Asserting the neutrality of Buddhism will not make alt-right and extremist Buddhist worldviews go away. What is needed instead is for there to be dialogue amongst Buddhist communities to acknowledge the values they wish to uphold—and, importantly, to clarify the values that go against the Buddha’s teachings.
Asia and Religions for Peace
From Hiroshima, UN chief calls for global nuclear disarmament
It is totally unacceptable for states in possession of nuclear weapons to admit the possibility of a nuclear war, António Guterres underscored early on Saturday in Japan at a ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
“Nuclear weapons are nonsense. Three-quarters of a century later, we must ask what we’ve learned from the mushroom cloud that swelled above this city in 1945”, he urged during the solemn event at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park attended by dozens of people, including hibakusha, young peace activists, Japan’s Prime Minister and other local authorities.
The UN Secretary-General warned that a new arms race is picking up speed and world leaders are enhancing stockpiles at a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars with almost 13,000 nuclear weapons currently held in arsenals around the world.
Tackling Human-Trafficking in Asia: Challenges and Best Practices
The Asia Pacific Women of Faith Network has been attending the issue of human trafficking as one of its program objectives. Human trafficking is at its highest in Asia and Oceania regions. An online seminar examining this issue will be held on Thursday, September 29th, 2022. There will be plenary and breakout sessions.
Remembering Hiroshima
“Nuclear weapons are nonsense. Three-quarters of a century later, we must ask what we’ve learned from the mushroom cloud that swelled above this city in 1945”, the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Gueterres urged during the solemn event at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park attended by dozens of people, including hibakusha, young peace activists, Japan’s Prime Minister and other local authorities.
Buddhist leader in Bhutan fully ordains 144 women, resuming ancient tradition
(RNS) — On Tuesday (June 21), the Je Khenpo, the senior Buddhist authority in Bhutan, began ordaining a group of 144 women as bhikshunis, or female monks, at the Ramthangkha monastery in the tiny Himalayan country. Damcho Diana Finnegan, an American Tibetan Buddhist nun, called the ordination ceremony ‘a major step towards ending the institutionalized inequality between men and women in Tibetan Buddhism.’
NSW: Ubiquitous Trees and Serpents – Early Buddhist Imagery of Southern India
The Australasian Association for Buddhist Studies notifies that its next seminar will take place in the month of June: the University of Sydney will host a lecture on the early Buddhist imagery of southern India. This will be both online and in-person.
USCIRF Calls for Panchen Lama’s Release
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is once again calling for the release of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, whom the Chinese government forcibly disappeared 27 years ago.
The Kathmandu Statement
As a result of the Faith and Positive Change for Children Regional Faith Engagement Forum for South Asia, Religions for Peace and partners are proud to present the Kathmandu Statement which calls for collaboration to provide a better environment and promote well-being of children in South Asian along with sustaining relationships with faith actors in the region.
Pax Christi Asia Pacifc Online Prayers for Myanmar
The Asia-Pacific regional network of Pax Christi International warmly invites you to a time on online prayer and commemoration for and with the people of Myanmar to be held on Sunday 8 May, 2022. Times are given below.
Japan Multi-Religious Conference for Climate Justice
Religious and spiritual leaders from across Japan, and followers of diverse religions, are coming together to learn about the climate crisis and what they can do to turn Japan into a leader for climate justice. WHEN: 21 April, 2-4 pm JST
Japan: Statement on Situation in Ukraine
Religions for Peace Japan – which pursues an action policy of absolute non-war in soverign nations, gives account of the situation in Ukraine, and appeals for the cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution.
Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Zen Master, Dies at 95
Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh—a world-renowned spiritual leader, author, poet, and peace activist—died on January 22, 2022 at midnight (ICT) at his root temple, Tu Hien Temple, in Hue, Vietnam. He was 95.
