoon, Burma -- The Burmese junta’s proxy, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), has formed a Buddhist organization to discourage Burmese from joining others religions, in a move that some observers called a misuse of religion for political purposes.
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Narinjara News, Jan 12, 2011
Buthidaung, Burma -- Some remote Buddhist villages in southern Buthidaung Township, 80 miles north of Sittwe, are under threat of damage due to the rampant Muslim robbers in the area, report local people widely.
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by Khouth Sophakchakrya, Phnom Penh Post, 4 January 2011
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- More than 800 monks from across the country gathered in Phnom Penh for the 19th National Monk Congress yesterday, where they received reminders of the importance of Buddhist morality following a year that saw frequent transgressions by wayward members of the monkhood.
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M&C, Jan 3, 2011
Bangkok, Thailand -- Thailand's Buddhist council has warned monasteries nationwide to curb BlackBerry chatting among monks after receiving several complaints about the practice, media reports said Monday.
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by Anthony Kuhn, NPR, December 27, 2010
Bangkok, Thailand -- In Thailand, at Bangkok's Wat Phai Ngern, or Silver Bamboo Temple, lottery ticket vendors line the path to a mortuary where bodies are usually stored for cremation. On a recent day, one of the vendors, Lawan Yutitham, explains that the hot-selling lottery ticket numbers that day are 02, 07 and 27.
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Thailand Business News, December 23, 2010
Bangkok, Thailand -- Whether it’s the international New Year, the Chinese lunar New Year or the Thai solar New Year, the transition from one year to another offers an opportunity for Buddhists in Thailand to make merit by visiting sacred places.
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By Peter Janssen, Monster & Critics, Dec 22, 2010
Chiang Mai, Thailand -- Sorayut Chayapanyo, the 32-year-old abbot of the Doi Pha Som forest temple, has found little use for his Stanford University economics degree in the hills of Chiang Mai.
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The Star, December 18, 2010
GEORGE TOWN, Penang (Malaysa) -- A group of 40 Buddhist monks and novitiates displayed their spirit of giving and sharing by distributing food and provisions to elderly residents at Little Sisters of the Poor, Home for the Aged.
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by Jamie Khoo, The Buddhist Channel, Dec 17, 2010
A New Tibetan-Style Sanctuary Opens In The Heart of Suburbia
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- It is indeed a celebration of Malaysia as being “truly Asia” in its multi-cultural diversity with the opening of a new Tibetan-inspired sanctuary in the heart of SunwayMas Commercial Centre in Petaling Jaya.
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Deutsche Presse-Agentur, December 8, 2010
YANGON, Myanmar -- Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday took part in public religious services for the first time since her release from house arrest.
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by Vajrakumara, The Buddhist Channel, Dec 6, 2010
Singapore -- A 'monk' who is an 'abbot' made grave mistakes. He has yet to express clear and open repentance for his multiple misgivings, even after being jailed. Most Buddhists are enraged at why the local Buddhist federation is not disciplining him - e.g. by defrocking him or demoting his monastic status.
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AsiaOne, Dec 03, 2010
SINGAPORE - News of a panel to judge the Venerable Ming Yi has been met with split views by the Buddhist community.
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By Irwin Loy, IPS, Nov 1, 2010
KAMPONG CHAM, Cambodia -- The monsoon rains soaked the ground beneath Mon Hol’s home until it turned to ankle-deep mud. The aged thatched-leaf roof of his hut, badly in need of replacement, provided little protection.
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By Rachel Harvey, BBC News, Nov 29, 2010
A shrine in the Buddhist temple in Bangkok Cartons of milk and children's toys are placed at the shrine in the Buddhist temple in Bangkok
Bangkok, Thailand -- In a quiet corner of a Buddhist temple in Bangkok, an impromptu shrine has been created.
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by Andrew Chambers, The Guardian, 25 November 2010
The discovery of 2,000 foetuses has fuelled calls for a change in the law, but Buddhism plays a big role in the abortion debate
Bangkok, Thailand -- The discovery of more than 2,000 foetuses stored at a Bangkok temple has made front-page news across Thailand. As most abortion is illegal in Thailand, the case has shone a spotlight on a massive backstreet industry and sparked national debate about the country's current abortion laws, which date from the 1950s. With abortion routinely recognised as a "sin" in Theravada Buddhism, religion has played a significant social and political role in this debate.
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Bernama, November 23, 2010
HANOI, Vietnam -- The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) inaugurated the Bao An (Paying a Debt of Gratitude) tower, the highest ever in Vietnam, at the Bang A-Linh Tien tu pagoda in Hanoi, on Monday, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.
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by Pimjai Chaimongkol, ScandAsia, Nov 11, 2010
Bangkok, Thailand -- The World's oldest Buddhist Scriptures are exhibited for the first time in Thailand at the Phutthamonthon Buddhist Park in Nakhon Pathom province from 8 November 2010 to 5 February 2011.
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by The Associated Press, Nov 11, 2010
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Buddhist monks in Cambodia will be banned from taking part in a water festival this month to prevent undignified behaviour such as mingling with scantily clad women and seeing couples kissing, the country's chief monk said Wednesday.
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NDTV, Nov 11, 2010
Jogjakarta, Indonesia -- One of the biggest Buddhist temples in Indonesia, Borobudur, has become a victim of the eruption of Mount Merapi.
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VOV, Nov 11, 2010
Hanoi, Vietnam -- A procession of three precious saris, taken from Kushinagar relic site in India, arrived in the Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi, on November 9.
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by Aidi Yursal, Antara News, November 1, 2010
Medan, Sumatra (Indonesia) -- A replica of Burma’s famous Shwedagon Pagoda was officially opened in North Sumatra on Sunday in a ceremony attended by hundreds of Buddhist monks from across Asia.
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The Buddhist Channel, Nov 1,.2010
Singapore -- 500 participants found happiness in the here and now at the Buddhist Conference 2554, held 23 October at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, Singapore. The conference was organised by Dharma In Action (DIA), an informal gathering of energetic and enthusiastic Buddhists working together to promote Buddhism as a lifestyle in Singapore.
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by Arientha Primanita, Bilhuda Haryanto & Aidi Yursal, The Jakarta Post, October 22, 2010
Jakarta, Indonesia -- Buddhists are the latest minority religious group to feel the heat, being at the center of a festering row over a large Buddha statue on the roof of a temple in the North Sumatran city of Tanjung Balai.
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Channel News Asia, 16 October 2010
SINGAPORE -- S$475,600 worth of bursaries from the Singapore Buddhist Lodge Education Foundation were given to 367 students from tertiary institutes on Saturday.
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by Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Oct 8, 2010
Magelang, Indonesia -- Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh led 500 Buddhists and monks from 15 countries in a series of meditations at the renowned Borobudur Temple complex in Magelang, Central Java, on Thursday.
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By Mavis Toh & Elena Chong, The Straits Times, Oct 8, 2010
Singapore -- CONVICTED Buddhist monk Ming Yi, 48, walked out of the Subordinate Courts a free man yesterday, ending the long-running saga of one of the largest charity scandals here.
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By Cherry Thein, Myanmar Times, Volume 26, No. 521
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- AFTER joining a Sunday group meditation at Wat Langka on Sihanouk Boulevard Road in Phnom Penh, I was approached by a Buddhist monk who gave me a copied textbook written by Mahasi Sayadaw.
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by Ulma Haryanto, Jakarta Globe, September 22, 2010
Jakarta, Indonesia -- A Buddhist group that backed the city in allowing the Buddha Bar to open will file a complaint against judges at the Central Jakarta District Court who ordered the bar closed and fined the owners Rp 1 billion ($112,000).
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Ekklesia.com, Sept 22, 2010
Bangkok, Thailand -- A reform-oriented "common word on international economic practices" has been issued by Christians and Buddhists meeting in Thailand.
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By Majorie Chiew, The Star, September 21, 2010
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- MALAYSIA will host one of the modern world’s most recognised Vietnamese Buddhist monk and Zen master, Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh, and eight other acclaimed teachers and scholars of Buddhism at the World Buddhist Conference this weekend (Sept 25-26)at Hotel Istana, Kuala Lumpur.
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Phuket Daily News, Aug 18, 2010
PHUKET, Thailand -- Hundreds of well-wishers are expected to help revered Phuket monk Luang Pu Supha celebrate his 114th birthday next month.
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The Nation/Asia News Network , Sep 14, 2010
Bangkok, Thailand -- A WELL-KNOWN author and an avid Buddhist yesterday filed a report with the Department of Special Investigation, asking for an inquiry into more than Bt100 million (S$4.3 million) given to a monastery run by a famous monk.
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VNA, Sept 14, 2010
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- A two-day training course is being held in Ho Chi Minh City for Buddhist monks, nuns and followers on how to prevent discrimination against people infected with HIV/AIDS.
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Asia News, September 7, 2010
More than 70 people march for 55 days to remind people that peace is everyone’s business. Since 2004, clashes between Buddhists and Muslims in south Thailand have killed 56,950 people and wounded 11.390.
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The Jakarta Post, Sept 3, 2010
Jakarta, Indonesia -- The Anti-Buddha Bar Forum (FABB) is persisting in its demands that the Buddha Bar be shut down, even after the company changed its name to BB Restaurant and Lounge.
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AFP, Sept 1, 2010
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- An Indonesian court Wednesday ordered the local branch of Paris-based Buddha Bar to close after convicting the licence holder of blasphemy, a lawyer said.
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By WANI MUTHIAH and A. RUBAN, The Star, August 30, 2010
KLANG, Selangor -- The plight of slain security guard S. Gunasilan’s family has caught the attention of the Ti-Ratana Welfare Society Malaysia which plans to visit them today to get details of their financial difficulties.
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VOV News, Aug 31, 2010
Hanoi, Vietnam -- A recent symposium has provided an insight into Buddhism and literature’s immense contributions to the capital city of Hanoi during its 1,000-year process of development.
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The Borneo Post, August 27, 2010
KOTA KINABALU, Sabah (Malaysia) -- Sabahan Yong Vui Kong who is on death row in Singapore, is spending his time reading Buddhist scriptures as his appeal for clemency to the republic’s president to spare his life lies in a balance.
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Bernama, August 25, 2010
LEH, Ladakh (India) -- Amidst chanting of prayers by monks and school children, a special event was rolled out to mark the first anniversary of four Malaysian women who died in a car mishap last year.
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Earth Times, 24 Aug 2010
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The state-controlled governing body of Vietnam's Hoa Hao Buddhist sect has asked local authorities to punish two monks for allegedly proselytizing without permission, an official said Tuesday.
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By FOONG THIM LENG, The Star, August 18, 2010
Bercham, Malaysia -- VISITORS to Meow Yuen Zen Buddhist Monastery will get the impression that they are in a garden where rock formations are sculptured by divine hands.
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By LEE YUK PENG, The Star, August 11, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- A monastery that has been mired in controversy for its closed-door practice has been found by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to have complied with its own constitution.
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By Cherry Thein, Myanmar Rimes, August 16 - 22, 2010
Yangon, Myanmar -- THE Buddhist Association for the Promotion of Theravada Buddhism in Border Regions earlier this month launched missionary projects in Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin and Mon states, the group’s chairman said last week.
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Sin Chew Daily, Aug 11, 2010
SEREMBAN, Negeri Sembilan (Malaysia) -- The Negeri Sembilan state liaison committee of the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM) is helping the Buddhist students societies of three schools to get started, following the cabinet decision to allow school heads to approve the formation of non-Muslim clubs and societies.
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VOV News, Aug 11, 2010
Binh Duong, Vietnam -- More than 10,000 monks, nuns and Buddhist followers from 20 southern provinces are expected to attend the largest-ever religious ceremony at Lac Canh-Dai Nam-Van Hien Tourist Resort in Binh Duong province on August 14-15 for the Vu Lan Festival.
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By MAJORIE CHIEW, The Star, August 10, 2010
Zen master and Nobel Prize nominee to talk on his philosophy in Malaysian tour
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- RENOWNED Vietnamese Buddhist monk and poet Thich Nhat Hanh, 84, leads retreats worldwide on the art of mindful living. He believes that we can learn to live in the present moment through “mindfulness”, rather than in the past and future. That is his key teaching.
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The Jakarta Post, Aug 9, 2010
KUTA, Bali (Indonesia) -- Kerobokan Penitentiary in Kuta has recently provided worship rooms for Buddhist inmates, adding to the prison's existing worship facilities for Hindus, Muslims and Christians, a prison warden says.
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Translated by LIM LIY EE, Sin Chew Daily, July 31, 2010
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- A Buddhist and stamps collector has been integrating his faith with his interest as he has a special preference for collecting stamps with Buddhism theme.
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By CHRISTINA CHIN, The Star, August 2, 2010
Penang, Malaysia -- HANDS clasped in prayer, thousands of Avalokitesvara (Guan Yin) Bodhisattva devotees joined a Goddess of Mercy float procession which passed through Bayan Baru and Bayan Lepas in Penang.
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Vietnam Plus, Jul 29, 2010
Hanoi, Vietnam -- A week of Buddhist celebrations to acknowledge the capital city’s millennial anniversary began at the Thang Long Citadel on July 28.
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AFP, Jul 28, 2010
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Hundreds of people protested in Jakarta Wednesday against the local branch of the Buddha Bar chain, demanding its closure and saying it threatened interfaith relations.
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Pattaya Daily News, Jul 27, 2010
Pattaya, Thailand -- The Asarnha Bucha (Asalha Puja) ceremonies held at the Chaimongkol Temple in South Pattaya brought hundreds of joyous worshippers together to celebrate the great Buddha’s first sermon.
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The Star, July 22, 2010
Klang, Malaysia -- A GROUP of Buddhist residents staying in Bukit Tinggi, Klang, organised a gathering last weekend to appeal to the state government to grant a piece of land in Bukit Tinggi to erect a Buddhist temple.
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The Star, July 20, 2010
Penang, Malaysia -- THOSE who give donation to monks on the streets are performing bad deeds indirectly, said Yayasan Belia Buddhist Malaysia (YBBM) director Datuk Ong Ka Chuan.
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VOV News, July 18, 2010
Hanoi, Vietnam -- 1,247 Buddhist nuns and monks will gather for the Great Buddhist Festival to mark the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi scheduled to take place in Hanoi from July 17 to August 2.
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VOV News, July 17, 2010
Can Tho, Vietnam -- A Buddhist family camp called “Chanh Tri Camp” is taking place in Long Quang Pagoda in the Mekong delta city Can Tho city from July 15-17, drawing the participation of over 700 Buddhist followers from southeast and southwest provinces.
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The Bangkok Post, July 5, 2010
A group of Thai and Cambodian civic groups are working together to build peace between Thailand and Cambodia through cultural exchanges
Siem Reap, Cambodia -- A Cambodian song filled the air as some 10 Thai and Cambodians were playing a traditional Khmer folk game that resembles Thailand's all-time favourite mon son pha.
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Reuters, July 5, 2010
BANGKOK, Thailand -- An orange-robed monk chanted as a teary-eyed, black-clad family prayed quietly in front of a crematorium. A normal Buddhist funeral service in Thailand except for one thing — the deceased was canine.
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By Michael Sheridan, New York Daily News, June 30, 2010
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- A Buddhist monk has been accused of being less than holy.
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ScanAsia, June 16 2010
Pattaya, Thailand -- Less than two hours’ drive from the teeming tourist beaches of Pattaya in Thailand, a largely undeveloped hillside in Chounbri province conceals a very different site – a sacred place home to a Buddhist temple.
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Pattaya Daily News, June 14, 2010
Pattaya, Thailand -- Police have arrested a man in South Pattaya found to be in possession of numerous football gambling slips, largely circulated to members of the public wishing to bet/gamble on football matches. The slips in question were found to be pertaining to the currently ongoing World Cup in South Africa.
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By LEE YUK PENG, The Star, June 14, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- A committee seeking the reopening of a Kajang monastery has asked the Malaysian Buddhist Association and Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia to help resolve problems which caused the place being closed to devotees for the past four years.
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By LEE YUK PENG, The Star, June 9, 2010
PETALING JAYA, Malaysia -- The bungalow, nestled in a secluded spot amidst dense greenery, is supposed to be a temple that was built on public donations.
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VOV News, Jun 3, 2010
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Hoi Son Pagoda, also called Khanh Long Pagoda, was established and named after Buddhist monk Dao Thanh Khanh Long who became famous in the late 18th century. It is located on Quit Hill in the present-day Long Binh Ward, District 9 in Ho Chi Minh City.
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Saigon Go Daily, Jun 3, 2010
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- A commemoration service was held in Ho Chi Minh City June 2 for Thich Quang Duc, who self-immolated 47 years ago to protest against the persecution of Buddhists by the Ngo Dinh Diem administration of South Vietnam.
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by Sanitsuda Ekachai, The Bangkok Post, May 31, 2010
Bangkok, Thailand -- Normal. How sweet the word sounds, after two weeks of excruciating political tension which culminated in the torching of central Bangkok.
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Temasek review, May 31, 2010
Singapore -- CONVICTED Buddhist monk Ming Yi’s track record of performing death-defying stunts to raise funds for Ren Ci Hospital has earned him a reduction in his jail term for his role in an unauthorised $50,000 loan to his former aide.
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By CHRISTINA LOW, The Star, May 26, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- British chef and television personality Gordon Ramsay will be in town on Friday to cook up a special vegetarian dish for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and thousands of people visiting the Buddhist Maha Vihara in Kuala Lumpur for the Wesak Day celebration.
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MySin Chiew, May 20, 2010
Ipoh, Malaysia -- We can hardly survive without computers in this technology age these days, as a matter of fact. And Buddhist monks here are beginning to turn to information technology in promoting their religion.
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By Andrew Buncombe, The Independent, 21 May 2010
Much of Bangkok left in ruins as government tries to find who was to blame for deadly violence
Bangkok, Thailand -- Thai authorities are to launch an investigation into the circumstances of a firefight near a Buddhist temple inside which hundreds of people were seeking safety. Several people were killed outside the temple and bullets were fired into the compound, injuring others.
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VNA, May 18, 2010
THUA THIEN-HUE, Vietnam -- A Buddhist Cultural Week held as part of Ha Noi's millenium anniversary celebrations scheduled later this year opened in Hue on Sunday in the presence of Japanese ambassador Mitsuo Sakaba and Buddhist clergy and faithfuls.
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AFP, May 17, 2010
Bangkok, Thailand -- At a monument to a conflict that took place decades ago, hundreds of Buddhist monks prayed for an end to the modern urban warfare being waged around them in the Thai capital.
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Bernama, May 16, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is scheduled to attend celebrations to mark this year's Wesak Day, which falls on May 28, at the Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple in Brickfields here.
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by NUROCHMAN ARRAZIE, TEMPO Interactive, 10 May, 2010
Jakarta, Indonesia -- Residents of a subdistrict in the provincial seat of Lampung have raised objection over plans by buddhist community in the area to build a monastery in a predominantly muslim customary land.
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The Buddhist Channel, May 12, 2010
Nalanda Institute appointed the custodian of the gift of wisdom and peace Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Nalanda Institute, Malaysia, a leading Buddhist education institution in Malaysia, is a proud recipient of the World Tipitaka, a gift of wisdom and peace, by the Dhamma Society of Thailand in honour of the late Royal Patron, Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, elder sister of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
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Saigon-gpdaily, May 9, 2010
Lang Son, Vietnam -- A groundbreaking ceremony of the country’s fourth largest pagoda named Phat Quang Son will take place in the northern province of Lang Son May 15-17, Hoang Van Pao, director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has said.
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Nham Dan, May 5, 2010
Hue, Vietnam -- The Week of Buddhist Culture 2010 will be held in the ancient capital of Hue from May 16-22 in the lead up to the millennial anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.
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AFP, May 2, 2010
HANOI, Vietnam -- A senior Vietnamese Buddhist monk, previously detained in an alleged plot to finance disorder against the communist regime, is in custody again, the spokesman for his banned church said late Friday.
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by Bill Tarrant, Ethiopian Review, May 1, 2010
Bangkok, Thailand -- At the sprawling red shirt encampment in central bank, Buddhist monks clad in their distinctive saffron robes mingle with men wearing helmets walking around with sharpened bamboo sticks.
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By Rachel O'Brien, AFP, Apr 29, 2010
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Dozens of Thai monks, clad in vivid orange robes, untangle their hands bound with sacred Buddhist thread after performing a chanting ceremony to protect the anti-government "Red Shirts".
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The Buddhist Channel, April 26, 2010
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- Eight major Buddhist organizations in the Klang Valley have jointly invited Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh, the internationally-acclaimed Buddhist monk, author, and peace activist to Malaysia in September 2010.
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by Yoichi Shimatsu, New America Media, Apr 24, 2010
BANGKOK, Thailand -- News footage from Thailand's capital, as dramatic as it appears, fails to capture the sheer dimensions of the Red Shirt rebellion.
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by Delia Jones, Response Source, 26 April 2010
Penang, Malaysia -- People who are staying in accommodation in Langkawi at the end of May could find that their visit to the island coincides with one of the biggest festivals in the Buddhist calendar.
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Xinhua, April 26, 2010
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Cambodia will host regional Buddhistic tourism forum on Tuesday, the first such forum to be held in Cambodia aimed at raising the interconnection between Buddhism and tourism in the region, a government official said Monday.
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By Revathi Murugappan, The Star, April 24, 2010
Excitement has been brewing over a new discovery in a limestone cave in Ipoh
Ipoh, Perak (Malaysia) -- For centuries, caves or the underground have been used as people’s living quarters and hideouts, especially during wars. But in Asia, caves are often the sanctuary of choice for Buddhist monks, Hindu priests and yogis who want to worship and meditate.
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The Buddhist Channel, April 24, 2010
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Three organizations have come together to organize the "2nd Charity Art Auction & Exhibition" fund raising event in support of underprivileged children in Siem Reap, Cambodia and to help raise funds for Kinrara Metta Buddhist Society - Building Fund.
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by SHAHANAAZ HABIB, TEH ENG HOCK AND BRIAN MOH, The Star, April 19, 2010
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Buddhist monk Ajahn Suthep has been showing up at the anti-government Red Shirts rally site in the city but says he is neutral.
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The Buddhist Channel, Apr 20, 2010
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- On January 12, 2010, a powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.0 struck the town of Leogane in Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas. It was estimated that 200,000 people perished in the disaster.
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The Buddhist Channel, Apr 18, 2010
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- World-renown Vietnamese Buddhist monk, author, poet, and peace activist Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh will be addressing the "World Buddhist Conference" to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from September 25-26, 2010.
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By: Story YANAPON MUSIKET Photos YINGYONG UN-ANONGRAK, Bangkok Post, 21 April 2009
The restoration of a Tai Lue temple in Xishuangpanna has strengthened the bonds between the Tai Lue people in Thailand and China
Bangkok, Thailand -- I was the first time in his life that 26-year-old Arnat Suta had left his small village in northern Thailand on a trip abroad. But once he arrived at the destination, he immediately felt right at home.
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VietNamNet Bridge, April 14, 2010
Quang Ninh, Vietnam -- More than VND2.6 trillion (US$130 million) will be invested in a new Buddhist tourism area in the northern province of Quang Ninh, announced the investor, ATS Real Estate Investment Joint Stock Company and the Management Committee of the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha on April 10.
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The Jakarta Post, April 2, 2010
Jogjakarta, Indonesia -- Hundreds of Buddhist followers from around the world began the three-day Monlam mass prayer rite on Friday, requesting a peaceful world, in front of the Borobudur Buddhist monument in Magelang, Central Java.
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By Anasuya Sanyal, Channel NewsAsia, 31 March 2010
Thai government concerned with monks' presence at Bangkok rallies
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Buddhist monks are not allowed to get involved in Thai politics, but some monks have courted controversy by joining anti-government rallies in Bangkok.
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VNA, Mar 31, 2010
Binh Duong, Vietnam -- The Buddhist Sangha in the southern province of Binh Duong inaugurated the province’s Buddhist Cultural Centre at the Hoi Khanh pagoda on March 30.
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VNA, Mar 30, 2010
BacGiang, Vietnam -- The northern province of BacGiang is working with several state agencies to put forward a case for the treasure of Buddhist prayer woodblocks in Vinh Nghiem Pagoda to be recognised by UNESCO as a World Documentary Heritage.
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The Bangkok Post, Mac 23, 2010
Bangkok, Thailand -- Government scratches head as 100 monks put down sticks at UDD rally, acting as 'human shields' to protect protesters, Foreign Ministry denies pressuring UAE to toss out fugitive Thaksin, Environment Minister Suwit cuts short overseas travels to support Democrats.
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by Bagus BT Saragih , The Jakarta Post , Mac 23, 2010
Makassar, South Sulawesi (Indonesia) -- The opening ceremony of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) congress Tuesday represents the largest Islamic organization’s commitment to religious harmony.
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The Nation, Mar 16, 2010
Bangkok, Thailand -- Two Buddhist organizations Wednesday called on the government to ban the Nak Prok movie for fear that it would damage image of Buddhism.
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by Nash Siamwalla, The Bangkok Post, March 5, 2010
Bangkok, Thailand -- At the moment of this writing, Thailand is celebrating Makha Bucha Day, one of the three most important Buddhist holidays in the Kingdom. Therefore, although much interesting news has happened within the last two weeks that the author would like to address in the light of Buddhism, it is more appropriate that we honour this important day properly.
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by Van Dat, VNS, Mar 9, 2010
Da Lat, Vietnam -- Tourists to the flower city of Da Lat are fond of the beauty of French-styled architecture of more than 2,000 villas, many of which nestle among the mountain pines. Huge numbers of pagodas located around the city presents tourists with a different oriental style of design.
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Xinhua News, March 9, 2010
YANGON, Myanmar -- More foreigners are studying Abhidhamma Buddhism at the International Institute of Abhidhamma ( IIA) in Myanmar after the religion-related English language course was introduced, sources with the institution said on Tuesday.
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Vietnam News, March 8, 2010
SOC TRANG, Vietnam -- Thousands of pilgrims from Mekong Delta provinces, mostly ethnic Khmer, flocked to the Chua Doi (Bat Pagoda) in Soc Trang City during weekend to celebrate the restoration of the famous monument.
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The Buddhist Channel, Feb 28, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Malaysian Buddhist organizations are coming together in one united act of compassion to raise funds and alleviate the sufferings of Haitian earthquake victims.
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By Philip Lim, AFP, 19 Feb 2010
Singapore -- When Ben Loke wanted to boost his financial prospects, he approached neither his banker nor his broker.
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Temasek Rewbiew, February 16, 2010
Singapore -- A Buddhist monk Venerable Dhammika has expressed his doubts about the effectiveness of inter-faith dialogue to prevent another Rony Tan fiasco from arising.
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Sin Chew Jit Poh, Feb 10, 2010
TAIPING, PERAK (Malaysia) -- A Thai monk walks 20 kilometres on barefoot a day to remind those who pursue a material life to protect and concern about mother nature.
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By Yen Feng, The Straits Times, February 9, 2010
Leader of independent church apologises to Buddhists and Taoists
Singapore -- The Government called up a Christian church leader yesterday after receiving complaints about online video clips that show him making insensitive comments about Buddhism.
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MCOT, Feb 4, 2010
Bangkok, Thailand -- The glittering reflection of the sun on the shining chapel of Pak Lam Kha-Khaeng Temple in Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province, 130 kilometres west of Bangkok, makes the edifice stands out among other religious structures in the serene compound.
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AFP, Feb 3, 2010
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Visitors flashing their knees at Indonesia's number-one tourist attraction, the ancient Borobudur temple, will have to wear government-issue sarongs under a new plan to protect the site's dignity.
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IANS, Feb 4, 2010
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- A prince-turned-Buddhist monk from Japan set out on a pilgrimage to India over 1,000 years ago. It is a mystery how he ended up in Malaysia where his cemetery now lies.
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By RACHAEL KAM, The Star, January 31, 2010
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The Tzu-Chi Foundation which was founded by a nun in Taiwan has undergone a miraculous growth. It now has 10 million members in 47 countries who do charity work around the world and save the environment in the process.
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The Buddhist Channel, Jan 25, 2010
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- Kechara Soup Kitchen finds a different and meaningful way to celebrate the new year which goes far beyond the family’s reunion dinner dining table.
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AFP, Jann 25, 2010
HANOI, Vietnam -- One of the world's most influential Buddhist monks made a plea for religious freedom in Vietnam Monday after his followers were forced from two temples.
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by Greg Jorgensen, The Toronto Star, Jan 18 2010
BANGKOK – A growing number of people are trying to tidy up the crowded façade of their cluttered lifestyle — they're tackling the congestion at its root by exploring a simpler yet richer path: studying Buddhist meditation and, in some cases, being fully ordained as a Buddhist monk or nun.
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UPI, Jan. 18, 2010
HAI DUONG, Vietnam -- A Vietnamese jewelry company said a team of 50 artisans will be employed to turn a 35-ton block into the world's largest jade statue of Buddha.
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By Sok Serey, Radio Free Asia, Translated from Khmer by Socheata, 14 January 2009
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Five Khmer Kampuchea Krom monks are currently in hiding for their safety protection against the hunting by cops from the Ministry of Interior (MoI). The MoI accused these monks of distributing leaflets opposing the celebration of the 07 January considered as a victory day for the ruling CPP party.
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Associated Press, 11 January 2010
Thich Nhat Hanh says mobs were sent in to clear monasteries and calls on regime to restore religious freedom
Paris, France -- A famous Zen master has accused Vietnam's communist government of hiring mobs to forcibly evict his Buddhist followers from two monasteries.
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The Star, January 9, 2010
Disciples to hold Ajahn Chah Remembrance Day in Malaysia on January 16, 2009
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Commonly practised in Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Sri Lanka, Theravada Buddhism is sometimes called the Forest Tradition.
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VOVNews, Jan 9, 2010
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Thousands of Hoa Hao Buddhists flocked to An Hoa pagoda in the southern province of An Giang to celebrate the 90th birth anniversary of Huynh Phu So – the founder of their sect.
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AFP, Dec30, 2009
HANOI, Vietnam -- Members of an "illegal" Buddhist group in communist Vietnam who took refuge in a temple for three months have left the pagoda in accordance with a deadline, the temple's head said on Wednesday.
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Thanh Nien News, Dec 30, 2009
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha celebrated last week the 701 st anniversary of the attainment of Nirvana of King Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308), the founder of Vietnamese Zen Buddhism.
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VNS, Dec 28, 2009
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- The role of Buddhist women in tackling emerging global issues is being discussed during a one-week international conference that opened yesterday in HCM City.
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The Bangkok Post, Dec 30, 2009
Bangkok, Thailand -- Buddhist monk Wor Wachiramethi has applied social networking to deliver Dhamma to a wide range of people.
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by Sanitsuda Ekachai, The Bangkok Post, December 18, 2009
"Thai society is monk-centric" - Santikaro Larson
Bangkok, Thailand -- Now that not many Thai men want to become Buddhist monks, isn't it strange that when women want to be ordained, the answer from the clergy is a fierce, firm "No"?
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AFP, Dec 18, 2009
PARIS, France -- Several hundred followers of a banned Buddhist group in communist Vietnam on Friday asked for asylum in France, where their leader is based, claiming that they face persecution at home.
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The Jakarta Post, Dec 20, 2009
Aceh, Indonesia -- Hundreds of Buddhist residents on Sunday joined a prayer in front of a mass cemetery for people who died in the deadly 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that hit Aceh five years ago.
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Earth Times, Dec 14, 2009
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Vietnamese authorities have ordered the abbot of a pagoda to evict some 190 members of an unofficial Buddhist group who had taken refuge there, the abbot said Monday.
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AFP, Dec 11, 2009
HANOI, Vietnam -- The head of a Buddhist pagoda in Central Vietnam said Friday that followers of an influential French-based monk can no longer seek shelter with him following three days of mob pressure.
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By WINNIE YEOH and PRISCILLA DIELENBERG, The Star, December 7, 2009
Penang, Malaysia -- IT was a sea of brown, grey, yellow and saffron colours during the consecration of the 20-storey high pavilion over the Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) statue at the Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam, Penang.
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By BEN STOCKING, Associated Press, Dec 2, 2009
HANOI, Vietnam -- Followers of a famed Buddhist monk say they are continuing to suffer police harassment two months after they were forcibly evicted from a monastery in southern Vietnam.
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The Buddhist Channel, Dec 5, 2009
New Buddhist Centre benefits communities in Seri Kembangan and beyond
Seri Kembangan, Selangor (Malaysia) -- Two weeks prior to the Officiating Ceremony of Nalanda Centre, Nalanda Buddhist Society conducted a premiere media tour to announce the completion of its much anticipated new education centre.
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by Weena Kowitwanij, Asia News, Nov 27, 2009
For supporters it is a deterrent against crime. Those who fight for its repeal contend: it violates human rights and will not prevent serious crime. For the Thai prime minister, "the majority is in favour" and many call for "alternative sentences" such as life in prison.
Bangkok, Thailand -- The application of the death sentence is at the centre of a fierce debate in Thailand, a nation 95% of Buddhist faith the teachings of which prevent even the killing of a mosquito.
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VNA, November 30, 2009
Nha Trang, Vietnam -- Two photo exhibitions were opened in the central coastal city of Nha Trang , Khanh Hoa province, on November 29, starting a week of Buddhist Culture.
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The Bangkok Post, Nov 24, 2009
Nakhon Ratchasima community of faithful
Bangkok, Thailand -- Dharma Land Co is investing more than 200 million baht in a residential project for Buddhists in Nakhon Ratchasima province.
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The Buddhist Channel, Nov 22, 2009
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- On October 5, 2009, the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM) initiated an Asia Pacific Disaster Relief Fund to assist victims of typhoon and earthquake.
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AFP, Nov 19, 2009
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND -- Followers of the Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh are being harassed in his native Vietnam, and they need the United Nations to step in to protect them, a representative said Wednesday.
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DPA, Nov 21, 2009
Singapore -- A Singapore court on Saturday sentenced a celebrity Buddhist monk who ran one of the city-state's most popular charities to 10 months in jail for fraud, a media report said.
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By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia, November 20, 2009
SINGAPORE -- Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, speaking at the opening of the S$12 million new building of the Singapore Buddhist Federation on Friday, said he is confident that the Buddhist community here will help maintain a harmonious, cohesive and compassionate society.
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By TAN SIN CHOW, November 9, 2009
GEORGE TOWN, Penang (Malaysia) -- The 20-storey high pavilion, built to shelter the Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) statue at the Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam, Penang may be listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest in the world.
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By KO HTWE, The Irrawaddy, November 16, 2009
Chiang Mai, Thailand -- More than 200 Buddhist monks and nuns asked for alms donations in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Monday to send to Burmese refugees who live in camps along the Thailand-Burma border.
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By Carolyn Quek, The Straits Times, Nov 13, 2009
Singapore -- THE sentencing of convicted Buddhist monk Ming Yi and aide Raymond Yeung was postponed on Friday to next Saturday.
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By Aye Sapay Phyu, The Myanmar Times, Nov 11, 2009
Yangon, Myanmar -- BUDDHAM Saranam Gacchami (I go for refuge to the Buddha). Dhamman Saranam Gacchami (I go for refuge to the Dhamma). Sangam Saranam Gacchami (I go for refuge to the Sangha).
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The Buddhist Channel, Nov 8, 2009
Reaching out to the Hearing Impaired community
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The Dharma for the Deaf Society is pleased to launch the first ever Dhamma VCD for the hearing impaired community with the support of the Buddhist Maha Vihara Brickfields.
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by Don Lam, Source: KhmerKromchildren.com, The Buddhist Channel, Oct 30, 2009
Binh Phuoc, Vietnam -- 13 Years ago, late venerable Ly Sang came to Phum Thom and established the Wat Phum Thom temple, resided there as the abbot and later went on to try to create the first Khmer language classroom in the province.
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VietNamNet Bridge, Oct 29, 2009
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Lien Hoa pagoda in HCM City is the place, where hundreds of poor children from the ‘immigration village’ at Nhi Thien Duong bridge pier go to learn.
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The Buddhist Channel, Oct 23, 2009
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur is pleased to launch its first ever Dhamma publication in Luganda, the language of the people of Uganda, in Africa.
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The Bangkok Post, Oct 22, 2009
Bangkok, Thailand -- Once a little known Buddhist temple by the banks of the Chao Phraya River - as it flows through Ayutthaya - Wat Takarong has seen a steady influx of tourists since receiving the "Beautiful Garden, Clean Toilet" award from the Office of Tourism Development, which it has now won four years in a row.
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By Ian Timberlake, AFP, Oct 19, 2009
HANOI, Vietnam -- The forced expulsion of more than 300 followers of one of the world's most influential Buddhists highlights Vietnam's suppression of religious freedom, Human Rights Watch said Monday.
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The Star. October 18, 2009
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Buddhists from all over the country are expected to gather today at the Thean Hou Temple in Robson Heights here to pray for the wellbeing of Malaysians.
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Pattaya People, Oct 13, 2009
Pattaya, Thailand -- A merit making ceremony was held at Tungklon Talman Temple on the afternoon of the 11th October when Mr. Scott Tanner was ordained into the Buddhist monkhood.
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AFP, Oct 9, 2009
SINGAPORE -- A high-living Buddhist monk who ran a multimillion-dollar medical charity in Singapore is facing up to seven years in jail after being convicted of fraud, court officials said Thursday.
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By B. Hang, Translated by Truc Thinh, Saigon-GPDaily, Oct 10, 2009
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nguyen Phuong Nga has rejected a recent report that the Government “forced” around 400 followers of the Plum Village Buddhist sect to leave Bat Nha monastery in Lam Dong Province.
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by John Ruwitch, Reuters, October 5, 2009
Hanoi, Vietnam -- A government-backed mob in Vietnam about a week ago booted nearly 400 Buddhist monks and nuns out of a monastery in the centre of the country, bringing an apparent end to an ugly standoff with complicated origins.
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AFP, Oct. 6, 2009
Buddhists: Vietnamese Police Try To Oust Famed Monk's Followers From Second Temple
HANOI, Vietnam -- Followers of a world-famous Buddhist teacher who were forced out of a Vietnamese monastery over the weekend have taken refuge at a nearby pagoda, but they say they have once again been surrounded by police.
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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Oct 5, 2009
YANGON, Myanmar -- A state newspaper has reported that landslides triggered by heavy rains in southern Myanmar have killed three Buddhist monks and damaged monasteries and homes.
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by Nguyen Giang, BBC Vietnamese service, Sep 29, 2009
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Four years ago the Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, a monk who popularised Buddhism in the West, was invited by the Vietnamese government to return home after 39 years in exile.
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By Chak Sopheap, UPI, September 30, 2009
Niigata, Japan -- In Cambodia Buddhism is the state religion, guaranteed by the Constitution, and about 95 percent of the people are Buddhists. However, in recent times, a gradual decline in moral standards among Buddhist monks and the political affiliations of some of their leaders have raised serious concerns.
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AFP, Sep 28, 2009
HANOI, Vietnam -- Followers of one of the world's most influential Buddhist monks said on Monday they had fled their Vietnamese monastery after threats from unidentified people armed with hammers and batons.
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New Civil Engineer, 23 September, 2009
Yangon, Myanmar -- Ancient Buddhist temples suffered damage after a 5.6-magnitude earthquake rattled parts of the north-western Myanmar.
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Story and photos by PEERAWAT JARIYASOMBAT, The Bangkok Post, Sep 24, 2009
The end of Buddhist Lent is a time for colourful parade and pilgrimage to Mae Hong Son
Mae Hong Son, Thailand -- Late monsoon season every year devout Buddhists in Mae Hong Son province, a cosy town in north Thailand, mark the end of Buddhist Lent in very unique and colourful way - via the Chongpara Festival.
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VietNamNet Bridge, Sept 20, 2009
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Musician and Buddhist monk Thich Chan Quang has composed more than 60 songs, many of which have been performed in various national music programmes across the nation.
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VNS, Sept 16, 2009
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong praised the Viet Nam Tinh do Cu si Buddhism Association’s active provision of traditional medication for the poor across the country, saying it had helped cure diseases while strengthening the nation’s benevolent heritage.
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VNS, Sept 9, 2009
Ho Chi Minh City -- Almost 550 students who completed their Buddhism studies at the Viet Nam Buddhist University received their degrees in the presence of Buddhist dignitaries from several countries at a convocation ceremony held at Pho Quang Pagoda in Tan Binh District yesterday.
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Daily Express, September 08, 2009
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia -- The Buddhist Tzu-Chi Merit Society has urged its members and supporters to review the manner they celebrate their religious rituals, in order to be more environment-friendly and not to be wasteful.
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VOVNews, Sept 8, 2009
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Nearly 550 monks and nuns have graduated from the 6th training course of the Vietnam Buddhist Studies Institute, with 49 percent of them receiving excellent certificates.
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The Buddhist Channel, Aug 27, 2007
Trip to Ladakh, India to assist a Buddhist center ends with 3 deaths, 1 missing and 2 seriously injured
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- In what was to be a visit to a meditation center in Ladakh, India turned out to be a tragic event for a group of devoted Buddhists from Malaysia.
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The Straits Times, August 24, 2009
Singapore -- FIRST, in gold; then red, and saffron, the monks sat in tight rows at the Wat Ananda Metyarama Buddhist Temple in Bukit Merah.
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by Weena Kowitwanij, Asia News, Aug 22, 2009
Bangkok, Thailand -- A constitutional revision on laws governing the end of life is being drafted in the country. The right to set limits to therapies must not undermine the supreme value of human dignity. A Buddhist monk’s call to accept "pain and sickness”; a Catholic priest stresses the importance of "spiritual care ".
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By Chris Tobias, Celsias - Matter Network, Aug 10, 2009
Singapore -- One year after opening, and about two years after construction began, the Poh Ern Shih Temple (or Temple of Thanksgiving in English) is looking great. I'm dropping by to visit the temple and check out progress on this green Buddhist sanctuary.
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By Sarah Mia Haagerup, ScandAsia, Aug 10, 2009
Bangkok, Thailand -- Thai Airways has recently offered 3.9 million air-miles to HRH, the late Princess Galyani Vadhana's Tipitaka Endowment Project. The donated miles will be used to transport a 40-volume set of sacred Buddhist scriptures (The World Tipitaka Edition) to The Buddhist Federation of Norway.
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By Cherry Thein, Myanmar Times, Aug 11, 2009
Yangon, Myanmar -- A MONK in Yangon has launched a project to inscribe the entire text of the Theravada Buddhist canon onto brass plates in the Myanmar language, following the completion of a seven-year effort to do the same in the Pali language.
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By PHRA CITTASAMVARO, THE NATION, August 6, 2009
Buddhism and Thai culture are so intertwined that they can be difficult to distinguish. Buddhism travelled across a continent and naturalised in the rich Thai culture. Since its arrival 2,500 years ago, the Thais have made it uniquely their own
Bangkok, Thailand -- In many instances we can see the original Buddhist ideas clearly, such as the barefoot monks making their alms rounds in the early morning, or the Pali chanting in the temples.
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Global Voices Online, August 7, 2009
Yangon, Myanmar -- A controversial photo of a Burmese actor and his friends wearing saffron robes had been posted on a popular Burmese blog, creating a severe outrage within the Burmese blogger community.
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The Buddhist Channel, Aug 5, 2009
Six schools confirmed for Night of the Asoka Awards 2009
Kajang, Selangor (Malaysia) -- The Kajang Buddhist Centre (Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia (BMSM), Kajang Branch)will be organising the inaugural “NIGHT OF THE ASOKA AWARDS 2009”, an Inter-Dhamma School Competition. The aim of the competition is to promote "Dharma Thru Drama".
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AP, Aug 4, 2009
HANOI, Vietnam -- Communist Vietnam's sometimes edgy relationship with religious freedom is being tested in a dispute over a monastery inhabited by disciples of Thich Nhat Hanh, a renowned Zen master.
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By BEN STOCKING, AP, Aug 5, 2009
HANOI, Vietnam -- Monks following a world-famous Buddhist teacher are being evicted from a Vietnamese monastery for failing to clear their activities with the government, an official said Tuesday, but he denied the dispute was about religious freedom.
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By CAROLYN QUEK, The Straits Times, August 2, 2009
Cash, credit card, car, country club membership and condo – the self-confessed modern-day monk has got them all
Singapore -- A BUDDHIST monk for 25 years, former Ren Ci chief Ming Yi also achieved the Singapore dream of the five Cs.
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by Paul Garrigan, Associated Content, July 20, 2009
Bangkok, Thailand -- When I first heard about Wat Thamkrabok my life had reached a desperate state. An alcohol addition had almost destroyed me, and I wasn't sure how much longer I had to live.
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AFP, July 23, 2009
HANOI, Vietnam -- Vietnamese police arrested a senior official of a banned Buddhist church on Thursday and blocked others from attending a commemorative service for the country's leading dissident monk, the church's overseas spokesman said.
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Antara News, July 24, 2009
Borobudur, Indonesia -- Tens of Buddhist monks from different countries gathered at the ancient Borobudur temple here Thursday and prayed for peace and a conducive situation in Indonesia.
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By Carolyn Quek, The Straits Times, July 22, 2009
DPP tries to show story about not having enough to pay off loan a charade
Singapore -- THE trial of Buddhist monk Ming Yi for misappropriation continued on Tuesday with the prosecution attempting to catch him out in court for lying.
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VietNamNet Bridge, July 17, 2009
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) and the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (COV) have agreed on a joint programme designed to meet the demands of Vietnamese expats who wish to practise religion.
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By Carolyn Quek, The Straits Times, July 17, 2009
Some were bought even as charity hospital was struggling to find funds
Singapore -- IN 1998, FORMER Ren Ci CEO Ming Yi bought properties and assets in Perth, Australia, including a plot of land - where a house was built later - a BMW car, a country club membership and a horse.
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By Thanong Khanthong, The Nation, July 10, 2009
A "Walking Buddha" presides over the vast religious site of Buddhamonthon, known as the "Land of the Buddha"
Bangkok, Thailand -- Buddhamonthon is a precinct attached to Nakhon Pathom (nakhon means city; pathom means first), a neighbouring province to Bangkok. And what could be a better site to build the Land of the Buddha than in the first city of Suvarnabhumi (the Golden Land), which embraced Buddhism from Sri Lanka more than a thousand years ago.
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by Weena Kowitwanij, AsiaNews, July 9, 2009
94% of Thais are Buddhist but only a small percentage attend places of worship. For the feast of Asalhabucha, which recalls the first sermon of Buddha, the religious leaders call for prayer, meditation and living the monastic experience for one day
Bangkok, Thailand -- Encouraging the practice of Buddhism among the faithful, under the slogan "Going to temple every Sunday, will make you happy." It is the spirit that marked celebrations for the feast of Asalhabucha - the day of the full moon of the eighth month of the lunar calendar - held July 7th in Thailand.
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By Pradit Ruangdit, The Bangkok Post, July 5, 2009
Phra Wor Wachiramethee says journalists should report the truth, even when it goes against their political beliefs
Bangkok, Thailand -- Leading preacher and writer Phra Wor Wachiramethee has warned media professionals to maintain neutrality or they would worsen the rifts in society.
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Translated by LIM LIY EE, Guang Ming Daily, July 4, 2009
Ulu Tiram, Johor (Malaysia) -- Large numbers of Singaporean faithfuls flock to Buddhist temples in Johor to pay homage, pray and make donations, and these donations have expedited the development of temples there.
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Pattaya Daily News, June 30, 2009
Pattaya, Thailand -- Sattahip Buddhists joined in a special ceremony on 27th June 2009 to donate offerings to 1500 Buddhist monks of the 226 temples in the Southern part of Thailand. The ceremony was a gesture of support to the region which has suffered from 4 years of violence.
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Jakarta Post, June 24, 2009
JAMBI, Indonesia -- The Buddha Amithaba Foundation of Jambi has once again donated dozens of artificial legs to disabled people in several local regencies.
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The Telegraph,, June 22, 2009
Thousands of Burmese have donated 1,750 pounds of their hair in a campaign to repair the route to a sacred Buddhist pagoda, reports said on Sunday
Mandalay, Burma -- About 30,000 women and more than 100 men from the central city of Mandalay and nearby towns have donated the hair, Kumudra magazine quoted a Buddhist monk as saying.
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The Bangkok Post, June 15, 2009
Bangkok, Thailand -- A network of monks has renewed calls for the government to declare the four most important days on the Buddhist calendar alcohol-free.
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by Sumanananda Premseri, Lanka Web, June 15, 2009
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The Buddhist Maha Vihara Brickfields in Kuala Lumpur launched the Sri Lanka Aid fund to assist some 400 orphans in an Internal Displaced Camp in Northern Sri Lanka. These children are mentally affected by the conflict- traumatized, socially disoriented and psychologically vulnerable.
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Bernama, June 12, 2009
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Unidentified gunmen on Friday morning opened fire at two Buddhist monks collecting alms, killing one and severely injuring another in restive southernmost province of Yala, Xinhua news agency said quoting a local media report.
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VietNamNet Bridge, June 11, 2009
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The Hoa Hao Buddhist Church on June 10 held a ceremony to mark the 70 th anniversary of the religion’s founding in Vietnam at An Hoa Tu pagoda in An Giang province’s Phu Tan district.
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Associated Press, June 3, 2009
Yangon, Myanmar -- Myanmar's government said Wednesday that the deadly collapse of an ancient pagoda under repair was the result of shoddy and rushed reconstruction work.
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by TAN KARR WEI, The Star, June 4, 2009
"Bogus monks" becoming a big menace in the streets of Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- BOGUS monks are roaming the streets of the Klang Valley, cashing in on the generosity of the people to make money.
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by Alit Kertaraharja, The Jakarta Post, May 26, 2009
Buleleng, Indonesia -- Rehabilition work on a historic Buddhist candi (temple or monument) in Kalibukbuk village, Buleleng, was finished Sunday as a high-ranking government official and a noted archaeologist both praised it as a landmark of religious tolerance.
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VNA, May 22, 2009
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Representatives from Hoa Hao Buddhist chapters nationwide gathered at An Hoa Tu Pagoda in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on May 21 for the sector’s third congress for the 2009-2014 term.
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by A. Gaffar Peang-Meth, GuamPDN.com, May 20, 2009
Guam, USA -- Senior researcher Lao Mong Hay, of the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission, wrote "Khmer Rouge Trial: Time for soul searching," published several months ago in UPI Online. It's a thought-provoking piece, valuable for people of all faiths.
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Earth Times, 18 May 2009
Singapore - A Singapore Buddhist temple has received about 1.5 million Singapore dollars (1 million US dollars) in cash from a mysterious donor, in stacks of 1,000-dollar notes found monthly in the temple's donation box, media reports said Monday.
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Stories and photos by CHEN PELF YEEN and SIMON KHOO, The Star, May 13, 2009
MALACCA, Malaysia -- More than 10,000 Buddhist devotees here took part in a 10km float and candlelight procession through the narrow streets in the heart of the historic city last Friday, the eve of Wesak.
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by Slamet Susanto and Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, May 10, 2009
Magelang, Central Java (Indonesia) -- Thousands of Buddhists who observed Waisak, the Buddhist Day of Enlightenment, on Saturday at Mendut Temple in Magelang, Central Java, offered special prayers for a safe presidential election on July 8.
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by Dalih Sembiring, Jakarta Globe, May 10, 2009
Mangelang, Indonesia -- By 10 o’clock on Saturday morning, the Borobudur subdistrict of Magelang, Central Java, was filled with cars and buses loaded with visitors coming to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha.
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The Nation, May 8, 2009
Failure to appreciate and observe the most basic lessons have led us to the crises we are now faced with
Bangkok, Thailand -- Buddhists around the world celebrate Vesak Day, which reminds us of the message and teachings of the Lord Buddha to mankind, reflecting the noble truth about the cause of suffering and how to live with a peaceful mind - both of which are very much absent these days.
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By Veena Babulal and Audrey Dermawan, The New Straits Times, May 10, 2009
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Thousands of Buddhist devotees thronged temples nationwide to celebrate Wesak Day.
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By Hoai Nam, Translated by Quang Thinh, Saigon GP Daily, May 9, 2009
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Solidarity and harmony between Buddhist sects is one of the fine traditions of Vietnamese Buddhism, said the Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, vice chairman and general secretary of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) Central Executive Council.
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by Hindra Liu, Kompas, May 9, 2009
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Hundreds of Buddhists commemorate the birth, enlightment and spiritual liberation of Buddha Gautama, Vesak Day 2553/2009 in Vihara Buddha Metta Arama in Central Jakarta, Saturday.
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by Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak, http://www.1malaysia.com.my/, 8 May 2009
Putrajaya, Malaysia -- Tomorrow many here in Malaysia and all over the world are celebrating Wesak Day, the most holy time in the Buddhist calendar. It is a day when birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha is commemorated. It is also a day on which special efforts are made to bring happiness to others, especially the disadvantaged.
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VOV News, May 8, 2009
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Celebrations to mark Buddha’s 2553rd birthday – the most important event in the Buddhist calendar, have been celebrated at many pagodas in Hanoi over the past few days.
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by Weena Kowitwanij, Asia News, May 8, 2009
Bangkok, Thailand -- Celebration calls for reflection to find ways to solve current problems in light of the Buddha’s principles. In his address during the closing ceremony Prime Minister Abhisit encourages the nation to build peace, promote sustainable development and defend human rights. Buddhist elder calls for transparency and good government for the good of the country.
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Jakarta Post, May 8, 2009
MAGELANG, Indonesia -- President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to attend the Waisak Day commemoration at the Borobudur Temple in Magelang district, Central Java, on Saturday.
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by Craig Warren Smith, The Jakarta Post, May 8, 2009
Magelang, Central Java (Indonesia) -- On May 9 the moon over Jakarta will be full and the streets empty. Why? Because in 1950 the World Fellowship of Buddhists arbitrarily decided that the moon's fullest day in May would each year mark Buddha Day, what Indonesians call Waisak. The Republic of Indonesia, proving its religious correctness, added Buddhism to the long list of official religions that qualify for a national holiday.
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by LIM CHIA YING, The Star, May 8, 2009
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- THOUSANDS of devotees are expected to converge at Buddhist temples throughout the country tomorrow to pay homage to Lord Buddha on his birthday and to celebrate his attainment of enlightenment as well as to commemorate his death.
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Daily Xpress/Asia News Network, May 06, 2009
Bangkok, Thailand -- Alarmed that more and more teenagers are sidelining Buddhism in favour of bad habits, celebrities and ordinary Thais are urging parents to encourage their kids into the temple on Visakha Bucha Day.
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AsiaOne, May 7, 2009
Singapore -- Releasing animals into the nature reserves and reservoirs is a well-meaning act, but it may have adverse effects on the ecological balance in our nature reserves and parks, as well as the water quality of our reservoirs.
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TEMPO Interactive, May 5, 2009
Semarang, Indonesia -- President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to attend the commemoration of the Buddhist holy day Waisak on May 9 at Borobudur Temple, Magelang, Central Java.
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VOV News, May 5, 2009
Bac Ninh, Vietnam -- The world’s largest jade statue of Buddha will be on display at Phat Tich Pagoda in the Red River Delta province of Bac Ninh from May 16-22.
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by Tan Yi Liang, The Sun, May 4, 2009
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Three Malaysians will receive the gift of sight – thanks to corneas donated by the Sri Lankan government.
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Australian Network News, 28 Apr 2009
Muk Kampul, Cambodia -- Nearly 300 young Cambodian men and women have travelled to Muk Kampul district in Kandal province to be ordained as monks and nuns at a 10-day course on Buddhist teachings.
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BBC, April 27, 2009
It is customary for Thai men to enter the monkhood for training at least once
Bangkok, Thailand -- A Buddhist preacher in Thailand has announced plans for new guidelines aimed at curbing the flamboyant behaviour of gay and transgender monks.
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The Electric New Paper, April 23, 2009
Singapore -- HIS parents disapproved of his becoming a monk. It took him six years to persuade his mother, former Ren Ci chief Ming Yi told the court yesterday.
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by Stephanie Mee, Phnom Penh Post, April 22, 2009
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Just outside Koh Kong city towards the Cambodian-Thai border stands Wat Mondul Seyma, a seemingly pleasant place of worship that harbours a macabre lesson to all those who stray off the Buddhist path.
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By Claire Huang, 938LIVE, April 22, 2009
SINGAPORE -- The founder and former head of Ren Ci, Ming Yi, broke down in court on Tuesday as he recounted the struggles he faced in setting up the hospital.
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AFP, Apr 22, 2009
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- The first Asian branch of the chic Paris-based Buddha Bar has dropped its name amid complaints by Indonesian Buddhists that it denigrated their religion, the management said Tuesday.
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By Patsinee Kranlert, The Bangkok Post, April 19, 2009
Buddha Monthon, the country's largest Buddhist sanctuary, was built to mark the 2,500th anniversary of the Buddhist era
Bangkok, Thailand -- Thailand's rich religious and spiritual culture is strongly evident in almost every nook and cranny of the country. Of all the distinctive artistic monuments to this tradition, none can match the enormity of Buddha Monthon, the country's largest Buddhist sanctuary on Buddha Monthon Soi 4 in Nakhon Pathom province.
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by Ha Nguyen, VNS, April 17, 2009
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Environmental project re-searcher Trinh Ngoc Hien looks healthier and has a lively gait after returning home from a weekend of relaxation and meditation (known as Zenrelax).
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By Carolyn Quek, The Straits Times, April 16, 2009
He admitted last year to police that he 'covered up' for former aide
Singapore -- REN Ci Hospital founder Ming Yi admitted to the police last year that he had lied to them about a $50,000 sum of money which he knew was an unauthorised loan from the charity's coffers to his former personal assistant.
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VietNamNet Bridge, April 15, 2009
Hanoi, Vietnam -- More than 500 Buddhist monks and nuns and nearly 1,000 followers from 53 provinces and cities gathered in Phap Lam pagoda in Da Nang city on April 14 to study and discuss the propagation of Buddhism.
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The Buddhist Channel, April 14, 2009
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- Noted Venerable and Chinese calligraphist Bo Yuan passed away peacefully at 9pm on 10th April 2009. He was 97.
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by Shannon Dunlap, Phnom Penh Post, April 9, 2009
Vong Savuth's radio program makes Buddhist teaching more accessible to local communities
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- THE recording studio of Wat Bo's official radio station, 106.25 FM, is air-conditioned, sound-insulated and full of gadgetry.
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By Patsinee Kranlert, The Bangkok Post, April 5, 2009
Only a short stroll from Saphan Taksin BTS station is nestled Wat Yannawa, a splendid royal monastery that dates back to the Ayutthaya period
Bangkok, Thailand -- A vibrant and bustling business district with a skyscraper-studded skyline and traffic that never seems to end, the Sathorn area might remind you of anything but a tranquil getaway spot for unwinding from your daily burdens and calming your mind.
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AFP, March 2, 2009
HANOI, Vietnam -- A dissident Buddhist monk has joined scientists and intellectuals in opposing a government plan to mine bauxite in Vietnam, according to a statement received from his overseas spokesman.
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by Zul Othman, Today Online, Apr 3, 2009
Monk allegedly disguised $50,000 paid to aide asloan to cultural centre Singapore -- NINE months after his arrest made headlines, Singapore’s most famous abbot, Shi Ming Yi (picture), walked into the Subordinate Courts yesterday for his long awaited trial.
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By PHOOWADON DUANGMEE, The Nation/ AsiaNews, March 29, 2009
Discoveries on either side of the Lao border suggest Buddhism has been in Thailand far longer than thought
Udon Thani, Thailand -- Anyone flying over the little Udon Thani district of Ban Phue can see the rice fields stretching endlessly in all directions, with occasional cattle gnawing on stalks left over from the harvest. Further north, along a canal snaking its way through the paddies, is Phu Phan, a sandstone ridge that reaches into Laos.
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4Hoteliers & Sources, March 27, 2009
Jakarta, Indonesia -- The Buddha-Bar management is asked to close down its Jakarta branch following protests from local Buddhists over the bar’s name and use of Buddhist icons.
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by Tibor Krausz, Sydney Morning Herald, March 22, 2009
Thais are lining-up to 'die' so they can start a better life
Nakhon Nayok, Thailand -- I lower myself into the coffin, my curiosity tinged with uneasiness. As I lie there "dying" inside the spacious casket, a Buddhist monk beside it launches into a funereal chant.
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AFP, March 22, 2009
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- It wants to set new standards in chic for the sons and daughters of Indonesia's elite, but instead Asia's first Buddha Bar has become embroiled in an ugly row over religion and alleged corruption.
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ANTARA News, March 19, 2009
Jakarta, Indonesia -- Following protests from various Buddhist organizations Buddha Bar on Jalan Teuku Umar in Central Jakarta finally agreed to change its name.
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By Dang Ngoc Khoa, Thanh Nien News, March 18, 2009
Da Nang, Vietnam -- It is ironic that thousands of birds died after they were set free at a recent festival honoring Bodhisattva in Da Nang City.
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The Associated Press, March 16, 2009
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- A Malaysian court ruled Monday that a convert to Islam has the right to return to her original religion, Buddhism, upholding an earlier decision favoring religious minorities in this Muslim-majority country.
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VOVNews, March 14, 2009
Da Nang, Vietnam -- More than 50,000 Buddhist monks, nuns and pilgrims took part in drumming, lion dances and religious rituals on March 13 at the opening of the Quan The Am (Goddess of Mercy) festival in the central city of Da Nang.
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By ANTHONY DEUTSCH, AP, March 13, 2009
JAKARTA, INDONESIA -- The hip French lounge chain Buddha Bar is under pressure to close its only Asian branch amid corruption accusations and protests by Buddhists who say the use of their religious symbols are blasphemous.
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The Jakarta Post, March 12, 2009
JAMBI, Indonesia -- Religious Affairs Minister M. Maftuh Basyuni has urged authorities to shut down the French Buddha-Bar franchise in Jakarta and other similar clubs using names linked with religion, saying it could offend religious followers.
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Saigon GP Daily, Mar 10, 2009
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Under the porch of Phung Thanh Temple, sitting on an old mat behind a large scrap heap of linen is 86 year old Buddhist nun Thich Dam Anh. She is sewing scraps together to create big sheets of fabric. From such sheets, blankets will be made and given to poor people to help them survive chilly winter nights in the north.
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by Giao Huong, Thanh Nien News, March 7, 2009
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The world’s largest jade statue of the Buddha will be displayed around Vietnam from March to May to begin its world tour.
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by Vuong Tran, VietNamNet Bridge, March 7, 2009
Nghe An Province, Vietnam – Impersonating Buddhist monks is a “hereditary occupation” in Village 5, Nghia Dong commune, Tan Ky district, in the central province of Nghe An. Village 5 is called the village of “fake monks”.
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By SIMON KHOO, The Star, March 9, 2009
Kuantan, Malaysia -- THE advent of technology had resulted in many people getting too attached with material gains, a Rinpoche (precious one) from India said.
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The Jakarta Post, March 6, 2009
Jakarta, Indonesia -- Dozens of Buddhist college students have on Thursday sealed an exclusive lounge and restaurant-type bar located on Jl Teuku Umar, Central Jakarta, after negotiating with the bar's management.
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The Jakarta Post, March 5, 2009
Jakarta, Indonesia -- Hundreds of Buddhists plan to hold a prayer service in front of Buddha Bar in Central Jakarta on Thursday morning to protest the French franchise bar's management they regard has been inconsiderate in displaying Buddhist religious attributes.
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SGGP, March 2, 2009
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Vietnam Buddhist Shangha’s Management Board held an event to show how to live with and prevent the spread HIV/AIDS and light candles to pray for infected victims at the Buddhist Culture Tradition House on March 1.
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by Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Jakarta Globe City, March 2, 2009
Jakarta, Indonesia -- The exclusive Buddha Bar in Central Jakarta, part-owned by the daughter of former President Megawati Sukarnoputri, has been labelled sacrilegious by the Indonesian Buddhist Student Association.
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VNA, February 27, 2009
Hue, Vietnam -- A Buddhist cultural centre, built at a cost of VND 5 billion, was inaugurated in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on February 26.
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Xinhua, Feb 23, 2009
YANGON, Myanmar -- An International Theravada Buddhist universities conference will be held at the Sitagu International Buddhists Academy in Sagaing, northwestern division of Myanmar, executive secretary of the Association of Theravada Buddhist Universities (ATBU) Vulnerable Dr. Khammai Dhammasami told the press Monday.
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By Tan Lek Hwa, Channel NewsAsia, February 21, 2009
SINGAPORE -- The 5th Nalanda Mentor Group meeting in Bodh Gaya in the Indian state of Bihar has been concluded.
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by Sunita Sue Leng, Jakarta Post, Feb 22, 2009
Borobudur, Central Java (Indonesia) -- The best time to visit Borobudur Temple is at dawn. That is when Central Java's magnificent World Heritage monument is enveloped in cool mist and peace.
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The Telegraph, Feb 18, 2009
Khun Han, Thailand -- A temple has been built by monks in northeast Thailand who used over a million recycled beer bottles to make the walls and roof.
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By Pongphon Sarnsamak, The Nation, Feb 16, 2009
Bangkok, Thailand -- Some 200 members of the Alcohol Watch Network and its allies rallied outside the Public Health Ministry Monday, demanding Health Minister Wittaya Kaewparadai ban alcohol sales on Buddhist holidays and major festivals such as Songkran and the New Year celebrations.
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By Yen Feng, The Straits Times, Feb 16, 2009
Singapore -- The first largest conference of Buddhist scholars in the region started here on Monday morning not with a bang but with an apology.
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AFP, Feb 10, 2009
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Cambodian premier Hun Sen on Sunday called for television shows related to Buddhism to be approved by clergy after the country's first rock opera was deemed insulting to the religion.
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Stuff, February 9, 2009
David and Victoria Beckham have upset Buddhist monks in Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand -- The monks are upset about a state-of-the-art mosquito exterminator installed at the couple's recently renovated new home on the Thai island of Koh Samui.
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By Achara Deboonme, The Nation, February 9, 2009
Bangkok, Thailand -- If you're an early bird - or, for that matter, the type who likes to stay up very late - (and you speak Thai), you are invited to enjoy the Buddhist sermons broadcast every morning at 5am on FM102.5.
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The Bangkok Post, Feb 9, 2009
Bangkok, Thailand -- Many Buddhists on Monday travelled to Sanam Luang to give food offerings to monks and make merit on the occasion of Makha Bucha Day.
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By Yen Feng, The Straits Times, Feb 6, 2009
Singapore -- AN UPCOMING conference here on Buddhism will gather some of the world's most eminent scholars on the religion to discuss its growing relevance amid religious strifes in the world today.
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Nhan Dan Online, Feb 5, 2009
The Yen Tu Spring Festival 2009 opened at the Yen Tu beauty spot and relic site on February 4.
Uong Bi, Vietnam -- The opening ceremony was held by the People’s Committee of the Uong Bi town (Quang Ninh province) and the Executive Council of the Quang Ninh Buddhist Sangha.
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by Phuong Lan, Saigon GP Daily, Feb 2, 2009
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Going to temples for New Year’s Eve to pray for a happy and prosperous new year is a tradition for Vietnamese people. This Lunar New Year was no exception, as all small and large temples nationwide were crowed with people.
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by Do Trong Hoi, VNS, Feb 2, 2009
THUA THIEN HUE, Vietnam -- Hue Buddhism has its roots in a remote past, far back to the Tran dynasty of the 14th century, or possibly even earlier. Age-old traditions and culture that have been nurtured during such a long period have yielded a distinct architectural style represented by numerous pagodas.
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AFP, February 1, 2009
BANGKOK, Thailand -- At least seven people were killed and about 100 injured when a man lobbed a hand grenade into a busy Buddhist temple compound in northeastern Thailand during a celebration, police said on Sunday.
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By Yen Feng, The Straits Times, Feb 1, 2009
Singapore -- THERE were tears and protests when over 100 people turned up to claim their ancestral tablets from the San Bao Jing She temple yesterday.
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by Ko Wine, Mizzima, Jan 26, 2009
Chiang Mai, Thailand -- Abbot U Kumara of the famous 'Shwepawkyun' Buddhist missionary is facing trial in Meiktila court for beating a woman.
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By Channel NewsAsia, January 25, 2009
SINGAPORE -- The Singapore Buddhist Lodge started it's Lunar New Year celebrations by helping the less fortunate.
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Monster and Critics, Jan 22, 2009
Jakarta, Indonesia -- Indonesian Buddhists on Thursday urged authorities in Jakarta to close a newly opened Buddha Bar restaurant, saying the name was sacrilegious.
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by Julio A Jeldres, The Phnom Penh Post, January 19, 2009
Kato, Japan -- Ambassador Julio Jeldres accompanied Cambodia's King Father Norodom Sihanouk to the Fifth Buddhist Summit, held in Kato City, Hyogo prefecture, on Japan's Honshu Island .
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The Nation, Jan 18, 2009
Pattani, Thailand -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva led a special committee of ministers to visit a Buddhist temple in this southern border province Saturday.
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By Saccesaka, The Buddhist Channel, Jan 18, 2009
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The much-awaited Closer-to-Reality Conference (C2RC) 2008 with its intriguing theme, “Understanding Death and Beyond”, was held at Thean Hou Temple from 27 to 29 December. It was organised by Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary (SBS) as an attempt to “connect real life experiences with Buddhist scriptural understanding”.
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By Pornpimol Kanchanalak, The Nation, January 15, 2009
Bangkok, Thailand -- LAST WEEKEND, a Buddhist temple opened its doors once again to hold a red-shirt political rally. The key speaker used the occasion and the venue to do what he does best - to vilify those he took to be enemies.
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by Cherry Thein, Yadana Htun and Shwe Yinn Mar Oo, The Myanmar Times, Jan 13, 2009
Kungyangon, Myanmar -- CONSTRUCTION started last month on a project to build more than 1000 new houses in Kungyangon township, Yangon Division, for survivors of cyclone Nargis.
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VOV News, Jan 8, 2009
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Hanoi Buddhist monks, nuns and followers have joined in a number of social activities and raised more than VND1 billion for charitable activities, said the Management Board of the Hanoi Buddhist Shangha at a meeting in Hanoi on January 7.
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VietNamNet Bridge, Dec 30, 2008
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Buddhist dignitaries have appreciated 2008 as a successful year of the Vietnamese Buddhism with valuable and practical support from the Party and State.
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By Elena Chong, The Straits Times, Jan 6, 2009
Singapore -- A JUDGE yesterday ordered high-profile Buddhist monk Shi Ming Yi and his former personal assistant to stand trial in April on allegations that they falsified the financial records of Ren Ci Hospital.
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AFP, Jan 2, 2009
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Cambodian monks have persuaded authorities to ban the country's first rock opera, which features actors dressed as clergy who break into song and dance, saying it insults Buddhism.
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VietNamNet Bridge, Jan 1, 2009
Trai Mat, Vietnam -- Taking the train to Trai Mat to visit Linh Phuoc Pagoda in the chilly cold of the central highlands city of Dalat is an exciting adventure for those who seek the sanctuary of a worshipping place and the unique architecture of Asian pagodas.
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By WANI MUTHIAH, The Star, December 28, 2008
KLANG, Malaysia -- Enock Belo is every inch a Shaolin kung fu exponent. He throws flying kicks, jumps over obstacles and delivers his strikes smoothly. Belo is 10 years old. And he’s African.
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by Giao Huong, Thanh Nien News, Dec 21, 2008
Dong Thap, Vietnam -- The biggest Lying Buddha statue in the Mekong Delta will be installed today in Dong Thap Province.
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The Sun, Dec 22, 2008
Ipoh, Perak (Malaysia) -- THE Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia (VBCM) held its inaugural "Gift of Life" charity motor treasure hunt on July 26 to raise funds for the National Cancer Society of Malaysia and the House of Peace, an orphanage in Canning Gardens, Ipoh.
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VOVNews.vn, Dec 21, 2008
An Giang, Vietnam -- Thousands of followers of the Hoa Hao Buddhist sect celebrated the 89th birthday of the sect’s founder, Venerable Prophet Huynh Phu So, at An Hoa pagoda in the Mekong delta province of An Giang on Dec. 21.
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By CLARISSA WARD, ABC News, Dec 17, 2008
Monks Deny Conservationists' Claim That Animals Are Drugged
KANCHANABURI, Thailand -- Deep in the heart of Western Thailand, where the River Kwai weaves through the rich green jungle, the monks of the Wat Pa Luang Ta Bua Temple are beginning their day.
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by Chhay Channyda, Phnom Penh Post, December18, 2008
Lack of rules in the face of rapid expansion has left the robes of monkhood open to abuse by fraudsters and criminals: officials
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- A RAPIDLY expanding and largely unregulated Buddhist clergy is giving the Kingdom's religion a bad name, officials say, forcing elders to address embarrassing crimes at the opening Wednesday of the 17th annual monk congress in Phnom Penh.
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By Joy Fang, AsiaOne, Dec 11, 2008
Singapore -- These may be financially dire times, but some organisations are not slowing down their efforts to help those in need.
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By Yen Feng, The Straits Times, Dec 10, 2008
Singapore -- SCHOLARS of Buddhism will find themselves in good company next year. The Institute of South East Asian Studies (Iseas) on Wednesday received $1 million from the Singapore Buddhist Lodge to set up a research centre to study the religion.
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TNA, Dec 8, 2008
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's caretaker government will sponsor a major Buddhist rite, and publish a memoir on the seizure of Government House by anti-government protesters for more than three months, the first time such an incident has ever happened in Thailand.
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VNR, Dec 7, 2008
Hai Duong, Vietnam -- The Zen spirit and fairytale setting of Con Son mountain in the northern province of Hai Duong leaves Duc Hanh in a happy daze.
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The Star, November 26, 2008
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- RENOWNED spiritual master of Tibetan Buddhism, Venerable Dagpo Lama Rinpoche will be in Malaysia to give two “exceptional” teachings, organised by Persatuan Kadam Tashi Choe Ling Malaysia (KTCL), as well as an evening talk at the Buddhist Gem Fellowship (BGF).
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by Than Htike Oo, Mizzima news, November 21, 2008
Yangon, Myanmar -- The Burmese military junta's vendetta against monks came to the fore with U Gambira, a monk leader being sentenced to another 56 years in prison, totaling 68 years, by a Special Court sitting in session inside Insein prison today.
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By Richard Shears, The Daily Mail (UK), November 19, 2008
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- A young Buddhist monk is being held by police in Cambodia for allegedly raping a British tourist he was guiding to mountain-top temples.
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By Frank G. Anderson, UPI Asia, November 14, 2008
Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — Thailand’s highest Buddhist organization, the Supreme Sangha, is one of the three jewels described in Buddhism. The three – the Lord Buddha himself, the Dharma doctrine, and the Sangha clergy – are the three pillars that practicing Buddhists found their faith upon.
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The Bangkok Post, Nov 15, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand -- Wat Pa Siriwattanawisuth, a Buddhist monastery under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, is located on a 96-rai plot of land on Khok Phen mountain in Nakhon Sawan's Tha Tako district.
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by Minh Thu, VNA, Nov 14, 2008
Nha Trang, Vietnam -- Travelling to Nha Trang city offers tourists not only a beautiful view of the coast, but pagodas dedicated to preserving the country’s ancient Buddhist traditions.
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Thanh Nien News, Nov 14, 2008
An Giang, Vietnam -- The special technique of inscribing Buddhist texts on palm leaves is vanishing due to the lack of inter-generational knowledge transfer.
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The New Straits Times, Nov 10, 2008
KOTA BARU, Malayia -- Wat Pikulthong in Tumpat is set to be the first Buddhist temple in Malaysia to be honoured with the prestigious Royal Kathin award from Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
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by Le Thanh Van, Thanh Nien News, Nov 11, 2008
Dong Nai, Vietnam -- A judge from the Court of Thailand Sunday presented King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s robe to local monks at a ceremony held in Phuoc Son Monastery in southern Dong Nai Province.
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By Tania Tan, The Straits Times, Nov 10, 2008
Singapore -- TUCKED away in the red light district of Geylang is a building that seems almost out of place amid the vice of Singapore's most notorious quarter.
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By Ye Lwin, MMTimes, Nov 11, 2008
Yangon, Myanmar -- A NEW modern village is to arise from the destruction wrought by cyclone Nargis, thanks to the generosity of Buddhist well-wishers coordinated by a religious advisor from Sri Lanka.
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By GAOBAOLI, Photo by HUANG LINGLING/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Guang Ming Daily, My SinChew, Nov 7, 2008
Kuantan, Malaysia -- Perhaps you are wondering how to bring Buddhist teachings to the inmates at Geha Bodhi. Very easy, that is by instilling the teachings of Buddhism in their day-to-day living and to make Buddhism a part of their life.
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by ANCHALEE KONGRUT, The Bangkok Post, Oct 30, 2008
Determined abbot maintains popularity of his Tiger Temple amid controversy
Kanchanaburi, Thailand -- A journey to Buddhist temples in Thailand does not necessarily have to be only for merit making or dharma practice. At Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yanasampanno Forest Monastry in Kanchanaburi province, visitors feel like they are in an open zoo.
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Vietnam News, Oct 27, 2008
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- More than 100 Buddhist dignitaries from 40 provinces and cities nationwide gathered in HCM City last Friday for a conference on the Buddhist Leadership Initiative, convened by the Viet Nam Fatherland Front.
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By The Nation, Oct 27, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand -- Hundreds of people, including youth, demonstrated outside Thailand's Stock Exchange of Thailand on Monday to protest plans by Beer Chang company to list its shares on the market.
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The Buddhist Channel, Oct 24, 2008
Annual Buddhist Conference to address Buddhist leadership in Malaysia: Vision, Values and Vitality
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Brickfields Buddhist Maha Vihara, Nalanda Institute and the Buddhist Gem Fellowship plan to revisit the development, directions, principles and dynamics of Buddhist leadership in the country through WACANA 2008.
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By CATHERINE SIOW, The Star, October 22, 2008
Service at Pure Lotus Hospice in Penang goes beyond the call of duty as the ailing and destitute find solace and peace
Penang, Malaysia -- AH HEOH was her name but she was referred to as “angel” because she had a smile for whoever came her way. The petite 34-year-old had two children, aged four and three. Her husband left her when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
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by CHARLES FERNANDEZ, The Star, October 20, 2008
Kajang, Malaysia -- THE Young Buddhist Association Malaysia’s (YBAM) Myanmar Cyclone Disaster Relief Fund (MCDRF) and China Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund (CEDRF) initiated in May this year has received good support.
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by Chaiwat Subprasom, Reuters, Oct 20, 2008
SISAKET, Thailand -- A Thai Buddhist temple has found an environmentally friendly way to reach nirvana, using discarded bottles to build everything on the premises from a crematorium to toilets.
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by Patricia Maunder, Sydney Morning Herald, Oct 18, 2008
Buddhist temples may be beautiful but they can be mystifying for tourists
Bangkok, Thailand -- For tourists without the insight that comes from faith or scholarship, Buddhist temples can be beautiful but superficial experiences. What are the stories behind those images and statues? Possibly even more daunting is knowing the etiquette; being respectful may not be enough.
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by Aye Nai, Democratic Voice of Burma, Oct. 14, 2008
Magwe, Myanmar -- A pagoda treasurer and local village authorities have scratched off gold coating worth five billion kyat from historical Buddha statues in a village in Magwe division's Yaynanchaung township, according to villagers.
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By Cherry Thein, Myanmar Times & Business Reviews, Oct 13-19, 2008
Yangon, Myanmar -- A MYANMAR Buddhist goes to the pagoda not only to take refuge in the Buddha and his teachings, but also to spread goodwill and loving kindness to fellow beings who are on different planes of existence.
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By SIMON KHOO, The Star, October 17, 2008
KUANTAN, Malaysia -- Despite making its presence felt here only seven years ago, Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Malaysia has managed to recruit over 4,000 members.
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by Ashin Mettacara, OpEdNews, October 14, 2008
Rangoon, Burma -- Today is the Full Moon Day of Thagingyut, the seventh month in the Burmese calendar and the end of Lent (waso) for Buddhist monks. The Full Moon Day of Thadingyut is the Lighting Festival of Burma. The Lighting Festival falls over a period of three days; the day before full moon, full moon day itself and the day after.
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AFP, Oct 11, 2008
NAKHON NAYOK, Thailand -- The coffin ceremony is the latest religious trend to sweep Thailand, and the saffron-clad monks at Wat Prommanee promise to deliver money, love and a host of other requirements
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by Simon Marcus Gower, Jakarta Post, Oct 11, 2008
Bandung, Indonesia -- Something glistens and gleams in the distance. At first it is little more than a glimpse of something that is white, something that catches the eye. But then it comes slightly more into focus.
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By Sujin Thomas, The Straits Times, Oct 9, 2008
Singapore -- FORMER Ren Ci Hospital chief Shi Ming Yi, who is facing criminal charges in connection with the charity's finances, was back in court on Thursday morning.
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By ANTHONY CHEW, The Star, October 7, 2008
Penang, Malaysia -- THE Buddhist fraternity can look forward to the four-day visit of Khenrinpoche Lama Lhundrup (pic), the abbot of Kopan Monastery in Nepal, to Penang from Oct 19, 2008.
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VietnamNet, Oct 7, 2008
Bac Lieu Province, Vietnam -- More than 200 Khmer Theravada Buddhists from the Mekong delta provinces and several southeastern provinces gathered for the branch’s third conference in Bac Lieu Province on Oct. 5-6.
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by Cheang Sokha, Phnom Penh Post, October 6, 2008
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- NEARLY 200 monks from Sihanoukville's Entagnean pagoda have filed a complaint against the chief of the pagoda commission, claiming she stole pagoda money and used her office for personal gain.
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by PICHAYA SVASTI, Photos by YINGYONG UN-ANONGRAK, The Bangkok Post, Sept 30, 2008
Master's degree students at Savika-Sikkalai, a new Buddhist university, are learning how to cope with life's stresses - and be of service to others
Bangkok, Thailand -- In a pavilion at the Sathira-Dhammasathan Buddhist centre, a group of some 30 people, mostly lay women and nuns, are lying perfectly still on the floor, their eyes closed - like dead bodies.
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By Seth Mydans, IHT, September 29, 2008
NAKHON NAYOK, Thailand -- It is the ultimate in second chances: A Buddhist temple here offers, for a small fee, an opportunity to die, rise up again newborn and make a fresh start in life.
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by John Mooney, The Sunday Times, September 28, 2008
Drug abusers from Ireland are flocking to Tham Krabok monastery in Thailand for treatment
Saraburi, Thailand -- THE clinic has what might be the most radical drugs detox treatment centre in the world. Reforming addicts pay just €2 a day, and are encouraged to swallow vile potions by Buddhist monks and engage in ritual vomiting to the beat of rhythmic drumming.
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VietNamNet Bridge, Sept 23, 2008
An Giang Province, Vietnam -- Xvayton Pagoda, the Khmer pagoda in the center of Tri Ton Town of Mekong Delta's An Giang Province, is recorded as the place with the most leaf prayer books in Vietnam in the Records Books, with about 150 series of prayer books on leaves.
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by Sophan Seng, The Phnom Penh Post, September 23, 2008
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Among Cambodian annual festivities, P'Chum Ben is considered very significant.
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By OH ING YEEN, The Star, September 16, 2008
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- DHARMA Master Cheng Yen founded the Taiwan Buddhist Tzu-Chi Found-ation in 1966 with a compassionate vow, said Tan Chee Wei, the administration department head of the foundation’s Kuala Lumpur branch.
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VietnamNet, Sept 16, 2008
Ta Cu Mountain, Vietnam -- The Ta Cu Mountain is imposing as it rises out of a 25,000-hectare primary forest, but the spectacular view, fresh sea breeze and beatific smile of the dying Buddha sets the stage for an inward journey.
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by Chadamas Chinmaneevong, The Bangkok Post, Sept 12, 2008
Possibly the only tourism business not hit hard by protests, dhamma tours are not just for the elderly these days, writes Chadamas Chinmaneevong
Bangkok, Thailand -- The political deadlock (in Thailand) and its consequences have hurt many businesses and the losses can lead to depression and suffering that many have to bear.
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by Sanitsuda Ekachai, The Bangkok Post, Sept 12, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand -- Take a deep breath. Watch it leave the nostrils. Watch it come back in. Feel the sensation. See the difference. Watch the constant change. Try do it for at least 10 minutes to let the calm set in.
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by VANNIYA SRIANGURA, The Bangkok Post, Sept 12, 2008
A growing number of parents, not all of them Buddhist, are realising the benefits of a mind-centred, Buddhist-approach to education
Bangkok, Thailand -- In a society where success is measured in material terms, most parents hope that the educational system will set their children on the path to a prosperous future.
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The Bangkok Post, Sept 12, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand -- There are more than 20,000 schools nationwide are registered with the Ministry of Education as Buddhist-approach institutes.
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Press Trust Of India, September 3, 2008
Yangon, Myanmar -- In an effort to broaden the prospect of spiritual tourism, representatives of India and Asean have discussed ways to develop joint Buddhist pilgrimage tours in the region.
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ABC News, Aug 24, 2008
Kampot, Cambodia -- The dirt poor nation of Cambodia is providing spiritual richness to an Australian man. Paget Sayers was in the import-export business, until he retired a few decades ago.
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VNA, Aug 22, 2008
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- A top monk of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has called on followers to further live with the religion’s humanitarian, kind-hearted and devoted spirit while contributing to the national unity and socialism.
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By CHRISTINA LOW, The Star, August 20, 2008
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- GETTING a chance to regain her sight was definitely a dream come true for Sumithra Ragavan. The 28-year-old was one of the three cornea recipients under the Buddhist Maha Vihara’s (BMV’s) A Gift of Sight, A Gift for Love project last year.
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by Diem Thu, Thanh Nien News, Aug 18, 2008
Once a year Vietnamese children honor their parents and try to help the lost souls of their ancestors find their way back to earth
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Vu Lan (Ullambana) festival, also known as the Amnesty of Unquiet Spirits, is held during the seventh month of the lunar calendar, which is believed to be the spirit month.
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AFP, Aug 17, 2008
HANOI, Vietnam -- Dissident monk Thich Quang Do became the new leader of the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) Sunday, pledging to keep up the peaceful struggle for religious and political freedom.
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VNA, August 14, 2008
HANOI, Vietnam -- A delegation from the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) Central Committee will make a trip to France, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine and Russia to promote Buddhism in Europe from August 20 until September 10.
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By April Chong, The Straits Times, Aug 9, 2008
Singapore -- BUDDHISM, at 2,500 years old, is still the top choice among those in search of spirituality in this urban nation. Census figures in 1980 and 2000 indicate that Buddhists are growing fastest in number as well.
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The Straits Times, Aug 5, 2008
Singapore -- REN CI Hospital and Medicare Centre got its Institution of a Public Character (IPC) status back from the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Tuesday.
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VietNamNet Bridge, Aug 4, 2008
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Some photographers strive to capture the beauty of nature and human life, but 12 professional photographers and monks in the Ha Noi-based Que Huong Photography Club are out to show the Buddhist philosophy of everyday life.
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WorldCoalition.org, Aug 4, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand -- Thai human rights activists led by the Union for Civil Liberty (UCL) have been organising a series of seminars with religious leaders throughout Thailand to raise their awareness and discuss their perspectives on the abolition of capital punishment.
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by NG SU-ANN, The Star, August 2, 2008
Ayutthaya, Thailand -- Ayutthaya, Thailand’s ancient capital, is a place steeped in history. Ask any local what the major attractions in Ayutthaya are and the answer would be the ancient ruins, the Buddha images and the stunning bell-shaped chedis (pagodas) rising skyward from the ground.
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By TAN KARR WEI, The Star, July 30, 2008
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- BUDDHIST devotees can celebrate New Year’s Eve this year at a Dharma Talk and Sharing of Merit Blessing ceremony by Venerable Hui Lu at Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.
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by Ven. Shravasti Dhammika, Lanka Web, July 31, 2008
Singapore -- Much attention has been given to how far west Buddhism extended in ancient times. The most westerly Buddhist monument that can be is the foundations of a large stupa in the south east corner of the ancient citadel of Khiva in Turkmenistan.
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by ROJANA MANOWALAILAO, The Bangkok Post, July 29, 2008
Monks and locals join forces to safeguard Nan's cultural heritage
Nan, Thailand -- Exquisite wooden Buddhist statues have been traded for a lone drum that was used for temple activities.
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The Guardian, July 28, 2008
Guards now patrol Angkor Wat but other cultural sites are being plundered daily
Angkor Wat, Cambodia -- The three freshly dug holes under the two arching palm trees measured a metre by about half a meter, and about half a meter deep.
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VNS, July 28, 2008
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Monks from the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha’s Giac Ngo newspaper have taken students from around the country on an annual camping trip.
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Sunday Times (Sri Lanka), July 27, 2008
Surabaya, Indonesia -- The second Buddhist Cultural and Art Festival was held in Surabaya from June 25 to 30. Buddhist organisations from Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Indonesia participated in the festival co-ordinated by the Buddhist Education Centre, Surabaya.
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By JAMIE KHOO, The Star, July 27, 2008
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Have you ever walked past a homeless person and wondered what you could do to help? If so, join the Kechara Soup Kitchen which actively goes out to the streets to find them, feed them and befriend them.
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Phuket Gazette, July 21, 2008
CHALONG, Thailand -- The total cost of Phuket’s Big Buddha image on top of the Nakkerd Hills between Kata-Karon and Chalong is predicted to surpass 100 million baht, said Suporn Vanichkul, President of the Mingmongkol Faith 45 committee, which is raising funds for the project.
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By Ashin Mettacara, OpEd News, Jul 20, 2008
Mandalay, Myanmar -- In Mandalay, the second city Myanmar, three very ancient Buddha statues have been found. According to a local resident source, the Buddha statues appeared in the Irrawaddy river two days ago.
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The Buddhist Channel, July 24, 2008
Bodhi Park project to proceed as planned after protesting residents accept explanation from City Council
SHAH ALAM, Selangor (Malaysia) -- The soft, meandering chants of monks from different traditions enveloped the surrounding of a barren 1.7 acre piece land on July 20, 2008 at Section U12, Shah Alam. The monks were present to bless the spot where a new Buddhist centre will be built, to be called "Bodhi Park".
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By Bronwyn Sloan, DPA, July 21, 2008
"I feel very sad about weapons at a pagoda. I am a Buddhist, too," Thai Colonel Chay An Huay Sooner said. "But I am a soldier, so I follow orders, although I don't know who gave them."
Preah Vihear, Cambodia/Thailand -- Preah Vihear local Sor Sarom went to the pagoda on the first day of Buddhist Lent as she always does, and found herself being held at gunpoint by a man dressed in black.
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AFP, July 21, 2008
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- The austere existence of Buddhist monks is supposed to show Cambodians how to live. One thing monks have been forbidden to do, however, is show them how to vote.
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VNA, July 18, 2008
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- The Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Sangha says it plans to continue developing its health network of Tue Tinh Duong Free Clinics for the poor as well as set up schools for orphans and disabled children, a Buddhist dignitary said on July 17.
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Bangkok Post, July 18, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand -- Locals and tourists rush to give alms to monks riding elephants at a special event marking Asarnha Bucha Day in Surin province yesterday.
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by Supoj Wancharoen, The Bangkok Post, July 18, 2008
Bangkok City Hall is campaigning to cut down on the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages on national holidays
Bangkok, Thailand -- Measures to turn people away from selling and drinking alcohol are expected to yield tangible results over Buddhist Lent period, which begins today and will end on Oct 14.
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The Straits Times, Jul 17, 2008
Singapore -- THE new board of Ren Ci Hospital and Medicare Centre has put in place stricter checks and balances and a more transparent system for approving financial transactions to strengthen governance of the charity, which came under probe by the Commercial Affairs Department earlier this year.
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By Theresa Tan, The Straits Times, July 16, 2008
Singapore -- HIGH-PROFILE Buddhist monk Ming Yi has become the first religious leader to be suspended from management roles in religious groups here by the authorities.
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By VO VAN AI, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ASIA, July 14, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Thich Huyen Quang, 87, patriarch of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, died in Vietnam on July 5 at the Nguyen Thieu Monastery in Binh Dinh.
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CNA, July 15, 2008
SINGAPORE -- Head of Ren Ci Hospital, the Venerable Shi Ming Yi has been charged with alleged forgery, conspiracy and misuse of funds.
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AFP, July 11, 2008
HANOI, Vietnam -- Thousands of followers on Friday mourned the death of Vietnam's top dissident Buddhist monk Thich Huyen Quang at a funeral at his pagoda in central Vietnam, supporters, a witness and an official said.
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By KYAW ZWA MOE, The Irrawaddy, JULY, 2008 - VOLUME 16 NO.7
Do Burmese people really understand the meaning of compassion? Not according to a prominent Buddhist monk who has taken a leading role in Cyclone Nargis relief efforts
MAE SOT, Thailand -- “HOW did you feel when you heard that people were homeless, that monks had lost their monasteries and had nowhere to stay? Over 130,000 people were killed and 2.4 million suffered badly. How did you feel?”
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VNA, Jul 9, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- As Vietnam boasts a 2,000-year Buddhist history with more than 10 million followers, it is regarded as an ideal place for a new type of entertainment called zentourism or “du lich thien” in the Vietnamese language.
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DPA , Jul 7, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Followers of an outlawed Buddhist group in Vietnam were permitted to pay their respects on Monday to their former leader who died over the weekend while under house arrest, according to Vietnamese authorities.
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Human Rights Watch, July 9, 2008
Government Attempt to Take Over Funeral Risks Confrontation
New York, USA -- Members of the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) should be allowed to organize and attend funeral services for their patriarch without government interference, Human Rights Watch said today.
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The Star, July 8, 2008
Puchong, Selangor (Malaysia) -- THE Kinrara Metta Buddhist Society (KMBS) is raising funds to build its own centre as the temporary premises is inadequate to cater to the overwhelming demand for its Sunday Dhamma School and other youth and community-based activities.
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Reuters, July 6, 2008
HANOI, Vietnam -- The patriarch of a Vietnamese Buddhist group that has peacefully campaigned against successive governments and Communist Party controls on religion, died in his monastery at the age of 87 on Saturday, the organization said.
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UNPO, July 4, 2008
After officially releasing Khmer Krom activist Tim Sakhorn from prison, Vietnamese authorities have continued to detain him in an unknown location.
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AFP, July 3, 2008
HANOI, Vietnam -- Human Rights Watch called on communist Vietnam Thursday to lift any restrictions on the liberty of an activist Buddhist monk who disappeared on the day he was released from prison last week.
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VietNamNet Bridge, July 1, 2008
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam -- Along National Highway 51 on the way to the coastal city of Vung Tau, Dai Tong Lam Pagoda is located in Tan Thanh District in the coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, 70km east of HCM City.
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The Bangkok Post, June 30, 2008
Jakarta, Indonesia -- The curator of a museum in central Indonesia was sentenced Monday to 18 months in jail for helping steal six ancient Buddhist statues and replacing them with replicas to cover up the crime, a judge said.
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Phuket Gazette, June 26, 2008
NONG KHAI, Thailand -- As every good clergyman knows, improper sexual conduct is a quick way to get defrocked – cast out of the Buddhist clergy.
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Thanh Nien news, June 26, 2008
Bat Buu Phat Dai, Vietnam -- Bat Buu Phat Dai in Binh Chanh District, 30 kilometers southwest of Ho Chi Minh City center, is a historical place of refuge for Buddhists.
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Thanh Nien News, June 20, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- A visit to the sanctuary of Van Phat Quang Dai Tong Lam Pagoda in the southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province gives travelers a glimpse of the solemn architecture of Asian Buddhism and eases the distress of bustling city life.
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VNA, June 22, 2008
Chau Doc Town, Vietnam -- A Buddhist intermediate school has been set up at Vien Quang Pagoda in Chau Doc town, Mekong Delta An Giang province.
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Burmanet News, June 18, 2008
Rangoon, Burma -- UN Security Council and the Council of the European Union Should Take Responsibility to Protect the People of Burma When They Meet on June 19 in New York and Brussels, on the 63rd Birthday of the Imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
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VNA, June 18, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- As many as 276 places of worship of the Hoa Hao Buddhism sect in 14 central and southern provinces and cities will organise grand ceremonies to celebrate the sect’s 69th founding anniversary falling on the 18th day of the fifth lunar month (June 21).
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Bernama, June 17, 2008
KANGAR, Perlis (Malaysia) -- A Malay woman who died in Kampung Guar Musang on June 12 was buried in the village according to Buddhist rites.
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The Associated Press, June 16, 2008
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Cambodian sex workers gathered at a Buddhist temple Monday in the latest protest against a police crackdown on prostitution.
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The Bangkok Post, June 9, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Democrat party has urged the government not to rush to support Cambodia's attempt to register Preah Vihear temple as a new World Heritage Site.
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By Melanie Lee, Reuters, June 10, 2008
Singapore -- Wearing a pair of worn grey slippers and dirty Bermuda shorts, Quek hungrily chews mouthfuls of free vegetarian noodles on the second-level canteen of a Singapore temple.
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VNS, June 8, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Defying initial prejudice, a nun studying at the National Buddhism Academy is teaching shaolin to her fellow bonzes. Hoai Nam reports.
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Xinhua, June 4, 2008
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- The largest reclining Buddha in Cambodia, part of the Baphuon Temple at Angkor in Siem Reap province, has just opened to the public, the Mekong Times newspaper said Wednesday.
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VNA, May 31, 2008
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Ho Chi Minh City-based joint-stock company Vietbooks and its partner Viet Nam News Agency’s Publishing House published a collection of various Guinness world records made by Vietnamese.
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by YVONNE BOHWONGPRASERT AND JON TAAFFE, The Bangkok Post, May 30, 2008
Highlights of a town that was once a metropolis
Ayutthaya, Thailand -- Ayutthaya, the original "Venice of the East", has a richly textured past that is impressively chronicled at the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum in that province's Muang district. Named after the man who became Borommaracha II, the seventh ruler of Ayutthaya, it houses the most extensive collection in the country of artefacts from this great civilisation. Founded in 1350 by King U-Thong, it was to hold sway over much of central Thailand, and beyond, for the next four centuries.
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by Sumeth Wannapruek, The Bangkok Post, May 30, 2008
KHON KAEN, Thailand -- Dozens of Buddhist novices in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen have passed university entrance examinations this year and are badly in need of funding to pursue a higher education.
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VietNamNet Bridge, May 29, 2008
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- A collection of 18 precious Buddhist statues dating back to the 17th and the 19th centuries are on display at the Ho Chi Minh City History Museum.
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by Nan Kham Kaew, DVB, May 27, 2008
Bahan, Myanmar -- Valuable scriptures held at Sasana Gonye monastery that may have been damaged in the recent cyclone remain at risk after authorities refused to open the monastery for repairs.
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VNS, May 26, 2008
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- The self-immolation of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc 45 years ago and the deaths of all Buddhist monks who have sacrificed for their faith were celebrated in a commemorative ceremony in HCM City on Saturday.
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The Buddhist Channel, May 26, 2008
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- A ceremony was held in Ho Chi Minh City on 24 May to commemorate Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation 45 years ago and the death anniversary of all Buddhist monks who sacrificed for the religion.
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by Bernard Cheah and Diana Chin (Source: The Sun, May 19, 2008), The
GEORGE TOWN, Penang (Malaysia) -- As Buddhists across the country observed Wesak Day today, followers could not shake off concerns that there are today fewer qualified Buddhist monks and nuns to lead the community in temples and centres around Malaysia.
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by Weena Kowitwanji, AsiaNews, May 23, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand -- The United Nations has declared Thailand "world centre of Buddhism", while at the same time calling upon member states to celebrate the day of Vesak as "international Buddhism day".
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by PHRA PAISAN VISALO, The Bangkok Post, May 23, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand -- In today's Thailand, anger and hatred are spreading like a gas leak in a closed room. With a spark, often in the form of political debate, this latent pressure can explode into a conflagration.
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By Sara Webb, Reuters, May 22, 2008
BOROBUDUR, Indonesia -- The Buddhist temple of Borobudur, set among volcanoes on Indonesia's Java island, stands as a testament to the Buddhist roots of the world's most populous Muslim country.
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by Naw Say Phaw, DVB, May 21, 2008
Taunggok, Burma -- Local police in Taunggok, Arakan State, disrupted a water pouring ceremony held by local residents and National League for Democracy members on Monday to mark the day the Buddha attained enlightenment.
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by Tifa Asrianti, The Jakarta Post, May 21, 2008
Jakarta, Indonesia -- A dull alley at the Jakarta International Expo in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, turned into a colorful one Tuesday morning as around 100 Buddhist monks performed an alms-gathering, known as pindapata, as part of Buddha's Enlightment Day celebrations.
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By Humphrey Cheung, TG Daily, May 20, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand -- Thailand’s government is proposing a very holy way of dealing with what it says is the growing lawlessness in Internet cafes.
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VNA, May 20, 2008
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- An exhibition of paintings and sculptures, including many by monks, which opened in HCM City on Sunday highlights the close bonds between Buddhism and Viet Nam’s millennia-old culture.
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The Star, May 19, 2008
PETALING JAYA, Malaysia -- Sin Chew Media Corporation Bhd and Fo Guang Shan Malaysia need more medical volunteers for their relief team to help earthquake victims in Sichuan, China.
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VNA, May 19, 2008
Thua Thien-Hue, Vietnam -- The Buddhist Sangha in central Thua Thien-Hue province on May 18 held a Buddhism procession to pray for peace and prosperity of the country and the people’s happiness.
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By Chai Mei Ling, The New Straits Times, May 19, 2008
It has been 2,552 years since Lord Buddha passed away and what used to be a day to commemorate his birthday, enlightenment and passing away, has been turned into a festival of sorts. Chief High Priest of Malaysia, the Venerable Chief Reverend K. Sri Dhammaratana Maha Nayaka Thera, tells CHAI MEI LING of the balance between staying true to the meaning of Wesak Day and keeping up with the times.
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By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia, May 19, 2008
Hundreds celebrate at Vesak Great Joy Party
SINGAPORE -- Monday is Vesak Day, which is celebrated by Buddhists the world over. Locally, hundreds of people from all religions marked the occasion at the Vesak Great Joy Party organised by Singapore Buddhist Welfare Services.
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The Star, May 20, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Buddhists in Malaysia have been urged to pray for those suffering in China and Myanmar due to teh massive natural disasters which struck both countries recently.
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The Star and New Straits Times, May 20, 2008
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- Paying homage to Lord Buddha at the temple and making offerings of lights and flowers were the order of the day as Buddhist devotees observed Wesak Day yesterday.
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The New Straits Times, May 20, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- They may be only a small group but Malaysians of Thai descent made their presence felt yesterday at the Buddha Jayanti temple in Jalan Tun Razak.
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DPA, May 19, 2008
Singapore -- Buddhism is the fastest-growing religion in Singapore, particularly among the young and educated, a census conducted by The Straits Times showed Monday.
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by Tom Cockrem, Sydney Morening Herald, May 18, 2008
Tom Cockrem is entranced by an ancient Buddhist monument in a largely Muslim country
Borobudur, Indonesia -- The year is 1815. A doughty young Englishman picks his way through jungle scrub behind his guide. He stands suddenly agog. Before him looms the object of his 22-day journey.
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The Buddhist Channel, May 17, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The third and final day of the Fifth International Buddhist Conference on United Nations Day of Vesak 2008 concluded in Hanoi today. The day began with the delegates filing into the hall and with members of the Theravadan monastic communities from around the world offering traditional chants for peace for all beings, in particular victims of the recent natural disasters in Myamar and China.
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By TAN KARR WEI, Photos by S.S. KANESAN, The Star, May 17, 2008
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Malaysian Buddhists have been urged to focus on helping Myanmar cyclone victims this Wesak period.
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By CAROLYN OOI, The Star, May 18, 2008
PENANG, Malaysia -- Using special metal ladles, 378 children took turns to 'bathe' a 25.4cm tall bronze statue of Prince Siddharta Gautama, Buddha's name before he received spiritual enlightenment, with fragrant water during an early Wesak Day celebration.
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VNA, May 17, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Buddhists participating in the Fifth International Buddhist Conference on the United Nations Day of Vesak pledged to urge international communities to strengthen their efforts towards world peace.
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The Star/Bernama, May 18, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi became only the second Prime Minister to celebrate Wesak Day at the 113-year-old Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields.
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VNS, May 16, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Vietnamese Buddhists will strive to put the wheels of peace in motion, a meeting during the second working day of the United Nations Day of Vesak 2008 heard yesterday.
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By LOOI SUE-CHERN, The Star, May 16, 2008
PENANG, Malaysia -- The Buddhist Tzu Chi Merit Society has set up a fund in aid of earthquake victims in Sichuan Province in China.
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National Geographic, May 14, 2008
Yangon, Myanmar -- Constructed 2,500 years ago, the complex is one of Myanmar's most famous landmarks and is among the many holy sites that were severely damaged by the storm.
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The Bangkok Post, May 16, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand -- If the Buddhist Sangha wants to restore public faith, it must immediately tackle the widespread monastic misconduct without fear or favour. Pushing for a law to get more money from the government and to discourage media criticism will not help the clergy one bit in becoming socially relevant again.
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By Dr. Manpreet Singh, The Seoul Times, May 15, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The much awaited United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations in Vietnam which began today were an amazing spectacle of religious and ritual festivity at Hanoi, with thousands of Buddhists from the world over gathering at the Capital's National Convention Center to spread Buddha's message of peace, love and harmony.
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DPA, May 14, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Thousands of Buddhist clergy and lay people from over 80 countries opened a four-day festival in Hanoi Wednesday celebrating Vesak, an international holiday commemorating the birth of the Buddha some 2,500 years ago.
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VNA, May 13, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- A senior government official reiterated Vietnam’s policy on freedom of religious beliefs, saying that Buddhism and other religions enjoy equality in development in Vietnam and they have markedly contributed to national development.
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DPA and BANGKOK POST, May 14, 2008
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni will give alms to the poor at a site close to the controversial Preah Vihear temple on the Thai border during his three-day birthday celebrations, officials said yesterday.
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By OH ING YEEN, The Star, May 13, 2008
Serdang, Selangor (Malaysia) -- From May 17 to 19, The Nalanda Buddhist Society will be observing Wesak Day with a series of activities, such as dharma talks, blood donation drive, performances by Nalanda’s students and many more.
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Story and photo by CHRISTINA TAN, The Star, May 13, 2008
Klang, Selangor (Malaysia) -- The Mudita Buddhist Society (MBS) has launched a building fund to raise money for the construction of a centre in Klang to reach out to the Buddhist community in the area.
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The Star, May 13, 2008
JOHOR BARU, Johor (Malaysia) -- Some 350 people turned up for free glucose and urine tests at the Metta Lodge Pusat Buddhist centre here recently.
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VNA, May 10, 2008
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Ho Chi Minh City’s Buddhist Sangha handed over last Tuesday 1,800 copies of a collection of Ly-Tran Zen poems to organisers of Vesak, celebrating the Buddha’s birthday, to be held in Ha Noi from May 13 to 17.
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VNA, May 10, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- More than 1,000 people are expected to attend a vegetarian feast, held this evening at the Ha Noi’s Van Mieu (Temple of Literature) in advance celebration of the United Nations Buddhist Festival of Vesak 2008, which begins on Tuesday and will be hosted by Viet Nam for the first time.
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The Star, May 12, 2008
Penang, Malaysia -- Some 300 monks and thousands of Buddhist devotees are expected to throng the Penang International Sports Arena (PISA) to celebrate the 2008 National Maha Sanghika Dana on June 22.
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AFP, May 10 2008
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- The leader of Malaysia's Buddhists on Friday urged Myanmar to allow foreign aid workers to enter the reclusive nation after a cyclone left tens of thousands dead and more than a million homeless.
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by SANITSUDA EKACHAI, May 8, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand -- Any mae chee or white-robed nun who believes she will get legal status as a monastic member under new legislation pushed by the elders will be in for a big disappointment.
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Monster and Critics, May 12, 2008
Jakarta, Indonesia -- A fire razed a Buddhist shrine in the Indonesian province of North Sumatra, killing seven people and injuring seven others, local media reports said Monday.
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Thanh Nien News, May 7, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The United Nation Days of Vesak 2008, an annual event celebrating world peace and the life and death of the Buddha, will take place in Hanoi next week.
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VietNamNet Bridge, May 8, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The United Nations Day of Vesak will be greated by a grand song and dance performance at the National Convention Centre on May 14.
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Pattaya daily News, May 7, 2008
Pattaya, Thailand -- Pattaya City is making preparations for Buddhism‘s most important festival, Wisakha Bucha Day, May 19, 2008, (the anniversary of the Lord Buddha‘s birth, enlightenment and entry into nirvana, or paranirvana, to be precise) by holding a Meditational Run and Procession.
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VietNamNet Bridge, May 4, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- A press conference to release information about the organization of the 2008 United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) in Ha Noi was held on May 3, 2008 at the office of Giac Ngo, a Buddhist magazine at 85 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 3. The UNDV is scheduled to begin in mid-May.
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The Star, May 3, 2008
Subang Jaya, Selangor (Malaysia) -- COME and show support for a charity bazaar in conjunction with Wesak Day that will benefit the construction of the Dharma Buddhist University.
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AFP, May 5, 2008
HANOI, Vietnam -- A Buddhist group banned in Vietnam has said police in the communist country have tried to evict its monks from a pagoda to use it for a UN-sponsored international Buddhist meeting this month.
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The Nation, May 5, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand -- A deranged Buddhist monk fatally stabbed two men at a Bangkok intersection before cutting his own stomach Sunday morning police said.
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VNA, May 2, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- An official from the Government’s Committee for Religious Affairs has said preparations for this year’s United Nations Day of Vesak (UNVD) are almost complete, ensuring Viet Nam’s hosting of its largest religious event so far will be a success.
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by SANITSUDA EKACHAI, The Bangkok Post, May 3, 2008
For ethnic Karen forest dwellers, Songkran is a time to strengthen old traditions in order to cope with modern challenges
Sanepong, Thailand -- Despite the bombardment of modern influences, ethnic Karen forest dwellers at Sanepong in Kanchanaburi's Sangkhla Buri district are keeping their traditions alive.
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VNS, April 26, 2008
QUANG NINH, Vietnam -- The Buddhists of Quang Ninh Province were ready to welcome celebrants of the United Day of Vesak 2008, the Most Venerable Thich Thanh Quyet said yesterday.
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VietNamNet Bridge, April 27, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) Central Committee and the Hanoi Buddhist Institute introduced the first issue of “Khuong Viet” Review to the public at a press conference in Hanoi on April 26.
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VNA, April 25, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- A high-level Buddhist monk says he is pleased to be organising the United Nations Day of Vesak for the first time in Vietnam and that the event will help increase the status of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
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VietNamNet Bridge, April 22, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The United Nation Days of Vesak (UNDV) celebrations, one of the most important Buddhist festivals marking the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Gautama Buddha, will take place in Hanoi from May 13-17.
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by Phuong Anh, Thanh Nien News, April 24, 2008
Binh Duong Province, Vietnam -- Located in Thu Dau Mot Town in Binh Duong Province, 25 kilometers south of Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi Khanh Pagoda features distinctive architecture and splendid replicas of four Buddhist holy sites.
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Pattaya Daily News, April 19, 2008
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand‘s Ministry of Health is preparing legislation to ban the sale of alcoholic beverages during Buddhist religious holidays, a senior ministry official said Saturday.
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The Buddhist Channel, April 19, 2008
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia would like to support the call (New Straits Times report dated 16 April 2008) by the Chief High Priest of Malaysia Rev. K. Dhammaratana Thera that politics should be kept out of the coming Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
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by Thien Ly, VNS, April 18, 2008
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Despite being situated in a crowded residential area, Giac Lam Pagoda is an oasis of tranquillity.
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by Andrew Marshall, The Sunday Times, April 13, 2008 (Copyright Andrew Marshall 2008. Reprinted with permission from the author)
It’s a Buddhist temple that cares for dying Aids patients. It’s also a hugely successful money-making operation, attracting thousands of tourists with its displays of mummified corpses. So where does all that money go?
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Soccerbot is a computer-controlled training machine that can shoot footballs at speeds of up to 55mph. With tireless accuracy, it can do low passes, curved shots and corner kicks. Soccerbot is priced at about £80,000, and only one has been made.
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The Star, April 16, 2008
PENANG, Malaysia -- The authenticity of Buddha relics to be exhibited in Penang starting on Friday has come under question.
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By YENG AI CHUN and LOOI SUE-CHERN, The Star, April 14, 2008
Bukit Mertajam, Penang (Malaysia) -- A FUN atmostphere prevailed at the Penang-level Songkran Festival at Wat Rajaphohong Buddhist Temple in Ara Kuda, Bukit Mertajam, yesterday.
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The Nation, April 13, 2008
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The gentle and respectful practices of Songkran (Thailand’s Buddhist New Year) in the past have degenerated into a water-hurling frenzy that needs to be curbed because of the danger it poses.
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By Ven Thich Quang Dat, The Buddhist Channel, April 13, 2008
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Giac Ngo weekly Newspaper, one of the oldest news agencies in Vietnam, is launching its website: http://giacngo.vn/, the first Buddhist homepage with comprehensive introduction to Vietnamese Buddhism that stretches back thousands of years.
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VietNamNet Bridge, April 11, 2008
Tien Giang Province, Vietnam -- Tourists visiting the city of My Tho in Tien Giang Province could not miss Vinh Trang Pagoda, an ancient southern architectural gem.
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VNA, April 10, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh and a delegation of monks and nuns from Plum Village in France will be in Vietnam from April 22 until June 21 for the United Nation’s 2008 celebration of Buddha’s birthday.
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By KEE HUA CHEE, The Star, April 5, 2008
Kota Bharu, Kelantan (Malaysia) -- At 8pm on Aug 8 this year, the tallest Standing Buddha in South-East Asia will be opened to the public, thus completing the three stances of the Buddha in Kelantan.
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By JAMES HOOKWAY, Wall Street Journal, April 7, 2008
Amulets Were Booming Till Prices Plummeted
NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, Thailand -- To the list of speculative market bubbles popping around the world, add this: Thai religious talismans.
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by Naw Say Phaw, DVB, Apr 4, 2008
Myanmar -- An official from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army has denied accusations that the group was involved in the theft of a revered monk’s body from a monastery on Tharmanya Hill.
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The Star, March 30, 2008
Taiping, Perak (Malaysia) -- AT FIRST sight, the Wat Bodhiyaram Buddhist Temple looks like just any other Thai temple in Malaysia. But its name should have given a clue to the hidden treasures within the temple area.
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Voice of Vietnam, April 3, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Art performances will be held during the fifth United Nations Day of Vesak slated for May 13-17 in Hanoi, with Lord Buddha’s life as the main theme.
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Agence France-Presse, April 02, 2008
Rangoon, Burma -- AN armed group raided a Buddhist shrine in eastern Burma and stole the corpse of a revered monk whose body had been displayed as a holy relic in a glass coffin, an official said today.
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VNA, March 27, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- A Buddhist Sangha official affirmed Vietnam’s Buddhism is in favourable conditions to promote its role and position in social life at a time when the country is pursuing industrialisation and modernisation.
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AFP, March 30, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand -- Crabs scuttle across the wet floor of the near-deserted Khun Samut temple, the only building left in a Thai village that has disappeared beneath the rising and advancing sea.
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By TAN SIN CHOW and CAROLYN OOI, The Star, March 30, 2008
PENANG, Malaysia -- Anaesthetist Dr Tan Bee Hooi was a staunch believer in donating organs to save lives.
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MCOT News, March 27, 2008
Lopburi, Thailand -- Phra Khru Boonchuay Khantivaro is the abbot of Mongkhol Thep Prasit Temple in the central province of Lopburi.
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By Dr. Manpreet Singh, The Seoul Times, March 27, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Vietnamese Buddhist master Thich Nhat Tu sits with a group of monks in a temple room at 2am, planning meticulously for the Buddha's Big Day celebrations - the United Nations Day of Vesak 2008 (UNDV) in Vietnam.
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Reuters, March 26, 2008
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Buddhist temples in central Thailand have been flooded with abandoned cats and dogs after an outbreak of feline and canine distemper killed hundreds of pets in the past month, newspapers reported on Wednesday.
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By SIMON KHOO, The Star, March 27, 2008
KUANTAN, Malaysia -- Philanthropists have come forward to support the Pahang Buddhist Association's (PBA) haemodialysis centre by donating cash and kind for end-stage renal failure patients.
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by Greg Jorgensen, Toronto Star, Mar 27, 2008
Ancient statue moving from cramped quarters to huge new temple
BANGKOK, Thailand -- It's a ho-hum temple in the midst of Chinatown, one of the most popular draws for tourists visiting Thailand's bustling capital city, and many visitors walk straight past it. Yet the temple contains one of the city's most beautiful attractions – a maginficent golden Buddha worth about $14 million.
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VietnamNET, March 19, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The press conference about the United Nations Day of Vesak 2008 in Vietnam VietNamNet Bridge – For the first time a Buddhist concert will be organized during the United Nations Day of Vesak 2008, slated from May 8-13, 2008, in Vietnam.
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By Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Daily Xpress, March 19, 2008
Nonthaburi, Thailand -- The breathtaking Wat Boromracha Kanchanapi-sek Anusorn - just completed in Nonthaburi's Bangbua-thong district - will delight photographers, but visitors will soon be reminded that the Chinese Buddhist temple was chiefly built to commemorate at that time His Majesty the King's 50th anniversary on the throne and his 80th birthday.
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The Buddhist Channel, March 12, 2008
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Malaysian Buddhists from around the Klang Valley got together for a luncheon on February 24, 2008 and raised RM 60,868 (US$ 19,020) for BuddhaNET, the world's largest Buddhist web portal based in Australia.
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The Star, March 10, 2008
KUANTAN, Pahang (Malaysia) -- Malaysia is a fine example of a global human family and can be a model to the world, adviser to the Pahang Buddhist Association (PBA) Venerable Sik Ji Xing said.
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TNA, March 9, 2008
CAIRO, Egypt -- Five senior Thai Buddhist monks arrived in the Egyptian capital on Sunday for an official visit in which they will hold talks with the Sunni Muslims’ highest spiritual leader later in the week.
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VNA, March 7, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- As many as 600 delegations from 95 countries and territories totalling 1,500 Buddhist dignitaries and scholars have registered to join the fifth United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) slated from May 13-17, 2008, in Hanoi.
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By Zhuang Wubin, Irrawaddy, March 1, 2008
A leading Burmese monk instructs his disciples to treat the ill and to study the Buddha’s teachings
Mandalay, Burma -- When Burmese monks protested in September 2007, the disciples and monks at Sayadaw Nyanissara’s monastery in the Sagaing hills near Mandalay exercised restraint and stayed away from the demonstrations, largely because of their respect for the work the activist monks were accomplishing throughout the country.
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by Phil Lawler, CWNews.com, Feb 28, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam -- A leader of an underground Buddhist group in Vietnam has supported the claim of Catholics to legal ownership of a disputed building in Hanoi.
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The New Straits Times, Feb 27, 2008
SHAH ALAM, Malaysia -- Three Buddhist temples in Selangor have received approval and land for relocation by the state government.
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DPA, Feb 26, 2008
Singapore -- The Singapore High Court dismissed a bid to save a 65-year-old Buddhist temple site from government acquisition, but a Bodhi tree regarded as sacred will not be chopped down, news reports said Tuesday.
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by Steve Williams, Sydney Morning Herald, February 24, 2008
Steve Williams visits the Buddhist monastery in Thailand where tigers live in harmony with monks
Kanchanaburi, Thailand -- Either she likes it or I'm dead. I'm crouched next to a magnificent Indo-Chinese tiger at the Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampanno Forest Monastery in Thailand. Try saying that three times quickly; not surprisingly, it's better known as the "Tiger Temple".
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The Bangkok Post, Feb 22, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand -- All sales of alcohol should be banned on religious holidays, according to Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Suebwonglee. Mr Surapong, also finance minister, came up with the proposal during merit-making to mark Makha Bucha Day at Wat Suan Kaew in Nonthaburi.
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The Bangkok Post, Feb 21, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand -- Prime minister Samak Sundaravej began his morning by making merit on Maka Bucha Day, the day the Lord Buddha gave his first sermon to 1,250 of his disciples who gathered before him without any prior arrangement.
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The Nation, February 21, 2008
Why is Makha Bucha Day the "Buddhist Day of Love"?
Bangkok, Thailand -- Love is a force in the human heart that is so influential it creates various contradicting emotions such as happiness, sorrow, gladness, depression, passiveness and eagerness. Some poets say love makes the world go round, turns a bad man into a good person and that love is a great inspiration.
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The Nation, February 20, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand -- Buddhist activities to mark the Makha Bucha Day on February 21 started yesterday and will continue until tomorrow at Bangkok's Wat Saket Ratchaworamahawihan.
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By LOONG MENG YEE, The Star, February 18, 2008
For the past few Chinese New Year celebrations, the Dong Zen Buddhist centre in Jenjarom, Malaysia has been drawing millions of visitors with its beautiful decorations, lanterns and flowers. More importantly, long after the tourists have gone, Dong Zen continues to be a beacon of light to the locals in this Chinese new village in Selangor.
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VNA, Feb 18, 2008
Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam -- About 50,000 visitors flocked to Yen Tu Mountain in northern coastal Quang Ninh Province for the opening day of the Yen Tu Pagoda Festival Saturday, the tenth day of the first lunar month.
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by Giao Huong, Thanh Nien News, Feb 18, 2008
Sensing a destiny to build a monastery in Nepal, a Vietnamese monk received what seemed like a miraculous sign
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Huyen Dieu, an overseas Vietnamese monk who now lives in Nepal, says in his recently-published book Khi Hong Hac Bay Ve (When the Sarus Cranes Came Back) that 2 Sarus Cranes, one of the world’s most endangered species, suddenly flew into his monastery grounds to take up residence.
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Bangkok Post, Feb 17, 2008
Pattani, Thailand -- The Pattani Provincial Court yesterday handed down life sentences to five insurgents who torched a temple and burned a monk and two temple boys to death in a murderous rampage that shocked the country in 2005.
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AsiaNews/Agencies, Feb 16, 2008
Hong Minh Chinh fought against French colonialism and against the dogmatism of the communist party. He died as a Buddhist of the Unified Church, which is not recognised by the regime.
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Bangkok Post, Feb 13, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand -- The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey on the upcoming Makha Bucha Day in which nearly two-thirds of the respondents said they would make merit at Buddhist temples.
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Daily Times, Feb 12, 2008
YANGON, Myanmar -- A boat carrying Buddhist pilgrims capsized in southern Myanmar, killing ten people, state-media reported Monday.
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By ANTHONY CHEW, The Star, Feb 2, 2008
Four nuns from Nepal to work on it during Chinese New Year
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- For the first time, four nuns from the Kopan Nunnery in Nepal will come over to Losang Dragpa Centre (LDC) here to recreate a sand mandala from Feb 8 to Feb 20.
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The Star, January 30, 2008
BANTING, Selangor (Malaysia) -- With Chinese New Year just 10 days away, the festive cheer at Dong Zen Temple in Sungai Jenjarom, Selangor, is in full swing.
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AFP, Jan 4, 2008
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The grounds of the 260-year-old Hua Krabeu temple on the outskirts of Bangkok look like a place where water buffalo go to die.
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By LIM CHIA YING, The Star/Buddhist Channel, January 30, 2008
Subang Jaya, Malaysia -- Representatives from the four Buddhist organisations - the Subang Jaya Buddhist Association, the Fo Guang Malaysia Buddhist Association USJ branch, the Serdang Buddhist Association in Seri Kembangan and the Kinrara Metta Buddhist Society of Puchong - handed over more than 4,000 signatures to the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) with regard to the allocation of land for non-Muslim places of worship.
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VNA, Jan 30, 2008
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Fifty-three Venerables in Ho Chi Minh City have been promoted to Most Venerables.
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Bangkok Post, Jan 29, 2008
Khon Kaen, Thailand -- Issue groups in 19 northeastern provinces on Tuesday lodged a protest against Boon Rawd Brewery - makers of Singha beer - for naming its newest brew "Isan Beer."
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Bernama, January 29, 2008
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's new prime minister Samak Sundaravej on Tuesday, received a blow on the head from a senior monk who wished him well and longevity in office.
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by Aree Chaisatien, The Nation, January 27, 2008
A Bangkok university guides students on both the art of Buddhism and the art of life
Bangkok, Thailand -- With Thais taking a keen interest in Buddhism at younger and younger ages, instruction in the faith is no longer confined to temples. One university is offering a pair of pragmatic new courses designed to fill crucial learning gaps.
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By JULIA ZAPPEI, AP, Jan 25, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- An ethnic Chinese man received a Muslim burial after a court ruled against the wishes of most of his family members, who maintained Friday he never converted to Islam.
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Thanh Nien News, Jan 23, 2008
Vinh Phuc, Vietnam -- Truc Lam Tay Thien Zen Monastery is considered to be one of the most impressive and peaceful monasteries in Vietnam.
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The Buddhist Channel, Jan 18, 2008
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Funded by the US Embassy in Malaysia, and with the joint efforts from Tzu Chi, UNHCR and refugee communities, four "UNHCR Tzu Chi Education Centres" for refugees' children were officially opened in early January 2008, after months of preparation. A total of 178 students enrolled at the centres.
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New Kerala, Jan 14, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand -- Senior Thai politicians, including a top coup leader, have visited historic Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India to seek spiritual solace from the political troubles at home.
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The Star, January 11, 2008
MUAR, Johor (Malaysa) -- Several hundred kilos of recyclable waste and some brand new electrical items were collected from residents in and around the small town of Bukit Pasir here.
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The Star, January 10, 2008
Petaling Jaya, Selangor (Malaysia) -- KADAM Tashi Choe Ling, a Tibetan Buddhist Society, will be holding a special five-day teaching entitled The Four Great Seals of Buddhism and the Law of Karma and Its Effects by Khenzhur Lopsang Tenpa Rinpoche at its recently opened centre at 89, Jalan Penchala, Petaling Jaya, from Jan 22 to 27.
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by PICHAYA SVASTI, Photo by YINGYONG UN-ANONGRAK, The Bangkok Post, Jan 10, 2008
A number of hospitals around Thailand are finding ways to improve their palliative care services
Bangkok, Thailand -- A quiet, dying boy who does nothing but read comics reveals his fear of death through an art programme. An old monk dies peacefully in hospital with his family saying prayers at his bedside. A man dying of cancer finds peace by listening to a taped Buddhist sermon.
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VNA, Jan 5, 2007
An Giang, Vietnam -- Thousands of Hoa Hao Buddhism followers gathered at An Hoa Tu Pagoda in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on Thursday to celebrate the 88th birthday of the sect’s founder, Venerable Prophet Huynh Phu So.
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VietNamNet Bridge, Jan 3, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- A new feature film which draws liberally from the teachings of the Buddha moved nearly 500 viewers to tears at its premiere in HCM City last weekend.
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by SUPAWADEE INTHAWONG, The Bangkok Post, Jan 3, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Phra Wisuthatibodi, abbot of Wat Suthat Thepphawararam, will be called in for questioning by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) over the controversial production of Phra Somdej Nue Hua amulets, a DSI source said yesterday.
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By CHRISTINA LOW, The Star, January 3, 2008
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Every year a group of people who want to experience the ascetic life of monks spend two weeks doing just that at the Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.
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Thanh Nien News, Jan 1, 2008
Ha Tay Province, Vietnam -- A venerable monk named Thich Minh Hien, has been gaining recognition over the last few years for more than just overseeing the Huong Pagoda in Ha Tay Province.
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VNA, Jan 2, 2008
Lang Son, Vietnam -- The Chua Thanh pagoda in northern border Lang Son province has been recognised as a Buddhist pagoda possessing the biggest volume of bronze statues in Viet Nam.
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Thaindian, December 31, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Governor Apirak Kosayothin revealed that the BMA has decided to allow citizens to make merit and pay reverence to the cities statue of Buddha by moving the statue from City Hall to Sanam Luang.
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By NOEL ACHARIAM, Source: The New Straits Times, The
The new Shah Alam Buddhist Society in Shah Alam is also a hub for charitable and motivational activities for folks of all ages
Shah Alam, Malaysia -- NESTLED in the quiet suburban housing area of Section 32, Bukit Rimau is the Shah Alam Buddhist Society.
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The Associated Press, December 31, 2007
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- A Cambodian Buddhist monk may serve up to three years in prison if convicted on charges of molesting an 8-year-old French girl visting the ancient temples of Angkor with her family, officials said Monday.
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By JAMIE KHOO, The Star, December 30, 2007
Art has always served as a means of connecting with the metaphysical, so here’s a look at a special art centre where spirituality reigns
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- NAMED after the Buddha of arts and wisdom, the new Kechara Saraswati Arts (KSA) in Petaling Jaya brings new dimension to artistry by elevating it to a whole new level.
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by Jamie, Khoo, The Star, December 30, 2007
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- Let’s face it: very few young people are willing to take a year-long retreat, be vegetarian or join a monastery.
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VNS, Dec 27, 2007
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The Tinh do Cu si Phat hoi Viet Nam (Pure Land Buddhism of Viet Nam) has received official recognition as an independent and legal religious organisation.
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by Diem Thu, Thanh Nien News, Dec 28, 2007
Can Tho, Vietnam -- A blend of Khmer, Chinese and Vietnamese culture has made the southern city of Can Tho a distinguished tourist destination.
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By Guy De Launey, BBC News, Dec 25, 2007
The Khmer Rouge persecuted religious institutions during its rule
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Hundreds of Buddhist monks and nuns have been marching in Cambodia in support of the upcoming trials of the former leaders of the Khmer Rouge.
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New Straits Times, Dec 23, 2007
Kota Tinggi, Johor (Malaysia) -- TIBETAN lama Losang Sze-chern will conduct a dharma talk and perform a Jambala Puja (prayer for blessings) at the MCA Building in Kota Tinggi on Dec 30 and 31.
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DPA, Dec 24, 2007
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Cambodian officials Monday said there was nothing wrong with selling a sacred tree from inside a Buddhist pagoda to a local hotel to use as a lobby decoration.
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Human Rights Watch, Dec 21, 2007
New York, USA -- The Cambodian government should ensure the safety of Buddhist monks whom police attacked during a peaceful protest, Human Rights Watch said today.
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Bangkok Post, Dec 19, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Allegations that the widely advertised Somdej Nue Hua amulets are less than what they claim to be, once again highlight the need for the Sangha Council to regulate sales of religious paraphernalia.
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UNPO, Dec 18, 2007
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Representatives of the Khmer Krom civil society voice their concerns over the police assault on a peaceful demonstration of Khmer Krom monks in Phnom Penh asking for the release of Tim Sakhorn and respect of minority rights.
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by Diem Thu, Thanh Nien News, Dec 15, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City is one of the largest pagodas in Vietnam. It covers an area of 6,000 square meters and was constructed between 1964 and 1971 under the design guidelines of Vietnamese architect, Nguyen Ba Lang.
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Bangkok Post, Dec 17, 2007
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Cambodian Buddhist monks from the ethnic minority Kampuchea Krom clashed with riot police in the capital Monday after they were refused permission to deliver a petition to the Vietnamese embassy.
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The Star, December 14, 2007
Alor Star, Kedah (Malaysia) -- Work on a new Kedah Buddhist Association building near Alor Star, Kedah, costing about RM10mil will start early next year.
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VNA, Dec 15, 2007
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The sixth National Buddhist Congress venerated a 98-member Patronage Council and ordained Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue as Patriarch of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha at its closing ceremony in Hanoi on December 14.
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By JAMES SHRIMPTON, AAP, 14 December 2007
Phuket, Thailand -- Rising on a scenic hilltop in southern Phuket island is a 45m-tall Buddha which its builders see as an icon to match the statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooking Rio de Janeiro, the Statue of Liberty in New York harbour or the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
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VNA, Dec 12, 2007
Hanoi, Vietnam -- An unique exhibition featuring landscapes, Buddhism and the people of China and Japan is now on show at the Viet Art Centre, at 42 Yet Kieu Street, Ha Noi.
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Mathaba, Dec 13, 2007
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The sixth National Buddhist Congress convened in Ha Noi on December 13, seeing the attendance of 1,400 dignitaries, monks and nuns and followers inside and outside the country, and representatives of State agencies and foreign diplomatic missions.
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Nhan Dan, Dec 12, 2007
Hanoi, Vietnam -- On the occasion of the sixth Congress of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), Nhan Dan newspaper interviewed Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, Vice President of the Standing Board of the Sangha Council about activities of the Sangha in the fifth tenure, tasks for the 2007-2012 period and preparations for the United Nations Day of Vesak 2008 (birth anniversary of Lord Buddha).
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by Chuah Bee Kim, The New Straits Times, Dec 9, 2007
Kulai, Johor (Malaysia) -- BUDDHIST relics dating back some 2,500 years will be brought to the Kampung Amal Charity Village in Kulai for the public to offer puja (act of showing reverence) from Jan 18 to 20.
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VNA, Dec 10, 2007
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Buddhism has the largest following in Vietnam with around 10 million devotees. The religion plays an important role in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people.
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By MATTHEW STREIB, The Associated Press, Dec 9, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Above the din of children playing, tourists chatting and dogs barking, a muffled clang echoes through the alleyways. It's 70-year-old Pranee Sutdis who, as she has for most the last 58 years, is hammering steel into bowls with a small mallet.
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The Nation, December 9, 2007
New software to enable people to search in Pali from 200 Buddhist Scriptures has been developed by Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Mahamakut Buddhist University and Mahidol University.
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By Dr. Manpreet Singh, The Seoul Times, Dec 7, 2007
Over 30 members from more than 20 countries gathered at Vietnam Buddhist University in Ho Chi Ming City to plan the grand celebrations at Hanoi.
Ho Chi Ming City, Vietnam -- Buddhist Monk Su Giac Hoang travelled hundreds of miles away from his remote monastery to Ho Chi Minh City to be part of the preparations under way for the United Nations Day of Vesak 2008. He finds it hard to believe that Vietnam is hosting one of the world's most important and biggest Buddhist events in Hanoi next year.
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VNA, December 3, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Nearly100 black-and-white and colour photos featuring Buddhism, people and scenes of daily life are on display at HCM City's Vinh Nghiem Pagoda on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street.
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VNA, November 28, 2007
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Buddhist monks, nuns and followers nationwide have poured over VND 400 billion (US$ 25 mil) in humanitarian activities over the past five years, according to the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
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Mathaba, Nov 27, 2007
Ha Noi, Vietnam -- The Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha has announced its plan to open the 6 th national representative congress in Ha Noi on December 13.
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Agence France-Presse, Nov 26, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's army-installed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Monday that the kingdom should measure the happiness of its people as well as the growth of its economy.
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by Paul Icamina, AHN, November 23, 2007
Singapore -- The largest Burmese Buddhist temple in Singapore closed its doors Friday to activists who have been using it as a venue and even as a mailing address as they protest human rights violations and call for democracy in Myanmar.
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by P. S. Suryanarayana, The Hindu, Nov 23, 2007
SINGAPORE -- A unique exhibition, “The Nalanda Trail: Buddhism in India, China and Southeast Asia,” was dedicated here on Wednesday as a project of the East Asia Summit (EAS).
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By Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia, November 22, 2007
SINGAPORE -- The French and British representatives of the ASEAN-EU Summit visited the Burmese Buddhist Temple off Balestier Road on Thursday afternoon.
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The Associated Press, November 22, 2007
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Police arrested an Indonesian museum curator for allegedly stealing five ancient Buddhist statues and using replicas to cover up the theft, a police spokesman said Thursday.
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The Buddhist Channel, Nov 21, 2007
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- It is the Buddhist world's most famous website. After 11 years in existence, BuddhaNet is still going strong. But managing a long running website, like a marathon, requires consistent sources of funding.
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The Buddhist Channel, Nov 20, 2007
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- A special ceremony for a casting of a Buddha Rupa has been set for Sunday, April 6, 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand. The completed Buddha Rupa will be donated to to a new branch monastery of Wat Phra Chow Dhon Luang, located in Chiengmai, Thailand. Ajahn Thong Daeng is currently the Abbot.
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DPA, Nov 17, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Kasikorn Bank, Thailand's second largest, has launched a new service that allows customers to make donations to a Buddhist temple through telephone and internet banking, news reports said Saturday.
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by Lim Kooi Fong, The Buddhist Channel, Nov 18, 2007
The Fifth Global Conference on Buddhism (GCB5) gathers some of the world’s foremost meditation practitioners and Dharma teachers to share experiences in transforming the mind to achieve happiness
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia – A Tibetan mind training master once said, “I have no other task than to stand guard with a short spear of antidote at the entrance of my mind. When the afflictions are vigilant, I too am vigilant; when they are relaxed, I too am relaxed.”
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By Prangtip Daorueng, Inter Press Service, Nov 14, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Few would have thought that a painting would have the power to shake the foundations of modern-day temple life in Thailand, a country which prides itself as a center of Buddhism.
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The Buddhist Channel, Nov 16, 2007
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- Three Buddhist organisations are joining forces for the second time to organise the Fifth Global Conference on Buddhism.
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By Choong En Han, The New Straits Times, Nov 13, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Some 5,000 needy students of all races and religions across the country will receive school necessities from the Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple next month.
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by By Duc Hanh, VietnamNet, Nov 11, 2007
Yen Tu Mountains, Vietnam -- You might miss out on the panoramic view, but climbing to the top of Yen Tu mountain during rainy season is the best way to stay cool.
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Pattaya City News, Nov 9, 2007
Pattaya, Thailand -- On Friday Morning at Pattaya City Hall, Khun Niran, the Mayor of Pattaya chaired a preparation meeting which discussed plans for a two month exhibition of Buddhist Relics to be held at the Sukawadee Mansions, located on the Sukumvit Road in Banglamung.
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by PONGSATORN SINGNOY, The Bangkok Post, Nov 8, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Puea Pandin party is leading its election campaign with a promise to set up a 9.999-billion-baht Buddhism fund to heal social, economic and political ills. The fund is one of its nine flagship policies, deputy party leader Juthamas Siriwan said yesterday.
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VietNamNet Bridge, Nov 7, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and the municipal Buddhist Sangha yesterday held a groundbreaking ceremony to announce the construction of a statue of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc to honour his virtuous character and patriotism.
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Vietnam News, Nov 4, 2007
Thai Binh, Vietnam -- Over 30,000 visitors flocked to this year’s Autumn Festival at Keo Pagoda. The superstitious and skeptical alike couldn’t help but become caught up in the magical aura – Bui Quynh Hoa included.
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ZeeNews, Oct 30, 2007
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- A valuable brass statue of Buddha, believed to be more than 1,000 years old, has been stolen for a fifth time in three years from a temple in Northern Malaysia, a report said.
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ThaisNews, October 29, 2007
Phuket, Thailand -- During the weekend, many Thai employees took leave from work and some visitors might have seen the special cultural events called Chak Phra going on along some local roads in southern Thailand.
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By Mongkol Kannikar, Bangkok Post, Oct 28, 2007
Holy serpent only released 67 this year
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Naga fireballs phenomenon left spectators somewhat disappointed on Friday night as only 67 fireballs were spewed by the Naga from the Mekong River this year, compared to the hundreds that can normally be witnessed in the yearly event.
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The Nation, October 28, 2007
Buddhists nationwide celebrated the end of three months of Buddhist Lent yesterday with local variations of the traditional takbart thewo ceremony offering alms to monks
Bangkok, Thailand -- In Surat Thani, the activities included the chak phra processions, with Buddha images on elaborately decorated floats pulled by the locals on land and water to gathering points for merit-making ceremonies, as well as longboat racing on the Tapi River.
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by MANOP THIP-OSOD, The Bangkok Post, Oct 24, 2007
Would also officially recognise nuns' status
Bangkok, Thailand -- The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will today consider a bill that will introduce harsh punishments for various forms of offences against Buddhism, including sexual affairs with monks, novices and nuns and, for the first time, officially recognise the status of nuns. The bill was proposed by a group of 179 NLA members, some of whom tried in vain to promote Buddhism as the national religion in the 2007 Constitution.
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By Sheridan Mahavera, The New Straits Times, Oct 23, 2007
Johor Bahru, Malaysia -- Though it has been publicised countless times, bogus monks continue to fool people into giving them money despite the best efforts of Buddhist groups to educate the public.
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Asia World, Oct 16, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Thai monks and other citizens have started a marathon reading of the earliest Buddhist teachings, the Tripitaka, that will run 24-hours-a-day for 57 days, local media reported Tuesday.
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VietNamNet Bridge, Oct 15, 2007
Lang Son, Vietnam -- A 23-member representative board of Buddhist followers in northern mountainous Lang Son province made its debut in Lang Son city on October 14.
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TNA, Oct 10, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Highly-revered Buddhist monk Panyanandha Bhikkhu died at the age of 96 at Siriraj hospital on Wednesday morning.
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TNA, Oct 9, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Thailand's Prime Minister Gen. Surayud Chulanont said on Monday he had asked Burma's junta leader to end violence against Buddhist monks which he branded as the "wrong action".
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By Dennis Chua, The New Straits Times, Sept 29, 2007
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- THE Maha Karuna Buddhist Society and Dong Lim Xiao Ju jointly present the Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple Goodwill Cultural Show on Nov 19 and 20 at Menara PGRM, Jalan Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
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by PICHAYA SVASTI, Bangkok Post, Oct 4, 2007
Phramaha Sompong Talaphutto is capturing audiences by making dharma fun and easy to understand
Bangkok, Thailand -- The audience numbering in the hundreds smiled, laughed out loud, were in a thoughtful mood and sometimes had tears in their eyes. No, they were not watching a soap opera. They were listening to a sermon by a Buddhist monk. And this happens every day at five or six schools and workplaces.
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Agence France-Presse, Sept 25, 2007
Lawmakers says violence very likely, hope protesters are not deterred
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Malaysian lawmakers Monday called on Southeast Asian nations to support the aspirations of Myanmar's people for democracy, but warned violence was likely as protests mounted in Yangon.
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By TAN KARR WEI, The Star, September 19, 2007
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- The government is supportive of proactive steps taken by citizens to improve the communities they live in.
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Mathaba.net, Sept 17, 2007
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Buddhist monks, nuns and followers in Ha Noi have raised more than 4 billion VND for charity activities, said Most Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem, deputy head of the managing board of the Ha Noi Buddhist Sangha.
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by Joi Htaw, Independent Mon News Agency, September 10, 2007
Yangon, Myanmar (Burma) -- The association of monks in Burma Sangha Thanmaggi has urged all monks to step outside monasteries and stage peaceful protest walks tomorrow to show their unity and condemn the violence perpetrated by the pro-juntaUnion Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) and Pyithu Swan Arr Shin on monks in Pakokku.
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By Sugita Katyal and Adhityani Arga, (Reuters Life!), The Buddhist Channel, Sept 10, 2007
MAGELANG, Indonesia -- Like any historical monument, Indonesia's magnificent Borobudur temple in central Java has suffered the ravages of time. But now conservationists fear the world's biggest Buddhist temple, topped with stupas and decorated with hundreds of reliefs depicting Buddhist thought and the life of Buddha, faces a new threat: climate change.
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By Shah Paung, The Irrawaddy, September 6, 2007
Yangon, Myanmar -- More than 10 high ranking officials and military officers were held hostage for about 6 hours on Thursday by monks at a monastery in Pakokku township in Upper Burma. The captors demanded the release of about 10 fellow monks arrested in a peaceful demonstration that was violently broken up by the authorities on Wednesday.
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The Times (AFP), September 7, 2007
YANGON, Myanmar -- Buddhist monks in central Burma have released all of the 20 hostages they seized yesterday, ending a confrontation with the military Government, according to local residents.
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The Associated Press, September 5, 2007
YANGON, Myanmar -- Hundreds of Buddhist monks held an anti-government protest march in central Myanmar, stopping their demonstration only after soldiers fired warning shots and arrested several of them, media reports and a witness said.
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By Jonathan Head, BBC News, Sept 4, 2007
"Monks are supposed to renounce money. The teachings of the Buddha have been killed by the demonic religion of consumerism" - Sulak Sivaraksa, Buddhist scholar
Bangkok, Thailand -- For advertisers in Thailand, the most spectacular location to promote their products is on the side of the country's tallest building, the Baiyoke Tower in Bangkok.
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Reuters, Sept 4, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- A Thai Buddhist temple has been reprimanded by religious authorities for selling amulets containing the ashes of cremated infants to raise money for a plot of land and a crematorium, an official said on Tuesday.
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VNA, Sept 2, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Buddhist dignitaries and followers in Ho Chi Minh City have raised more than VND 2.2 billion to support flood victims in the Central Highlands and central provinces.
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Pattaya Daily News, Aug 31, 2007
Lob Buri, Thailand -- The Dramaraksa Foundation and AIDS Healthcare Foundation now partner to open Free AIDS Treatment Center providing lifesaving Antiretroviral Treatment at famed Thai AIDS temple in Thailand’s Lob Buri province, where thousands received compassionate hospice care before dying.
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The Saigon Times, Aug 28, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Foreign tourists visiting the backpacker’s area around Pham Ngu Lao Street in District 1 in HCMC will notice during the next few weeks that the vegetarian restaurants are more crowded with Vietnamese guests than usual.
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SEAArch - The Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog, Aug 27, 2007
Jireg, Indonesia -- The road running along the hill in Jireg village, Bondowoso, East Java, is deserted. Once in a while, a motorbike breaks the silence.
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The Associated Press, August 29, 2007
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- An Indonesian cave used for meditation by Buddhist priests in the 12th century contains previously undiscovered sculptures depicting the spiritual journey of Buddha, a religious leader said Wednesday.
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The Buddhist Channel, Aug 28, 2007
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- A month long programme was initiated by the Buddhist Maha Vihara here to commemorate events leading to the first anniversary of the demise of the late Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda. The first anniversary memorial will be held at the Maha Vihara compound on August 31, 2007.
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by Nguyen Thuy, Translated by Luu Thi Hong, Thanh Nien News, Aug 24, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- The Buddhist Mother Festival (Le Vu lan) began Friday in Ho Chi Minh City with a clutch of events to honor Buddhism and Vietnamese mothers.
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VNS, Aug 14, 2007
Ho Chi Minh CITY— Ho Chi Minh City entertainment centres and art troupes are preparing a variety of shows to celebrate the Buddhist holiday, Vu Lan, a traditional event in praise of motherly love held annually in the seventh month of the lunar calendar.
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TNA, Aug 13, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Members of a Buddhist organisation who had planned to hold another round of a rally here if the proposed constitution which does not officially recognise Buddhism as Thailand's religion sails through next week's referendum have agreed to suspend their activities after Her Majesty the Queen suggested that religion should not be mixed with politics.
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by AMPA SANTIMATANEDOL, The Bangkok Post, Aug 13, 2007
Rush to heed Queen's birthday speech advice
Bangkok, Thailand -- Buddhist activists have decided to discontinue their campaign for Buddhism to be acknowledged as the state religion in the new constitution. The decision was made after Her Majesty the Queen said in her 75th birthday address on Saturday that Buddhism should be free of politics and kept out of the new charter.
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By Supawadee Inthawong, The Bangkok Post, Aug 12, 2007
Queen also worries about the toll of deforestation and water pollution in her birthday eve address
Bangkok, Thailand -- Her Majesty the Queen agrees that religion should not be mixed with politics and Buddhism should be kept out of the constitution. The Queen was speaking yesterday in her broadcast birthday address to a gathering of cabinet ministers, high-ranking government officials and members of the public who came to the Dusitdalai Pavilion to wish her well on the eve of her 75th birthday.
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BY UKRIT KUNGSAWANICH AND SOMKID CHAIJITVANIT, The Bangkok Post, Aug 11, 2007
Wat Panitaram in Chachoengsao province organises an annual ordination programme for teenagers
Chachoengsao Province, Thailand -- EACH LOCK OF HAIR DROPS TO THE GROUND, SHORN OFF AT THE SCALP. A score of newly shaven heads glisten in the sunlight, as brightly as the saffron robes the novices wear, and there is a mix of tranquillity and natural gaiety on the faces of the young men.
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By Joe Robinson, The Los Angeles Times, August 7, 2007
Amid Bagan's historic gilded steeples stand newer imposters thrown up in a government effort to fuel tourism despite international sanctions.
Bagan, Myanmar -- My body was already a waterfall, and it was only 10:15 a.m. in the oven of Bagan, former imperial capital of Myanmar. Standing on the pedals of my rented one-speed girl's bike with a leopard-print seat, I dripped up an incline, passed a couple of bullocks on death's door pulling an ancient wooden cart and then swerved off the asphalt into sand as an air-conditioned bus filled with grinning foreign tourists blew by.
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by Ambika Ahuja, AP, August 8, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- They can cost a small fortune, resemble '80s disco jewelry, and are arguably un-Buddhist, but many Thais seeking psychic insurance in troubled times are snapping up so-called Jatukam Ramathep amulets, coin-shaped talismans with supposed magical powers.
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by SANITSUDA EKACHAI, The Bangkok Post, Aug 9, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka has stepped forward. Tibetan Buddhism is ready to take the plunge. But the Thai Buddhist clergy still prefer to live in the Dark Ages when it comes to female ordination.
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by Nakhorn Pathom, The Nation, Aug 3, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn yesterday praised His Majesty the King for being a good role model by applying science and Buddhism to help his subjects.
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Radio Australia, Aug 3, 2007
Police in Vietnam have arrested a Khmer Krom Monk, accused of undermining national unity by organising demonstrations in Cambodia.
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Vietnamese police have arrested a Buddhist monk on charges of undermining national unity.
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The Star, July 25, 2007; Published on the Buddhist Channel, Aug 2, 2007
Penang, Malaysia -- The problem of bogus monks soliciting money can be curbed if Buddhists in the country are educated on the true practices of Buddhism, said Yayasan Belia Buddhist Malaysia vice-chairman Datuk Tan Gin Soon.
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By TAN KARR WEI, Photo by NORAFIFI EHSAN, The Star, July 30, 2007
Chanting, talks, offering of food to monks part of activities.
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- DESPITE the heavy rain, Buddhists devotees joined in the celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple in Jalan Pantai, Petaling Jaya recently.
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Radio Australia, July 10, 2007, Published on the Buddhist Channel, Aug 1, 2007
Khmer Krom communities express grave concern after the announcement of Tim Sa Khorn’s deportation to Vietnam by Cambodian authorities. The Phnom Den abbot had refugee status in Cambodia.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- The disappearance of a high-profile abbot in Cambodia, Venerable Tim Sakhorn, has evoked grave concern among ethnic Khmer Krom communities around the world.
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Bernama, Aug 1, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Some 100,000 Buddhists gathered in a mass praying session for the country's and people's well-being at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium here tonight.
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by Weena Kowitwanij, AsiaNews, July 31, 2007
Queen’s plan includes 347 Buddhist monks who have decided to move into hundreds of temples abandoned in southern Thailand as a result of violence perpetrated by Islamic separatists. Their goal is to bring peace and solidarity to a population affected by years of death and civil war.
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Bangkok Post, July 31, 2007
Violence casts a subduing shadow over Buddhist Lent in the far South
Narathiwat, Thailand -- Buddhist temples in the far South have beencaught in the crossfiresince the southern conflict flaredafresh in 2004. As a consequence, religious ceremonies in the three border provinces are subdued and thespirits of Buddhists living there dampened like never before.
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VietNamNet Bridge, July 30, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- A ceremony dedicated to late Most Venerable Thich Thien Hao, former Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)'s Executive Council and former Chairman of HCM City Buddhist Sangha's Executive Committee, was held in Ho Chi Minh City on July 2, marking his 10th death anniversary.
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The Bangkok Post, July 29, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Buddhists across the nation spent Sunday morning making merit to mark Asalha Pucha Day. Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office Thirapat Serirangsan and Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayothin led a group of people to give alms to 108 monks on the grounds of Sanam Luang.
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The Nation, July 26, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn has graciously granted 84 sets of triple yellow robes to the nationwide ordination of 7,476 Buddhist monk men to celebrate His Majesty the King's upcoming 80th birthday anniversary.
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TNA, July 26, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Her Majesty Queen Sirikit has ordered the Bureau of the Royal Household to send rice and dried food to Buddhist monks who are travelling to stay at temples in the four southern border provinces during the three-month Buddhist Lent.
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Vietnam News, July 26, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- The Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) Buddhist Sangha received the Labour Order Third Class for its great contributions to the construction and defence of the nation at a solemn ceremony yesterday in Tan Binh District’s Pho Quang Pagoda.
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Source: Tuoi Tre, Translated by An Dien, Than Nien News, July 26, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Ho Chi Minh City will begin raising a statue of Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc, who immolated himself four decades ago in protest of the oppressive Saigon regime, in September.
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The Associated Press, July 25, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Hundreds of yellow-robed Buddhist monks arrived in Muslim-dominated southern Thailand on Wednesday at the start of Buddhist Lent in the hope their presence will promote peace in the insurgency-wracked region.
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by Bui Ngoc Long, Thanh Nien News, July 23, 2007
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The Buddhist Sangha from central Vietnam’s Thua Thien-Hue province convened its 5th congress Saturday and reelected its leader.
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By Tan Dawn Wei, The Straits Times, July 22, 2007
Sunday Times readers upset after report cast doubt on Buddha tooth relic's authenticity
Singapore -- The Sunday Times received 20 letters from readers after it reported last week that doubts have been cast on the authenticity of the Buddha tooth relic in a temple here.
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Channel News Asia, July 22, 2007
Singapore -- Some people are still questioning the authenticity of the Buddha tooth relic housed in a temple along South Bridge Road. The relic is stored in a stupa on the fourth floor of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple.
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Source: Tan Dawn Wei & Mavis Toh, The Straits Times, The Buddhist Channel, July 20, 2007
Singapore -- WHEN it comes to housing a relic as sacred as a Buddha tooth, devotees spare no expense - as was the case for the new Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown.
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by Khin Maung Win, AFP, July 19, 2007
Every July at the start of Buddhist Lent for as long as anyone can remember, giant catfish have made the journey up a tributary of Myanmar's mighty Irrawaddy river to an historic temple.
YANGON, Myanmar -- Devotees at the temple call them "pilgrim fish," and believe the creatures come to show their respect for the Buddha at a time meant to inspire religious contemplation.
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ABC Radio Australia, July 18, 2007
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- The Cambodian government has clamped down on Christian groups and is seeking to limit religious activities by other non-Buddhist organisations, which it says disrupt society.
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The Nation, July 15, 2007
Singapore -- Dental experts have raised doubts over the authenticity of a purported Buddha's tooth in a Singapore temple, claiming it could not have come from any human being, The Sunday Times reported.
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By Melissa Darlyne Chow, The New Straits Times, July 14, 2007
GEORGE TOWN, Penang (Malaysia) -- He was a good son. He loved his sister. He picked up litter in the streets. He loved helping people in need. This is Yew Shot Foon's tribute to her son whose life was cut short last year.
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By Noppawan Bunluesilp, Reuters, Jul 12, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- A craze for plasticine amulets that promise to make their owners "Super Rich" or "Rich without Reason" is sweeping across Thailand to the dismay of traditionalists in the predominantly Buddhist nation.
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DPA, Jull 9, 2007
Singapore -- Bogus monks and nuns from Thailand have been collecting alms from Singaporeans and evading police by making speedy getaways, The Sunday Times reported.
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By CHRISTINA LOW, The Star, July 9, 2007
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- MANY couples tied the knot over the weekend, because of the auspicious date of July 7, but for environmentalists Michael Phuah and Ricole Woo, there was another reason besides the significant numbers: it was the day when people around the world celebrated World Earth Day.
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Story and pictures by PERCY D'CRUZ, The Star, July 5, 2007
Malacca, Malaysia -- The 14th Tzu Chi Malaysia Charity Fair in Malacca once again proved that Malaysians are a caring lot. The fair raised about RM300,000 (US$ 85,700) from members of the public from all walks of life and different faiths.
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AFP, July 7, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Co-hosts Thailand are aiming to stamp their mark on the Asian Cup (Asia's premier soccer tournament) and praying at a temple before the team’s opening match today will play an important part in their mental preparations.
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The Star, July 7, 2007
Penang, Malaysia -- THREE Buddhist nuns were confined by a security guard in a Penang shopping mall after they were accused of soliciting for donations, China Press reported.
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By LOKE POH LIN, The New Straits Times, July 5, 2007
At a Buddhist centre in Petaling Jaya, a Nepali monk is preparing a two-year-long course in Buddhist teachings for devotees and others interested in Buddhism. LOKE POH LIN speaks to Geshe Tenzin Zopa.
Petaling Jaya, Selangor (Malaysia) -- NESTLED in the Section 17 housing estate of Petaling Jaya is a serene bungalow, the spiritual home for Buddhists who follow the Mahayana tradition.
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TNA, July 4, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Bangkok's police chief has banned Buddhist protesters from bringing any kind of animal to join their renewed demonstration, scheduled for Friday at Parliament.
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Nhan Dan, July 3, 2007
Hanoi, Vietnam -- More than 400,000 Hoa Hao Buddhist followers embarked on a pilgrimage to the Mekong delta province of An Giang in order to celebrate the Sect’s 68th founding anniversary falling on May 18 of lunar calendar (July 2), reported the Vietnam News Agency from An Giang province.
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The Associated Press, June 29, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The group drafting Thailand's new constitution voted Friday against a proposal to include a clause designating Buddhism as the national religion.
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The Buddhist Channel, June 27, 2007
The Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka approves affiliation with the Buddhist Maha Vihara of Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The Buddhist Maha Vihara of Kuala Lumpur announced today that its application to set up a Buddhist education center affiliated to the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka has been approved. The University holds membership in the Association of Universities of the Commonwealth.
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The Nation, June 25, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Buddhist Network of Thailand has cancelled plans to demonstrate outside Parliament on Wednesday and Thursday.
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TNA, June 21, 2007
Chiang Mai, Thailand -- Cracks have been found in an historic 400-year-old temple in the northern province of Chiang Mai following several recent earthquakes, moderate in impact but adding to the cumulative damage suffered over time.
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By LIM CHIA YING, The Star, June 19, 2007
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- COUPLES intending to get married can join in a mass wedding at the Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields on July 7.
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By PHILIP GOLINGAI, The Star, June 16, 2007
Using modern technology and maps that detailed more than two centuries of Bangkok Chinatown's physiography, an American economic anthropologist solved a 180-year-old anomaly.
Bangkok, Thailand -- Zooming in on Wat Chakrawat in Bangkok’s Chinatown in his PC-based mapping software, an American discovered that a certain building layout in the Wat Chakrawat temple did not make sense.
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by D. B. N. MURTHY, The Humdu, June 15, 2007
The walls of the temples in Cambodia carry the legends of the past
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- The great Cambodian (Khmer) kings, who ruled from the 9th century to the 13th century, regarded themselves as Devaraja. They fashioned temples out of stones with great care and devotion.
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By YIP YOKE TENG, Photos by LOW LAY PHON, The Star, June 16, 2007
Petaling Jaya, Selangor (Malaysia) -- She wakes up every morning feeling grateful for having water supplied to her house. She collects the water she uses for washing up and reuses it to flush the toilet, mop the floor or clean the bathroom.
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Earthtimes.org, June 16, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- One of Thailand's most revered Buddhist monks has branched out into the fortune cookie trade to mock the "Jatukham fever" currently seizing the nation, news reports said Saturday.
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Bangkok Post, June 14, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Senior Thai Buddhist monks who are leading a protest in front of Parliament House here vowed Wednesday that protesters would keep on rallying and they would continue their hunger strike until their demand to have Buddhism included in the new constitution as the national religion is met.
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by SANITSUDA EKACHAI, Bangkok Post, June 14, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- The showdown is near. And a bloody one too, it is feared. To avoid violent clashes between the pro- and anti-Thaksin (former Thai Prime Minister) camps, we need our monks all the more to remind us of the importance of patience and non-violence.
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CBC, June 12, 2007
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- A new museum showing 274 Buddhist statues will open in Cambodia this November near the spectacular temples of Angkor Wat.
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Bangkok Post, June 13, 2007
Monks warn of perils of Jatukarm craze
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Jatukarm Ramathep phenomenon has become a critical issue for Buddhism as many temples have started producing the talismans without attaching enough importance to the Lord Buddha's teachings, said Phra Phaisan Visalo, a revered monk. Buddhism, he said, normally allows other beliefs and icons to coexist with the Lord Buddha and his teachings, but their status, even that of the angels, is lower than the Buddha's.
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VietNamNet Bridge, June 7, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- The Japanese Consul in HCMC has just launched a Vietnamese-Japanese haiku contest, regarded as an opportunity for all haiku-lovers from the two countries.
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News.com.au (Reuters), June 11, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- ABOUT 5000 Buddhist monks and religious activists blocked traffic in front of Thailand's parliament today, demanding Buddhism be declared the national religion in the new, post-coup constitution.
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By LIM CHIA YING, The Star, June 6, 2007 [Pictures credits: Buddhist Channel]
Seri Kembangan, Selangor (Malaysia) -- WHAT promises to be the largest Buddhist arts and culture festival in Malaysia is finally here at the Mines International Convention and Exhibition Centre (MIECC).
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By Guy Degen, UNICEF, June 8, 2007
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Throughout Cambodia, Buddhist monks are held in high regard, not only as religious leaders but for their traditional role of helping those most in need. For many Cambodians living with or affected by HIV and AIDS, Buddhist monks provide a vital link to treatment and counselling.
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VietNamNet Bridge, June 5, 2007
Hanoi, Vietnam -- An exhibition titled Early Summer Lotus by a group of young painters is being held at the Viet Art Centre, 42 Yet Kieu, Hanoi, on the occasion of Buddha’s 2551st birthday.
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Bangkok Post, June 4, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has rejected calls to make Buddhism the state religion, the chairman said on Monday.
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Nhan Dan, June 2, 2007
Ha Noi, Vietnam -- Buddhists throughout the country have been overwhelmingly supportive of the expansion of the nation's leading Buddhism training centre in Ha Noi, the Vietnam Buddhist Institute, according to Venerable Thich Thanh Quyet, Vice Director of the Institute.
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Xinhua News, June 2, 2007
Jogjakarta, Indonesia -- On the first day of June, the millennium-old Borobodur Temple in Central Java of Indonesia was alive with Buddhist monks from the world over. They were here to celebrate the Waisak Day, the day that commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha.
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VNS, June 1, 2007
Ha Noi, Vietnam -- A grand meeting to mark the 2551st birthday of Buddha was held at the Buddhist Institute in the capital’s outlying district of Soc Son yesterday morning.
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by SANITSUDA EKACHAI, Bangkok Post, June 2, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Amid heightened political tensions in Thailand, the visiting Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh yesterday emphasised the importance to protect democracy, freedom of speech and assembly, while cautioning political parties to refrain from inciting hate, fear and violence. Both the people and political parties should be able to enjoy freedom of speech and to gather, he said. But these rights must be governed by goodwill, not hate or anger.
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Lanka Daily News, June 2, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Royal thai Government hosted the United Nations Day of Vesak observances in Thailand, from May 26 to 29 in conjunction with the Celebrations of Thailand king's 80th Birthday Anniversary.
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The Buddhist Channel, June 2, 2007
The Buddhist Arts and Culture Festival (BCAF) - the largest undertaking in the history of Malaysian Buddhism - is expected to draw 100,000 visitors
Seri Kembangan, Selangor (Malaysia) -- The Buddhist Arts and Culture Festival (BCAF) is set to take place at the Malaysia International Exhibition & Convention Centre (MIECC) in Mines Resort City, Seri Kembangan, Kuala Lumpur from June 6 to 10.
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VNA, May 31, 2007
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Buddhist monks, nuns and followers have been flocking to celebrations around the country to mark the 2551st birthday of Buddha.
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By May Wong, Channel NewsAsia, May 31, 2007
Singapore -- President S R Nathan celebrated Vesak Day at a party organised by the Singapore Buddhist Welfare Services.
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by A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Bali, Indonesia -- As many as 63 Japanese monks will bring thousands of wooden prayer ornaments to Bali and burn the offerings in a ceremony to wish for peace on the island, which is still recovering from the terrorist bombings of 2002 and 2005.
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Reuters, May 30, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- An American Web site offering G-string underwear and T-shirts for dogs emblazoned with picture of Buddha dropped them from its sales list on Wednesday after protests by predominantly Buddhist Thailand.
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by Thuc Minh, Thanh Nien News, May 28, 2007
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Vietnam will host the fifth annual International Buddhist Conference next year, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told the on-going forth conference in Thailand via a telegram.
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The Nation, May 28, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- The teachings of Lord Buddha can lead to a peaceful and just society, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont told the International Buddhist Conference at the United Nations in Bangkok yesterday.
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Bangkok Post, May 29, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Revered monk Phra Maha Wudhijaya Vajiramedhi said on Saturday that the Jatukarm talisman craze reflects a thirst for an easy windfall and deviates from the Lord Buddha's teachings. He minced no words, blaming the media and monks for fuelling the amulet fever.
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Reuters, May 29, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand will ask an American Web site advertising G-string underwear and T-shirts for dogs emblazoned with pictures of Buddha to withdraw the items, a government official said on Tuesday.
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VNS, May 26, 2007
HA NOI, Vietnam -- President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) Pham The Duyet highlighted the important role of Buddhism in Vietnamese society in a letter he sent to the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) on Thursday to mark Buddha’s 2551st birthday.
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By Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia, May 27, 2007
SINGAPORE -- Rare Buddhist relics and art works are on display at the Nei Xue Tang Buddhist Art Museum to mark Vesak Day.
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eTravelBlackboard, May 28, 2007
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Direct flights between Cambodia and Myanmar will now operate after an agreement by the countries.
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The Buddhist Channel, May 28, 2007
The Giant Buddha Foot motif will be displayed at the Buddhist Culture and Arts Festival 2007 (BCAF), slated to be the largest event ever to jointly held by 38 of the largest organizations in Malaysia
Seri Kembangan, Selangor (Malaysia) -- In conjunction with the Buddhist Culture and Arts Festival 2007 (BCAF) held at the Malaysia International Exhibition & Convention Centre, the Dhammaduta Youth (D2Y) under the auspices of the Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia Youth Section and the Subang Jaya Buddhist Association will be assembling a 53 feet by 38 feet design of the Buddha’s foot motif consisting of approximately 84,000 lotus buds.
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by ALAN THAMANAN, Bangkok Post, May 25, 2007
Reconciling today's material world with the teachings of the Lord Buddha would seem to be a hopeless task, but there are some who are committed to achieving it
Bangkok, Thailand -- In a competitive society urging us to want more, spend more and consume more, suffering stress is inevitable, like getting wet when it rains.
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By Seth Mydans, International Herald Tribune, May 24, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- In a step that could sharpen divisions in its increasingly violent, largely Muslim southern provinces, Thailand appears ready for the first time to make Buddhism the state religion in a new constitution.
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By Ed Cropley, Reuters, May 24, 2007
THAM KRABOK, Thailand -- An obscure Buddhist monastery in central Thailand that advocates a secret herbal potion and ritual vomiting for drug addicts has become a final source of hope for thousands of Thais and Westerners.
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By WILLIAM KLAUSNER, Bangkok Post, May 23, 2007
Monks should forego their adventure into the political arena and return to their religious mentoring role
Bangkok, Thailand -- The movement to declare Buddhism as the state religion of Thailand is rooted in feelings of insecurity on the part of those involved. This is especially true for the monks and their leadership. There is both a conscious and subconscious realisation that Buddhism is on the wane as respect for the Sangha declines and the faith's relevance is increasingly challenged.
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The Nation, May 20, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Over the course of 20 days, 50 selected high-school students at a Young Buddhist Camp were shown that a person's true worth lies in more than having a fair complexion, a highly paid job, wearing designer clothes or driving a luxury car.
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By RACHAEL KAM, The Star, May 19, 2007
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- For the last eight years, he has been spending every alternate Sunday at the Buddhist temple in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, lecturing on moral education to a class of hearing impaired adults.
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By ANTHONY CHEW, The Star, May 18, 2007
Penang, Malaysia -- THE Buddhist fraternity can look forward to the visit of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, founder and spiritual director of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), to Penang at the end of this month.
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by MONGKOL BANGPRAPA, Bangkok Post, May 17, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Groups of monks in the North and Northeast have been mobilised to persuade locals to support the call for Buddhism to be enshrined as the national religion, according to some charter drafters.
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China Post (AP), May 15, 2007
SRE LIEV, Cambodia -- A group of Cambodian villagers held a traditional Buddhist ceremony Monday to express gratitude for jewelry they recovered from a Khmer Rouge-era grave site where their deceased compatriots were buried.
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Bangkok Post, May 12, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Buddhists and their religious leaders worldwide are due to set up the World Buddhist University Association, the first of its kind, on Visakha Bucha Day at the end of the month.
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Xinhua News, May 10, 2007
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- China's first Buddhist symphony, "Chinese Harmonious Music", resounded Wednesday night here, drawing thunderous applause from the Malaysian audience.
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VNA, May 10, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, VietNam -- World-renowned Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and his French-based entourage wrapped up their second visit to Vietnam and left for Hong Kong, on May 9.
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TNA, May 8, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Demonstrators who have been rallying in front of Parliament for two weeks to demand that the new constitution recognise Buddhism as the state religion on Monday announced they would end their marathon protest.
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Bangkok Post, May 8, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- The fight over Buddhism as the national religion of Thailand was a bad idea from the start. It is not as if Buddhism is under attack. Some conservative followers think a special legal status might strengthen Buddhism. It is difficult to see how.
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VietNamNet, May 8, 2007
Hanoi, VietNam -- Vietnam will always respect the rights of the individual to enjoy freedom of religion, belief and worship, and is adamant that all favourable conditions must be created so all religions feel welcomed within the country.
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CCTV.com, May 9, 2007
Singapore -- A Buddhist Symphony Orchestra from China has held its first overseas concert in Singapore.
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By LOOI SUE-CHERN, The Star, May 3, 2007
Penang, Malaysia -- THEY looked like lit candles from afar, flickering in the darkness. But these were not conventional candles.
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By JASON LIOH and TEH ENG HOCK, The Star, May 5, 2007
MALACCA, Malaysia -- More than 3,000 people waited by the roadside to catch a glimpse of the Wesak Day procession as it passed through the city on Monday night.
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by SUNANDA K. DATTA-RAY, Telegraph India, May 5, 2007
Buddhism gains nothing from being made the official Thai religion
Bangkok, Thailand -- Two ornate gilt chairs are reserved for monks in a glass enclosure in the viewing gallery on the sixth floor of Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi airport. There are so many such marks of respect for Buddhism that last week’s demonstration to give the religion official status seemed unnecessary to many who watched the saffron-draped monks, devotees in pure white and nine lumbering elephants. They had trudged 18 km in the gruelling heat.
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Daily Express, May 1, 2007
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (Malaysia) -- The Guan Yin Ting Buddhist Centre (GYTBC) in Donggongon Penampang has lined up a series of activities at the Kian Kok Middle School's ceremonial hall here, today, from 8am to 3pm, for the public to take part.
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By David Yeow, The New Straits Times, May 2, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- While many Malaysians were still enjoying their Workers’ Day sleep-in, Buddhists nationwide were already up celebrating Wesak Day. Thousands went to Buddhist temples to offer prayers for Wesak Day which celebrates the birth, enlightenment and Maha Parinibbana (ascension) of Buddha.
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The Star, May 1, 2007
PETALING JAYA, Selangor (Malaysia) -- The Wesak Day celebrations got off to a great start with devotees thronging the Subang Jaya Buddhist Association (SJBA) premises in SS13 last night for special prayers.
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By David Yeow, The New Straits Times, May 1, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- To mark Wesak Day, an exhibition of the Ama Rekha was held at the Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple in Brickfields yesterday. Ama Rekha is an exhibition of 34 wooden sculptures illustrating 26 mudras (postures) of the Buddha.
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The Star, May 2, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- The scent of burning joss sticks filled the air in Buddhist temples around the country as thousands of devotees paid homage to Buddha on Wesak Day.
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by CHAI MEI LING, The New Straits Times, April 29, 2007
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Tuesday is Wesak Day, a special day for Buddhists in Malaysia. The Venerable B. Saranankara Nayaka Maha Thero, chief monk of the Sri Lanka Buddhist temple in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, explains to CHAI MEI LING that Wesak Day is more than just holding a candle and taking part in a procession
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By YIP YOKE TENG, Photos by AZMAN GHANI and UU BAN, The Star, April 30, 2007
Buddhists in Malaysia celebrate Wesak Day on May 1 and preparations have been in full swing at Buddhist temples around the country. Star Metrovisited Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple in Brickfields and Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple in Sentul to see what is in store for this year’s Wesak celebrations.
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VietNamNet Bridge, April 27, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam --More than 2,500 Buddhist dignitaries, monks and nuns attended the 7th Congress of the HCM City Buddhist Sangha, which was held at Pho Quang Pagoda from April 24-26.
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By LIM CHIA YING, Photos by SAM THAM, The Star, April 27, 2007
Subang Jaya, Selangor (Malaysia) -- WESAK DAY is the celebration of the birth, enlightenment and death of Lord Gautama Buddha and temples nationwide are busy preparing for the special prayers on May 1.
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By LIM CHIA YING, The Star, April 26, 2007
Serdang, Selnagor (Malaysia) -- There is no mistaking that the minuscule artwork is of the the biggest Buddhist monument in the world. Only a structure like Borobudur can inspire an equally stunning model like the one being made.
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ThaisNews, April 26, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Phra Dharmakosajarn, the Rector of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, says this year’s International Buddhist Conference will celebrate His Majesty the King’s 80th birthday.
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Bangkok Post, April 26, 2007
Suspicious of ulterior motive in charter call
Bangkok, Thailand -- Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday suggested that there could be an ulterior motive behind a mass rally to press for Buddhism to be recognised as the state religion in the new constitution. He said things could not be taken at face value when asked to comment on an observation that the demonstration had a hidden agenda.
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The Associated Press, April 25, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Hundreds of Buddhist monks led by at least nine elephants marched to parliament in the Thai capital to demand that the country's new post-coup constitution enshrine Buddhism as the national religion.
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BangkokPost, April 25, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- More than 300 Buddhist followers gathered in front of the parliament Wednesday to begin a campaign to pressure constitution drafters to declare Buddhism as the national religion in the new charter.
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by Anchalee Kongrut, by Bangkok Post, April 23, 2007
The traditional Buddhist ceremony, Poy Sarng Long, which precedes the mass initiation of teenage boys as Buddhist novices, takes place this week as part of Shan communities’ efforts to preserve their cultural identity.
Piang Luang, Thailand -- In Piang Luang, a village near the border with Burma, Buddhism is not just a faith. Religion is a tie that keeps together the Shan people, who live along the border.
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by Avudh Panananda, The Nation, April 24, 2007
No Thai kings have ever allowed secular and spiritual affairs to be mixed
Bangkok, Thailand -- Protesting monks are demanding to enshrine Buddhism as the state religion in the new constitution and their saffron robes are a most visible banner to rally crowds in front of Parliament.
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by KARNJARIYA SUKRUNG, Bangkok Post, April 24, 2007
World famous peace activist, poet, writer and Zen Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh will visit Thailand in May. The wisdom and compassion he has cultivated through years of suffering during the Vietnam War and conflicts around the world could be a beacon for Thai society
Bangkok, Thailand -- On the path of spiritual pursuit, Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk and author Thich Nhat Hanh suggested we take up the role of a gardener.
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VNS, April 25, 2007
HA NOI, Vietnam -- Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh said he feels a sense of great responsibility as a Vietnamese citizen to return to Viet Nam and contribute to the country’s national development.
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By LIM CHIA YING, Photo by SAM THAM, The Star, April 23, 2007
Shah Alam, Selangor (Malaysia) -- MEMBERS of the Shah Alam Buddhist Society (SABS) now have a more spacious building in Section 32, Bukit Rimau. Work on the two-storey building is 90% complete. Construction work started in March 2005.
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The Star, April 17, 2007
PETALING JAYA, Malaysia -- In view of the mounting violence among students, the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia has come up with a campaign to combat aggressive behaviour.
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The Nation, April 23, 2007
Groups insist faith must be recognised as the national religion in new charter
Bangkok, Thailand -- Buddhist groups are increasing pressure to have the faith recognised as the national religion in the new constitution. They have threatened to reject the charter if it is not. Movement leader General Thongchai Kuersakul talks to Pravit Rojanaphruk.
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By ANTHONY CHEW, The Star, April 21, 2007
PENANG, Malaysia -- A Buddhist temple here is taking a bold move away from tradition, by replacing wax candles with LED-made candles, beginning on Wesak Day this May 1.
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France24, April 21, 2007
Hanoi, Vietnam -- A prominent Vietnamese Zen master living in exile on Friday took his message of post-war reconciliation to thousands of Buddhist faithful at a hillside pagoda near Hanoi.
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ThaisNews, April 19, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Buddhist demonstrators affirm that they will gather more than 250,000 protesters to demand the establishment of Buddhism as Thailand's national religion.
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Monster & Critics, Apr 20, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Thailand - which notched up a 190 billion baht (5.4 billion dollar) financial deficit during the first half of fiscal 2007 - is mulling a new tax on the kingdom's booming trade in lucky talismans, media reports said Friday.
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AP, April 21, 2007
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Two opposing groups of Buddhist monks clashed in the streets of the Cambodian capital Friday during a protest to demand religious freedom for their colleagues living across the border in southern Vietnam.
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By PHRA PAISAN VISALO, Bangkok Post, April 19, 2007
Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Prasong Soonsiri is correct when he points out that Buddhism does not need to be labelled the national religion
Bangkok, Thailand -- The decline in morality and continued disarray of Buddhism over the past several decades have prompted many Buddhists to try to strengthen the religion. One of the measures has been a call that Buddhism be declared the official national religion in the new constitution, whose first draft will be finished today.
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by PENCHAN CHAROENSUTHIPAN, Bangkok Post, April 18, 2007
Faith's future in followers' hands, says Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC)
Bangkok, Thailand -- Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) chairman Prasong Soonsiri has shrugged off a call for Buddhism to be declared the official national religion in the new charter. As a Buddhist, he said, he wants Buddhism to flourish, but it was not important to include such a declaration in the constitution.
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By Penchan Charoensuthipan, Bangkok Post, April 18, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- As a Buddhist, Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) chairman Prasong Soonsiri said he wants Buddhism to flourish, but it was not important to include such a declaration in the constitution.
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Hindustan Times, April 18, 2007
Yangon, Myanmar -- Punks, rockers and scantily-dressed youths thronged the streets of Yangon at the weekend for a raucous Buddhist New Year party, despite warnings from Myanmar's junta against any subversive behaviour.
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Pattaya Daily News, April 17, 2007
Pattaya, Thailand -- One of the things dearest to the Thai hearts are religious icons; many of which also serve as magical talismans, believed to protect their wearers. One such is the Jatukham Rammathep amulet, which has caused such a fever of desire that a woman was recently crushed to death and dozens injured in an amulet coupon buying-frenzy in several southern schools.
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Bangkok Post, April 16, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Hundreds of monks are expected to lead Buddhist disciples to march to Parliament on Monday to insist on a clause in the new Constitution declaring Buddhism as the national religion for the first time in history.
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AFP/ch, April 13, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand was set to begin its raucous celebrations for the Buddhist new year on Friday, amid heightened security over fears that the festivities could be the target of yet another terror attack.
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The Star, April 15, 2007
PENANG, Malaysia -- More than 10,000 pilgrims from 35 Buddhist associations will throng Burma Road to take part in Wesak Day procession on May 1.
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The Star, April 16, 2007
PETALING JAYA, Selangor (Malaysia) -- Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche is no ordinary four-year-old. Revered across the world and dubbed the Little Buddha or Little Lama, he is believed to be the reincarnation of the late Great Mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchong, a highly revered Buddhist master of the 20th century who died in 2001.
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by Tuong Lan, Saigon Times, April 9, 2007
Tourists visit Van Tieu Pagoda in Yen Tu Mountain
Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam -- In Vietnam, the mountainous region of Yen Tu in Thuong Yen Cong Commune, Uong Bi District, Quang Ninh Province is famous all over the world for its beautiful landscapes, historical relics and hundreds of ancient pagodas and towers, earning its name as the Buddhism capital of Dai Viet, Vietnam’s former name.
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ThaisNews, April 10, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Secretary-General of the Buddhism Protection Center of Thailand, Phra Tepvisutthikawee , wants the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) to state Buddhism as the national religion in the new charter.
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The New Straits Times, April 7, 2007
IPOH, Perak (Malaysia) -- The occurrence of two full moons next month has given rise to confusion over the correct date for Wesak Day.
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By SUTIN WANNABOVORN, Associated Press Writer, April 9, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- A crowd of thousands waiting to buy purportedly magical amulets erupted into a stampede that killed one woman and injured dozens Monday, police said.
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By Teoh Song Keng & Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia, April 8, 2007
SINGAPORE -- A 4-year-old boy was the centre of attention at the Singapore Buddhist Lodge at Kim Yam Road on Sunday.
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VietnamNet Bridge, April 7, 2007
Da Nang, Vietnam -- The ceremony was attended by the municipal authorities and local Most Venerables, Venerables, superior bronzes, monks and nuns. Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh from the Lang Mai Village in France led a delegation of nearly 400 monks and nuns.
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The Bangkok Post, April 7, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Whether Buddhism should be declared the national religion and enshrined in the new Constitution is likely to become a matter of widespread public debate in coming weeks, as the complete draft of the charter is about to be made public, tentatively on April 19. The Constitution Drafting Committee is divided on the issue, with CDC chairman Prasong Soonsiri taking a neutral stand due to the sensitivity of the issue.
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By Sanitsuda Ekachai, Bangkok Post, April 7, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Unwilling to accept that the decline of public faith in the religious institution is a result of their own closed and corrupt system, the clergy are waging a new public campaign to have Buddhism officially enshrined as the national religion in the new charter. The tide now seems to be on the clergy's side.
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by MAJORIE CHIEW, The Star, April 5, 2007
Can the living help the dead? Some Chinese believe they can
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- KOONG tuck (in Cantonese) and kong teik (in Hokkien) are Buddhist terms which mean “merits”. To put it simply, there’s a Cantonese saying, “Cho ho see, yau ho po” which means, “Good deeds will be rewarded”, says sinologist Lai Kuan Fook.
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by Tuoi Tre, Translated by The Vinh, Thanh Nien Daily, April 3, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- World-famous Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh began another Grand Requiem Monday for those killed in all wars and accidents in Vietnam.
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AP, April 1, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The Thai government lashed out Saturday at efforts to sell nude photos of local celebrities as part of a controversial campaign to raise funds for a temple well known for sheltering AIDS patients.
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AFP/de, March 27, 2007
YALA, Thailand -- Some 1,000 Buddhists rallied in Thailand's Muslim-majority south on Monday, urging the government to do more to halt what they fear could become a sectarian conflict.
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The Star, March 27, 2007
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The Malaysian Buddhist fraternity was in full force at the felicitation ceremony of Ven B Sri Saranankara Nayaka Maha Thero held at the Buddhist Maha Vihara temple in Sentul last Saturday.
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UNPO.org, March 27, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Below is an appeal issued on 20 March 2007 by Thach Ngoc Thach, President of Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation and UNPO Representative, addressed to Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung regarding the recent persecution of Khmer-Krom community members:
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By Matt Steinglass, VOA, March 23, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Eighty-year-old monk Thich Nhat Hanh has been back in his native Vietnam for a month, holding a series of ceremonies aimed at healing the wounds of the Vietnam War. In the 1960's, Hanh was one of the leaders of South Vietnam's Buddhist "struggle movement," which opposed the war and the South Vietnamese government.
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by Dieu Hien, Translated by An Dien, Thanh Nien News, March 24, 2007
Danang, Vietnam -- A calligraphy balloon 36m long and 1.8m wide will float in the skies above Danang city, highlighting what would be the largest-ever Quan The Am (Goddess of Mercy) Carnival in Vietnam.
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ThaisNews, March 22, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Minister attached to the Office of the Prime Minister calls for Buddhist people and temples to prevent inappropriate activity or performance in temples. Meanwhile, PM’s Office has prepared to launch the “People Love Temple” Project in the Western Region on March 24th.
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By The Associated Press, March 21, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Mounting tensions between Muslims and Buddhists in Thailand's restive south must be healed to avoid an outbreak of greater violence between the two groups, the prime minister said Wednesday.
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By Winson Teo, TODAY, March 19, 2007
SINGAPORE -- He didn't hit the heights he had hoped for. The Venerable Shi Ming Yi was forced to call off his attempt to scale City House on Sunday night as part of the Ren Ci Charity Show when the ropes he was using tangled during the last part of the climb.
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Thaisnews, March 20, 2007
Phuket, Thailand -- The casting of “Phra Buddha Ming Mongkhol Ake Naga Khiri, being enshrined on the hill top of Nakkerd Hill in Karon sub-district is now reported to be 80 % in progress.
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by Kalinga Seneviratne, Lanka Daily News, March 20, 2007
SUFFICIENCY ECONOMY: In the last two decades, Buddhism's appeal has grown in the West, drawing people seeking a calm not found in the fast-paced world of Internet-driven commerce and communications.
Bangkok, Thailand -- While Bhavana (Buddhist meditation), has become a form of modern psychotherapy and influenced Western lifestyles, is there anything in the religion's 2500 year old teachings, which could influence modern economics?
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RFA, March 16, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- A top dissident Buddhist leader in Vietnam has spoken out against the detention in Ho Chi Minh City of a Norwegian woman who came to present him with a prestigious human rights award, amid signs of a tough new crackdown on dissent.
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Reuters, March 18, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Thousands of Vietnamese attended a three-day Buddhist ceremony led by an exiled monk intended to heal the wounds of the Vietnam War four decades ago and pray for the dead on both sides.
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AKI, March 13, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- A new videogame has been launched in Thailand to help bring Thai youth closer to the fundamental principles of Buddhism. The religious affairs department of the Thai government came up with the idea to develop and distribute what is known as the "Ethics Game".
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Reuters, March 15, 2007
HANOI, Vietnam -- Three Norwegians were briefly detained by Vietnamese police as they arrived at the monastery of an activist Buddhist monk in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday, the Norway embassy said.
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The Star, March 12, 2007
PENANG, Malaysia -- Ven Acara Suvanno Maha Thero, well known as the monk instrumental in reviving Theravada Buddhism in the northern states, has died at the age of 86.
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by Chatrarat Kaewmorakot, The Nation, March 12, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Concerned about a news report of a boy attacking his mother because she refused to give him money to play online games, a senior officer at the Religious Affairs Department decided to create a game himself.
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BY PRISCILLA DIELENBERG, The Star, March 12, 2007
PENANG, Malaysia -- It is common to see “Beware of Dogs” signs. But one warning “Beware of Poisonous Ants”?
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ReliefWeb, March 8, 2007
At least 70 deaths from 6.3 quake in Sumatra
Padang, Sumatra (Indonesia) -- The 6.3 magnitude quake struck close to the city of Padang in the west of Sumatra Island, at 10:49 local time, killing at least 70 people and flattening buildings.
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By KAY JOHNSON, Time Magazine, March 2, 2007
HANOI, Vietnam -- As a world-renowned Buddhist scholar, Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh has become almost synonymous with the words reconciliation and healing. Exiled by both North and South in the 1960s, he focused his concepts of mindfulness and "engaged Buddhism" into retreats for American veterans struggling to build inner peace from the ravages of the Vietnam War.
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Phuket Gazette, March 2, 2007
PHUKET, Thailand -- The Makha Bucha holiday will again be marked by closed bars this year as police request all establishments that serve alcohol to shut down for the Buddhist celebration tomorrow.
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Viet Nam News, Feb 28, 2007
Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam -- More than 12,000 people attended the opening prayer at the Yen Tu Spring Festival, which opened on Monday, in Quang Ninh Province.
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Reuters, February 27, 2007
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- More than 40 Cambodian Buddhist monks protested outside the Vietnamese embassy today, calling on the communist-run nation’s visiting president, Nguyen Minh Triet, to allow greater freedom of religion.
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DPA, Feb 21, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- World-famous Buddhist monk and author Thich Nhat Hanh has returned to his native Vietnam for a 10-week tour to promote healing 30 years after the end of the Vietnam War, his followers said Wednesday.
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Bangkok Post, Feb 16, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Although abrogated by the coup-makers after the Sept 19 putsch, the 1997 Constitution retains its stature as one of the best the country has had. Its Section 5 states: ''The Thai people, irrespective of their origins, sex or religion, shall enjoy equal protection under this Constitution.''
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Reuters, Feb 17, 2007
A Buddhist from northern Thailand, Dheerasak Suwannayos, is the chairman of the Islamic Bank of Thailand, which employs the same kind of micro-financing made famous by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus's Grameen Bank in Bangladesh
Bangkok, Thailand -- The boss of Thailand's only dedicated Islamic bank has a unique job description: work in one of the most dangerous corners of Asia, go to mosques to drum up business and become an expert in chicken-farming.
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By Tan Cheng Yean., New Straits Times, Feb 17, 2007
GEORGE TOWN, Penang (Malaysia) -- A 38-year-old British cyclist has raised RM2,100 for the Buppharam Buddhist Temple by cycling from Kuala Lumpur to Penang.
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The Nation, Feb 14, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- A group of Buddhist monks and supporters rallied in front of Parliament Tuesday to demand charter drafters to state that Buddhism is the national religion.
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The Nation, Feb 12, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Defence Minister General Boonrawd Somtas is worried about growing disunity over calls to declare Buddhism the official religion in the new constitution. He predicted yesterday the issue could become a national controversy.
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by ONNUCHA HUTASINGH, Bangkok Post, Feb 10, 2007
Discussion raised with every new charter
Bangkok, Thailand -- The question of whether Buddhism should officially be declared the national religion has prompted fierce debate as the country once again finds itself facing the dilemma that occurs whenever a new constitution is drawn up.
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OhmyNews, Feb 7, 2007
The Venerable Phrakru Wichian has a pragmatic attitude to HIV prevention Masimba Biriwasha (simplebiri)
Chiang Mai, Thailand -- Venerable Phrakru Wichian, head of the Buddhist Monks Network of Northern Thailand, was very shocked when he discovered that a fellow monk at his monastery was HIV positive. Instead of simply throwing out the infected monk, Wichian turned to the finer teachings of his religion and found a way to cope with the situation, including realizing that condoms were integral to HIV prevention.
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By Hong Minh, Vietnam News/ANN, Feb 6, 2007
Hanoi, Vietnam -- "In the mind of most Vietnamese Buddhists, Dong (Bronze) Pagoda is so sacred that it is a religious duty to visit it," said Pham Thanh Thuy, a faithful follower who witnessed the newly-restored pagoda's opening ceremony.
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The Star, February 5, 2007
Sik, Kedah (Malaysia) -- Unbeknown to many, soaring into the azure sky in Kedah’s backwaters is the majestic statue of a 21m-tall sitting Buddha in meditation pose at Wat Kalai in Jeneri, Sik.
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By Dominique Loh, Channel NewsAsia, February 3, 2007
SINGAPORE -- More than 11,000 elderly folks got an early Lunar New Year hong bao on Saturday morning. And they received them from none other than President SR Nathan himself.
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by Heidi Foo, New Straits Times, Feb 5, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Bogus monks from neighbouring countries will be fined and deported from next week. Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho said enforcement officers will conduct checks at hawker centres and night markets where these bogus monks are usually found.
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AAP, February 2, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- A SENIOR Thai Buddhist monk has been charged with raping a Vietnamese Australian teenager during a ritual he claimed would protect her from bad luck, police said today.
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VNS, Jan 31, 2007
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Thousands of Buddhist worshippers and visitors from all over the country came to Yen Tu mountain yesterday to attend the opening ceremony of the rebuilt Dong Pagoda.
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By Aree Chaisatien, The Nation/ANN), Jan 30, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- Even on weekdays a constant stream of Bangkok tourists pours through Wat Pho, a not-to-be-missed attraction within walking distance of the Royal Grand Palace.
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DPA, Jan 30, 2007
Phnom Penh, Laos -- Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is still not welcome in Cambodia because of China's strong views on the subject, a senior Cambodian religious official said Tuesday.
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Thanh Nien News, Jan 30, 2007
Quang Ninh, Vietnam -- A mountain-top Chua Dong (bronze pagoda) was opened Tuesday at a famous Buddhist site in Vietnam’s Quang Ninh province.
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Source: Thanh Nien, Lao Dong, Compiled by An Dien, Thanh Nien News, Jan 22, 2007
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The Vietnam Guinness Book Center (Vietbooks) has honored four Vietnamese people for newly-recognized Buddhism-related records of academic and cultural significance.
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VNA, Jan 17, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- A superior Buddhist monk affirmed that the Vietnam Buddhist Shangha (VBS) has greatly helped strengthen national unity and contributed to boosting the process of national construction.
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by Ngoc Minh, Saigon Times, Jan 15, 2007
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Every January, many urban-ites make a pilgrimage to show their gratitude for a good year and pray for a new year with good health and smooth work. Nui Ba (Goddess Mountain) in Chau Doc Town is one of the most popular destinations for a pilgrimage because people think that “The Goddess” has supernatural powers.
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Bangkok Post, Jan 11, 2007
Bangkok, Thailand -- A revered monk in the Mekong region performs a ritual to restore morale and ward off evil.
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TNA, Jan 8, 2006
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has blocked a US-based pornography website, using the word "Buddha" in a website name, ICT Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom.
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The Associated Press, January 8, 2007
BANGKOK, Thailand -- A Buddhist teacher who was savagely beaten by a mob of Muslim villagers in restive southern Thailand last year died Monday after spending almost eight months in a coma, her doctor said.
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Thannien News, Jan5, 2007
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The government dismissed as a "total fabrication" the claim, which had been made by the Paris-based International Buddhist Bureau Wednesday.
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By LEE YUK PENG, The Star, January 6, 2007
MALACCA, Malaysia -- Given the rising price of scrap metal, brass urns in Buddhist temples are increasingly being targeted by thieves, with close to 20 temples losing them in the past few months.
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The Buddhist Channel, Jan 6, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Ven. Kobutsu Malone and his son, Ryushin will making a week long Dharma tour of Malaysia from January 6 - 14, 2007. The venerables' visit is made possible through sponsorship by the Buddhist Channel.
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by Luu Quang Pho, Translated by An Dien, Thanh Nien News, Dec 28, 2006
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam -- Work on the construction of the popular Dong (copper) Pagoda began last week in a Vietnamese northern province, set to conclude ahead of the Tet Lunar New Year.
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VNS, Dec 26, 2006
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- A delegation from the Lao Buddhist Union held a working session with dignitaries from the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha’s Executive Council in HCM City yesterday.
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TNA, Dec 25, 2006
Yala, Thailand -- Thai Buddhist villagers taking temporary refuge at a Buddhist temple in this troubled southern province for almost two months on Sunday demanded the government to assist them within 15 days, or they will rally in front of the Government House in Bangkok.
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ThaisNews, Dec 23, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- Mahamakut Buddhist University, together with the Public Organization Network for the Nation, Religion and Monarchy, organized an academic seminar on "Buddhism as a National Religion for the Constitution (of Thailand)". The Buddhism Promotion Association of Thailand Secretary, the venerable Pra-Dhepdilok, chaired the opening of this seminar.
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Source TTXVN, Translated by Thu Thuy, Dec 19, 2006
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- A bronze Buddha, gifted by the Thai foreign ministry and the Mahachulalongkorn University, has been installed at Ho Chi Minh City’s Pho Minh Pagoda.
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The Star, December 16, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The Immigration Department will consider issuing visas to foreign monks only after Buddhist associations in Malaysia have certified their identities, said Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho.
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Khmer-Krom Federation, Dec 14, 2006
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Stories of persecutions continues in Vietnam as an inside source reveals that the Vietnamese authorities continue to crack down on Khmer-Kroms, civilians and Buddhist monks alike, for possessing Human Rights related materials.
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by SUPAPHONG CHAOLAN, Bangkok Post, Dec 16, 2006
Surat Thani, Thailand -- Disciples of revered monk Buddhadasa Bhikkhu have protested against the consecration of Buddha amulets at a temple in Chaiya district, complaining the idea of producing good luck charms is ''anti-Buddhist.''
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By Adeline Chia, The Straits Times, December 12, 2006
Singapore -- A mega exhibition of Buddhist relics is proving popular among believers here but has drawn the ire of the Dalai Lama’s Office.
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by Subhatra Bhumiprabhas, The Nation, Dec 6, 2006
Chiang Rai, Thailand -- An exquisitely carved, century-old wooden Tripitaka Hall - or "Ho Trai" - is waiting for its long-deserved restoration. There's one little hitch, however. It was registered as a national historical building in 2001.
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Sunday Herald, Dec 4, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- IT MAY not be rehab as we might imagine it, but thousands of addicts have healed themselves with projectile vomiting sessions in this Thai monastery since the Buddha appeared in a vision before the abbot of Thamkrabok in 1959.
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The Buddhist Channel, December 4, 2006
Relics Expo organizer "Gelugpa Buddhist Association Singapore" not recognized by HH Dalai Lama
Singapore -- The office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama have expressed its concern about the so-named "The Buddha and His Principal Disciples' Relics Grand Cultural World Exhibition", from December 9 to 17, 2006 at the Singapore Expo, hosted by the the "Gelugpa Buddhist Association Singapore".
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The Buddhist Channel, December 2, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The relics of Malaysia and Singapore's revered Chief Monk, the late Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda was interned in a specially built pagoda in a ceremony to mark his 3 months memorial today. The venerable passed away on August 31, 2006.
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The Nation, Dec 1, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- Deputy Interior Minister Banyat Chansena yesterday proposed that all Buddhist children formally pledge their allegiance to Buddhism when they are eight years old - a tradition adopted during the reign of King Rama VI.
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by APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL, Bangkok Post, Dec 1, 2006
Shelter supplies food, medication for over 500 people with disease
Lop Buri, Thailand -- Groups of emaciated HIV/Aids patients at Lop Buri's Wat Phra Baht Nam Phu will soon be a thing of the past. Instead, the country's hospice for severe Aids patients is now having to cope with an increasing number of people saved by anti-retroviral treatment but who still fall victim to the social stigma associated with the disease.
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AsiaNews/Agencies, November 30, 2006
The speaker of Cambodia’s Senate, in view of the next municipal (2007) and national elections (2008), highlights the importance of Buddhist religious’ social role. Over the years spiritual leaders have insured that monks to do not participate in voting to avoid “temptation”.
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DPA, Nov 29, 2006
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Cambodian Buddhist monks have the right to vote in upcoming commune and national elections, acting head of state Chea Sim told a Buddhist congress in the capital Wednesday.
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The Buddhist Channel, Nov 26, 2006
Week long of activities begin with an exhibition and novitiate program to commemorate the 3 month memorial of the late Ven. Dr K Sri Dhammananda
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- It is said that those who have been bestowed with greatness not only leave behind memories but also marks that streaks across skies and auras that permeate all the paths which they have been trodded upon.
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Reuters, Nov 22, 2006
BANGKOK, Thailand -- A Thai Buddhist monk cut off his penis with a machete because he had an erection during meditation and declined to have it reattached, saying he had renounced all earthly cares, a doctor and a newspaper said on Wednesday.
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VietNamNet Bridge, Nov 22, 2006
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- The Vietnam Record Book Centre (VietBooks) has announced 43 new records associated with Vietnamese Buddhism, including over 20 set in the South.
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By DAVID LONGSTREATH, Wells Fargo Pioneer, November 17, 2006
For these boys, the monastery becomes a family.
Yangon, Myanmar -- The head monk chews beetle nut as he quietly shaves the head of a young boy settled at his feet. A line of 10 others, all between the ages of 5 and 10, patiently wait their turn to be left with the patch of hair on their foreheads that marks them as orphans.
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Pattaya City News, November 15, 2006
Pattaya, Thailand -- The export of statues and other items relating to Thai culture and religion is big business but some items, including original artifacts are not permitted to be exported and those attempting to do so are liable for prosecution.
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The Buddhist Channel, Nov 17, 2006
Famous monks scheduled to arrive in Malaysia for week long commemoration beginning November 26 to December 3, 2006.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- For many devotees particularly in Malaysia and Singapore, the late Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda Maha Nayaka Thera was not only a monk, he was also a “Great Man” whose life long service to the Dharma virtually transformed the Buddhist landscape here.
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TNA, Nov 13, 2006
YALA, Thailand -- Doctors have visited some 200 villagers who have fled their homes in two districts of this troubled southern province on fears of attacks by southern insurgents and are now taking a temporary shelter at a Buddhist temple have found that a number of them are suffering from stress.
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Bangkok Post, Nov 13, 2006
Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand -- Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont says the five precepts of Buddhism are the best means of achieving sustainable development.
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Bangkok Post, Nov 13, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- The National Buddhism Office of Thailand wants its new Suvarnabhumi Airport to install a monks' lounge in the passenger terminal, citing regular travel by senior monks as a reason.
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by Jamie Khoo, The Star, November 11, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- KECHARA House, which takes its name from one of Buddhism’s highest tantric deities’ heaven, Kechara Paradise, was established in Malaysia in 2000, under the spiritual guidance of Tsem Tulku Rinpoche.
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Bangkok Post, Nov 12, 2006
Violent attacks fan fears among Buddhists
Narathiwat, Thailand -- Monks in Narathiwat will stop leaving their temples to receive alms in the mornings from tomorrow, as insurgents have stepped up violent attacks to further fan fears among Buddhists in the deep South. Leading monks in the southernmost province met at Wat Prachum Cholthara in Sungai Padi district yesterday before announcing their joint decision.
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VietNamNet Bridge, Nov 10, 2006
Hanoi, Vietnam -- An awe-inspiring array of Thailand's antiquities has surfaced from the storage room of the National Museum of Vietnamese History to put a physical face on Buddhist culture.
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by Charoon Thongnual, The Nation, Nov 10, 2006
Fleeing villagers seek refuge in wat of nearby district, fearing attacks by militants
Yala, South Thailand -- Nearly 100 Buddhists from three villages in Yala's Than To and Bannang Sata districts have fled their homes and sought refuge at a temple in a nearby district amid growing fears of more insurgent violence, officials said.
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Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Nov 10, 2006
Taipei, Taiwan -- A Taiwan Buddhist group plans to launch a television station in Muslim Indonesia to encourage Indonesians to care for poor people in their country, the group said Friday.
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ThaisNews, Nov 8, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Speaker of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), Mr. Meechai Ruchupan, is concerned that the draft of the Buddhist Monk Act, which has been submitted by the NLA members, may produce dissonance, while proposing the government to have a clear understanding before a problem arises.
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The Nation, Nov 8, 2006
Infighting among Buddhist factions is what prevents badly needed religious reform from taking place
Bangkok, Thailand -- The long-running controversy over whether the Supreme Patriarch, His Holiness Somdet Phra Yanasamvara Suvaddhana Mahathera, at 93, is physically and mentally well enough to discharge his duties has baffled most Buddhists in Thailand.
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Originally published July 27, 2004, IPS/GIN, Published on the Buddhist Channel, Nov 8, 2006
BANGKOK, Thailand -- When senior monks gathered recently to select a leader for Thailand's supreme Buddhist body, the presence of a 200-strong force of armed police commandos helped to highlight another crack on the face of Thai Buddhism. The protection for the monks was not to ward off possible attacks from assailants who have been targeting symbols of Buddhism and the state in southern Thailand since early January.
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by N. Thuy, Translated by Luu Thi Hong, Thanh Nien News, Nov 7, 2006
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- The Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation, the country’s largest Buddhist group, reviewed its contributions to the nation during celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City Tuesday to mark the 25th anniversary of its founding.
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VietNamNet Bridge, Nov 5, 2006
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Pho Minh Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City held a ceremony on Saturday to receive Buddhist robes offered by Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the occasion of Kathina, main Buddhist festival in Thailand that is celebrated during October or November.
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VNA, November 1, 2006
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), which will celebrate its 25th founding anniversary on November 7, has so far raised more than VND 400 billion (US$ 24.8 mil) for humanitarian activities.
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Aftenpolten, Nov 1, 2006
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Quang Do will not accept the human rights dedicated Rafto Prize because he fears he will not be allowed back into his homeland.
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Sapa-dpa, November 1 2006
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Communist-run Vietnam on Wednesday dismissed an international human rights prize for a leading monk of a banned Buddhist sect as "completely inappropriate," state media reported.
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Source: ARCWorld, April 19 2006, Published on the Buddhist Channel, Nov 1, 2006
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Over the past year, ARC has conducted a series of case studies on organisations run by, or working with, Buddhist monks and nuns on issues ranging through HIV, microfinance, local governance, conflict management, education, gender, health care and community forestry.
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The Nation, Nov 1, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- A proposed regulation to ban women aged younger than 20 working as so-called "coyote dancers" is attracting fire for alleged violation of workers' rights.
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By JADE CHAN, The Star, October 27, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The Losang Dragpa Buddhist Society (LDC) recently organised a Million Light Offerings event at the Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur.
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Bangkok Post, Oct 30, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- Her Majesty the Queen has expressed concern over the racy dancing of "Coyote Girls" during a ceremony held to mark the end of Buddhist Lent in Nong Khai early this month, says Culture Minister Khaisri Sri-aroon.
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China Post (AP), Oct 28, 2006
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Cheap and quiet accommodation is available for visitors to Thailand's upcoming international horticultural show, but some may find it too quiet - the lodgings are in the funeral hall of a Buddhist temple.
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DPA, Oct 26, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- Thai Airways International (THAI) will fly to three new destinations in India from next week to tap the country's growing business and tourist attractions.
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The Nation, Oct 25,2006
Bangkok,Thailand -- Her Majesty the Queen has concern over safety of Buddhist monks in the deep South following last week's bomb attack, PM's Office Minister Khunying Dipavadee Meksawan said Wednesday.
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The Nation, Oct 19, 2006
Kanchanaburi, Thailand -- Highly-revered Buddhist monk Luang Phor Uttama passed away yesterday from sepsis stemming from a chronic lung infection. He was 97.
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The Buddhist Channel, Oct 18, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The Malaysian Buddhist Coordination Committee (MBCC), in a meeting convened on October 15, 2006, unanimously agreed to disapprove “The Relics Expo of the Buddha and His Chief Disciples” organised by the Kuala Lumpur Gelugpa Buddhist Association (Malaysia).
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By SETH MYDANS, International Herald Tribune, October 16, 2006
LOP BURI, Thailand -- Thailand’s primary AIDS hospice at a Buddhist temple here, once a place of certain death, is now becoming overcrowded by the living — people whose lives have been saved by medication but are rejected by their families or neighbors.
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Bangkok Post, Oct 16, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- Flood barriers have become nearly as common as temples in the central plains provinces of Thailand in efforts to hold back an overflowing Chao Phraya River.
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ThaisNews, Oct 9, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Director-General of the Religious Affairs Department, Mr. Preecha Kanthiya, warns people of frauds using Religion Division name to collect money. Those who met these people are urged to call the police to file complaints against them.
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TNA, Oct 10, 2006
NARATHIWAT, Thailand -- A remote-controlled roadside bomb wounded a Thai Buddhist monk during his morning alms rounds near a market at Sungai Kolok district in this insurgency-affected province.
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AAP, October 10, 2006
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- A BUDDHIST monk in Cambodia burned himself to death as a sacrifice to Buddha, police said today.
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The Star, October 9, 2006
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Ven K. Dhammaratana Thera, better known as Rev Ratana, was installed as chief monk of the Maha Vihara temple in Brickfields yesterday.
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The Star, October 5, 2006
KUANTAN, Pahang (Malaysia) -- Some 160 devotees sacrificed their weekend break by turning up to support a blood donation campaign organised by the Pahang Buddhist Association (PBA) here.
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by Sanitsuda Ekachai, Bangkok Post, Sept 28, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- I had my first taste of a military coup when I was two, when strongman Sarit Thanarat toppled the fascist Pibul regime. Shortly after that my father and a score of his journalist friends were sent to jail just because they had been to China on a press trip. And also because the US-backed junta wanted to impress its big brother that they were serious about the commies. A lot has happened since then, leading many of us to believe coups had become obsolete in our country. That has proven to be a false hope.
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Reuters, Sept 28, 2006
HANOI, Vietnam -- A Buddhist monk, who is confined by the Vietnamese government to his monastery, fears he would be prevented from returning to Vietnam if he travelled to Norway to receive a human rights award, his supporters said.
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Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa, September 28, 2006
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The 86-year-old patriarch of a banned Buddhist sect in Vietnam has been hospitalized and was being transferred to a Ho Chi Minh City facility for heart and lung problems, his Paris-based supporters said Thursday.
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by SANTIKARO, Bangkok Post, Sept 24, 2006
An early exponent of Theravadins opening up to other Buddhist traditions, Buddhadasa Bhikku wasn't an activist in the sense of organising inter-religious conferences, but the interest he showed in other religions and his willingness to critique practices he saw as wayward influenced others to do just that
Bangkok, Thailand -- Buddhadasa Bhikkhu was one of the most influential figures in Thai Buddhism during the last century. His progressive and reformist character, as well as his profound but extremely straightforward dharma teachings made a lasting impact on Theravada Buddhism. This year we mark the centenary of his birth and this is the second in a series of "Turning Wheel" articles written in his honour.
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by Chuah Ai Jou, The Buddhist Channel, Sept 25, 2006
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia – September 25, 2006 sees the birth of a new meditation centre, Clove&Clive in Kelana Jaya, a commercial suburb of Petaling Jaya.
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Kaowao News, September 22, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- Thai authorities disrobed eight monks in a Mon temple for illegal entry into the kingdom today.
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VNS, Sept 19, 2006
Ha noi, Vietnam -- Two culturally and historically significant Vietnamese traditional lacquer paintings have been successfully preserved with US government funding.
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VNS, Sept 16, 2006
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Disadvantaged Mong and Dao Do ethnic minority children in 10 northern mountainous provinces received gifts and a visit from the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha delegation earlier this week.
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The Buddhist Channel, September 17, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Due to popular demand, the Buddhist Channel have compiled all the resources produced by various parties and individuals during the late Chief Venerable's funeral from August 31 - September 3, 2006.
The Buddhist Channel feels blessed to have been able to cover the event "live" via the Internet. Through active collaborations with renowned bloggers like Jeff Ooi and Oon Yeoh, we have been able to demonstrate the power of "New Media" as a viable media platform. An example would be the online tribute facility, which gave the opportunity to those who were not able to attend the funeral to pay their tribute to revered venerable.
We would like to thank all parties concerned for their kind contribution.
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VNS, Sept 9, 2006
Hanoi, Vietnam -- A ceremony was held to mark the completion of the first phase of the Viet Nam Buddhism Academy in Ha Noi’s outlying district of Soc Son yesterday. The academy also began classes for the 5th school year for Bachelor of Arts in Buddhism.
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By Richard C. Paddock, Los Angeles Times, September 10, 2006
BAGAN, Myanmar -- The bricklayers are paid $1.35 a day to rebuild the ancient ruin: a small, 13th Century temple reduced by time to little more than its foundation.
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DVB/Buddhist Channel, Sept 11, 2006
Mandalay, Myanmar -- A member of Burma's ruling junta, Thidar Aye Ward authority member Aye Pe opened a liquor shop near two Buddhist monasteries in the township of Mandalay's Maha Aungmye.
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By MAJORIE CHIEW, The Star, September 6, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Death is no cause for sorrow, but it would be sorrow if one dies without having done something for oneself and for the world. – Chief Reverend Venerable Dr K. Sri Dhammananda, Food for The Thinking Mind
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Sin Chew Daily, Sept 7 2006
SEMENYIH, Selangor (Malaysia) -- Some strange images were seen in the sky during the cremation of the late Venerable Dr Rev K. Sri Dhammananda, the Chief High Priest of Malaysia and Singapore.
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By Richard C. Paddock, Los Angeles Times, September 7, 2006
Myanmar's regime is obliterating a cultural treasure as it `rebuilds' ancient temples to bring in tourists. Experts are aghast -- and uninvited.
BAGAN, Myanmar -- The bricklayers are paid $1.35 a day to rebuild the ancient ruin: a small, 13th century temple reduced by time to little more than its foundation.
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The Buddhist Channel, Sept 4, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Raw emotions were displayed at the eulogy ceremony to commemorate the achievements of the late Chief Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda. The eulogy service was held at the Dewan Asoka of the Buddhist Maha Vihara where the late venerable’s body was laid for the public to pay their last respects. Delegates of the diplomatic corp., seasoned Buddhist leaders and fellow religionists tried hard to keep their feelings in check as one after another poured tribute to the revered venerable.
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Bernama, September 3, 2006
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa says the death of Chief High Priest of Malaysia and Singapore, Venerable Dr K. Sri Dhammananda Nayake Maha Thera, as a great loss not only for Sri Lankans and Malaysians but to the Buddhists throughout the world.
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by AZLAN RAMLI, New Straits Times, Sept 4, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- As a reporter with The Malay Mail between 1994-2005, I met Rev K. Sri Dhammananda several times — usually during Wesak Day celebrations he led at the Buddhist Maha Vihara (temple) in Brickfields and on a few other occasions.
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The New Straits Times, Sep 4, 2006
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Glowing tributes, tears and prayers accompanied the Venerable Dr K. Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thera on his final journey yesterday.
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The Star, September 4, 2006
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- The late Venerable Dr Rev K. Sri Dhammananda - Chief High Priest of Malaysia and Singapore - was a man who dedicated his life to promoting peace, understanding and harmony.
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The Star, September 4, 2006
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Thousands of Buddhists turned up at the Nirvana Memorial Park in Semenyih, to pay their last respects to Venerable Dr Rev K. Sri Dhammananda, the Chief High Priest of Malaysia and Singapore.
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The Buddhist Channel, September 4, 2006
Lighting of 40 foot pyre “releases” Chief from this world
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The funeral for the late Dr. K Sri Dhammananda, who passed away last Thursday was carried out with solemn dignity at the Nirwana Memorial in Semenyih, Selangor today. The program was on schedule despite the thunderstorm and wet conditions. About 5,000 devotees attended the ceremony.
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The Sunday Star, September 3, 2006
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake paid his final respects to Chief High Priest of Malaysia and Singapore, Venerable Dr Rev K. Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thera at the Buddhist Maha Vihara here yesterday.
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By Yong Tiam Kui, The Sunday Times, Sep 3, 2006
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- His name means "one who experiences happiness through the Dhamma (teachings of the Buddha)". This was the name 12-year-old Martin was given when he was ordained as a novice Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka.
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The Buddhist Channel, Sept 2, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Buddhists in this part of the world will witness for the first time the use of a pyre to cremate the body of the late Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda. The event is expected to be held at the Nirwana Memorial, Semenyih at 5 pm on Sunday, September 3, 2006.
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The Star, Sept 2, 2006
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Leaders from the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), led by party president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, paid their last respects to Chief High Priest of Malaysia and Singapore Venerable Dr K. Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thera who died on Thursday.
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Eulogy by Kooi Fong Lim, The Buddhist Channel, September 2, 2006
Vast oceans are merely creased by waves deep with cunning are the hearts of knaves water evaporates eventually the bottom shown when the Chief crossed over his final thoughts remain unknown
- Gary Gach, Poet and Author of “Idiot Guide to Understanding Buddhism”
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The Buddhist Channel, Sept 3, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- This is the latest update on the funeral arrangements for the late Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda. Devotees are advised to follow procedures strictly so as to allow proceedings to flow smoothly.
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By Oon Yeoh, The Buddhist Channel, Aug 31, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- In Buddhism we are taught that in order for anything to happen, there needs to be the right causes and conditions. In early 2006, the causes and conditions were just right for the Chief film to happen.
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The Buddhist Channel, Aug 31, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The Chief monk of Malaysia and Singapore, Ven. Dr K Sri Dhammananda Maha Nayaka Thera passed away peacefully at 12.42 pm today. He was 87.
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By Oon Yeoh, News Today, Sept 1 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Leading Buddhist leader, K Sri Dhammananda, died on Thursday in hospital after a long illness. He was 87.
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The Star/Buddhist Channel, August 30, 2006
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- The Chief Monk of Malaysia and Singapore Venerable Dr K. Sri Dhammananda, 87, is critically ill and has been in a private hospital in Petaling Jaya for more than a week. The public however, is advised not to visit him at the hospital.
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BY VASANA CHINVARAKORN, MAIN PHOTO BY SMITH SUTHIBUT, Bangkok Post, Aug 28, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- The roar of bombs. The macabre, pervasive scent of death. In the deep South and across the whole globe, strife in the name of religion is steadily growing.
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Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Aug 26, 2006
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- A Cambodian Buddhist monk who stripped naked and raced through suburban streets after a heavy night of drinking rice wine laced with toads has been asked to leave the monkhood, a religious official said Saturday.
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Bangkok Post, Aug 23, 2006
Embezzled temple assets returned
Bangkok, Thailand -- The prosecution has withdrawn an embezzlement charge against Phra Dhammachayo, former abbot of Wat Dharmakaya temple, and his close disciple following the return of the embezzled assets.
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by Sanitsuda Ekachai, Bangkok Post, Aug 24, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- It did not come as a surprise. Despite serious allegations of embezzlement and distortion of Theravada Buddhist teachings, few believed the justice system could bring down Phra Dhammachayo, whose followers include many powerful politicians in the government.
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by Tan Hui Yee, The Straits Times, Aug 19, 2006
Singapore -- A 65-year-old temple off Bartley Road and its large bodhi tree - which are being acquired by the Government - are attracting hordes of visitors every weekend amid growing calls for both to be preserved.
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by Chatrarat Kaewmorakot, The Nation, Aug 21, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- Undertakers write down their opinions on how to solve the pollution problem caused by cremations at monasteries.
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The Nation, August 16, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- A container carrying more than 100 Buddha images and artefacts that were about to be smuggled to the United States was impounded yesterday.
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VNA, Aug 16, 2006
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Buddhist nun Thich Dam Anh of the Hanoi Phung Thanh pagoda has been presented with the Labour Order, third class, by the State in recognition of her humanitarian activities over the past 60 years.
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by KLOYKAMOL SIRIBHAKDI, Bangkok Post, Aug 14, 2006
Thailand's Fine Arts Department is currently renovating some venerable old temples in the North and, in a break from past practices, is consulting local residents about how best to go about the work
Bangkok, Thailand -- To encourage young people to take pride in their culture and better appreciate the accomplishments of their ancestors, textbooks and lectures are simply no substitute for seeing structures and artefacts from the past with one's own eyes.
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AP, Aug 9, 2006
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Buddhist monks are being enlisted in Cambodia to help spread the word about preventing bird flu, which has killed six people in the country, an official said Wednesday.
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Reported by Nguyen Thuy, translated by Thu Thuy, Thanh Nien Daily, Aug 9, 2006
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Buddhist dignitaries and monks from several pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday presented gifts, food and money to the poor in the city on the occasion of Vu Lan Festival (Mother’s Day in Vietnam).
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Bernama, August 9, 2006
BACHOK, Kelantan (Malaysia) -- A 36-metre tall "Standing Buddha" is being built at Wat Phithikyan Phutthaktham in Kampung Balai here.It costs RM2 mil (US$ 548,000) to build, mostly using funds donated by the public.
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By ANTHONY CHEW, The Star, Aug 6, 2006
Penang, Malaysia -- Twenty four world-renowned professors and scholars will be making a beeline to Penang to speak at the 1st International Buddhist College Buddhist Studies Conference at Than Hsiang Temple from Aug 11 to Aug 13.
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VNA, Aug 5, 2006
Thua Thien-Hue, Vietnam -- Hundreds of underprivileged children have enjoyed better living conditions and nurtured hope for a brighter future since they were cared by Buddhist nuns in Duc Son pagoda.
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VNA, Aug 5, 2006
Thua Thien-Hue, Vietnam -- Hundreds of underprivileged children have enjoyed better living conditions and nurtured hope for a brighter future since they were cared by Buddhist nuns in Duc Son pagoda.
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by Kooi Fong Lim, The Buddhist Channel, August 2, 2006
Buddhist Channel to utilize benefits of Web 2.0 technologies to reach out more effectively
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The re-launch of the Buddhist Channel on August 1, 2006 (BCWEB2.0) incorporates a unique system few would have noticed (except perhaps for the tech savvy).
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By MAJORIE CHIEW, The Star, July 24, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Some faint-hearted Chinese shudder to think of the seventh lunar month, also called the Ghost Month. This year, many of them may be going to bed early (with bedroom lights on) as there are not one but two ghost months. Good news to the denizens of the underworld who are getting a 60-day holiday. Bad news for us, mortals (especially the night birds)!
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AP, July 23, 2006
Anlong Veng, Cambodia -- Hundreds of mourners yesterday lit incense and monks chanted prayers as Ta Mok, one of the chief architects of the Khmer Rouge's brutal rule of Cambodia during the late 1970s, was given a traditional Buddhist funeral.
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The Buddhist Channel, July 19, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Venerable Padma Chhokid, who fell ill and became incapacited while in Malaysia after attending the Sakyaditta conference from June 9-16, 2006 left for New Delhi from Kuala Lumpur today.
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by Giao Huong, translated by Hoang Bao, Thanh Nien Daily, July 19, 2006
Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam -- A Buddhist scripture comprising over 2,000 texts preserved in nearly 70 million Chinese characters has been translated into Vietnamese in just one day using a new computer program developed in the US.
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VNS, July 11, 2006
HA NOI, Vietnam -- The Viet Nam Buddhist Academy yesterday awarded certificates to 194 graduates from 30 municipal and provincial chapters of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha Congregation (VBSC) nationwide upon completion of the 4th study course for the 2002-06 period.
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by NURADZIMMAH DAIM, The Malay Mail, July 11, 2006
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- THE 'Unlucky 13' were given their final rites yesterday. The 13 dogs, shot dead by the Seremban Municipal Council (MPS) last month after their owner refused to comply with the council's order to relocate the canines, received prayers at a ceremony organised by animal lovers, last night.
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Bangkok Post, July 11, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- Monks at temples across Thailand's southern border region will be well protected during the three-month Buddhist Lent, which will begin Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Pol. Gen. Chidchai Vanasatidya promised here on Monday.
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Thaisnews, July 11, 2006
Phuket, Thailand -- As the seasonal monsoon rains descend over the kingdom, it marks the beginning of the Buddhist "rain retreat" and the Buddhist Lent, or "Phansa", during which all Buddhist monks retreat to the temples.
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by Jacques Biermann, Pattaya Daily News, July 10, 2006
City rejoices in celebrating the Buddhist Lent, by creating an awe-inspiring Candle Festival 2006 Pattaya, Thailand -- Pattaya City Under Deputy Wuttisak Rermkitchakarn, together with members from his cabinet MPs, officially declared the Buddhist Lent Candle Festival 2006. The event took place on the 27 June, 2006 at a meeting room of Pattaya City Hall.
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ABC Asia Pacific TV / Radio Australia, July 7, 2006
Hanoi, Vietnam -- More than 50 Buddhist monks have staged a rare demonstration in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi.
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The Nation, June 28, 2006
NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand -- Revered Buddhist monk Luang Phor Khoon Parisuttho was hospitalised Wednesday morning with a low blood sugar level, prompting doctors to prohibit people from visiting him or ask the monk not to visit his followers.
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The Nation, June 30, 2006
Campaigners say liquor takes heaviest toll among the poor
Bangkok, Thailand -- Alcoholic drinks cost Thailand up to Bt1 trillion (US$ 275 mil) a year in losses through accidents, crimes and health problems, Thai Health Promotion Foundation president Suchai Charoenratanakul said yesterday.
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Thaisnews, June 28, 2006
Surin, Thailand -- Surin province in the Northeast is arranging for Buddhist monasteries located in the forests to help in its reforestation project.
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Hua Hin Today, June 25, 2006
Hua Hin, Thailand -- The Tak Bat Dok Mai is a Buddhist ceremony in which locals offer flowers to the monks as a way of making merit. The ceremony is unique to Saraburi province. In addition to the offerings of cooked rice, food, incense, candles and other conventional sacred items, the Tak Bat Dok Mai ritual includes offerings of Dok Khao Phansa flowers that only come into bloom during the Buddhist Lent.
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VNA, June 23, 2006
CAN THO, Vietnam -- More than 200 representatives of the Khmer Buddhist Theravada branch in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta and southeast provinces joined a conference that opened in Can Tho City on Wednesday.
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STORY BY VASANA CHINVARAKORN, MAIN PHOTO BY YINGYONG UN-ANONGRAK, Bangkok Post, June 22, 2006
On his birthday last year, one of his closest friends, a fellow monk and conservationist, was brutally murdered. But Phra Kittisak Kittisophano remains undaunted; his fight to bring justice back to Thailand's judicial system continues regardless
Bangkok, Thailand -- A constant companion of his, a book that he usually carries around in his bag is Dhammapada, a collection of verse by the Lord Buddha offering words of wisdom appropriate for many different occasions.
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Reuters, June 22, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- Buddhist monks in Thailand are too tired to receive early morning alms because they are staying up late to watch the World Cup, a Thai newspaper reported on Wednesday.
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ThaisNews, June 20, 2006
Phuket, Thailand -- Around 6.5 million baht fund was raised and presented to the privy councilor Kamthon Sinthawanond who came down to Phuket on Saturday.
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Bernama, June 18, 2006
PENANG, Malaysia -- The Home Affairs Ministry has directed the police and immigration authorities to detain and deport bogus monks from abroad who seek donations illegally and tarnish the image of Buddhism, Home Affairs Deputy Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho said Sunday.
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BY NG SI HOOI, The Star, June 18, 2006
PETALING JAYA, Malaysia -- Someone like Mother Teresa could emerge among Buddhist women, to contribute to the people’s wellbeing and to be a source of inspiration to men and women of all faiths, said Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting.
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Bangkok Post, June 15, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- Thailand's Buddhist monks are allowed to watch the current World Cup matches on television but they should strictly observe serenity--no cheering and, most importantly, no betting, Religious Affairs Department director-general Preecha Gunteeya said here Tuesday.
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TNA, June 11, 2006
BANGKOK, Thailand -- A Buddha image in gold-plated bronze will be placed in Boston, Massachusetts, the United States, where His Majesty the King was born, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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by Tan Duc, Translated by Thu Thuy, Thanh Nien Daily, June 12, 2006
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The Hoa Hao Buddhist Central Administrative Committee will hold a solemn ceremony in southern An Giang province Tuesday to mark the 67th anniversary of the religion on the 18th day of fifth lunar month.
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Xinhua, June 9, 2006
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Cambodian monks may be allow to watch the football World Cup, but asked to be calm, local media reported on Friday.
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TNA, june 6, 2006
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Borvornsak Uwanno, who resigned as Cabinet secretary general Tuesday, is regarded as a senior government official well versed with legal affairs and adept at coordinative skills.
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By Kooi Fong Lim, The Buddhist Channel, June 7, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- There is this story about a monk and his disciple taking a stroll back to their hut just after dana (receiving offerings of food). By a creek along their path was an old willow tree and nearby, a banyan shrub resting on the slope of a mound. It was an unusually windy morning. The monk asked the disciple: "What's common between that old willow tree and the banyan shrub?"
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VNA, June 5, 2006
Hanoi, Vietnam -- A VND 20bil project to restore the Dong (Bronze) Pagoda on Yen Tu Mountain, a scenic and historic site associated with the Truc Lam meditation sect, was officially launched on Saturday.
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Source: Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, May 29, 2006
Tzu Chi volunteers inspire previous recipients to become benefactors
Jogjakarta, Indonesia -- South Asia Tsunami victims showed their benevolent actions to the Central Java Earthquake victims when volunteers of Taiwan Compassion Relief Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Indonesia Branch appealed for their goodwill.
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Source: Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, May 29, 2006
Bantul, Indonesia -- Local Tzu Chi medical team have treated 200 patients and performed a surgery within the first four hours since the setup of the Imogiri clinic in the Bantul region.
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ReliefWeb (Source: Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation), May 28, 2006
Jogjakarta, Indonesia -- Taiwan Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation (Tzu Chi) is to send first 100 tons of the 500 tons of rice aids to the Indonesian Earthquake disaster area on 29 May. Currently, the Tzu Chi relief and medical teams are providing medical assistances at various Bantul locations as well as assessing the conditions.
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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, May 27, 2006
YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia -- Borobudur temple, the world's largest Buddhist monument, escaped damage during the powerful earthquake Saturday that killed thousands of people Indonesians, officials said.
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by ANCHALEE KONGRUT, Bangkok Post, May 21, 2006
Historic temple in green surrounds offers peaceful place for dharma meditation amid the bustle of the commercial district
Bangkok, Thailand -- Siriwan Yodsuksa has visited Siam Square in Pathumwan district almost every day for over 20 years.
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By JADE CHAN, The Star, May 20, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- SOME people have the perception that women are somehow not as capable or worthy as men. This attitude is held only by some men, but also by women themselves.
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Bangkok Post, May 21, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- In a ritual harking back to Thailand's Hindu roots, a reconstructed Brahman statue was paraded Sunday to the Erawan shrine in the heart of Bangkok, where hundreds of worshippers were on hand to welcome the revered deity.
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By ONG YEE TING, The Star, May 13, 2006
Penang, Malaysia -- THE flickering 2,550 yellow lotus candles lit up the Mahindarama Buddhist Temple on Kampar Road, Penang, in conjunction with the Wesak Day celebration.
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The Buddhist Channel, May 18, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- A whistle blower has succeeded in exposing the illegal deeds and acts of corruption by Dr. Dodamgoda Rewatha Thero a Sri Lankan national and Buddhist monk who embezzled funds belonging to the Maha Bodhi Society of India (MBSI), considered to be the head quarters of the Buddhist movement.
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The Star, May 11, 2006
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- People who put on saffron robes and ask for donations could be conmen, said Chempaka Buddhist Lodge vice-president Tan Eng Chye.
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The Nation, May 11, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- In a bid to become the world's Buddhism hub, Thailand's Office of National Buddhism has opened a Buddhism library at Nakhon Pathom's Buddhamonthon, to mark World Visakha Puja Day and His Majesty the King's 60th year on the throne.
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ThaisNews, May 10, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- Buddhist leaders from around the world today called upon laymen worldwide to apply more Buddhist principles in daily life in order to create global peace.
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Bangkok Post, May 8, 2006
Nakhon Pathom, Thailand -- Thailand is hosting an international Buddhism conference, marking the World Visakha Puja Day and the auspicious occasion of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's ascension to the throne this year.
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VNA, May 8, 2006
Lam Dong, Vietnam -- The authorities and mass organisations in Central Highlands Lam Dong province from May 7-8 sent many delegations to visit and present gifts to monks and nuns at Buddhist pagodas in the province on the occasion of Buddha's 2630th birth anniversary and the 2550-year Buddhist calendar.
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VNA, May 5, 2006
Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Vietnam -- Crowds of Buddhist clerics gathered in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on May 4 to mark the Buddha's 2630th birth day.
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VNA, May 5, 2006
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- A number of major programmes in celebration of Buddha's birth anniversary kicked off in Ho Chi Minh City on May 5 and will last until May 12, when the full moon rises.
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ANTARA News, May 3, 2006
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Cambodia's first Buddhist monk to re-enter the religion after the fall of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge regime has been elevated to the kingdom's highest position in the religion by King Norodom Sihamoni, according to letters released Wednesday.
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News24.com, May 2, 2006
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Some 300 Buddhist villagers, apparently angered by a rival faith within their community, have razed a partially built Christian church to the ground, near the Cambodian capital, says an official on Tuesday.
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The Nation, April 29, 2006
The Visakha Buja Day Festival will be celebrated around the world between May 6 and May 22.
Bangkok, Thailand -- The United Nations has recognised Visakha Buja Day as one of the world's most important days. It is sometimes referred to as "Buddha Day", because three important events in the Lord Buddha's life occurred on this day - his birth, his enlightenment and his death.
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Narinjara News, May 1, 2006
Mrauk U, Myanmar -- The authority in Mrauk U has requested that the Abbot of Set Tha Wra Village sell the plot of land on which the monastery sits to the state after natural gas was discovered within the compound, said a monk from the monastery.
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The Buddhist Channel, April 29, 2006
Singapore -- The Singapore Buddhist Federation (SBF) would jointly celebrate this Vesak with the Inter-Religious Organisation of Singapore, Jamiyah Singapore, Hindu Endowments Board and the Central Singapore Community Development Council. It is also the first time that other religions would come together on this sacred day to promote inter-religious harmony. The two-day event which would open on 6 May 2006 at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza, would be graced by the President of Singapore, His Excellency S R Nathan.
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by Shahrul Hafeez, The New Straits Times, Apr 28, 2006
IPOH, Perak (Malaysia) -- Nestled in lush greens and flanked by the limestone Tambun Hills stands a 24-metre statue built by an orchard owner to honour his late spiritual teacher.
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Antara News, April 21, 2006
Jakarta, Indonesia -- President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government was under obligation to protect every religion and all their adherents in the contry from being tarnished by irresponsible elements.
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DVB, April 18, 2006
Chauk, Burma -- A Buddhist abbot was killed by two drunken youths during the Burmese water festival Thingyan at Chauk, Magwe Division in central Burma, after the motorcycle ridden by the latter ploughed with great speed into the motorcycle ridden by the monk.
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Jakarta Post, April 12, 2006
TANGERANG, Indonesia -- Construction workers have been kept busy at State Sriwijaya Institute for Buddhists in the remote Pager Haur in Pagedangan district, Tangerang regency. The second stage of the Rp 1 billion (US$ 111,700) project, financed by the Religious Affairs Ministry, is finished.
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DPA, April 11, 2006
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Authorities were seeking a runaway Buddhist monk after he allegedly tossed aside his vows and eloped with a 12-year-old girl late last month, police said on Tuesday.
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DPA, April 3, 2006
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Three hundred people, including members of the former ultra-Maoist Khmer Rouge, have entered a pagoda in the district of Pailin for 12 days of intensive Buddhist education to help them overcome problems within their communities, officials said Monday.
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Radio Free Asia, March 25 2006
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Women in the Buddhist monastic tradition known as bhikkhuni, or female monks, are gradually reviving the order which has lain dormant for almost a millennium, but their efforts are meeting with scant enthusiasm in Burma, Buddhist practitioners say.
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by Yvonne Bohwongprasert, Bangkok Post, Macrh 22, 2006
Single-handedly, the founder and curator takes visitors around Wat Ket Karam and the gallery it houses. Eighty-five years old, he could do with some assistance
Chiang Mai, Thailand -- The main lobby of Wat Ket Museum gives visitors a sense of serendipity. The area is adorned with Buddhist relics and statues dating back a century.
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The Nation, March 19, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- To mark the centenary of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's birth on May 27 - listed in the Unesco Calendar of Anniversaries of Great Personalities and Historic Events 2006 and 2007 - the government and various NGOs will hold activities including international seminars and translations of his books.
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VNA, March 18, 2006
Khanh Hoa, Vietnam -- The Buddhist Shangha chapter in the central province of Khanh Hoa orgnised the fourth congress for the 2006-2010 period on Mar 17-18.
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By Alan Sipress, The Washington Post, March 16, 2006
Animal experts warning against traditional release
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Over the centuries, Buddhists in Cambodia and elsewhere in Asia have released the sorrows born of sickness, hunger and war through the simple, cathartic act of buying caged birds and setting them free, sometimes with a kiss.
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by AMPA SANTIMATANEDOL, Bangkok Post, March 9, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- Representatives of a group of people calling themselves the Buddhist Network yesterday filed a police complaint against Santi Asoke sect leader Samana Photirak for imitating a Buddhist monk. Samana Photirak leads the sect whose supporters are in the front lines of the protests against caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
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by Chatrarat Kaewmorakot, The Nation, March 7, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- Applying her interest in Dhamma to treating her patients has finally made Dr Amara Malila, 67, one among 18 women contributors to Buddhism from various countries who are named on the United Nations' list of Outstanding Women in Buddhism for 2006.
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The Spectrum, MARCH 6, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- Among all the angry protesters now trying to turf Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from office -- the students, the workers, the farmers and the artists -- it is an army of 10,000 celibate vegetarian Buddhists that may be the most dogged of his opponents.
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ThaiDay, March 6, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- In the aftermath of last night’s march to Democracy Monument and Government House, ardent members of the Santi Asoke Buddhist sect were all that remained at Sanam Luang this morning, where they have vowed to stay until the caretaker prime minister steps down.
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by Nai Chan Mon, IMNA, March 2, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- Phara Uttama a famous Mon monk in Thailand and the head of the monastic association ordained about hundred men to monk hood to spread Buddhism on his 96 th birthday ceremony.
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Reuters, Feb 28, 2006
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Buddhist "Dharma Army" protesters kept up their campaign for the resignation of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday, the morning after the largest anti-Government rally in 14 years.
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By ThaiDay, February 26, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- The “Dharma Army” of the Santi Asoke sect were gearing up this morning for a possible marathon protest at Bangkok’s Sanam Luang, with thousands of its members ready to demand the resignation of Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
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Narinjara News, Feb 24, 2006
Arakan, Myanmar -- Trustees from Mahamuni temple, a historic Buddhist temple in Arakan, in Kyauktaw Township, are now facing the threat of detention after an army wireless set went missing inside the temple on 22 February 2006, said a son of a pagoda trustee in Kyauktaw.
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By LIM SHIE-LYNN, The Star, February 20, 2006
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- The Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple in Brickfields here will be placed on the list of tourist must-see sites, said newly-appointed Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.
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The Buddhist Channel, February 16, 2006
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- An international Buddhist group, the International Buddhist Information Bureau says that Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam's (UBCV) Deputy leader Venerable Thich Quang Do was arrested by Security Police at the Ho Chi Minh City Station at 6.45pm (local time Vietnam +8GMT) on February 16, 2006. His current whereabouts are unknown.
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The Buddhist Channel, February 17, 2006
Vietnamese Security Police release Buddhist deputy leader Thich Quang Do after 40 Buddhist monks stage hunger strike in Ho Chi Minh City Railway Station
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TNA, Feb 13, 2006
Bangklok, Thailand -- Many Buddhists in the capital and other provinces braved unseasonal sporadic rainstorms to give alms to monks to mark Makha Bucha Day today (Monday), a national holiday which marks the first sermon of the Lord Buddha following his Enlightenment.
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TNA, Feb 13, 2006
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thai young people give more importance to Makha Bucha Day than Valentine's Day, according to a new poll on the eve of the western holiday known for expressing affection with heart-shaped greeting cards, red roses and chocolates.
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Kazakhstan Today, Feb 13, 2006
ASTANA, Kazakhstan -- Supreme Patriarch of Thailand H.H. Somdet Phra Buddhacharaya highly estimates the contribution of Kazakhstan into peace by means of organising the dialogue between religions and civilisations. He made such statement Saturday in a Thai Buddhist temple at a meeting with Bakhytbek Shabarbayev, charge d'affaires of RK in Thailand.
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TNA, Feb 10, 2006
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Lotus is one kind of popular plants whose products have a room to expand in both local and export markets, according to the Kasikorn Research Center.
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The Nation, Feb 11, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- Mahamakut Buddhist University, in a rare move, yesterday issued a statement in support of the government and denouncing “certain groups of people that are inciting confusion in society”.
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by Marwaan Macan-Markar, IPS, Feb 7, 2006
BANGKOK , Thailand -- He may have enough votes to back his claim to be the legitimately elected head of government, but beleaguered Thai Prime Miniser Thaksin Shinawatra is now being charged by his critics with lacking in qualities that befit a Buddhist leader.
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VNA/VNS, Feb 4, 2006
HA TAY, Vietnam -- More than 400,000 of pilgrims flocked to the Huong (Perfume) Pagoda in the northern province of Ha Tay’s My Duc district for Viet Nam’s largest annual religious festival, which started yesterday, the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.
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by Eric Beauchemin, Radio Netherlands, February 3, 2006
Chiang Mai, Thailand -- It's estimated that there are between 60,000 and 100,000 stray dogs and cats in Chiang Mai, Thailand's second largest city. Many of them have been dumped by their owners because they are suffering from disease or the owners can no longer take care of them.
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TNA, Feb 1, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- Thailand's Department of Religious Affairs is asking schools nationwide to lead students to practice Dhamma at temples on Makha Bucha Day to divert their attention from mainstream culture's celebration of Valentine's Day, Department Director-General Preecha Kanthiya said Wednesday.
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Narinjara News, Feb 1, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- A well known Arakanese monk, Maha Zaya Thikdi Adithan Saradaw started a two week tour to Malaysia yesterday after arriving at the Kuala Lumpur International airport, in the nation's capital city.
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by Grace Chen, The Star, Jan 28, 2006
Just how do monks and nuns celebrate Chinese New Year? GRACE CHEN visits Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen monastery.
Jenjarom, Selangor (Malaysia) -- THE Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen monastery in Jenjarom, near Banting, Selangor, is a landscape of lanterns and flowers. In the gardens, the trees bend under the weight of pink cherry blossoms, and the tea trees have been sculpted into Bodhisattvas. At seven metres, they are a majestic sight.
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Narinjara News, Jan 25, 2006
Arakan, Burma -- The Burmese Army authority has refused to grant permission for the renovation of an ancient reclining Buddha image in Minbya Township in Arakan even though the image has recently collapsed, said a monk from Minbya.
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The New Straits Times, June 24, 2006
SEREMBAN, Negri Sembilan (Malaysia) -- The Syariah High Court here today decided that Nyonya Tahir, 89, was not a Muslim when she died and that she could therefore be buried according to Buddhist rites.
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Thai News, Jan 22, 2006
Chiang Mai, Thailand -- The Department of Religious Affair plans to make Chiang Mai the center of Lanna Buddhism study.
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The Star, January 18, 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Having been held in eight Asian countries, the Sakyadhita International Conference, aimed at improving the lives of Buddhist women while developing their potential, will be held in Malaysia for the first time.
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Vietnam News, Jan 5, 2006
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- The Central Committee of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha has resolved to enhance the workings of its local executive councils and representative boards this year.
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VietnamNet, Jan 4, 2006
Vietnam Record Book (VietBook) has announced ten Vietnamese Buddhist records.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- In VietBook, Dai Tong Tam Pagoda in Ba Ria – Vung Tau is recognized as having the biggest sanctum in Vietnam. Constructed in 2002, it comprises two floors, 91m long and 40m wide.
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Narinjara News, Jan 3, 2006
Arakan, Burma -- Burmese junta in northern Arakan said to have offered Buddhists from Bangladesh to settle in “model” villages set up by the junta.
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by Weena Kowitwanij, AsiaNews.it, Jan 2, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand -- In a meeting with Thai youth, the monk Phrathamkosajarn talked about peace, understanding and sustainable development: “I believe that religious doctrine has a significant role to play in promoting sustainable development and peace in society.”
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Kaladanpress Network, December 31, 2005
Maungdaw, Myanmar -- 80-family of new Buddhist settlers were brought into northern Arakan from Burma proper, in an act of on going ethnic cleansing policy of present ruling junta on Rohingya minority group in Arakan State, said an ex- village Chairman requesting not to be named.
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By Darren Schuettler, The Star (Reuters), Dec 25, 2005
KHAO LAK, Thailand -- Simple Buddhist ceremonies marked Christmas Day in Thailand's tsunami zone on Sunday as relatives of victims remembered their loved ones on the eve of the Indian Ocean disaster's first anniversary.
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by Araya Payungpong and Mahaviriyo, Source: Sulak-Sivaraksa.org, Pub 3112, The Buddhist Channel, Dec 26, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- On 10-15 January 2005 a group of Buddhist Bhikkhus, Bhikkhunis, nuns, laymen and lay-women, all together numbering 10 volunteers from various regions throughout Siam, through the coordination of INEB and its local network, went to join our brothers and sisters who were affected by the Tsunami tidal wave in the southern Phang-Nga province. We all kept an open mind and the willingness to accept all that may happen.
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By Connie Levett, Sydney Morning Herald Correspondent, December 24, 2005
Nam Khem, Thailand -- THERE will be a new sound in Nam Khem on Sunday, as a swelling band of converts heads to church on Christmas Day for the first time.
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by WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM, Bangkok Post, Dec 23, 2005
Even foreigners ask for them when they come to the temple
Phuket, Thailand -- They might not be sophisticated or high-tech, but villagers are putting their faith in simple, hand-made amulets to shield them from the next killer tsunami.
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BY CHRISTINA TAN, The Star, December 19, 2005
Malacca, Malaysia -- THE Seck Kia Eenh temple in Malacca has collected more than RM211,000 (US$ 57,027) for its Cancer Fund from the sale of lotus shaped candles during its recent grand mass blessing ceremony.
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VNA, Dec 22, 2005
Thai Nguyen, Vietnam -- The Buddhist Church of northern Thai Nguyen province elected a 22-member executive board for the 2005-2010 term at its first congress in Thai Nguyen city on Dec. 22.
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by Chatrarat Kaewmorakot, The Nation, Dec 18, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- One city temple’s flexi-hours have proved a big draw to the time-challenged, and authorities hope to see others follow suit. Bangkok’s Wat Suthat Thepwararam is one of the few city temples that is crowded most evenings, thanks to its flexi-hours that cater to residents who are pressed for time. From 7am to 9pm, it has become an increasingly popular place for those who come to pray, hear sermons and meditate after a stressful day at work.
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By DANIELLE PERGAMENT, New York Times, December 18, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- You'll know you've arrived at the Ta Prachan market when before you unfurls a street lined with thousands of figurines, Buddhas and monks the size of Thumbelina, a child's army of religious icons.
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BY LEE YUK PENG, The Star, Dec 12, 2005
Malacca, Malaysia -- MORE than 10,000 Buddhist devotees lit up lotus candles seeking health and happiness at the grand mass blessing ceremony on Friday night while contributing to the depleting Seck Kia Eenh Cancer Fund.
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By LIM CHIA YING, The Star, December 10, 2005
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- A GROUP of children aged between eight and 14 years had their first taste of monastery life recently when they participated in the Buddhist Novitiate programme organised by Ti-Ratana Buddhist Society.
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The New Straits Times, Dec 11, 2005
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The sonorous drone of a handbell struck at intervals with a small rod accompanies the chants of "Namo Amitabha Buddha" by a group of Buddhist volunteers dressed in black robes. They are at a wake.
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by WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM, Bangkok Post, Dec 6, 2005
Stored bodies may have poisoned well
Phangnga, Thailand -- Almost one year after the tsunami disaster monks at Wat Yan Yao in Takua Pa district, where thousands of tsunami victims' corpses had been kept for post-mortems and identification, still fear the well water being used by the temple is contaminated with fluids released by rotting bodies.
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by PRASIT TANGPRASERT, Bangkok Post, Dec 5, 2005
Luang Phor Khoon describes panel as `decent and capable'
Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand -- A new 19-member panel appointed by revered abbot Luang Phor Khoon Parisutto to oversee administrative affairs at his Wat Ban Rai in Dan Khun Thod district has vowed to prevent ill-intentioned elements from reaping profits from the sale of the monk's amulets.
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Bangkok Post, Dec 2, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- Two department stores have agreed to provide space for the Buddhist "solace corners" suggested by Culture Minister Uraiwan Thienthong. Siam Discovery Centre will donate space free, but Central Department Store's Pinklao branch quoted a monthly charge of about 300,000 baht (US$ 8,108).
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Asiantribune.com, November 26, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- Sri Lanka and Thailand have begun celebrating their 50th anniversary of establishing formal diplomatic relations. Though the two countries have had close religious, cultural, political and trade relationships for over a thousand years the formal diplomatic links were established only on 20 November 1955.
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The Nation, November 26, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- An exclusive corner for Buddhist monks in department stores. Sound like a mismatch?. Absolutely not, and according to the Culture Ministry’s plan, the presence of monks has nothing at all to do with shopping. In an attempt to bring people closer to religion, the ministry is considering a plan to provide “monk zones” in department stores where shoppers can meet monks.
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AsiaNews.it, November 22, 2005
Police harass monks who are accused by the government press and the official church of backing “hostile foreign forces”.
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The Unified Buddhist Church in Vietnam has complained about increased repression, stricter surveillance and attacks by government press. This church is not recognized in the country.
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VNA, Nov 17, 2005
Ha Noi, Vietnam -- The Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha has condemned calls for restoring the United Buddhist Church (UBC) by some former members of this dissolved organisation.
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BY THOMAS TAN, The Star, Nov 12, 2005
Malacca, Malaysia -- THE Seck Kia Eenh Temple in Malacca, which is hosting the second general conference of the World Buddhist Sangha Youth (WBSY) from Dec 9 to 11, is looking for sponsors for the conference.
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By LIM CHIA YING, The Star, November 12, 2005
Subang Jaya, Selangor (Malaysia) -- Kathina Day is one of the most auspicious and significant occasions in the Theravada Buddhist calendar. On this day, devotees will congregate at the temples (also known as Vihara) bearing robes and other items to be offered to the monks.
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by WASSANA NANUAM, Bangkok Post, Nov 14, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- Anand Panyarachun, chairman of the National Reconciliation Commission, has called on the government to provide protection for Buddhist temples and monks in the deep South. Mr Anand is visiting Buddhist temples in the South to hear grievances from monks and other Buddhists who have been affected by the ongoing violence.
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The Nation, November 12, 2005
Pattani, Thailand -- Senior Pattani clergy continue to argue NRC biased in favour of militants Attempts by the National Reconciliation Commission to address the complaints of Buddhist monks in the restive South that it sympathises with militants at the expense of Buddhists, led to heated exchanges yesterday between senior monks and the NRC chairman.
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VNA, Nov 5, 2005
Ha Noi, Vietnam -- The Vietnamese Buddhist community has expanded by ten times since the establishment of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), remarked a top VBS dignitary in his article run by the Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) on Nov. 3.
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VNA, Nov 4, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- The fourth World Buddhist Summit ended in Bangkok on November 3, issuing an eight-point communique, which included the call for a tolerant stand to be adopted against global terrorism, according to The Nation newspaper.
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Webindia123.com, November 2, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- More than 3,000 Buddhist religious leaders from around the world are meeting here this week to discuss where the faith stands in an age of globalisation, information technology and terrorism.
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by ABDULLOH BENYAKAJ WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM, Bangkok Post, Oct 31, 2005
No casualties, only damage to property
Pattani, Thailand -- Insurgents raided another temple in Pattani province yesterday, firing guns and setting fires but causing no casualties. It was the second attack on a Buddhist temple in the province this month. The first was against Wat Phromprasit in Panare district on Oct 16 when a monk and two temple boys were killed and the monk's living quarters were burnt down.
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The Nation, October 27, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- The government has allocated a budget of Bt15 million (US$ 405,405) for the fourth world Buddhist summit, which Thailand will host next week, Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop said yesterday.He said the summit would run from Tuesday to Saturday at the auditorium at the Chumporn Khet Udomsak building.
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VNS, Oct 25, 2005
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- The head of Cambodia’s Ministry of Religion and Cults, Sun Kim Hun, stressed the importance of exchange activities between Buddhist dignitaries of Cambodia and Viet Nam in a working session with a high-level delegation of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha in Phnom Penh on Sunday.
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VNA, Oct 25, 2005
Ha Noi, Vietnam -- The Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha's Executive Council Deputy President Most Venerable Duong Nhon, met his Lao counterpart, Boukham Buphavong, in Vientiane on October 25 to discuss religious training and to promote religious ties between the two countries.
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TNA, October 24, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- The fourth World Buddhist Summit will take place in Thailand next month when leaders of the two sects will meet and exchange views and opinions, seeking cooperation and overcoming differences, with an aim to bringing about prosperity and security for Buddhism, TNA says.
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By PARVEEN GILL, The Star, October 21, 2005
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The Buddist Maha Vihara in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, has launched a disaster relief effort in aid of victims of the Oct 8 earthquake in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India.
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Xinhuanet, Oct 24, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Police detained 13 suspects who are allegedly involved in the brutal killing of a senior Buddhist monk and two temple boys in southern province of Pattani monastery last Sunday, an incident which sent shock waves through both Buddhist and Muslim communities in the troubled region.
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VNA, Oct 23, 2005
Quang Ninh, Vietnam -- The upgrade of the Dong (Bronze) pagoda, part of the 11-pagoda Yen Tu complex, kicked off at Yen Tu mountain, some 15km northwest of Uong Bi township in northeastern Quang Ninh province, on October 23.
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Story by ANJIRA ASSAVANONDA, Bangkok Post, Oct 17, 2005
Abused kids come to accept their horrific ordeal as being normal
Bangkok, Thailand -- A recent brutal rape attempt that left a 14-year-old victim seriously injured shocked society, but she is by no means alone. The girl, a ninth grader from Sa Bot district of Lop Buri province, suffered not just physical wounds. Doctors say it will take a long time before she recovers from the mental trauma she suffered.
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Bangkok Post, Oct 17, 2005
Militants hack, shoot, burn in daylight raid
Pattani, Thailand -- Local southern leaders yesterday appealed for calm and urged authorities not to take rash action after a monk was hacked to death and two temple boys were killed and their bodies burned yesterday in a raid on a Buddhist temple in Pattani. Elsewhere in the ravaged region, five more people, including two soldiers, were also killed.
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The Buddhist Channel, October 12, 2005
Petaling Jaya, Selangor (Malaysia) -- “The Buddha refused to name his successor. He wanted to empower all of us to be CEO in our own right. Understand and practice His teachings and you are automatically the CEO of your life and the people around you.”
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by THANIN WEERADET, Bangkok Post, Oct 6, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- For those interested in Buddhist culture, the "Tak Bat Devo" rites marking the end of the Buddhist Lent on October 18-19 will be celebrated throughout Thailand. The best place to observe the occasion is Wat Sangkhat Rattana Khiri in Uthai Thani.
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by EDITH LIM, The New Straits Times, Oct 3, 2005
Thai abbot Phra Achan Bhusit Chan Khantitharo offers 11 tigers and five cubs a home at his temple. EDITH LIM writes about his hopes to rehabilitate tigers for the wild.
Kanchanaburi, Thailand -- Ten monks taking care of 10 tigers at an isolated Buddhist temple in Kanchanaburi, western Thailand, made for great viewing over Animal Planet in September last year.
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The Nation, October 3, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- More than 1,000 Buddhists gathered at Wat Bowonnivet Vihara yesterday to pay respects to their beloved spiritual leader the Supreme Patriarch, who was described by his doctor as being in good health for a 92-year-old.
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Bangkok Post, Sept 25, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- A community in the northern province of Lampang learned about the value of religion and working together through their determination to restore the ancient temple hall in Wat Pongsanuk
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AP, September 21, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- A Buddhist monk has been arrested and defrocked for stealing guns from the house of one of his followers and selling them, purportedly to buy building materials for his monastery, Thai police said Wednesday.
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by PAWARISA PHUMAS, Bangkok Post, Sept 19, 2005
Nakhon Pathom, Thailand -- A revered monk was shot dead in broad daylight by a lone gunman in the presence of over 100 people attending religious rites at a temple in Nakhon Chaisi district to mark yesterday's Buddhist holy day.
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By Sebastien Berger, The Telegraph, Sept 9, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- Buddhist sayings recorded by one of Thailand's leading monks are to be released as mobile phone ringtones.
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By Ed Cropley, Reuters, Sept 5, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Police in the United States must not rush to identify the bodies of Hurricane Katrina victims too quickly or they will run the risk of countless mistakes, the head of Thailand's tsunami identification operations said on Monday.
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by KARNJARIYA SUKRUNG, Bangkok Post, Sept 1, 2005
The Dharma Mata Hermitage aims to give women the opportunity to enjoy the spiritual life - long the preserve of men
Bangkok, Thailand -- There were piles of dharma books. The words on the pages sounded nice, thoughtful, soothing. But Manasikul Ovatpesuch felt it was not enough. She needed some other answer to life's foibles.
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VNA, Sept 1, 2005
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- The Viet Nam Buddhist Seminary in Ho Chi Minh City on August 28 held a graduation ceremony for 342 monks and nuns from pagodas in southern provinces.
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Mainichi Daily News, Aug 31, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Police in northeastern Thailand issued arrest warrants Wednesday against machete-wielding monks and novices who brawled over a woman and urged their abbot to preserve the reputation of Buddhism by disrobing them.
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The Buddhist Channel, Aug 27, 2005
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM) has initiated a month long program to usher in the 48th year of Independence of modern Malaysia. The celebrations - with this year's theme "Keranamu Malaysia; Peace, Patriotism, Virtue" - will last through September 18, 2005.
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The Nation, August 19, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Culture Ministry is planning to publish and distribute 500,000 volumes of the Tipitaka Buddhist canon to government agencies, private organisations, hotels and hospitals, as well as the general public, as part of its drive to revive faith in the religion. Yesterday, the ministry’s Religious Affairs Department held a seminar to discuss how to prevent people in Thailand from straying further from the Buddhist way of life.
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Story by WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM, Aug 22, 2005
Senior monk warns people against their use
Bangkok, Thailand -- Palat khik, while much sought after by many people, has nothing to do with Buddhism, says a senior monk. Phra Sripariyatimoli, deputy rector for foreign affairs of Mahachulalongkorn Ratchawithayalai Buddhist University, said the phallic symbol charms are not mentioned in the Tripitaka and worshipping them is not a Buddhist way of showing respect.
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YDR.com, August 20, 2005
Yangon, Myanmar -- A replica of Buddha’s tooth - a holy relic of the Buddhist religion -has been stolen from a temple in a northern suburb of Yangon, Myanmar, an official said.
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by Vasana Chinvarakorn, The Bangkok Post, Aug 6, 2005
An accessible, thought-provoking and occasionally irreverent retelling of some of the classic 'Jataka' tales, illustrated by some marvellous period art
Bangkok, Thailand -- It all began in April 2001. Uthong Prasart-winijchai went on an excursion to southern Italy where her travel companions lavished on themselves an ample supply of illustrated titles on European art, history and architecture.
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BY MICHAEL Mathes, Lanka Daily News (AFP), Aug 3, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- THEY begin the morning at dawn clothed in white, but by mid-day the 25 Western men gathered at Thailand's largest temple wear the saffron robes of the Buddhist monk.
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Bangkok Post, Aug 1, 2005
Phrae, Thailand -- An activist monk has been found hanged at a temple in Phrae province.
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by SIRIKUL BUNNAG, Bangkok Post, July 25, 2005
Principles of dhamma succeed in classroom
Bangkok, Thailand -- Chai Nat could become the first province where all state schools subscribe to the principles of Buddhism in teaching their students following the success of a pilot project there.
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by WASSANA NANUAM, Bangkok Post, July 25, 2005
Narathiwat, Thailand -- Even with the protection of armed troops, a Buddhist monk confesses he prays for his own safety during his daily round of alms-taking.
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The Jakarta Post, July 22, 2005
MAGELANG, Central Java (Indonesia) -- Commemorating the Buddhist celebration of Asadha, the Buddhist community is to hold the Sejuta Pelita Sejuta Harapan procession at Borobudur Temple on Saturday.
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by PLOY CHITSOMBOON, Bangkok Post, July 21, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- About 10,000 Buddhist monks, nuns, students, and social activists yesterday took part in a mass protest, calling on the government not to allow listing of Thai Beverage Plc on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
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Today Online (Singapore), July 20, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- Some 5,000 Buddhist monks, nuns and students have rallied outside the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission to demand that regulators revoke a decision to allow breweries to list on the stock exchange.
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Phuket Gazette, July 19, 2005
KAMALA, Phuket (Thailand) -- Popular Australian TV gardening program Backyard Blitz is to spring a Buddhist Lent surprise on tsunami-hit Wat Kamala ? in the shape of a newly-landscaped garden. The program specializes in renovating viewers? gardens along themed lines and is a popular Sunday evening show. This is the first time an episode has been recorded overseas.
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BY IAN MCINTRYE, The Star, July 18, 2005
SADAO, Thailand -- The Asean region?s sole private Buddhist college was officially opened to meet the growing needs for quality Buddhism-based education. The International Buddhist College (IBC) is located at Thung Mo District in Amphoe Sadao, Songkhla province, 37km from the Bukit Kayu Hitam border.
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AP, July 17, 2005
Yangon, Myanmar -- A moderate earthquake shook Myanmar's main archaeological site in the ancient capital of Bagan today, an official said. No damage was reported.
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by NILUBOL PORNPITAGPAN, Bangkok Post, July 14, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- Buddhist Lent, the three-month retreat into monkhood every rainy season, is just around the corner. It signals a time when monks remain in monasteries to concentrate on Buddha's teachings. But for laymen and adventure travellers, it's time to explore the lush wild greenery across the country brought about by monsoon rain. It's also that time of the year when flowers are in full bloom.
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by Paisarn Likhitpreechakul, The Nation, July 11, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- Prejudiced interpretation of the Tripitaka, the Buddhist canon, hurt gays, lesbians and transgenders, according to a paper presented yesterday to the first International Conference of Asian Queer Studies.
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by NAUVARAT SUKSAMRAN & SUBIN KHEUNKAEW, Bangkok Post, July 11 2005
Chiang Mai, Thailand -- The June 18 slaying of activist monk Phra Supoj Suvacano was a loss for pro-democracy movements and a gain for state figures intolerant of dissent as well as influential land encroachers, observers say.
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Bangkok Post, July 11, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- The late Buddhadasa Bhikkhu always maintained that women had the same potential as men to attain enlightenment and felt that it would be more effective, and more socially proper, for women to learn Buddhist teachings from their own sex.
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Bangkok Post, July 4, 2005
Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand -- Luang Phor Koon, the revered abbot suffering from chronic heart and stroke-related conditions, was discharged from hospital yesterday but did not return to his Ban Rai temple in Dan Khunthod district.
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DVB, June 29, 2005
Yangon, Myanmar -- A Buddhist nun was arrested on 27 May and has been detained for requesting the highest religious authorities in Burma to recognise her as a ?bikuni?, according to sources from her relatives.
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by ONNUCHA HUTASINGH, Bangkok Post, June 27, 2005
Suspicions over probe into monk's murder
Bangkok, Thailand -- The murder of Phra Supoj Suvacano, the abbot of the Mettadhamma Buddhist centre in Chiang Mai, is the latest proof of the government's failure to protect conservationists and human rights activists, while suspicions have been aroused over the investigation into the attack.
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The Jakarta Post, June 27, 2005
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Some 10,000 people are expected to attend the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Indonesian Buddhayana Council (MBI) at Borobudur Temple on July 23, with one million candles due to be lit up during the event.
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by SUPAWADEE SUSANPOOLTHONG, Bangkok Post, June 23, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- The deputy abbot of Mettadhamma Buddhist centre in Chiang Mai, whose abbot and conservationist Phra Supoj Suwachana was stabbed savagely to death on Saturday, petitioned the House environment panel yesterday for justice.
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TNA, June 22, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Buddhist monks from the Mettadhamma Forest Sanctuary in Fang district of Thailand's northern province of Chiang Mai today called for state protection following the brutal murder of one of their members last week.
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TNA, June 20, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Over 100 monks and 500 laypeople marched outside the parliament today, calling on the government to make Buddhism Thailand?s official national religion.
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The Buddhist Channel, June 22, 2005
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM) will be organizing a seminar entitled ? The Buddha as the Healer? on August 13, 2005 at Holiday Villa, Subang, Selangor (Malaysia). The seminar is part of the YBAM's Contemporary Buddhist Seminar series. It is also organized in conjunction with association's 35th anniversary.
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Bangkok Post, June 20, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- A Buddhist group and a network of people's organisations will meet Justice Minister Suwat Liptapanlop today to provide details of a land dispute in Chiang Mai's Fang district which led to the murder of a monk.
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By CHIN MUI YOON, The Star, June 10, 2005
Semenyih, Selangor (Malaysia) -- ONE of Malaysia?s biggest Buddhist spiritual fire and smoke offerings was held over the weekend at Nirvana Memorial Park in Semenyih, Selangor.
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The Star, June 14, 2005
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- A 92-year-old Buddhist text written with the blood of a monk was unveiled in an auspicious ceremony where at least 3,000 devotees prostrated for two hours at the Tai Kuk Wah Si Temple in Kuala Lumpur.
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By SYLVIA LOOI, The Star, June 9, 2005
Penang, Malaysia -- Over 3,000 packets of sand, used to create the world's biggest mandala sand art in Penang, were distributed to devotees on Monday evening. The sand was said to have healing effects and energy, having been blessed by His Eminence Lho Bongtul Tenzin Nyima Rinpoche, the abbot of Lho Long Kar monastery in China.
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BY MANJIT KAUR, The Star, June 6, 2005
PENANG, Malaysia -- Hong Kong celebrity Eric Tsang and a Tibetan monk gave a helping hand to create the world's largest sand art here. Titled The World Peace Sand Art of Eight Auspicious Signs, the work of art would use eight tonnes of sand in six colours.
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Agençe France-Presse, May 31, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- About a quarter of Thailand's 300,000 Buddhist monks can?t kick the habit despite an anti-smoking campaign targeting them, local health authorities say. The campaign was launched in 2003 in response to statistics showing that the leading cause of death among Thai monks is tobacco related disease.
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Xinhua, May 31, 2005
Yangon, Myanmar -- Buddhist masters of China and Myanmar on Monday stressed the promotion of friendship and expressed wishes to jointly enhance the cause of Buddhism in the world and promote world peace.
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Stuff, May 31, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Five Thai Buddhist monks have been defrocked and fined after a brawl with monks from a nearby temple, police and newspapers said.
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Story by VASANA CHINVARAKORN, Bangkok Post, May 29, 2005
Religions have a lot in common in their teachings on the original source of all things, said Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, the late reformist monk
Bangkok, Thailand -- It is all and it is one. It existed before everything else and will last long after every existence. It has neither shape nor form, but from it arises immeasurable phenomena. There are countless words to describe what comes out of it, but it is, in itself, beyond name, space, time.
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by BHANRAVEE TANSUBHAPOL, Bangkok Post, May 26, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- More than 200 inmates at Klong Prem prison yesterday made written pledges under the ''Do Good Now, Not Later'' programme to commemorate World Peace Week.
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By Channel NewsAsia's Indo-China Correspondent May Ying Welsh, May 20, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- This Sunday, Buddhists around the world celebrate Vesak Day, also known as Wisakha Bucha Day in Thailand. Buddhists believe it is the day on which three events took place in the life of the Buddha - His Birth, Enlightenment and Final Nirvana.
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TNA, May 19, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- From its humble beginnings in Nepal, Buddhism has spread out to become the major religion of parts of Asia, and has won sufficient global recognition for the United Nations to declare Visakha Bucha, the day on which Buddhists celebrate the Buddha?s birth, enlightenment and death, a day of international importance.
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TNA, May 19, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand?s hosting of this year?s Miss Universe contest yesterday received a fierce attack from leading members of the Senate who warned that Thailand?s unique cultural heritage was being eroded by a desire for internationalism.
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The New Straits Times (AFP) May 19, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- A bevy of beauties vying for the Miss Universe crown sparked a row in Thailand when they paraded in swimsuits in front of revered Buddhist temples, officials and religious experts said today.
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Bangkok Post, May 19, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- Somdej Phra Buddhajarn yesterday inaugurated an international meeting of Buddhists by suggesting Buddhist teachings be used to ease unrest around the world.
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TNA, May 14, 2004
Bangkok, Thailand -- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra today denied that the country's southern insurgency is a religious affair, saying, instead, that the militants were attempting to harness religion for their own purposes.
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Channel News Asia (AFP/IR), May 13, 2005
AYUTTHAYA, Thailand -- In an alarming clash between guardians of faith and the henchmen of wealthy art collectors, Thai monks at the Klang Klong Srabua temple found out the hard way about the fight to preserve ancient Buddhist relics.
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Democratic Voice of Burma, May 10, 2005
Mandalay, Myanmar -- The local authorities of Burma?s military junta, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) at Mandalay in central Burma, stopped a famous Buddhist monk from delivering a sermon at a religious festival, presumably because of his association with Burma?s democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
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The Star, May 4, 2005
PENANG, Malaysia -- The Than Hsiang Temple here is planning to build the country?s first retirement village costing RM16mil at Berapit in northern Seberang Prai.
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By Ampa Santimetaneedol, Bangkok Post, May 9, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- This year's Visakha Bucha Day celebrations to be held later this month at Buddha Monthon in Nakhon Pathom, will focus on the essence of dhamma rather than ritual and feature theatres and light and sound performances aimed at attracting youth towards religion.
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By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia, May 9, 2005
Singapore -- While the late former President Wee Kim Wee's funeral may be over, many still continue to remember him and pay their respects in various ways. After his death on Monday, a tablet bearing his name, dates of birth and death has been put up at a Buddhist monastery.
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AP, May 7, 2005
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- A Buddhist abbot accused of singing karaoke and wearing normal street clothes in southeastern Cambodia has been defrocked, a newspaper reported yesterday.
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TNA, May 4, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is to demonstrate his Buddhist credentials when he leads the nation in religious worship to mark this year?s Visakabucha Day on 22 May.
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by AMPA SANTIMATANEDOL & NAUVARAT SUKSAMRAN, Bangkok Post, April 23, 2005
Unity crumbles as row forces venue split
Bangkok, Thailand -- The proposed World Visakha Bucha celebration is unlikely to materialise after irreconcilable differences between the Sangha Council and the elements it characterised as Buddhist pariahs forced a split of celebration venues, dealing the government a humiliating blow.
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by Chan Kit Tze, The Star, April 17, 2005
Monks in Cambodia are providing care and support for Cambodia?s AIDS orphans, writes CHAN KIT SZE who visited the Thmey Pagoda Salvation Centre in Siem Reap recently.
Siem Reap, Cambodia -- TRADITIONAL Cambodian music greeted us as we entered the shrine hall of Thmey Pagoda in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The musicians were seven to nine-year-old boys sitting at the far left of the hall, intently playing traditional Cambodian musical instruments. Later, we found out that it was the children's first public performance.
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Indonesia Relief, April 13, 2005
Jakarta, Indonesia -- Indonesian Buddhist association, Walubi, will sue Blora Center for accusing the organization responsible for 381 container of tsunami aid currently take into custody in Belawan port, Medan. Walubi said that the containers were not being smuggled, as those are real tsunami donation from government of China.
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By EMMELINE TAN, The Star, April 14, 2005
PENANG, Malaysia -- The grounds of a temple in Burma Lane here became the scene of ?water fights? as the locals joined the Burmese community to celebrate the Thingyan Water Festival.
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by AMPA SANTIMATANEDOL, Bangkok Post, April 13, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra wants all Buddhist groups, including the unorthodox Santi Asoke sect, to join next month's religious ceremonies marking Visakha Bucha Day at Buddha Monthon in Nakhon Pathom province.
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by AMPA SANTIMATANEDOL YUWADEE TUNYASIRI, Bangkok Post, April 12, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Sangha Council is adamant it will not allow a senior member of the unorthodox Santi Asoke Buddhist sect to sit on the organising panel for religious ceremonies to mark Visakha Bucha Day next month.
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VNA, April 11, 2005
Ha Noi, Vietnam -- The Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) organised a service to pray for the peace of Most Venerable Thich Tam Tich at Bo De Pagoda in Ha Noi's outlying Gia Lam district on April 10.
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Story by PENCHAN CHAROENSUTHIPHAN, The Bangkok Post, April 7, 2005
Camp shows young people that visual disabilities do not obscure path to enlightenment
Bangkok, Thailand -- About 40 blind youths who joined a dharma camp at Sathian Dharma Satharn centre in the Ram Intra area have learned that sight is not essential for achieving happiness or enlightenment.
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The Buddhist Channel, April 6, 2005
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The Dhammaduta Youth (D2Y) together with Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia Youth Section (BMSMYS) will be organizing a fellowship get together to celebrate the 86th birthday of Ven. Dr K Sri Dhammananda Maha Nayaka Thera. Entitled "One Voice, Sharing of Minds", the evening gathering at Buddhist Maha Vihara, Brickfields on Saturday, April 30, 2005 will showcase talks, felicitations and other fellowship activities.
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By Ben Stocking, Mercury News Vietnam Bureau, April 2, 2005
Famous Buddhist had been banned from Vietnam
HANOI, Vietnam -- Live in the present. Focus on each breath. Find beauty in small things. Thich Nhat Hanh has spent 2 1/2 months visiting pagodas across his homeland, spreading the simple wisdom that has made him perhaps the world's most famous Buddhist monk after the Dalai Lama and a popular figure in the Bay Area.
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By Tini Tran, Deseret Morning News (Associated Press), 2 April 2005
HANOI, Vietnam -- The South Vietnamese government exiled him. Its communist successor wouldn't let him return. So for 39 years, Vietnam's best-known Buddhist monk has traveled the world and built a huge and faithful audience for his message of peace and forgiveness.
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Saigon Times Weekly, 2 April 2005
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Van Hanh Zen Monastery in Dalat City held a solemn ceremony to inaugurate its large Sakyamuni statue. This is thought to be the largest statue of Buddha in Vietnam. Building the statue started in April 2002 and it has had a total cost of VND1.2 billion. The money is mainly from Buddhists nationally.
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The Malay Mail, April 4, 2005
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- An exhibition of relics from the Buddha and his chief disciples is the highlight of the Maitreya Project Heart Shrine Relics Tour showcases launched yesterday.
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TNA, April 1, 2005
CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- The scandal of a former temple abbot accused of stealing ancient Buddha images to fund his betting habit deepened yesterday when the police announced the capture of a second 600 year-old image.
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TNA, March 29, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The government yesterday pledged to get tough on the alms trade, warning traders who sell dirty or rotten food to members of the public wishing to donate it to monks that they could face prison sentences of up to two years.
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TNA, March 23, 2005
MAE HONG SON, Thailand -- Customs officers in Thailand's northern border province of Mae Hong Son today seized 13 Myanmar Buddha images, as they were being smuggled across the border, destined for export to a third country.
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TNA, March 23, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- More than 6,000 people from 128 non-governmental organizations gathered in front of the Stock Exchange of Thailand headquarters this early morning to thank its board for the indefinite postponement of the meeting on listing of Thai Beverage Co, a brewer of Chang-brand bear, on the bourse.
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By FOO YEE PING, The Star, March 11, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- MAKE merit (tham bun). These two words are a big part of the Thai vocabulary in this Buddhist kingdom. Everyone, from the cleaning lady to the Prime Minister, will always seek opportunities to make merit in his or her own way.
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Dow Jones Newswire, March 21, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The Stock Exchange of Thailand, or SET, said Monday it will postpone indefinitely a decision on whether or not to allow the listing of Thai Beverage PCL, the country's largest beer and liquor maker.
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by Sonny Inbaraj, IPS, March 21, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Beer business and Buddhism, in Thailand it seems, do not mix. And that will be the message the Stock Exchange of Thailand will have to heed when it meets Wednesday to decide whether to allow the public listing of Thai Beverages, brewer of the country's best-selling Beer Chang or ''Elephant Beer''.
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Vietnam News Agency, March 21, 2005
Hanoi, Vietnam -- A monastery in the tourist town of Da Lat of Lam Dong province held a solemn ceremony Friday, Mar. 18, to inaugurate the largest ever statue of Buddha in Vietnam.
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The Star (Malaysia - AFP), March 19, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thousands of chanting Buddhist monks assembled outside Thailand's stock market headquarters yesterday to protest the planned public listing of the brewer of the country's best-selling beer.
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VNA, Mar 13, 2005
Ha Noi, Vietnam -- The funeral ceremony of Most Venerable Thich Tam Tich, Chairman of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), was held in Quan Su Pagoda, Ha Noi, on March 13.
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Voice of Vietnam, Mar 9, 2005
Hanoi, Vietnam -- The first Buddhism Congress of the northern province of Quang Ninh has been a success and a new executive boardhas been selected. The Quang Ninh Buddhist Shangha will serve as a spiritual mainstay for Buddhist functionaries in the province in line with the motto "For Dharma, the nation and socialism".
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VNA, March 7, 2005
Ha Noi, Vietnam -- Most Venerable Thich Tam Tich, Chairman of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) and former Chairman of the VBS Executive Board of Ha Noi, passed away in Ha Noi at 2.30pm on March 6 at the age of 91.
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Bangkok Post, March 4, 2005
Supreme Patriarch's panel decision sought
Bangkok, Thailand -- Revered monk Luangta Maha Bua Yannasampanno will gather thousands of monks to find ways to appeal to His Majesty the King to sack Somdej Phra Buddhajarn, who acts on behalf of the ailing Supreme Patriarch, and to stop Deputy Prime Minister Visanu Krue-ngarm from keeping any administrative post.
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Bangkok Post, Feb 28, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- The World Buddhist University is holding a Buddhist Forum from noon to 1:30pm this Sunday, March 6. The title of the forum is ``Buddhism, Consciousness and Ecology''; it will be held at the WBU Centre offices on the third floor of the WFB headquarters in Benjasiri Park, Sukhumvit 24.
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VNA, Feb 27, 2005
Ha Noi, Vietnam -- Work on construction of a Buddhist Institute started in Ha Noi's outlying district of Soc Son on Feb. 27. The institute is the third of its kind in Viet Nam, with one already open in Ho Chi Minh City and one in Hue city.
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VNA, Feb 22, 2005
Kien Giang, Vietnam -- As many as 400 Buddhists from 72 Khmer pagodas in the southern province of Kien Giang took final exams at the Rach Soi pagoda on Feb. 21.
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TNA, Feb 23, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Buddhists celebrating the most important day in the religious calendar today urged the government to designate Makabucha day as a national event to celebrate family love.
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TNA, Feb 23, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The National Buddhism Office today hinted that celebrations to mark the holiest day in the Buddhist calendar next year could be moved away from Bangkok?s Sanam Luang and into local temples, after fierce heat and the demands of work kept worshippers away from merit-making events.
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The Nation/Asia News Network, Feb 23, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thai Airways announced that their first-ever chartered flight, in 30 years of business, would be to the Buddhist Circuit of India. The trip would be made between 11-13 March. A personal initiative of President Mr Kanok Abhiradee, the flight is based on the airlines? aim to open out the holy circuit to thousands of Buddhist pilgrims around the world.
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The Scotsman, Feb 23, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- Doctors in Thailand have partially restored the sight of an 81-year-old Buddhist monk who accidentally stuck his eyes shut when he mistook a tube of glue for eye drops.
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TNA, Feb 22, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The Thai society may in some ways be becoming increasingly westernized, but the majority of Bangkok residents are continuing to cling to religious traditions, with nearly 70 percent saying that they intend to engage in merit-making activities to mark the Makha Pucha Day tomorrow.
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Vietnam News Agency, Feb 22, 2005
Soc Trang, Vietnam -- The southern province of Soc Trang, home to 176 Buddhist pagodas, has launched a number of charity movements among Buddhists such as house building and providing medical care to the poor, said the provincial Sangha.
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by Giao Huong, translated by Quynh Nhu, Than Hnien News, Feb 19, 2005
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Tourists and locals are expected to flock to pagodas and sanctuaries in Ho Chi Minh City next Tuesday, Feb. 22 to mark the first full moon day of the Lunar New Year.
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TNA, Feb 21, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The Thai government has been urged to use Buddhist philosophy to solve the insurgency in the country?s southern border provinces.
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TNA, Feb 21, 2005
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The government has been urged to promote Buddhism to help create a peaceful and loving society. The Makha Pucha day should be promoted as a day of love in a Buddhist fashion to attract young Thais, the vice rector of the national Sangha university, Phra Thep Visuthi Kavee, told TNA.
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Vietnam News Service, Feb 15, 2005
HA NOI, Vietnam -- Cold weather and drizzling rain couldn?t stop the pilgrims from making their way to Viet Nam?s most famous shrine complex, the Huong (Perfume) Pagoda in the northern province of Ha Tay.
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VNA, Feb 7, 2005
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Phap Van Pagoda in the southern business hub of Ho Chi Minh City on Feb. 6 inaugurated a dormitory and lecture-hall in the presence of senior clerics of the central and municipal Buddhist Sangha.
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The Buddhist Channel, Feb 3, 2005
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- The seed has been planted. Now is the time for watering and constant care.
This ?nature centric? message seemed to have seeped into the minds of about 400 guests when they made their way to a fund raising dinner to honour the Yayasan Belia Buddhist Malaysia (YBBM ? Young Malaysian Youth Foundation) 25th Anniversary held on Christmas day last year. The guest of honour, Deputy Home Affairs Minister YB Datuk Tan Chai Ho was clearly one of those who took to heart the ?nature? of the event, because one of the night?s key highlight was to raise funds to develop the Bodhi Park project.
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ANI, Jan 30, 2005
Singapore -- Singapore's Chinatown has activated plans to build a 53 million dollar Buddha Tooth Relic Temple on Sago Street, the construction of which will commence in March.
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Democratic Voice of Burma, Jan 28, 2005
Yangon, Myanmar -- The authorities of Burma?s military junta, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) detained the abbot of Payeik-chimyin who was venerated by the ousted ?Prime Minister? General Khin Nyunt, and imposed restrictions on two other renowned abbots.
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BY KAY JOHNSON, Time Asia Magazine, Jan 16, 2005
HANOI, Vietnam -- It was a homecoming more fitting for royalty or a rock star than a monk. The 1,000 or more devotees who waited in the chilly dawn at Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport clutched bouquets of flowers, sang songs, and jostled for a better view. For a bunch of Buddhists, they were pushy: when Thich Nhat Hanh finally stepped out of immigration, they surged forward with a force that crushed people against doors and tore sandals, hats and gloves off dozens of others. "I touched him! I touched him!" shouted one woman, who then burst into tears.
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VNS, Jan 18, 2005
HANOI, Vietnam -- The Party and the State have created favourable conditions for religious followers to practise their religions and beliefs, Director of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Ngo Yen Thi told visiting Monk Thich Nhat Hanh during a reception yesterday.
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Bangkok Post, Jan 20, 2005
Chiang Mai, Thailand -- A local administrative organisation in Lampang has demanded that a five-star hotel in Chiang Mai make changes to its replica of a temple in its compound which has drawn firece protests from local people.
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The New Straits Times, Jan 14, 2005
JOHOR BARU, Malaysia -- Malaysians have been told to be wary of Thai monks who walk the streets asking for alms. The reason: some of the men in saffron robes are bogus monks, preying on the generosity of locals.
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HA NOI, Vietnam -- A private Buddhist delegation headed by a Vietnamese-French monk is set to arrive in Viet Nam today and the Viet Nam Buddhist Church (VNBC) has promised to facilitate the visit and help the visitors get first-hand knowledge of the renewal process and Buddhism in the country.
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VNA, Jan 10, 2005
Ha Noi, Vietnam -- The Viet Nam Buddhist Church (VNBC) will do all it can to facilitate the visit by Monk Thich Nhat Hanh and the international delegation of Buddhist monks and nuns, and to help them see with their own eyes the renewal process in Viet Nam and the growth of the Buddhist Church in the country.
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Michael Mathes, AFP, Jan 8, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand -- Three monks enter the tsunami-damaged Cat Bar, sit on the floor and start chanting for the living and the dead - an ancient Buddhist ritual to address Thailand's most incomprehensible modern tragedy.
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by WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM, Bangkok Post, Jan 4, 2005
Pattani, Thailand -- Violence in the deep South intensified over the past year, with even the clergy not being spared.
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by Huu Ngoc, Vietnam News Agency, Jan 5, 2004
Hanoi, Vietnam -- Similar to the Japanese, Buddhists in Viet Nam practice Mahayana Buddhism, the doctrine of the Greater Vehicle that recommends the liberation of all before oneself. It is different from Hinayama, or the Little Vehicle, that upholds individual liberation. In all Vietnamese pagodas, the Hall of the Patriarchs (nha to) always features a statue of a bearded Indian man, Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen sect in China. In Japan, Bodhidharma is honoured in a special hall where an oil lamp burns continuously.
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by Tan So Hoon, The Buddhist Channel, Dec 27, 2004
Kuala Muda, Malaysia -- This is the situation report from Kuala Muda, about 25km from Sungai Petani, Kedah. Yesterday was one of surreal high drama. In Sg.Petani, streams of ambulances were carrying the injured to the hospital in town. About 11 are confirmed dead up till last night near Sg.Petani.
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BY FOONG THIM LENG, The Star (Malaysia), December 25, 2004
Nong Khai, Thailand -- The story of Paya Naga, a legendary, serpentine monster, is often told in Nong Khai, Thailand. It is the local equivalent of Scotland?s Loch Ness monster, and every year, thousands of people gather on the banks of the Mekong in Nong Khai, north-eastern Thailand, as well as across the river in Laos, in hopes of catching a glimpse of the Paya Naga.
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VNA, Dec 23, 2004
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- The 11th death anniversary of the Most Venerable Thich Duc Nhuan, first leader of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), was marked at the Quang Duc Buddhist Institute in HCM City on Wednesday.
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AP, December 21, 2004
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- A government order banning a pop song about a Buddhist monk falling in love will unlikely affect its sales, a production manager said Tuesday.
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Asia News, Dec 13, 2004
Yangon, Myanmar -- Many delegations stay away from World Buddhist Summit in Yangon to protest against regime. At least 400 Buddhist monks are jailed sentenced to 15-20 years.
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Xinhuanet, Dec 11, 2004
YANGON, Myanmar -- Leading Buddhist monks from 16 nations attending the World Buddhist Summit stressed on Saturday the need for promoting and propagating Buddhism, strengthening Buddhist unity, friendship and understanding among them and maintaining world peace and prosperity.
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Daily Times (Reuters), Dec 13, 2004
YANGON, Myanmar -- A world Buddhist summit of more than 1,000 monks from as far apart as Jamaica and Japan ended in Myanmar on Saturday with promises to strive harder to spread the 2,500-year-old religion?s central theme of harmony and goodwill.
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By Htet Win, Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com), December 12, 2004
Yangon, Myanmar -- A leading Burmese Buddhist figure has called for a unity among Buddhist leaders to bring peace and harmony to the world today full of chaos, miseries, war-weariness and violence.
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TNA, Dec 9, 2004
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra today called on the world?s Buddhist community to help build sustainable global peace.
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Channel News Asia (AFP), Dec 9, 2004
YANGON, Myanmar -- A world Buddhist summit has opened in Myanmar amid pomp and ceremony, despite a boycott call, with the new premier using the occasion to call for an end to "the bullying of the weak".
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Democratic Voice of Burma, December 4, 2004
Rangoon, Burma -- DVB Khin Maung Soe Min?s interview with Abbot of Sitagu, the Reverend Nyan Nittara on the forthcoming ?World? Buddhist Summit in Rangoon.
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The Buddhist Channel, Dec 7, 2004
Shah Alam, Selangor (Malaysia) -- One of Malaysia's most famous landmark, the Sultan Salahuhddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque resides in the well laid out city of Shah Alam. As the capital city of Selangor, the mosque grandeur befits the state's status as Malaysia's most developed corridor.
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Democratic Voice of Burma, December 4, 2004
Yangon, Myanmar -- Despite the withdrawal of supports from the main Japanese sponsor, Burma?s military junta, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) is insisting that it is going to host the ?World? Buddhist Summit in Rangoon as planned.
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by DEVI ASMARANI, The Straits Times, Dec 7, 2004
YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia -- THEY came dressed in various garb that immediately gave away their faiths - from the saffron yellow robes of Buddhist monks to assorted types of Islamic and Jewish headgear.
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Vietnam News Agency, Dec 7, 2004
Jakarta, Indonesia -- Buddhism in Viet Nam is strongly growing and believers' confidence in the Government's unswerving respect for the religious freedom is rising especially since the Ordinance on Religion was issued, said a leading Buddhist monk.
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New Paper, Singapore, Dec 6, 2004
Khon Kaen, Thailand -- FOR two nights every year, thousands gather along the banks of the Mekong River to watch a strange phenomena the Thais call the Naga fireballs. The pinkish glowing balls, the size of chicken eggs, apparently emerge noiselessly from the river's surface, rise in straight-lined succession before disappearing in the thin night air.
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Xinhuanet, Dec 5, 2004
YANGON, Myanmar -- Myanmar will issue two new stamps to mark the upcoming World Buddhist Summit scheduled for next Thursday in Yangon. The two new stamps, which are 5-Kyat and 30-Kyat ones, will be available on the day when the summit opens, the official newspaper The New Light of Myanmar reported Sunday.
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Phuket Gazette, Nov 30, 2004
PHUKET, Thailand -- Work began yesterday on a smaller version of the controversial Mingmongkol Buddha, as the committee behind the project sought to dispel allegations that brass donated to the project had ?disappeared?.
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by Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Nov 30, 2004
Jakarta, Indonesia -- "Killing two birds with one stone" is not an empty proverb for low-cost apartment residents built by Taiwan-based Buddha Tzu Chi Foundation in Cengkareng Timur, West Jakarta.
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Democratic Voice of Burma, November 23, 2004
Rangoon, Burma -- When Burma?s military junta, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) declared that it is releasing around 4000 prisoners, the Buddhist communities in the country especially the monks were expecting that some of their religious brothers and sisters who were detained unjustly would be among them.
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IBIB, Nov 23, 2004
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Venerable Thich Quang Do, prominent dissident and Deputy leader of the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) has informed the International Buddhist Information Bureau (IBIB) that he received a summons this morning from the Phu Nhuan Ward People?s Committee in Ho Chi Minh City (the local Communist Party authorities) to come for a "working session" at 8.00am tomorrow, Wednesday 24 November 2004. The convocation stated that he is summoned to discuss ?appropriation of state secrets?.
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DPA, November 24, 2004
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Three Cambodian Buddhist monks were arrested and disrobed after they were caught outside a local brothel and confessed to devoting their days to Buddha and their nights to beer and prostitutes, police said.
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AsiaNews/Agencies, November 22, 2004
Hanoi, Vietnam -- About 50 monks belonging to the unofficial and banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam organised today a sit-in against the police which had prevented a Church delegation from visiting its sick leader in hospital.
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Brunei Bulletin (AFP), Nov 23, 2004
HANOI, Vietnam -- One of Vietnam's most prominent religious dissidents was prevented by police Monday from visiting the gravely ill patriarch of an outlawed Buddhist church, triggering a tense roadside stand-off.
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By Nopporn Wong-Anan, Reuters, November 23, 2004
YALA, Thailand -- Buddhists in Thailand's Muslim-majority south say they are being treated like "third class citizens" as the government struggles to end ten months of ethnic and religious unrest which has claimed nearly 500 lives.
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The Buddhist Channel, Nov 22, 2004
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia -- It is in the Mahayana that the Medicine Buddha first appeared, and veneration of this Lord of Healing became one of the most popular and widespread devotional groups.
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BY FOO YEE PENG, The Sunday Star, November 21, 2004
Bangkok, Thailand -- A SERIES of TV commercials on a book called Palang Chiwit (Power for Living) that has stirred up much talk among Thais will soon be taken off the air after a month of screening. The advertisements feature five well-known faces in Thailand testifying how God has made a difference in their lives.
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INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST INFORMATION BUREAU, Nov 22, 2004
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- The International Buddhist Information Bureau (IBIB) has received urgent information that Police have intercepted a mini-van with Venerable Thich Vien Dinh and nine other UBCV members at 5.30 am (Vietnam time) as they drove towards the Thanh Minh Zen Monastery in Ho Chi Minh City. The monks were going to accompany Venerable Thich Quang Do, Deputy leader of the banned Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) to visit the UBCV Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang, who is seriously ill in the Quy Nhon General Hospital. They had arranged to meet Thich Quang Do at 6.00 am.
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INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST INFORMATION BUREAU, Nov 20, 2004
Hanoi, Vietnam -- International personalities and Vietnamese Buddhists around the world are expressing their sympathy and praying for the swift recovery of the Patriarch of the United Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) Thich Huyen Quang. The Patriarch, 87, was taken into Binh Dinh General Hospital on Thursday for urgent treatment for a stomach hemorrhage. He is extremely weak, but he is reportedly responding well to treatment and his is condition is said to be stable today
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AsiaNews/Eda, November 18, 2004
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Vietnamese authorities stopped and interrogated members of the Vietnamese Buddhist youth movement ?The Family? who were on their way to India on a pilgrimage. National security was given as the reason. They had agreed to meet in early November at Ho Chi Minh City?s International Airport and then go on a pilgrimage to the places where Buddhism was born.
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Bangkok Post, Nov 19, 2004
Bangkok, Thailand -- Peace advocates have asked the government to use ``extreme caution'' in dealing with violence in the South, warning that mishandling the problem will only sow hatred and widen the conflict.
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AsiaNews/AFP, Nov 18, 2004
Only 12 delegations have confirmed their presence at the summit. More than 300 Buddhist monks are in prison in Myanmar for ?supporting democracy?.
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The Advertiser, November 17, 2004
While the general public is more open to female ordination, the Thai clergy remains fiercely opposed. A lone female monk has riled the religious hierarchy by waging a fight for ordination of women, reports Connie Levett from Nakhon Prathom, Thailand.
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Story by CHOMPOO TRAKULLERTSATHIEN Photos by SOMKID CHAIJITVANIT, Bangkok Post, Nov 15, 2004
Bangkok, Thailand -- The international tour of the relics of the Buddha finished last month at Phra Pathom Chedi in Nakhon Pathom province with a jubilant crowd of thousands paying homage to the sacred objects at the end of Buddhist Lent.
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Democratic Voice of Burma, 15 November 2004
Burmese government uses Kathina festival to sway senior monks from participating in political activities
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The Star (AFP), November 12, 2004
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The Thai government plans to launch a Buddhism public relations offensive, officials said yesterday amid a rash of savvy commercials by evangelical Christians in the majority-Buddhist kingdom.
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Voice of Vietnam, Nov 15, 2004
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Nearly 3,000 monks and nuns gathered at Pho Minh pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday to attend a Kathina robe-offering ceremony.
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Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), November 9, 2004
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), a Thai-Burma based organization, will soon publish a report named "Burma: A Land Where Buddhist Monks Are Disrobed and Detained in Dungeons" that describes the arrest of Buddhist monks by the military regime in Burma.
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Democratic Voice of Burma, November 9, 2004
Oslo, Norway -- Burma?s military junta, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) which recently insisted that it would go ahead with the fourth World Buddhist Summit in December after the main Japanese sponsor decided to pull out of the agreement to fund the conference, the junta is now actively seeking yet another Japanese Buddhist group as potential sponsor.
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Indo-Asian News Service, Nov 9, 2004
Yangon, Myanmar -- The Fourth World Buddhist Summit will be held on schedule in Myanmar, reports Xinhua. Earlier reports said the schedule might be affected by the withdrawal of co-sponsor Nenbutsushu Buddhist Sect of Japan.
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By Pandita Ko, The Buddhist Channel, Nov 10, 2004
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- Five prominent Buddhist individuals became the first persons to be appointed as members of the "International Advisory Panel (IAP)" today. Each of the panelists - coming from different countries and with expertise in various disciplines - is expected to play a critical role in establishing the Buddhist Channel as a truly global, web based media platform.
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BY SYLVIA LOOI, The Star, Nov 10, 2004
PENANG, Malaysia -- The Penang Municipal Council has decided not to extend the planning permission to build the controversial Buddhist institution-cum-columbarium project in Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah here.
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by Goh Seng Chai, The Buddhist Channel, Nov 9, 2004
Bangkok, Thailand -- The 69th executive council meeting of the World Fellowship of Buddhists brought up contemporary but pertinent matters which affected Buddhists world wide. Among the items discussed at the meeting was the abuse of the use of Buddha images, the bogus monks issue, the proposed amendment to the Constitution and determination of host of the next General Conference.
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Story by NISSARA HORAYANGURA, Bangkok Post, Nov 9, 2004
Bangkok, Thailand -- It's the classic trick question. Ask most people - even a devout Thai Buddhist - where the historical Buddha was born, and they will often, confusing it in their minds with the country where Buddhism is said to have originated, answer "India".
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DVB, November 7, 2004
Yangon, Myanmar -- The main sponsor of the fourth World Buddhist Summit to be held in Burma in December, has boycotted Burma?s military junta by declaring on 6 November that it won?t be funding the conference.
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By Nirmal Ghosh, Straits Times Thailand Correspondent, Nov 9, 2004
Bangkok, Thailand -- MR PREECHA, from Betong in Yala province, lives in Bangkok where he works as a website developer for a finance company. In regular conversations with his family in Betong, which borders Malaysia, the 24-year-old hears the buzz on the ground in the south: local Buddhists are scouting for relocation options.
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VNS, Nov 8, 2004
HA NOI, Vietnam -- The foundation stone for the VND42 billion Viet Nam Buddhist Institute was laid on Saturday at Ha Noi?s outlying Soc Son District. The stones were specially brought for the ceremony from the Nalanda Buddhist College in India and from Nepal.
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VNA, Nov 6, 2004
Ha Noi, Vietnam -- "Vietnamese Buddhism is developing strongly," Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Buddhism Sangha (VBS) asserted, while talking with a Viet Nam News Agency reporter at the ground-breaking ceremony for the Viet Nam Buddhist Institute in Ha Noi's outlying district of Soc Son on Saturday.
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Voice of Vietnam, Nov 8, 2004
Hanoi, Vietnam -- A delegation of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and the Government's Committee for Religious Affairs called on the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) in Hanoi on Sunday to mark its 23rd founding anniversary.
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by WASSANA NANUAM, Bangkok Post, Nov 8, 2004
Narathiwat, Thailand -- People in the deep South yesterday complained to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra about lack of safety following the daily killings of Buddhists by Muslim insurgents.
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By SIMON KHOO, The Star, Nov 8, 2004
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- ABOUT 260 Buddhists gathered for a ceremonial dinner in Kuala Lumpur recently to celebrate the enthronement of Lhobpong Rinpoche.
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Stories by KARNJARIYA SUKRUNG & Photos by SOMKID CHAIJITVANIT, Bangkok Post, Nov 5, 2004
Some say Gross Domestic Product can't quantify a nation's contentment - and there is an alternative
Bangkok, Thailand -- If you asked villagers in Mooban Kampla-lai, Ubon Ratana district, Khon Kaen, what good quality of life is, they would promptly give you an interesting, succinct list. Closer and stronger family and community bonds.
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by Jan McGirk, The Independent, Nov 4, 2004
Bangkok, Thailand -- The bass rattle beneath the monotony of the Buddhist chanting at the Luangta Bua temple is a deep feline purr. Pacing on all fours alongside the shaven-headed monks are the temple's tigers, their tawny fur mingling with the flowing saffron robes as the big cats are led through the grounds on a lead by their unlikely guardians.
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VNA, Nov3, 2004
Ha Noi, Vietnam - While attending the on-going 6th session of the National Assembly on Wednesday, Most venerable Thich Thanh Tu, deputy to the 11th National Assembly, voiced protests against the US Department of State's decision to list Viet Nam as one of the countries of particular concern (CPC) in its annual report on religious freedom.
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By SUTIN WANNABOVORN, Associated Press Writer , November 5, 2004
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Suspected Muslim insurgents attacked an army unit protecting Buddhist monks at a monastery early Friday, killing one of the soldiers as sectarian violence continued in southern Thailand, police said.
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INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST INFORMATION BUREAU, Nov 3, 2004
Paris, France -- The International Buddhist Information Bureau (IBIB) is informed that 21 leaders of the Vietnamese Buddhist Youth Movement (Gia Dinh Phat Tu Viet Nam) were intercepted at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City and banned from leaving Vietnam.
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By Mettanando Bhikkhu, The Buddhist Channel, Nov 5, 2004
Bangkok, Thailand -- Most people could hardly imagine any connection between religion and the Olympic Games, with its grandiose opening, highly commercialized services and advertisements, and humiliating scandals over doping of international athletes, and extremely tight security for the protection of any possible terrorist attack.
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Kyodo News, November 2, 2004
BANGKOK, Thailand -- A Buddhist village leader was beheaded in the southern Thai province of Narathiwat, apparently in revenge for the deaths of about 90 people, many of them Muslims, in a recent riot in the province, local police said Tuesday.
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VNA, Nov 2, 2004
Ha Noi, Vietnam -- Monks and nuns from 14 northern cities and provinces are attending a refresher course cum workshop on Buddhism dissemination, which started in Ha Noi on Tuesday.
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TNA, Nov 1, 2004
CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- Cultural experts in Thailand's northern city of Chiang Mai are up in arms over a five-star hotel where the accommodation comes in the form of replica Buddhist temples.
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TNA, Oct 31, 2004
CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra today spend a peaceful morning in a tranquil northern temple praying for peace in the southern region and an end to poverty and bird flu, while admitting to feeling stressed by the country?s problems.
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Bernama, October 30, 2004
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Buddhist monks and novices have been effectively banned from department stores and markets following a huge number of public complaints over their consumerist behaviour, the Thai News Agency (TNA) said in its report filed Saturday.
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The Nation, October 29, 2004
Bangkok, Thailand -- Khunying Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand, the first forensic doctor to examine the bodies of the 78 Tak Bai protesters who died while in the back of Army trucks, yesterday performed Buddhist rites dedicated to the victims.
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Channel News Asia, Oct 29, 2004
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Cambodia's new monarch King Norodom Sihamoni received blessings from top Buddhist monks and his parents on Friday ahead of his formal coronation ceremony, as Phnom Penh slipped into celebratory mode.
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byPRASIT TANGPRASERT, Bangkok Post, Oct 29, 2004
Nakhon Ratchasima, Bangkok -- Amulets blessed by Luang Phor Khoon Parisuttho, the abbot of Wat Ban Rai in Dan Khun Thot district, are in high demand as the revered monk recuperates from a stroke last weekend.
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Radio Australia, Oct 29, 2004
Hanoi, Vietnam -- One of Vietnam's most prominent religious dissidents has called on the country's regime to lift a verbal house arrest order against him and the head of his outlawed Buddhist church.
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Bangkok Post, Oct 29, 2004
Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand - Villagers and monks will petition a senior monk in Bangkok to demand the abbot of a famous forest temple be relieved of his position for allegedly having sex with a female follower.
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by MANIT SANUBBOON, Bangkok Post. Oct 28, 2004
Chachoengsao, Bangkok -- An inquiry has begun into a series of alleged irregularities at Wat Sothornwararam Voraviharn in Chachoengsao, including asset management and delays in building a two-billion-baht chapel and a dyke.
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The Nation, Oct 28, 2004
Bangkok, Thailand -- The Democrat party is touring the Northeast for the first time since its new leader Banyat Bantadtan took office. The tour starts in major provinces, such as Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, Nong Khai and Sakon Nakhon, where many seats are available.
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Sin Chiew Daily (Editorial, The Nation/ANN), Oct 28, 2004
Bangkok, Thailand -- The violent crackdown on Muslim protesters in Narathiwat's Tak Bai district on Monday, which resulted in several deaths during a bloody clash at the scene of the protest and the subsequent loss of scores more lives after more than 1,300 people, mainly young men, were rounded up and put in the army's custody, has been met with what can only be described as widespread public apathy.
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Channel News Asia, October 22, 2004
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- There are over 3,800 pagodas throughout Cambodia, a predominantly Buddhist country.
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by Lim Kooi Fong, Managing Editor, The Buddhist Channel, October 25, 2004
Rebirth of "The Buddhist Channel" heralds the beginning of professional Buddhist web media.
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Associated Press, October 25, 2004
Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- Two Buddhist monks abandoned their vows after they fell in love with a pair of teenage girls who sold beer across from their temple in central Cambodia, a newspaper reported on Monday.
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TNA, Oct 13, 2004
BANGKOK, Thailand -- A prominent doctor attached to the Department for the Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine today called on Thais to use traditional Buddhist meditation practices as a mean of controlling both physical and mental illness.
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