American Buddhist Net

American Buddhist Net News
June 21, 2009

Nihill, CA: A large database that had been destroyed by human error was found and replaced through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request made to the NSA (National Security Agency) by a popular website based in California.

"We were beside ourselves with worry," said Richard Freeny, CEO of "Your Place or Mine," a website that describes itself as being for "Eccentrics and fringe thinkers everywhere."

"All of our data was lost. I mean, everything. Years of work lost forever until Maria suggested contacting the NSA," Freeny said during an interview at his office in Nihill, CA.

We are updating the software used by this site and so will not be adding new posts for a short time.

Please feel free to browse older posts and categories.

We should be good to go sometime today or tomorrow.

Thanks for understanding,

ABN

Our load time has been slow for the past week or more.

We are aware of the problem and are working to fix it. We hope to be back up to speed shortly.

Thanks for your understanding.

ABN

We need some help with updating the software (Drupal) used by American Buddhist Net.

If you have skills in this area and can help, please contact us through the contact page.

Thanks,
ABN

PS: American Buddhist Net was very slow yesterday due to high traffic and, probably, our being behind on some of the updates. Thanks for your understanding.

(Marquette, MI) - Members of a Zen Buddhist temple are among two northern Michigan Buddhist communities that joined 100 churches and temples in planting 12,000 trees across the Upper Peninsula in early May during the 2009 interfaith EarthKeeper Tree Project.

Volunteers planted the 12,000 trees by homes, camps, parks, American Indian reservations and many other places with help from hundreds of children ranging in age from two-years-old to 22-years-old during the interfaith U.P. EarthKeeper Tree Project.

Rev. Tesshin Paul Lehmberg, a Soto Zen Buddhist priest, told the Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper (NMU EK) Student Team Sacred Planet forum how 2,500 years ago "the Buddha sat under a tree" called the Bodhi Tree until he discovered "the root of suffering - and how to rid one's self of suffering."

A collection of some of the more interesting stories from the past week.

SBC’s Richard Land condemns ‘waterboarding’ and torture
Pro-Justice, Not Anti-China
Day of slaughter in Sri Lanka blamed on government guns
Pakistani president: Osama bin Laden is dead
Law’s Unintended Consequences
Mothers' Day Proclamation: Julia Ward Howe, Boston, 1870
Report: Under Obama, military commissions may return
The Big "Con": Taliban About to Defeat Pakistan, Take Control of Nukes, and It's Another 9/11
Video: Ron Paul Questions Richard Holbrooke - 5/5/2009
Video: Ed On Single-Payer
Why We Need a Single-Payer Health Care System
New Poll: 52% Say Marijuana Should Be Legal, Taxed, Regulated
Tibetan monk who put video on YouTube out of jail
US Afghan strikes kill 100, 'mostly civilians'
Prison Awaiting Hostile Bloggers
Net neutrality and bandwidth caps don't matter; They have nothing to do with the Internet
Jemapur -- Maledict Car (dir. Kosai Sekine)
Why Wiping Out Insurgents Won't Bring Peace to Sri Lanka
Nordic boom in biker gangs
China's Mongols see bleak future for their culture
Buying Brand Obama
Teenager helps save six from fire
More Americans taking drugs for mental illness
‘US needs to call off drone strikes in Pak’
Generosity: A two-way street
Ignore AIPAC at America’s Peril
SIBEL EDMONDS: In Congress We Trust...Not
Television Statistics
Merck Creates Fake Academic Medical Journal
Democrat’s Hate Crime Legislation: Misguided

A Year Later, Myanmar Remembers Cyclone Nargis
Niels Harrit on Alex Jones: Nano-Thermite Found in WTC Dust
Scientist Warning of Health Hazards of Monsanto's Herbicide Receives Threats
Newly Released Memo: Government 'Minders' at 9/11 Commission Interviews 'Intimidated' Witnesses
What if Scientists Didn’t Compete?
Study of 4000 indicates marijuana discourages use of hard drugs
Animal SOS: Return to Buddhist values
Calamity Jane Harman Shoots Herself in the Foot
Pilot who flew 2 planes used on 9/11 doesn't believe official story
Pre-9/11 Upgraded GPS Service Provided 243 Foot Wide Aerial Navigation Corridors
Editor in chief of Open Chemical Physics Journal resigns after controversial article on 9/11
‘America is no longer ruled by the law’ – economist Paul Craig Roberts
Obama’s First 100 Days: The Madmen Did Well
End the University as We Know It
Vietnam: Politburo Approves Bauxite Mining
Thailand: The bhikkhuni question
A Tapestry of Lies: Harold Pinter to Obama
The Truth About Mental Disorders and Psychiatry
Conservative Judge Says Legalize Drugs
Study suggests Buddhist deity meditation temporarily augments visuospatial abilities
US interpreter who witnessed torture in Iraq shot herself with service rifle
Some Might Call It Treason
What Is Wrong with the Federal Hate Crime Law?
Recipe for Disaster: The Formula That Killed Wall Street
"The World According to Monsanto"

We are changing some of the colors and probably some of the layout on American Buddhist Net.

Please bear with us while we figure this out.

If you have any suggestions, please feel free to contact us through the contact page.

Thanks,
ABN

Below are some of the more interesting stories from the past week. The Moyers interview with William Black and the WTC paper ("Active Thermitic Material Discovered in Dust...") are especially worth looking at, if you haven't done so already. Robyn

William K. Black talks with Bill Moyers on the Financial Crisis
Defiant NKorea launches long-range rocket
Toxic Asset Plan Will Leave The Same Amount Of Toxic Assets In The System, But With the Taxpayers Now Liable For Most Of The Losses
The War on Drugs is a War on You
Time Warner Cable Expands Internet Usage Pricing
Should Obama Control the Internet?
Active Thermitic Material Discovered in Dust from the 9/11 World Trade Center Catastrophe
Buddhist answers to common questions: The 7 practices of the bodhisattva
Core Of Corruption: In The Shadows
God and genocide in Cambodia
Texas vote leaves loopholes for teaching creationism
Khmer Rouge's chief torturer tells court of 'heartfelt sorrow' over killings
Geithner's Dirty Little Secret
The Centrality of Impermanence
Taiwan-Mainland co-host Buddhist forum
Spanish court considers trying former US officials
Insurers shun those taking certain meds
Mexican Drug Lord Officially Thanks American Lawmakers for Keeping Drugs Illegal
Tibetan Writer Questions Beijing's Version of Tibetan History
Insurance Industry is Simply a Parasite on the US Health System

This piece just came in from an American friend who is living as a mendicant in California. I don't think he is fully ordained by an official Buddhist group yet, but who cares? He is living the Dharma as fully as he can every day. American Buddhism has not evolved to the point where monks can beg for food in public (except in a few places), but I hope that it will. Please take the time to read this whole piece. I know the writer very well and can vouch for his integrity in what he is doing. ABN

The Buddha had several names. World Honored One, The Tathagata, Bhagavan, The Lion Amongst Men. My favorite of his names by far is "Worthy Of Offerings".

Let me explain. I'll start with a scenario which I think we've all encountered - that inner struggle that arises when you see someone in need. Perhaps they are on a street corner actively (and sometime quite obtrusively) begging for money. Other times they are on a quiet, lonesome march. Conversing with themselves and swinging wide of any and all things social. You wonder if they are crazy, drunk, buried in painful memories, lazy or otherwise depleted by the same race you fancy yourself engaged and winning. All these thoughts take place in a fraction of a second, but the real issue you are trying to weigh is 'is my money going to truly help?'

Let me begin by mentioning that I am a mendicant. I beg only for my basic needs and wisdom is my primary concern. Though I am a beggar like those mentioned above, I am relatively educated and not horrifically gripped by any drug, sex or alcohol addictions. I keep a clean shave, brush my teeth daily and occasionally cut my hair. Therefore if you saw me at the time of alms, I should appear quite different. Do I?

There are times when I throw cleanliness to the wind and walk about on that thin line between realization and insanity. My begging can appear quite obtrusive and I often embark on lonesome marches. But I am not lazy. In fact I am invigorated with zeal. I am buried in pleasant memories and took first place in the rat race a long time ago. My life is extremely meaningful and my mind is alert. My compass is set to true north and I protect what is righteous.

In this interview Kevin Ryan discusses the science and psychology of 9/11. He also mentions an upcoming paper that provides strong evidence of incendiary residues found in the World Trade Center dust. Ryan, who is one of the co-authors of the paper, says that it is "...much more conclusive than anything we've published before, and is supported by considerable physical testing."

American Buddhist Net News
2/14/09

ABN: Kevin, you have been a central figure in the 9/11 truth movement. What have you learned from that experience?

KR: The struggle for 9/11 truth has gone on now for over seven years, although I've been involved only since 2003. In that time I've learned a good deal about history and social inertia, and I've made some progress in my communications skills. Many people might think that speaking out publicly, against the wishes of authority like I did, risking one's career and public standing, can only be harmful to a person. But I've found that by showing that I was genuinely seeking a positive outcome, the opportunity to make such a sacrifice became a blessing. There were changes, of course, including a new job and moving to a new town, and a huge amount of work with my new "unpaid job", but it has been worth it. This is in part due to the fact that I've learned that there are many people in the world who feel as I do, that the events of 9/11 were paradoxically something of a gift to mankind. We don't all agree on the details, but in my view, 9/11 is a wake-up call that can be used for the purpose of realizing our own limitations, and thereby making adjustments to how we live and interact with each other, and how we prioritize the education of our children. Once we tap into this ongoing "inside job", we will have the power to make lasting positive change in our society.

ABN: Can you say more about what you mean by 9/11 being "something of a gift"? Do you mean that it has woken many people up to deeper levels of American political reality or something else?

Sundays, - GROUP MEDITATIONS at Living Insights Center - facilitated by Venerable Sha’ul Hirschmann, a senior Buddhist priest with the Center for American Buddhist Practice, 4:30-5:30 pm.  The gatherings will center on a 20-30 minute silent meditation session.  You will be welcome to meditate in your own way, but Venerable Sha’ul also will offer brief instruction/suggestions before the sitting.  In addition, the meditation will be followed by an opportunity for open discussion regarding meditation. Donations are requested to help support the Center and CABP.

ADDRESS:
The Living Insights Center, 6361 Clayton Road, Clayton, MO 63117. Tel.: (314) 721-4455

Continued...

Sunday, Starting January 25 - GROUP MEDITATIONS facilitated by Venerable Sha’ul Hirschmann, a senior ordained Buddhist priest with the Center for American Buddhist Practice, 4:30-5:30 pm. The gatherings will center on a 20-30 minute silent meditation session. You will be welcome to meditate in your own way, but Venerable Sha’ul also will offer brief instruction/suggestions before the sitting. In addition, the meditation will be followed by an opportunity for open discussion regarding meditation. Donations are requested to help support the Center and Venerable Sha’ul ($10 is suggested).

ADDRESS:
The Living Insights Center, 6361 Clayton Road, Clayton, MO 63117. Tel.: (314) 721-4455

Buddhist Refuge Vows

Saturday, February 7 - INTRODUCTION TO BASIC BUDDHISM by Venerable Sha’ul Hirschmann, an ordained Buddhist priest with the Center for American Buddhist Practice (CABP), 1:00-4:00. This seminar will focus on the fundamental tenets of Buddhism. It also will be a prerequisite for an upcoming six-week course on Intermediate Buddhism (probably beginning in April). The fee is $20, and additional donations to CABP and Living Insights will be invited and appreciated.

ADDRESS:
The Living Insights Center, 6361 Clayton Road, Clayton, MO 63117. Tel.: (314) 721-4455

Hello Everyone,

I appreciate that this wonderful forum exists, and that visitors interested in Buddhism can share their thoughts and ideas in these discussions.

I have meditated for several years since the late 1980s, and try to impact others in a positive way in the best way that I can.

I wanted to let you know about a feature documentary film about the Dalai Lama (that is narrated by Harrison Ford), called "Dalai Lama Renaissance."

EXPLORATIONS IN THE GOOD LIFE
Lama Sumati Marut brings a series of new teachings to Cape Ann this November

“The Go-To-Guru” of Los Angeles”
ANGELENO MAGAZINE

“When you meet Lama Marut, you encounter greatness, a place where the heart and mind are one, and the company you keep presents a rare presence that can change your life.”
DOUGLAS BROOKS spiritual voice of Anusara Yoga

The Center for American Buddhist Practice in St. Louis is now offering private discussions and teachings by appointment on Sundays at Living Insights. Contact Ven. Sha'ul Hirschmann by email or check out the Living Insights website for more information.

American Buddhist Net has been a bit slow and gone down a few times in the past month or so. This is probably due to our being a bit behind on software updates.

If you have trouble logging in, please try clearing your browser. If that doesn't work, have a new password sent to you. And if that doesn't work, please contact us through the "Contact" link at the top of the page. (Clearing the browser usually does the trick.)

Thank you for your understanding.

ABN

We just added three new categories to American Buddhist Net--"Caribbean" was added to the "Regions" section and "Economics" and "Humor" to the general "Categories" section.

We try to keep category terms to a minimum, but also want them to be specific enough to be useful for browsing.

If you want to perform a more specific search, please try the search function linked at the top of each page.

ABN

Health Insurance Rules May Cost You Your Life

American Buddhist Net News
Alvin Revere
July 31, 2008

Let's do a quick thought experiment.

Please consider the following situation--you either have or do not have health insurance.

Here's the question. You think you may have a medical problem: Should you go to a doctor for diagnosis and treatment?

If you do NOT have medical insurance, the answer in many or even most cases would be no because your visit may lead to an entry on your medical record showing that you now have high blood pressure, depression, or some other not-so-serious ailment. On the basis of this new record, you could very well be denied medical insurance in the future when your finances are in better order and you can afford it.

If you DO have medical insurance, the answer in many or even most cases would still be no because you might lose your job and your policy and thus find yourself in the position outlined above.

As long as you have group coverage and as long as you keep it, you are more or less fine. But once you lose your job or decide to become self-employed, you will find yourself--along with 18 million other Americans--shopping for an "individual" health insurance policy. And if you have any of a slew of medium-serious conditions, you may be considered "unisurable."

July 29, 2008
American Buddhist Net News
Alvin Revere

A bill to change national election day from Tuesday to the weekend was introduced this spring by Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI).

In an essay in support of his bill, Kohl says: After all is said and done, a democracy is only as strong as the participation in it.

We agree wholeheartedly with that statement, but then wonder why Kohl almost immediately contradicts himself three-five times (depending on how your figure it) in the following statement: I reintroduced legislation to change our national election day to the weekend with the goal of encouraging greater participation and improving the process by which we as voters determine who should represent us in government and lead our nation.

July 28, 2008
American Buddhist Net News
Alvin Revere

Realpolitik is defined as realism in politics. It stresses power over ideals. Realpolitik leads to an expansionist foreign policy based on narrow, materialistic interpretations of national interest.

Fakepolitik is defined as an ego-based Realpolitik that stresses the career of the individual over all other concerns. Fakepolitik invariably leads to corrupt and inefficient government filled with egocentric office-holders who will say and do practically anything to remain in power, or get more. Their political speeches are generally characterized by lying, bait-and-switch, vague goals that are never fulfilled, cooing tones, and soppy emotions that hypnotize the gullible.

The strategic advantage of Fakepolitik lies in its capacity to fool most of the people much of the time. Its fallback strategy, if it is seen through by large numbers of citizens, which often happens as elections near, is to position its candidate as the "lesser of two evils." By definition, there are always only two possible "lesser of two evils" in the USA since even more of them would make for confusion, both for newscasters and TV viewers.

Generally speaking, all "viable" US politicians must practice Fakepolitik to garner media attention and the respect of their "colleagues." The media demands it due to its need for crisp conflict without meaning or nuance. Politicians demand it because how can you cut a good deal with any other type?

Today is the summer solstice--the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. Today is also the birthday of Saint Robyn, an obscure but wonderful spiritual being who has made so much so much better. Happy Birthday, Robyn!

If you submit a comment, blog or forum entry on American Buddhist Net and it is identified as spam but it is not spam, the reason probably is that it contains a lot of URLs.

We have to check several places to find posts that have been held up for this or other reasons and sometimes we miss something. If a day or so passes and you still do not see your post, please send us an email and we will look for it.

If you post something, please be patient while the software does its thing. It may take a minute or more to appear after you have submitted it. Thanks. ABN

We have added a few new categories to the left sidebar, and subtracted a few. Please check it out. ABN

The Nichiren Buddhist Sangha of Texas along with the Nichiren Order of North America will be having a summer retreat in August of this year (2008). The retreat will be held at the Margaret Austin Center located just Northwest of Houston from August 1st to August 8th. This will be the first week long retreat offered by Nichiren Shu in North America. It will be focused mainly on practice with some discussion and Dharma Talks. Please consider attending this historic event to learn more about your practice and yourself. If you are new or curious about Nichiren Buddhism, this will be a wonderful week to learn about the practices of our lineage. It will be a perfect time to deepen faith and make friends in the Texas area and from around the continent of North America.

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2008, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- H.H Dorje Chang Buddha III, a Treasury of True Buddha-Dharma, a book that confers the most evolved and enlightened status on H.H. Master Wan Ko Yee, was presented to the Library of Congress yesterday at an event attended by Members of Congress, the Diplomatic Corps and sixteen Dharma Kings and Rinpoches from around the world.

PEMA CHODRON
PRACTICING PEACE IN TIMES OF WAR
at the Center for International Conflict Resolution (CICR),
Columbia University June 6-8, 2008

Beloved Buddhist teacher, Pema Chödrön, will teach a three-day program at Columbia University on strategies to support individuals and organizations working to create a peaceful and just world. Pema Chödrön has focused her teachings on how the inner practices of mindfulness-awareness from the Tibetan Buddhist path can be used by people of any faith in all walks of life to deal with extreme stress and suffering. Pema will be joined by a remarkable and diverse group of activists experienced in peace keeping and human rights worldwide.

Cites conversion to Buddhism and enormous guilt for "all the bad things I've done"

American Buddhist Net News
April 1, 2008

"I just couldn't take it any longer," the former vice-president said at a hastily called news conference at midnight on the steps of the White House.

"For my whole life, I had always believed what I had been taught--that greed is good, and that anger is our best weapon against the people we hate. When I realized how wrong I have been, well... I am terribly sorry for all the bad things I have done."

Standing at his side in place of president Bush, Laura Bush said of his resignation: "Naturally we do not approve of his conversion to a godless faith, but we accept his decision and will pray for him, as always."

Cheney's resignation was likely prompted by a recent meeting with the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader. Witnesses reported seeing the vice president in tears after his meeting with the monk last week. One heard him exclaim, "How could I have done that? What was I thinking all these years?"

His next move? "I am going to California to be near Richard Gere," Cheney said. "I have always liked his movies, but now I realize that they represent even more than I had understood."

President Bush has offered the V-P slot to the Dalai Lama saying he can "appoint anyone I damn well please." But the monk has declined the offer, saying that he must prepare for upcoming meetings with Chinese officials. "You think Cheney was bad?" he said. "That was nothing compared to these guys!"

American Buddhist Net News
March 31, 2008

Some non-Hindu religious leaders have come out in support of Hindus who were concerned about the upcoming Hollywood movie “The Love Guru” apparently degrading their institutions.

Father Charles T. Durante, a Catholic priest well respected in northern Nevada for his various community outreach efforts, in a statement today, said, “…it is important that we respect those parts of every faith tradition which are held especially sacred. I applaud Paramount Pictures for being open to the request of Hindu leaders to preview this film and listen to any concerns that may arise for them…”

Rabbi Jonathan B. Freirich, a well known Jewish leader in parts of California and Nevada, in a statement today, stressed, “While “The Love Guru” appears to be a funny take on New Age spirituality, it seems like it may portray many Hindu practices in a less than sensitive light…it would be appropriate for the producers of “The Love Guru” to make efforts to assure the religious communities of the United States that they in no way wish to make any general statements about Hinduism.”