Mao Chi Channa

There is a saying about the bad-behaved people regardless or race, class, social status, and so on……

They said “One spoiled fish is making others in the entire basket spoiled”

In the same way,(that’s what i have always been thinking of) One  person  lives amongst the whole community commits whether it’s more or less serious, he’ll ruin the whole community.

That means as a results of what he has personally done, has also affected many innocents members of the community he lives in.

I’ve been asked by many people concerning the Vinaya of Bhikkhus and Samaneras ( the monks disciplinary rules).they personally and specifically asked me about computer, mobile phone, and many others state-of-the-art equipments. As you can see here in our country Cambodia as well as others Buddhist countries, computer, mobile phone, Ipod, iped, etc…

Question 1

Is it legal for Buddhist monks to use such things???

Answer.

Then, i deliberately replied to the questionnaire,

For some reason, the Buddha will only enforce, or promulgate the rules according to the behaviour of monks at the time. But because the Buddha has long passed away.(Parinibhana). that is why there is no one here to regulate the rules concerning with those things.

If the Buddha could have lived longer and leading his community, then as you can see in our today behaviour of some monks are not appropriated and that leads to the criticism of people and then obviously this criticism will be heard by the Buddha himself. and i personally believe that the Buddha will have to promulgate more rules against those criticism. In order to calm down the allegation or the criticism. and for the sake of the monks as well.

Question 2

So what can we do to stop the monks using those things??

Answer.

Well, I am afraid that, i am going to have to tell you to look at others people in general. do not just one small mistake makes you loose your faith and belief.Some of you may and strongly  believe that it’s our culture to have such religion. So if one commits such a mistake we tell him not to take such action again. in the third time if that individual does not give up the idea. then the leader of the community itself has to take action again him.Act according to the rules and regulation of the community. If the offense is big or serious from minor up to major offense. Example, Parajika then he is no longer a monk. the community has to expel him from the community(he has to disrobe and live his life in the normal state).

But in this context, I am talking about how to stop.

There is no way to stop because the rules and the regulation have not been imposed. So we can do nothing, to stop. We you can blame, you can criticize, you can insult, or do whatever it take to calm you anger down. But it is not going to help at all.

Therefore and leaders of the community have to straighten the the way of living even in the temple and out side the temple. By advise them or sometime find or punish them with the rational punishment to prevent them from taking action again.

Moreover, i personally believe that, if those priest themselves, always aware of what he has done and what he will have to do,then our community will be living in the light of Dharma.

Each and every individual has to take responsibility of his own action. The using Internet, email, computer, not for the pleasure but for the sake of his own education. then everything will be under control. and there will be no more criticism, allegation. We all will live in peace without any interferences each others.

May all people be happy, having the nature of forgiving……..

Popularity: 8% [?]

A Summit of High Level Religious Leaders on the Response to HIV took place in The Netherlands from 22 to 23 March. The meeting explored opportunities for religious leaders to promote universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in their communities and speak out against stigma and discrimination affecting people living with HIV. It brought together some 40 Baha’í, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh leaders together with the Executive Directors of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the AIDS Ambassadors of The Netherlands and Sweden, leaders and representatives of networks of people living with HIV and other organizations active in the response to HIV.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé said, “As I travel the world, I see increasing evidence of social injustice. Growing economic disparities, inequality and social injustice stalk the earth. The greatest impact is felt by the poorest segments of society, on women and girls and on the marginalized. Social injustice only serves to increase the vulnerability of the vulnerable and push them farther out of reach of HIV services. I sincerely hope that this meeting will produce a call for action to make these services available and virtually eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV. Nothing would be more noble than a world with no more babies born with HIV.”

During the Summit, participants addressed the realities of how stigma and discrimination are perpetuated both in religious communities and society at large. They identified best practices to strengthen the voice and action of religious leaders and bring about collaboration among different faiths and with other sectors involved in the response to HIV.

“The leaders gathered at this summit have the ability to inspire and empower change – within their own communities, across countries, and throughout wider communities,” said Rev. Dr. Richard Fee, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance and General Secretary, Life and Mission Agency, Presbyterian Church in Canada. “In the midst of what appears to be ‘AIDS fatigue” they have the potential to galvanize efforts against a disease that continues to spread, driven by silence, fear, violence and injustice.”

Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic, religious communities, mosques, temples, churches, hospitals and clinics have reached out to provide support to those living with and affected by HIV. Strengthening their leadership can greatly influence the lives of many people, and leaders speaking out responsibly about AIDS can make a powerful impact at both community and international level.

“Participants affirmed in their concluding statement the “renewed sense of urgency” to prioritize and strengthen the response to HIV. Such response includes “holistic prevention” in addition to reaching universal access to treatment, care and support. The statement called for the “Universal respect for the human rights of all people living with and affected by and at risk of HIV infection” and the “respect for the dignity of every human being”. Leaders also called for “a massive social mobilization” to support services for women to eliminate the transmission of HIV from mother to child.

In addition, religious leaders drafted and personally signed a pledge to commit themselves to strengthened efforts to respond to HIV. The pledge includes “deepening meaningful engagement with people living with HIV” and “acting decisively to protect human rights within my faith community; through collaboration among other religious leaders of different faiths; and by influencing local, national, regional and global decision-making processes on HIV.”

Dr Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, in her closing remarks said, “Our work together proves that interventions can be successful and sustainable if change is inclusive, if it emerges from within the faith and cultures of the people themselves, if people of all age groups living with (or without) HIV are secure in their sense of belonging and are fully engaged, and all partners are equally valued and respected.”

The co-chairs of the event were His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of the Art of Living Foundation; Rabbi David Rosen, Director of Interreligious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee; Ms. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, General Secretary of the World YWCA; and the Right Rev. Gunnar Stålsett, Bishop Emeritus of the Church of Norway.

The Summit was organized by the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance and Cordaid, with support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNAIDS, International Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV or AIDS (INERELA+), the World AIDS Campaign and the European Council of Religious Leaders (Religions for Peace).

Popularity: 14% [?]

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA

About 3,000 Buddhist monks from 14 different countries and Cambodian laymen and women, government officials, parliamentarians and senators have attended the 4th Trail of Civilization and Performance 2010 at Bayon Temple in Siem Reap on April 28-30, 2010 in Cambodia. The 14 countries included Cambodia, Lao, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Brunei, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Indonesia, China, Japan and Korea.

The huge event was organized by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts in collaboration with the Ministry of Cults and Religions, aiming to promote the Buddhism field in Asian region and the world as well as to attract national and international tourists to visit ancient temples in Siem Reap province.

H.E. Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Interior, said that it marked the first time and an historical event for the Kingdom of Cambodia has hosted the 4th Trail of Civilization of Civilization and Performance in accordance with the celebration of the Visaka Bochea Day 2554 Festival which was the full moon day of sixth lunar month at the Phnom Preah Reach Troap in Udong district, Kandal province on April 28th.

The Buddhism was born in Sovannaphumi since the third Buddhist Era (3rd B.E) or the first century of Christian Era but Buddhism and other religions died for the period of 3 years 8 months and 20 days during the Khmer Democratic or Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979 in Cambodia. The Buddhism and other religions were re-born on the 7th of January 1979, along with all Cambodian people after the country was liberated by the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) from the Khmer Rouge’s terror regime.

After the liberation day on the 7th of January 1979, there was only a Buddhist monk in Cambodia but so far, there are 4393 pagodas with 54,764 Buddhist monks.

“I strongly believe that this event will make the tourists in the region and the world to help understand clearly about Cambodia, and attracting them to visit Angkor Wat Temple where it’s the world heritage and the human property. It is also to strengthen and expand the bond of friendship, cooperation and solidarity on culture, religion and tourisms among all countries in ASEAN member countries and in region,” he said at the Civilization Mark and View at Chaktomuk Conference Hall on April 27th.

H.E. Thong Khon, Minister for the Ministry of Tourism, said at the same time that the “Trail of Civilization and Performance” was initiated by Indonesian President Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyonbo in 2006 to show the culture and civilization of many centuries ago connected with the Buddhism.

The Minister continued to say that this cultural event is also aimed to develop and promote the Buddhism and good cooperation between Buddhism and other religions in order that they can be a bridge for establishing or bringing the peace, development and the prosperity for all people in the world. The event also aimed at promoting national and international visitors to visit cultural and religious attractions in the region and in the world.

Relating to the 4th Trail of Civilization and Performance 2010 at Bayon Temple in Siem Reap province, he said that the event included Tourism and Cultural Expert Meeting; Business Forum; Official Opening and Closing Ceremony of the 4th Trail of Civilization and performance 201; Candle lighting; Visaka Bochea Celebration; Royal audience and courtesy call to His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of Cambodia; Performance of the Scene of the Buddha when he was born, achieved enlightenment, and when he was passed away; Cultural and Traditional Performances; Planting Trees; and Launches of Flying Lanterns and Fireworks./

Resource: http://reaksmeyinaction-reaksmeykongkea.blogspot.com/2010/05/cambodia-celebrated-4th-trail-of.html

Popularity: 9% [?]

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA

About 10,000 people including 480 Buddhist monks, laypeople and other people from government officials, parliamentarians and senators have gathered and celebrated Visaka Bochea Day Festival which is the full moon day of sixth lunar month at the Phnom Preah Reach Troap-Udong in Ponhear Loeu district in Kandal province on 28 April, 2010.

The celebration of Visaka Bochea Day 2554 was organized by the Ministry of Cults and Religion and the National Committee for Organizing National and International Festivals (NCONIF), and presided over by Samdech Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly to respect the Buddha Lord who passed away 2554 years ago.

Samdech Heng Samrin said that Visaka Bochea Day is the most important traditional ceremony in the Buddhism in Cambodia. It is a ceremony that Cambodian people in the country always celebrate in the monasteries every year with pleased minds on full moon day of Visaka month for the Buddha’s Memorial Day.

“Every year, Cambodia is very happy to celebrate Visaka Bochea Day to respect and remember our Buddha Lord’s enlightenment and passing away in the world. This year’s celebration has been well organized and progress and there are so many people who have participated in the event,” he told The Southeast Asia Weekly during an interview at the celebration at Phnom Preah Reach Troap in Udong district, Kampong Speu on April 28.

Due to the full peace, political stability, development and the progress, all religions especially Buddhism now has been developing in Cambodia, and the Buddhism has taken such a deep root in the hearts of culture and tradition in Khmer people, he said, adding that for this year’s celebration, the Royal Government also accepted the duty as a house owner in the role of Buddhism country among other countries in the world in order to celebrate the ceremony of the “4th Trail of Civilization” on the full moon day of Visaka Bochea on the 28th of April at Bayon Temple in Siem Reap province.

Samdech Preah Sangkareah Bou Kry, Leader of the Dhamayut Buddhist sect in Camnbodia, said that that Visaka Bochea Day is very important for all Buddhist followers in the world. It has also officially recognized by the United Nations (UN) as the World Heritage Day on December 13, 2009. Samdech added that Visaka Bochea is celebrated in order to remember three important events in which when Buddha was born into the world, when the Buddha attained enlightenment, and he passed away.

“Today, Buddhism is already 2554 years old, having become a very large part of the heritage in Asia, still strongly stands and being venerated by hundred thousands people in the world, especially Khmer citizens,” he told The Southeast Asia Weekly on April 27 in Phnom Penh.

Samdech stated that Visaka Bochea Day, all Khmer people including the King, leaders of the Royal Government, Buddhist monks in all ranks and all Buddhist lay devotees with happy faces and beautiful clothes, the hands holding various worshiped things such as followers, joss sticks and perfumes to worship the Buddha whose relics enshrined in a stupa erected on the mountain of Preah Reach Trop or Attharassa in the area of Udong Mountain, Ponhea Loeu district in Kandal province.

Regarding to the history of Visaka Bochea Festival, he said that this traditional ceremony has been practiced by Khmer people from generation to generation since Buddhism was brought to the land of Sovannaphumi by the two elder Buddhist monks known as Sonatthera and Uttharathera.

Cambodia chronicles mentions that the Buddha’s relic was brought to Cambodia since 1957 by former King Norodom Sihanouk. The former King Norodom Sihanouk obtained the Buddha’s relic from India and the relic was initially enshrined in Phnom Penh, former stupa located in front of the Railway Station in Phnom Penh today.

After the construction of new stupa was begun on the mountain of Preah Reach Trop in Udong in 1996, on the full moon day, month of Migasira, 2546 B.E or on the 19th December 2002, the King Norodom Sihanouk, the two leaders of Buddhist Sects, Buddhist monks, and government officials in all ranks with a congratulation of many people marched and brought the sacred relics from Phnom Penh to enshrine in the stupa where it has been completely built at the mountain of Preah Reach Trop or Udong.

According to Samdech Preah Sangkareach Bou Kry, the profound meanings of Buddha’s teachings including the consequence of practices in Dharma, it makes wholesomeness that is a good state rooted in minds through the theory of Kamma and pointed out the way for practice which is referred to the Eightfold Noble Path and leading those who insert an effort, possibly attain peacefulness throughout the mental, verbal, and physical practice until the peace, mutual tolerance from even a small family up to the whole society and the world.

Resource : http://reaksmeyinaction-reaksmeykongkea.blogspot.com/2010/05/cambodia-celebrated-visaka-bochea-day.html

Popularity: 8% [?]

There are loads of people always ask to what is Buddhism and why Buddhism is not a religion and there are many scholars who have tried to interpret Buddhism in many different way, such, trying to put Buddhism into the prevailing molds of cultural, philosophical, and religious thought. But, in fact, Buddhism is an ethical system, it is as a way of life which leads practitioner to a very specific goal and that process contained some aspects of both religion and philosophy.

In this matter, i have tried to search for the very rational answers to those questions. In order to give a short and easy comprehensible to the readers, i have put them into order for the convenience of the readers. And they are mentioned as follows;

1. In Buddhism, there is no “Almighty God”. there is no one to hand over rewards or punishments on anyone, even on  a supposedly Judgment Day.
2. In the context of beings a faith to God or Goddess and worshiping owing allegiance to supernatural being, Buddhism is strictly/completely not a religion.
3. There is no saviour concept in Buddhism. The Buddha is not a saviour who saves others by his personal salvation. Even though, Buddhists seek refuge in the Buddha as their incomparable guide who indicates the path to purity, but they make no servile surrender to the Buddha. A buddhist does not think that he can gain freedom merely by seeking refuge in the Buddha or by  mere piety in the Him. Actually, it’s not within the power of the Buddha to wash away all the impurities of others.
4. the Buddha is not an incarnation of a god/God as claimed by some Hindu followers. The relationship between the Buddha and his disciple is that of a teacher and students.
5. The liberation of self is the responsibility of one’s own.
6. Taking refuge in the Triple Gems i.e. the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha, dose not mean self-surrender or total reliance on an external force for the salvation.
7. The Dhamma (The teachings in Buddhism) exists regardless of whether there is a Buddha. The Buddha, he discovered them and shared the his discoveries of the universal truths with all sentient beings.
8. The Buddha is neither the creator of such teachings nor the prophet of an almighty God to transmit such teaching to others.
9. There is no holy concept in Buddhism. Killing is breaking a key moral precept in Buddhism.
10. Suffering is another cornerstone(most significant aspect ) in Buddhism. It is the first of the Four Noble truths.
11. The concept of Hell in Buddhism is very different from that of other religions. it’s not a place for eternal damnation as viewed by “almighty creator” religions. In Buddhism it is just one of the six realms in Samsara(i.e. the worst of three  undesirable realms). also, there are virtually unlimited number of hells in the Buddhist cosmology.

I hope that, these answers will be benefit to many of you who come across.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Between 25^th January and 05^th February 2010, His Holiness Samdech Tep Vong, the Great Supreme Patriarch of Kingdom of Cambodia, and the Co-president of Religions for Peace left Cambodia for Indonesia to join the international interfaith conference, held at Gedung Panchasila, the ministry of foreign affairs in Jakarta, January 25 to 27, 2010 sponsored by the governments of United Kingdom of America and Republic of Indonesia.

This event represents the first major effort for follow-up action on the model of religious cooperation upheld in U.S. President Barack Obama’s historic speech in Cairo. Further, the Jakarta dialogue is connected to the overall work envisioned by the Inter-religious Cooperation Task Force of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, on which the Religions for Peace Secretary General, Dr. William F. Vendley, serves. In this project, Religions for Peace will convene twenty senior-level religious leaders from the U.S., twenty senior-level religious leaders from Indonesia, and ten senior-level religious leaders from South-East Asia countries. The goal is to build collaborative  partnerships across and between faith communities, NGOs, and governments.  The aim is to facilitate a culture of open dialogue with the end goals of generating shared actions and mobilizing religious communities that foster tolerance, build social cohesion, and advance peaceful co-existence. Religions for Peace will utilize its proven methodologies for multi-religious cooperation to assist participants in correlating their communities’ capacities for action with those of other communities. When the method is applied, it discloses large, often hidden or under-utilized capacities for action that lie within the reach of religious communities. Importantly, it also identifies the unique advantages of multi-religious cooperation and the kinds of capacity building which are needed for effective multi-religious action.

The main tasks Religions for Peace will carry out are to: develop the agenda; identify participants; coordinate program logistics; administer travel arrangements; facilitate the development of a joint statement and action plan; and record, publish and disseminate program outcomes.

Following the forum, if deemed appropriate and conditions permit, Religions for Peace staff will engage with Indonesian religious leaders to support further confidence-building and review post-meeting plans of action with goal of strengthening local capacities. Religions for Peace will draw on its expertise in facilitating multi-religious events and engage the Indonesian members of Religions for Peace in the process.

At the end of conference, the delegates and participators went to visit religious temples such as Istiqlal Mosque, Cathedral church and Hindu temple.

Welcoming by Ambasidor, Excellency Kan Pharidh and other officers there, , 28 january 2010 , The great supreme patriarch  visited the Royal Ambasy of Cambodia based in Indonesia and 01 febrer 2010, Samdech went to Sumatra Island to pray for whom died by october 2009 earthquack. Also Samdech went to visit Buddhists in Pali Island and stay there for 2 days.

……………………………..

More Pictures from www.channa.me

More Pictures from www.flickr.com

Popularity: 31% [?]