Buddhists around the world celebrating Vesak

A Vesak celebration in Sri Lanka, 2011

Buddhists around the world are gearing up for Vesak, the annual celebration of the Buddha’s birthday. The full moon in May, for many, marks the day that the Buddha was born. On the same day, many Buddhist communities also celebrate major events in the Buddha’s life, mainly his attainment of enlightenment and his parinirvana. Vesak Day has Southeast Asian origins, and while it might be considered a Theravadan holiday, other Buddhist traditions, including Zen and some Tibetan, choose to celebrate Vesak Day.

For many groups, the holiday falls on May 24 this year, but celebrations have been taking place throughout May and are scheduled into June. Read More »

In the Summer Buddhadharma magazine: Your meditation reality check

Are you in need of a meditation reality check? You’ll find one in the Summer Buddhadharma, which hits newsstands soon, with a forum discussion on the obstacles to meditation and how we can work with them. Also inside: Tulku Thondup shares a meditation on Guru Rinpoche and his pure land, Zen practitioner Gregory Shepherd looks back at his time in a monastery and the nagging question of whether he ever experienced enlightenment, Anyen Rinpoche discusses developing certainty in the path, and Zen priest Catherine Toldi addresses the painful conflicts that can arise in sanghas and how to handle them. Plus: Sumi Loundon Kim on creating dharma programs that meet the needs of children and their parents, a profile of Noah Levine‘s Against the Stream sangha, and much more. Read More »

Join Pema Chödrön for a virtual retreat this weekend

Pema Chödrön will be leading a program at the Omega Institute this weekend on the four marks of our existence: impermanence, egolessness, suffering, and peace. The program is sold out, but there’s still time to register to watch the program online.The retreat features talks, guided meditations, and question-and-answer sessions led by Pema and Tim Olmsted, longtime cofacilitator of her retreats at Omega. Read More »

Support Sravasti Abbey’s “Great Compassion Challenge”

Sravasti Abbey is raising money to build Chenrezig Hall, a new multipurpose building that will reduce overcrowding and allow the abbey to run more guest programs. The abbey still needs $740,000 to finish the hall. Now is an especially good time to give — Vesak Day is May 24 and 25, and two anonymous donors have started the Great Compassion Challenge, offering to double any donations made (up to a total of $158,000) until July 12. Click here to read more about Chenrezig Hall, and click here to make a donation.

Roshi Anne Seisen Saunders elected president of White Plum Asanga

The White Plum Asanga has elected Roshi Anne Seisen Saunders as its new president. Saunders replaces Roshi Gerry Shishin Wick, who was president for six years.

Saunders is the founder and head teacher of Sweetwater Zen Center, near San Diego. She was a student of the late Taizan Maezumi Roshi and is a dharma successor of Roshi Bernie Glassman. Click here to read more.

How to Live on Planet Earth: Poets and fans remember Nanao Sakaki

A young Nanao Sakaki oversaw the proceedings by way of this blown-up photo; Gary Snyder addresses the gathering. Photos and below text by Steve Silberman.

Friday night, in celebration of his new book of collected poems, How to Live on Planet Earth, the San Francisco Poetry Center and Green Arcade Books hosted a tribute to Nanao Sakaki in a mattress factory. The event featured Gary Snyder, Michael McClure, Joanne Kyger, Patricia Wakida, Gary Lawless, Dale Pendell, Malcolm Margolin, and other poets and friends. It was a marvelous evening. Read More »