Three Doors to Freedom

God is Back

A new book, God is Back: How the Global Revival of Faith Is Changing the World by John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge (respectively Editor in Chief and Washington Bureau Chief of The Economist) is causing a stir. The New York Times is derogatory, whilst the BBC's North America editor says it's "brilliant". Meanwhile the authors explain their premise in a Fox News blog and sum it up by saying:

• "The deeper reason why God is back is that the American religious model is spreading around the world: religious establishments are being weakened and upstart religious groups are using all the tools of modernity, from megachurches to radio and television, to spread the world" (sic)

Whether you subscribe to the authors' theory or not, the growth of new delivery means - and meccas - for old religious messages is a fascinating phenomenon of our time. Do these new ways water down the salvific strength of the ancient teachings? Or do they bring solace to thousands of disillusioned souls who might otherwise never set foot on sacred ground? Or both, or neither? Even Buddhists might have a thing or two to learn by studying such trends - with an open mind!

The Compassionate Heart of the Enlightened Mind: "Bodhicitta"

It is the supreme elixir
That overcomes the sovereignty of death.
It is the inexhaustible treasure
That eliminates poverty in the world.
It is the supreme medicine
That quells the world’s disease.
It is the tree that shelters all beings
Wandering and tired on the path of conditioned existence.
It is the universal bridge
That leads to freedom from unhappy states of birth.
It is the dawning moon of the mind
That dispels the torment of disturbing conceptions.
It is the great sun that finally removes
The misty ignorance of the world.

~ SHANTIDEVA, the Peace Master

Buddhist Monk becomes Pop Star

The Buddha taught in many different ways, depending on his audience. From this, the doctrine of "skillful means" arose, allowing the teachings to adapt to changes in society and culture without losing their essence or effectiveness.

Here a monk exemplifies this process by finding a fresh new way to make the teachings accessible to today's audience: BBC News: Buddhist monk becomes pop star.

Lamentations: innovative and inspiring

On Good Friday evening, we were heartened and uplifted by a very different service at the beautiful Catholic church where our wedding was celebrated seven years ago. Unsure quite what to expect, we settled into a darkened, strangely silent church for Lamentations - a reflective prayer experience acknowledging our personal sufferings and those of the world.

Burnin' (Nicole Nordeman)

Started rubbing sticks together
Thought a spark would take forever
Never dreamt this fire would appear
Moses saw the bush in flames
And heard the branches speak his name
I wonder if he felt this kind of fear

'Cuz I'm burnin', yeah I'm burnin'
And I know I'm gonna blister in these flames
And I'll stay here till this smoke clears
And I'll find you in the ashes that remain

Ethics in Education

“How can the inner life be introduced into the education of young people? One view is morals come from religious training. Another view is that there is a fundamental and universal level of ethics that can be taught to all - things like affection, respect for others and a sense of interconnection. Modern education can teach these things.”

~ HH Dalai Lama

Mind and Life XVIII Conference in Dharamsala

The Mind and Life Institute continues its series of meetings with His Holiness the Dalai Lama with a conference in Dharamsala, India from April 6th to 10th. The blog for this event is at: Attention, Memory and the Mind: a Synergy of Pschological, Neuroscientific and Contemplative Perspectives.

The First Annual Drukpa Council

This historic event for the Drukpa Kagyu Lineage is taking place between 6th and 15th April 2009 on Druk Amitabha Mountain in Kathmandu, Nepal under the guidance of His Holiness the Twelfth Gyalwang Drukpa. Further information is available from the Drukpa Council website.