Thailand: Tak Bat Dok Mai Festival

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.

Khmer Buddhist Theravada branch convenes conference

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.

The Bhikkhu who does battle

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.

Thailand: Soccer-mad monks too tired to take alms

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.

Over 6.5 million baht was raised in Phuket for Buddhist monks’ education under the King’s initiative

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.

Malaysia: Home Affairs Ministry Directs Arrest, Deportation Of Bogus Monks

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.

Seeking a Buddhist Mother Teresa

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.

Thailand: Rules for monks who love football

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.

Buddha image commemorating HM the King's 60 years on throne to be placed in US

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.

Hoa Hao Buddhism founding anniversary celebrated

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.