Buddhist sites from Bodh Gaya to Sarnath to be documented

PTI, May 9, 2013

Gaya, India -- All Buddhist sites between Bodh Gaya and Sarnath in Bihar would be documented, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Thursday.

Dalai Lama promotes vegetarianism on first ever World Compassion Day

Ahimsa360.com, May 5, 2013

New Delhi, India -- Animal welfare was the topic of discussion and the XIV Dalai Lama propounded the ideals of ahimsa and vegetarianism at the first-ever World Compassion Day, organised at a suburban hotel on Wednesday.

President presents peace lamp to Buddhist monk

The Himalaya Times, Apr 19, 2013

"The peace lamp would hopefully help allay the magnitude of conflict surfaced between North Korea and South Korea"

KATHMANDU, Nepal -- President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has presented a perennial holy peace lamp (Akhanda Dip) to South Korean Buddhist monk on Friday.

Buddhist monks organise special prayers on World Heritage Day in Gaya

ANI, 19 Apr 2013

Gaya, Bihar (India) -- A large number of Buddhist monks organised special prayers in Gaya, Bihar, for world peace and for the protection of the heritage sites as they celebrated 'World Heritage Day this week.

Global Vipassana Pagoda opens in Mumbai

Maharashtra Unlimited, Vol 2, Jan - March 2013

96.12 metre pagoda is dubbed as "Wonder of the new millennium"

Mumbai, India -- Asia’s tallest stone structure rises majestically in the sky against the blue background of the Arabian Sea. Located in the southwest of Mumbai on the Essel Plateau near Gorai and covering an area of about 15.5 acres, the Global Vipassana Pagoda is a 21st century architectural wonder.

Dalai Lama raises money for Buddhist Community

by Alice Reetham, Tibet Post International, 12 April 2013

Dharamshala, India -- Figurative artist Lisa Andrews painted two portraits of His Holiness, which were signed by him on a recent visit to the UK; these signed portraits raised £6,200 ($9,544) when they were auctioned by the Buddhist Community Center (BCCUK).

‘Buddhist philosophies are a way of life’

Express News Service, 4th April 2013

CHENNAI , India -- A day-long national seminar titled ‘Philosophical Revisit to Buddhism in Tamil Nadu’ was organised by the Department of Philosophy, University of Madras, here on Wednesday. The seminar focused on how Buddhism forayed into Tamil Nadu.

Sri Lanka: Buddhism to promote moral development among foreign tourists

Lanka Daily News, Apr 10, 2013

Colombo, Sri Lanka -- The Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Ministry considers its teaming up with the Economic Development Ministry in a joint endeavour to promote Buddhism throughout the world as a major victory, Prime Minister and Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Minister D M Jayaratne said.

Bhutan Makes Condoms Available To Buddhist Monks To Stop Spread Of STDs

By Vishal Arora, Religion News Service, March 29, 2013

Timphu, Bhutan -- Health officials in the tiny Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan are making condoms available at all monastic schools in a bid to stem the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV among young monks who are supposed to be celibate.

Pakistan hopes for Buddhist boost to tourism drought

By Guillaume Lavallee, AFP, March 24, 2013

Amid rising violence, the country is trying to revive travel to its northwest - rich in Buddhist history and significance - which could generate billions in revenue, but lies next to Taliban havens

TAKHT-i-BAHI, Pakistan -- Religious violence may be on the rise and the Taliban still a threat, but Pakistan is hoping a rich Buddhist heritage will help it boost international tourism to its troubled northwest.