DOCSLIB.ORG

Lands Himalayasof the HIGH POINTS of T I B E T , NEPAL and BHUTAN

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Lands Himalayasof the HIGH POINTS of T I B E T , NEPAL and BHUTAN STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY Lands Himalayasof the HIGH POINTS OF T I B E T , NEPAL AND BHUTAN September 23 to October 9, 2012 a program of the stanford alumni association In 1995 I led a group of Stanford travelers to the kingdoms of the Himalaya. It was a trip I will never forget—we felt as though we had stepped back through time, to the days when reincarnated lamas and ancient dynasties ruled these misty mountain realms. While some things have changed since then—the intrusion of cell phones and the internet come to mind—the most memorable things have not: the spiritual nature and devotion of the people; ancient temples and monasteries dedicated to piety and the pursuit of learning; colorful ceremonies conducted by magenta-robed monks; and of course, the breathtaking beauty of the majestic Himalaya, truly the “rooftop of the world.” Join us on an adventure you’ll never forget! Brett S. THOMpson, ’83, Director, Stanford Travel/Study Highlights WANDER the streets of VIEW more than 100 VISIT the famous Lhasa, crowded with awe-inspiring Himalayan Taktsang Monastery, nomads clad in native dress, peaks, including Everest a place so holy that all monks spinning prayer by air and travel over soar- Bhutanese try to visit wheels and merchants ing mountain passes and it at least once during selling spices and amulets. through lush alpine valleys. their lifetimes. from Beijing CBeijingHINA C HINA Lhasa C HINA Tsedang TIBET s H i m a l a y a Punakha Kathmandu Paro Thimphu N EPAL B HUTAN INDIA to Bangkok Wednesday, SEPTEMBER 26 Friday, SEPTEMBER 28 BEIJING / TSEDANG, LHASA Itinerary TIBET Today take in Lhasa’s Fly to Lhasa this morning colorful sights: traditionally Sunday & Monday, and travel to Tsedang clad nomads, monks holding SEPTEMBER 23 & 24 through the historic Yarlung DEPART U.S. / prayer wheels and vendors BEIJING, CHINA Valley, reputedly the cradle selling spices and amulets. Depart on an overnight of Tibetan civilization. Visit Spend the morning at the flight to Beijing, crossing Yumbu Lakhang, Tibet’s magnificent Potala, palace the international date line first palace, and watch the of the Dalai Lamas. From en route. Arrive on Monday sun set over the majestic its position atop Red Hill, and enjoy the remainder mountains from our location the Potala dominates the of the evening at leisure. east of the Yarlung River. landscape in all directions. YARLUNG RIVER HOTEL (B,L,D) PENINSULA PALACE HOTEL After lunch, travel west to Drepung Monastery, Thursday, SEPTEMBER 27 Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 25 located in the shadow of an BEIJING TSEDANG / LHASA Visit Tiananmen Square, Travel to Lhasa, capital imposing Himalayan peak. where Mao Zedong of the Tibet Autonomous Founded in 1416, Drepung announced the birth of Region situated at was once Tibet’s largest the People’s Republic of approximately 12,000 feet monastery and served as China and, 40 years later, above sea level. Along the residence of several a student protest turned the way, stop at Samye incarnations of the Dalai into a massacre that made Monastery, the oldest Lama. LHASA HOTEL (B,L,D) headlines around the world. monastery in Tibet and Take a guided walk through considered the birthplace of Tibetan Buddhism. Samye Saturday, SEPTEMBER 29 the Forbidden City to see the LHASA majestic Imperial Palace, the is a unique combination of Visit the holy Jokhang largest and best-preserved Chinese, Tibetan and Indian Temple, which shelters the cluster of ancient buildings in architectural styles whose Jowo Sakyamuni, Tibet’s China. Enjoy an afternoon at construction reflects the most revered image. Join leisure before our welcome ideal universe of Buddhism. the procession of pilgrims LHASA HOTEL (B,L,D) reception. moving in a clockwise PENINSULA PALACE HOTEL (B,L) circuit around the temple from Beijing CBeijingHINA C HINA Lhasa C HINA Tsedang TIBET s H i m a l a y a Punakha Kathmandu Paro Thimphu N EPAL B HUTAN INDIA to Bangkok and continue around the Monday, OCTOBER 1 Wednesday, OCTOBER 3 Barkhor, which is the heart KATHMANDU THIMPHU Visit Patan, known as a Today explore the Third of the old city. Visit the city of the arts and a World King’s Memorial Chorten, Sera Monastery and follow Heritage site. Patan has a full of Buddhist iconography an in-progress religious long Buddhist history and and Thimphu’s primary debate with the help of our each of the four corners landmark; the National translator. LHASA HOTEL (B,L,D) of the city is marked by Library, repository of the a stupa. View the city’s nation’s religious literary Sunday, SEPTEMBER 30 Royal Palace and its ornate heritage; and the Folk LHASA / temples and shrines before Heritage Museum with its KATHMANDU, NEPAL continuing to Bodnath, a fascinating overview of Fly to Nepal’s capital, small town that boasts a traditional Bhutanese life. Kathmandu, set among World Heritage stupa built This evening, meet with the world’s highest by Tibetan Buddhists. Bhutanese intellectuals and mountains and just north HYATT HOTEL (B,L) public figures for dinner at a of the wide plains of India. local restaurant. Vital and complex, the Tuesday, OCTOBER 2 TAJ TASHI HOTEL (B,L,D) city is an ideal place for KATHMANDU / PARO, understanding Himalayan BHUTAN / THIMPHU Enjoy a spectacular flight Thursday, OCTOBER 4 Buddhism. Visit the giant THIMPHU / PUNAKHA over the Himalayas to Paro Buddhist stupa (large On our half-day journey to and continue to Thimpu dome-shaped reliquary) of Punakha, stop at scenic by bus. Along the way Swayambunath with its all- Dochula Pass (10,200 visit Simtokha Dzong, seeing eyes of Buddha, and feet), site of 108 chortens an important historical Kumari Chowk, the palace (Bhutanese for stupas) and and religious monument courtyard of Kathmandu’s which, on a clear day, offers that also houses one of “living goddess,” a child a magnificent view of the Bhutan’s premier learning worshipped by Nepali Himalayas. Enjoy a picnic institutes. lunch before descending Buddhists and Hindus as TAJ TASHI HOTEL (B,L,D) the manifestation of the 6,000 feet into Punakha goddess Durga. Valley. Walk through crop HYATT HOTEL (B,L) fields and villages to visit Chimi Lhakhang, a 15th- the key location for the Monday, OCTOBER 8 century pilgrimage fertility movie, Little Buddha. At PARO / BANGKOK, THAILAND shrine. the National Museum in Fly from Paro to Bangkok ZANGTHO PELRI (B,L,D) Paro, view exhibits about and check into our airport the history, culture and hotel. Friday, OCTOBER 5 religion of Bhutan. AIRPORT NOVOTEL PUNAKHA ZHIWALING HOTEL (B,L,D) SUVARNABHUMI HOTEL (B,L) An optional morning hike takes us past farms and Sunday, OCTOBER 7 Tuesday, OCTOBER 9 fields to the charming PARO BANGKOK / U.S. village of Nezigang. Climb By special arrangement, Fly to the U.S., crossing gradually to Khamsum hike to the iconic Taktsang the international date line Yuley Namgay Chorten, (“Tiger’s Nest”) Monastery, en route and arriving back built by the royal family, whose white temples cling home the same day. (B) with superb views of to a soaring cliff 10,000 Punakha Valley, then follow feet above the valley. a trail along the river to Legend claims that Guru the impressive Punakha Rinpoche, the father of Dzong, the winter fortress Bhutanese Buddhism, of Jo Khenpo, chief arrived here astride a flying hierarch of Bhutanese tigress and meditated in Buddhism. Alternatively, a cave for months. The visit the dzong (fortress) monastery is a pilgrimage directly from the hotel. site that the Bhutanese ZANGTHO PELRI (B,L,D) people aspire to visit at least once in their lives. Saturday, OCTOBER 6 Enjoy a farewell reception PUNAKHA / PARO tonight before dinner. This morning depart ZHIWALING HOTEL (B,L,D) Punakha for the drive back to Paro. Visit the Paro Dzong, one of the most beautifully situated fortresses in Bhutan and Information DATES NOT INCLUDED and cobbled paths. In addition, long, Sept. 23 to Oct. 9, 2012 (17 days) International and U.S. domestic airfare often bumpy bus rides are sometimes Passport fees Immunization required to reach remote locations. SIZE costs Meals and beverages other Drive times range from one to five Limited to 35 participants than those specified as included hours on winding mountain roads. Independent and private transfers You should be prepared to handle COST* Trip-cancellation/interruption and your own luggage at customs points $10,295 per person, double occupancy baggage insurance Excess-baggage in those airports where porters are not $12,195 per person, single occupancy charges Personal items such as permitted. If you are susceptible to *Association nonmembers add $200 per person email, telephone and fax calls, laundry altitude sickness, please be aware that and gratuities for nongroup services Lhasa is 12,000 feet above sea level. INCLUDED 15 nights of deluxe and best-available AIR ArrANGEMENTS Accommodations are first-class or hotel accommodations 15 break- International and U.S. domestic airfare best-available. Outside of the large fasts, 14 lunches and 10 dinners is not included in the program cost. cities on this itinerary, lodgings are Welcome and farewell receptions Round-trip, economy-class airfare on basic, on a par with accommodations Bottled water on excursions United Airlines from San Francisco to at an American national park lodge. Visa fees On-tour airfare: Beijing / Beijing, China, and return from Bangkok, We expect that participants will be a Lhasa / Kathmandu / Paro / Bangkok Thailand, is approximately $1,450 as self-selecting group whose interest in Gratuities to porters, guides and of December 2011 and is subject to the places we visit will far outweigh the drivers for all group activities All change without notice.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Why Buddhism Baffles the West
    WHY BUDDHISM BAFFLES THE WEST None of the world’s major religions is more richly varied than Buddhism. From the time of its birth some 2,500 years ago in India, it was reworked and reshaped over and over again as it spread to the many kingdoms of Asia—and, recently, to the West. In each of these lands, Buddhism profoundly influenced local cul- tures, and was in turn profoundly remolded by them—so much so that today’s adherents some- times even honor different Buddhas. Such variety makes it all the more ironic, our contributors point out, that Westerners today have such a one-dimen- sional picture of the faith the Buddha spawned. 72 Jan Nattier on America’s three varieties of Buddhism 81 Donald K. Swearer on the worldliness of Buddhism Buddhism Comes To Main Street by Jan Nattier uddhism is big news in America these days. Whether through a New York Times article carrying the Dalai Lama’s Blatest remarks or a CNN spot on a political fund-raising scandal at a Taiwanese branch temple in Los Angeles, whether by seeing Bernardo Bertolucci’s Little Buddha or following Tina Turner’s life story in What’s Love Got to Do With It?, Americans have become more aware than ever before of something called “Buddhism.” But it is not only as interesting bits of cultural and polit- ical exotica that Buddhism has entered the American consciousness. Increasingly, Americans themselves are becoming Buddhists. Though precise statistics are impossible to come by, according to most esti- mates between one and two million Americans now consider them- selves practicing Buddhists.
    [Show full text]
  • Orientalist Commercializations: Tibetan Buddhism in American Popular Film
    Journal of Religion & Film Volume 2 Issue 2 October 1998 Article 5 October 1998 Orientalist Commercializations: Tibetan Buddhism in American Popular Film Eve Mullen Mississippi State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf Recommended Citation Mullen, Eve (1998) "Orientalist Commercializations: Tibetan Buddhism in American Popular Film," Journal of Religion & Film: Vol. 2 : Iss. 2 , Article 5. Available at: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol2/iss2/5 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UNO. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Religion & Film by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@UNO. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Orientalist Commercializations: Tibetan Buddhism in American Popular Film Abstract Many contemporary American popular films are presenting us with particular views of Tibetan Buddhism and culture. Unfortunately, the views these movies present are often misleading. In this essay I will identify four false characterizations of Tibetan Buddhism, as described by Tibetologist Donald Lopez, characterizations that have been refuted by post-colonial scholarship. I will then show how these misleading characterizations make their way into three contemporary films, Seven Years in Tibet, Kundun and Little Buddha. Finally, I will offer an explanation for the American fascination with Tibet as Tibetan culture is represented in these films. This article is available in Journal of Religion & Film: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol2/iss2/5 Mullen: Orientalist Commercializations Tibetan religion and culture are experiencing an unparalleled popularity. Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan history are commonly the subjects of Hollywood films.
    [Show full text]
  • Program Guide
    IBFF NO1 NOVEMBER 20–23, 2003 LOS ANGELES WWW.IBFF.ORG INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST FILM FESTIVAL Debra Bloomfield Jerry Burchard John Paul Caponigro Simon Chaput Mark Citret Linda Connor Lynn Davis Peter deLory Don Farber Richard Gere Susannah Hays Jim Henkel Lena Herzog Kenro Izu REFLECTING BUDDHA: Michael Kenna IMAGES BY Heather Kessinger Hirokazu Kosaka CONTEMPORARY Alan Kozlowski PHOTOGRAPHERS Wayne Levin Stu Levy NOVEMBER 14–23 David Liittschwager Elaine Ling Exhibition and Sale to Benefit the International Buddhist Film Festival John Daido Loori Book Signings by Participating Photographers Yasuaki Matsumoto Throughout the Exhibition Steve McCurry Curated by Linda Connor Pasadena Museum of California Art Susan Middleton 490 East Union Street, Pasadena, California Charles Reilly Third Floor Exhibition Space Open Wed. to Sun. 10 am to 5 pm, Fri. to 8 pm David Samuel Robbins www.pmcaonline.org 626.568.3665 Stuart Rome Meridel Rubenstein Larry Snider 2003 pigment print © Linda Connor, Ladakh, India digital archival Nubra Valley, Camille Solyagua John Willis The Dalai Lama’s Rainbow The Dalai Lama’s NOV 20–23 at LACMA www.ibff.org Alison Wright image: Welcome to the first International Buddhist Film Festival. The Buddhist understanding that what we experience is projection, is cinema in the most profound sense. In the sixth century BC, Prince Siddhartha, the future Buddha, was challenged by personal and political upheaval, and he heroically strove to find a meaningful way of living. Waking up and paying attention, he discovered a path of spiritual transformation. The seeds of this breakthrough have continued to flower through 2,500 years. A new wave of contemporary cinema is emerging to embrace all the strands of Buddhism—directly, obliquely, reverently, critically, and comedically too.
    [Show full text]
  • Tibetan Nuns Debate for Dalai Lama
    PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851 607-273-8519 WINTER 1996 Newsletter and Catalog Supplement Tibetan Nuns Debate for Dalai Lama NAMGYAL INSTITUTE by Thubten Chodron I began hearing rumors the At 4PM nuns, monks, and Enters New Phase morning of Sunday, October 8th laypeople gathered in the court- that nuns were going to debate in yard. The nuns were already debat- the courtyard in front of the main ing on one side, and their voices of Development temple in Dharamsala and that His and clapping hands, a mark of de- Holiness the Dalai Lama was to be bate as done in Tibetan Buddhism, Spring 1996 will mark the end Lama. The monks have received a • Obtain health insurance for the there to observe. There were many filled the place. Suddenly there was of the fourth full year of operation wide and popular reception Namgyal monks, none of whom nuns in McLeod Gam' at the time; a hush and the nuns who had been and the beginning of a new phase throughout the U.S. and Canada, currently have health insurance. the major nunneries in India and debating went onto the stage in the of development for the Institute of and there is an ever-growing circle • Fund a full-time paid adminis- Nepal were having their first ever "pavilion" where His Holiness' seat Buddhist Studies established by of students at the Institute in trator. Our two administrators inter-nunnery debate. The fact that was. His Holiness soon came out, Namgyal Monastery in North Ithaca, confirming the validity of have each put in forty hours per the best nun debaters had^athered the nuns prostrated and were America.
    [Show full text]
  • 3000 Hours of Meditation
    3000 HOURS OF MEDITATION at the sacred Mahabodhi Tree in Bodhgaya, India and a Traditional Four Holy Sites Pilgrimage Personal Journal entries shared with Dhamma friends, with a closing chapter offering practical advice on how to make one’s life a Sacred Pilgrimage. By Ajahn Achalo Bhikkhu 3000 HOURS OF MEDITATION Personal Journal entries shared with Dhamma friends, with a closing chapter offering practical advice on how to make one’s life a Sacred Pilgrimage. By Ajahn Achalo This Collection of teachings by Ajahn Achalo Bhikkhu has been sponsored for free distribution by a group of dedicated Thai, Malaysian and Singaporean lay students, in honour of several significant occasions occurring in the year 2020. This year Ajahn Achalo enters his 24th year as a bhikkhu, which is exactly half of his life thus far. It is also the tenth year since Anandagiri Forest Monastery was established. FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION 6 CONTENTS FOREWORD 9 by Phra Rachabodhivitate INTRODUCTION 11 by Ajahn Achalo SECTION ONE 17 3000 hours – Meditating at the Sacred Bodhi Tree Personal Journal entries shared with Dhamma friends BODHGAYA – OPENING WORDS 18 CHAPTER ONE 21 The Seat of Enlightenment CHAPTER TWO 26 The Longest Journey Begins With the First Step CHAPTER THREE 34 Pleasant Sounds, Unpleasant Sounds, and the Silent Mind CHAPTER FOUR 38 Our Usual Days CHAPTER FIVE 42 Day of Miracles! CHAPTER SIX 44 Joy, Wonder, and Renunciant Thunder CHAPTER SEVEN 50 The Smell of Real Monks CHAPTER EIGHT 52 95% of the Big Goal is Completed! CHAPTER NINE 56 Mumtaz Gems & Sons CHAPTER
    [Show full text]
  • Popularizing Buddhism
    Buddhism Popularizing Buddhism Popularizing Buddhism Summary: In the 1990s, a new form of popular Americanized Buddhism emerged with the publicity of celebrity followers like Richard Gere and Tina Turner. At the same time, new generations of Asian American Buddhists continued to grow and shape their traditions. The 1990s saw the emergence of a “Hollywood Buddhism” or a Buddhism of celebrities which has continued to the present. The National Enquirer suggested that the Dalai Lama told Richard Gere to dump Cindy Crawford. A film about Tina Turner, "What’s Love Got to Do with It," opens with the mantra chanting of the Soka Gakkai Buddhist movement. The Tibetan Namgyal monks went on a summer music tour, called Lollapalooza, with the Beastie Boys, whose song, “Bodhisattva Vow,” became a part of hip-hop culture. Bernardo Bertolucci’s film, The Little Buddha, follows a young Seattle boy who is seen as the reincarnation of a Tibetan lama. It is clear that a celebrity embrace of Buddhism has played a role in the public perception of Buddhism. As writers such as bell hooks and Sallie Tisdale, politicians such as Jerry Brown, movie stars such as Richard Gere and Uma Thurman, and singers such as Jerry Garcia and John Mellencamp talked about their identity as Buddhists or their sympathies with Buddhism, the mass media began presenting a “pop” form of Buddhism to a wider American audience. Building on this interest and on a growing interest in Buddhist meditation practice, a national Buddhist magazine, Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, was successfully launched in 1991 by the Tricycle Foundation.
    [Show full text]
  • Little Buddha Video Study Guide
    Name: ___________________ Little Buddha Video Study Guide The Little Buddha video tells two stories in one movie. One story takes place during modern current times and involves a young American boy named Jesse and some Buddhist monks. The other story is the ancient tale of Siddhartha Gautama. This study guide is split in two. The first set of questions focus on Jesse’s modern story. Then a second set of questions ask about Siddartha’s ancient story. You will need to go back and forth between the two sets of questions during the movie. Jesse’s Story 1. What is the lesson of the story of the laughing and then crying goat? 2. The monks are searching for someone. What is one of the tools they will use in their search? 3. Where (city, state) do the monks go during their search? 4. What day and time was Jesse born? 5. How does the American dad react to the Tibetan monks? 6. For what are the Tibetan monks searching to find? 7. How does Jesse react to the Tibetan monks? 8. Why do the monks search in this American city? 9. As the monks leave Jesse’s house, what do they give him? 10. What two items does Jesse recognize once he enters Lama Norbu’s office at the Dharma Center? A. B. 11. How does Lama Norbu explain to Dean, Jesse’s dad, about the Buddhist beliefs regarding the mind? 12. What causes Dean (Jesse’s dad) to change his mind and allow Jesse to go to Bhutan? 13.
    [Show full text]
  • Proquest Dissertations
    Forging a Buddhist Cinema: Exploring Buddhism in Cinematic Representations of Tibetan Culture by Mona Harnden-Simpson B.A. (Honours), Film Studies, Carleton University A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts In Film Studies Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario August 23, 2011 Library and Archives Bibliotheque et 1*1 Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington OttawaONK1A0N4 OttawaONK1A0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-83072-7 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-83072-7 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par I'lntemet, preter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans le loan, distribute and sell theses monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non­ support microforme, papier, electronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in this et des droits moraux qui protege cette these. Ni thesis. Neither the thesis nor la these ni des extraits substantiels de celle-ci substantial extracts from it may be ne doivent etre imprimes ou autrement printed or otherwise reproduced reproduits sans son autorisation.
    [Show full text]
  • Films and Videos on Tibet
    FILMS AND VIDEOS ON TIBET Last updated: 15 July 2012 This list is maintained by A. Tom Grunfeld ( [email protected] ). It was begun many years ago (in the early 1990s?) by Sonam Dargyay and others have contributed since. I welcome - and encourage - any contributions of ideas, suggestions for changes, corrections and, of course, additions. All the information I have available to me is on this list so please do not ask if I have any additional information because I don't. I have seen only a few of the films on this list and, therefore, cannot vouch for everything that is said about them. Whenever possible I have listed the source of the information. I will update this list as I receive additional information so checking it periodically would be prudent. This list has no copyright; I gladly share it with whomever wants to use it. I would appreciate, however, an acknowledgment when the list, or any part, of it is used. The following represents a resource list of films and videos on Tibet. For more information about acquiring these films, contact the distributors directly. Office of Tibet, 241 E. 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016 (212-213-5010) Wisdom Films (Wisdom Publications no longer sells these films. If anyone knows the address of the company that now sells these films, or how to get in touch with them, I would appreciate it if you could let me know. Many, but not all, of their films are sold by Meridian Trust.) Meridian Trust, 330 Harrow Road, London W9 2HP (01-289-5443)http://www.meridian-trust/.org Mystic Fire Videos, P.O.
    [Show full text]
  • Lessons, One on Each of the Five Largest Living World Religions, Advancement of Civilization
    Introducing The Story of God, With Morgan Freeman Morgan Freeman, the actor who played God in the 2003 Humans have speculated about these questions for eons. Now film Bruce Almighty, has undertaken a six-part series on Morgan Freeman takes the viewer with him as he attempts world religions called The Story of God. The 78-year-old to learn more about how humans have tried to answer these actor traveled almost 100,000 miles to trace the origins of the questions across continents and millennia. great world religions. He visited sacred sites—a Maya temple This curriculum guide has been prepared for use in secondary in Guatemala, the ghats of Varanasi in India, Vatican City classrooms to help students understand more about the in Rome, the pyramids of Egypt, and more. He interviewed history and belief systems of the five major living religions monks and monsignors, imams and rabbis, scientists and the viewer encounters in the series: Hinduism, Buddhism, scholars. The result is a survey of themes that these religions Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. share. They all ask the same great questions, but may answer those great questions in a variety of ways. • How did we get here? Who or what created the universe? What do the creation stories of different religions have in common? What does the scientific theory of the Big Bang tell us? • Is there a God? How has the idea of one or more supreme beings evolved over time? Is there any evidence in our brains that we are predisposed to believe in God? • What is evil? Where does it come from? How is the
    [Show full text]
  • The Significance of the Visual Culture of Three Foreign Temples at Bodhgaya (India) a Sri Lankan, Burmese and Thai Temple
    15-07-2016 The significance of the visual culture of three foreign temples at Bodhgaya (India) A Sri Lankan, Burmese and Thai Temple Student: Shita Bakker, Student No: S0951730 Master Asian Studies, History, Arts and Culture of Asia Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Marijke J. Klokke Word count: 15.298 Content Chapter 1. Introduction 1.1 Brief background information and description of three foreign temples 1.2 Theravada Buddhism 1.3 Previous literature on the subject 1.4 Relevance of paper and research questions 1.5 Methodology and approach 1.6 Short note on terminology Chapter 2. Bodhgaya, from a lieu de mémoire into a global village 2.1 History and memory 2.2 The idea of conscious remembering 2.3 Conclusion Chapter 3. The visual elements of the foreign temples expressing Bodhgaya as a lieu de mémoire 3.1 The Sri Lankan Temple and Bodhgaya as a lieu de mémoire 3.2 Sri Lanka and its relation to Bodhgaya 3.3 The Burmese Temple and Bodhgaya as a lieu de mémoire 3.4 Burma and its relation to Bodhgaya 3.5 The Thai Temple and Bodhgaya as a lieu de mémoire 3.6 Thailand and its relation to Bodhgaya 3.7 Conclusion Chapter 4. The temples and the visual expression of their domestic cultures 4.1 The Sri Lankan Temple and its visual culture ` 4.2 The Burmese Temple and its visual culture 4.3 The Thai Temple and its visual culture 4.4 Conclusion Chapter 5. Conclusion 2 Chapter 1. Introduction Bodhgaya is situated in the state of Bihar in India and is known as the place where the Buddha became awakened while sitting under a Bodhi tree, which is marked by the diamond seat (Sanskrit: vajrasana).
    [Show full text]
  • Phật Pháp Với Tuổi Trẻ” Là Đem Những Vấn Đề Cần Quan Tâm Hay Thắc Mắc Của Huynh Trưởng GĐPT Gởi Đến Quí Vị Độc Giả PL, Để Được Chỉ Giáo
    TÂM MINH V ƯƠ NG THÚY NGA Ph ật l ịch 2553 – Tây lịch: 2009 PH ẬT PHÁP V ỚI TU ỔI TR Ẻ (t ập h ợp bài vi ết đã đă ng trên t ập san Pháp Luân) BAN BIÊN T ẬP PHÁP LUÂN th ực hi ện “Một cụm mây tuôn mưa xuống xứng theo mỗi giống loại mà cây cỏ được sanh trưởng, đơm bông kết trái. Dầu rằng một cõi đất sanh, một trận mưa thấm nhuần mà các cỏ cây đều có sai khác…” Khao khát có được chất liệu sống như vậy đang hiện màu vàng úa lên đầu cây lá cỏ, đã ló dạng chiều tà in vết rạng trên mảnh đất vốn màu mỡ, nơi từng ươm mầm non, nuôi đại thụ vươn cao nghìn tầm, đã có lúc chìm lắng chừng như tắt lịm hoặc sôi sục nghiêng ngả như không bao giờ đứng vững, nhưng tất cả đã trải qua và giờ đây bắt đầu chuyển màu xanh tươi, miền khát khao đã nảy lộc đâm chồi, phủ màu xanh cỏ lá sau những đợt sấm chớp, mưa tuôn… Ai đến đây hãy nhẹ chân đặt lên thảm cỏ mềm mại này, từ từ cảm nhận được sự rung động giữa làn da, ngọn lá; sẽ cảm nhận không khí trong lành với nhiều màu sắc, thời gian… và nhiều điều kỳ diệu khác mà chỉ có người đó mới biết được. Đến đây, ta sẽ không như những du khách để ngắm nhìn cảnh đẹp sau những ngày làm việc bận rộn hay những nhà thám hiểm đi tìm kiếm những điều kỳ thú mà sẽ là người đến để cảm nhận sự tinh tế, sống động; đến để lắng nghe sự rung động nhỏ nhất của thế giới xung quanh, của chính mình; sẽ thể nghiệm sức sống mãnh liệt của nội tâm, thấy được quy luật của vũ trụ… Rồi hãy đi, để khởi sự của một con người đã thấm nhuần không khí trong lành, đã cảm nhận được sự mầu nhiệm và giải thoát; hãy đi để giới thiệu mọi người biết để cùng hưởng niềm an lạc đích thực.
    [Show full text]