A Temple Between Heaven and Earth

by Li Zheng, Special to Dharma News Desk, The Buddhist Channel, 8 Sept 2026

Datong, Shanxi Province (China) -- The wind carried a thin, dry dust from the valleys below as I stood at the base of the cliff, tilting my head back to take in the sight. There, nestled against the sheer limestone face of Mount Heng (恆山), was a sight that no photograph could truly prepare you for, a cluster of wooden halls, galleries, and pavilions clinging to the rock like a swallow's nest. This is Xuankong Si (悬空寺), the Hanging Temple of Datong, and I had come to see for myself what happens when human devotion refuses to be bound by gravity.

Kamakura's "Samurai Buddha"

by Sensei Hachimoto, The Buddhist Channel, 3 Sept 2026

Kamakura, Japan -- The coastal breeze carries the salt and scent of pine as one walks the ancient streets of Kamakura. Once the political heart of Japan, this former capital still hums with the quiet energy of over a hundred temples tucked into its verdant hills. Yet, for the historian of Buddhist iconography, one monument stands above all others, not in height alone, but in artistic and cultural significance: the Great Buddha of Kamakura, seated in eternal meditation at Kōtokuin (高徳院).

Finding Healing with Jizō

by Sensei Hachimoto, The Buddhist Channel, 25 Aug 2026

Shizuoka, Japan -- There is a figure in Japanese Buddhism who appears quietly, almost unassumingly, along roadsides and mountain paths, in temple courtyards and cemeteries. He is small, often childlike, sometimes wearing a red bib or knitted cap. Around him, you might find flowers, pinwheels, toys, or small towers of stones. To the uninitiated, these figures seem mysterious. To those who know him, Jizō (じぞうそん, Jizo Bosatsu) is something else entirely: a companion for the hardest roads we walk.

Hydrangea Petal, Pointing to the Moon

by Kooi F. Lim, The Buddhist Channel, 10 August 2026

Kamakura, Japan -- In the temple gardens of Hase-dera (海光山慈照院長谷寺, Kaikō-zan Jishō-in Hase-dera), the hydrangea blooms with quiet ferocity. Its colour shifts from blue to purple to pink, reflecting the Buddhist teaching of mujō - impermanence. This flower, once shunned by the refined court poets of Kyoto for its "fickleness," became an unlikely emblem of a spiritual revolution. Its very nature tells the story of how Buddhism in Japan stepped down from the gilded altars of the Heian elite and took root in the rain-soaked soil of the common people.

A Taste of Enlightenment, My Day with Shōjin Ryōri at Kenchōji Temple

By Jenny Kagawa, The Buddhist Channel, 12 July 2026

Kamakura, Japan -- The morning mist still clung to the ancient cedars when I arrived at Kenchōji Temple in Kamakura. Founded in 1253 by the Chinese monk Lanxi Daolong, this temple, the highest-ranking Zen monastery under the Kamakura shogunate, holds over seven centuries of Buddhist tradition. But I hadn't come merely to admire its architecture or meditate in its halls. I had come to eat.

Why Young Koreans Are Finding Solace in Buddha Dharma

by Kooi F.Lim, Op-Ed, The Buddhist Channel, 7 June 2026

SEOUL, South Korea -- On a Friday evening in late spring, the neon-lit cafés of Hongdae and the glass-and-steel canyons of Gangnam are buzzing as usual. Yet, a quieter, deeper current is moving through the generation raised on K-pop and academic cutthroat competition. As the nation prepares for Buddha’s Birthday, a long weekend draped in cascading lotus lanterns, a surprising demographic is turning toward the temples.

The Golden Light of Saga Dawa at Sera Monastery

Dharma News Desk, Special Vesak Edition, The Buddhist Channel, 7 June 2026

Lhasa, Tibet (China) -- As the full moon rises in the fourth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, Buddhists around the world celebrate Saga Dawa Düchen, one of the most sacred days in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. This auspicious full moon commemorates three pivotal events in the life of Buddha Shakyamuni, his birth, enlightenment, and Parinirvana.

2026 Seoul International Buddhism Expo with Focus on ‘Emptiness’ and Modern Wellness

SEOUL – The Jogye Order, South Korea’s largest Buddhist sect, has officially announced that the 2026 Seoul International Buddhism Expo (BEXPO2026) and the International Seon Meditation Conference will take place from April 2 to 5, 2026, at the COEX convention center in Gangnam, Seoul. The four-day event aims to present the depth of modern Korean Buddhist culture to both domestic and international audiences.

A Spring Festival Visit to Beijing’s Ancient Hongluo Temple

The Buddhist Channel, 4 March 2026

Beijing, China -- For many Chinese people, the Lunar New Year is more than just a week-long holiday; it is a time steeped in tradition, family, and the hopeful anticipation of good fortune to come.

South Korea: Thousands Gather for Meditation Festa Marking 70 Years of Lay Practice

The Buddhist Channel, 22 Sep 2025

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – A Seon meditation event was held at Gwanghwamun Square on Saturday. The event was named the “Happy Barami Seon Meditation Festa.” It was held to mark the 70th anniversary of the Lay Buddhist Association of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. The event had an estimated 7,000 participants.