Designer Babies Welcome in Canada

Suwanda Sugunasiri, Canadian Buddhist scholar and community activist, weighs in on Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis, an important aspect of bioethics, with a Buddhist perspective: http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=44144

Yamantaka: the Band

Yamantaka // Sonic Titan are a music collective from Montreal. They bill themselves as a Black Metal band. The two leads, Alaska B and Ruby Atwood, identify themselves as practicing Buddhists. Here’s a recent article about them: http://www.avclub.com/toronto/articles/alaska-b-and-ruby-atwood-of-yamantaka-sonic-titan,68404/

Speaking of Buddhist Metal (?), don’t forget . . . Read More.

Samsara: the Movie

Coming very soon, from the director of Baraka and Koyaanisqatsi…

http://barakasamsara.com/

CBC Quirks and Quarks on Vipassana

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s weekly science show, Quirks and Quarks, did a segment this week on the positive medical science associated with insight meditation. The coverage consists of an interview with Dr. Judson Brewer, of the Yale Therapeutic Neural Science Centre, speaking about his . . . Read More.

Leonard Cohen: Old Ideas

Listen here -

http://www.npr.org/2012/01/22/145340430/first-listen-leonard-cohen-old-ideas

The Cyborg Buddha Project

From the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET), comes this article on Religion and Transhumanism, written by Alex McGilvery, a United Church minister in Flin Flon, Manitoba. Normally, that would not be something we cover at Sumeru, but he makes extensive reference to . . . Read More.

Year of the Water Dragon, Campbell River, BC

Celebrating today with a Vietnamese Tet Festival assisted by Brother Sakya Phap An, a Buddhist monk…

http://www.campbellrivermirror.com/community/137704878.html

Buddhists weigh in on Canada’s new Office of Religious Freedom

It hasn’t even opened, and Canada’s Office of Religious Freedom is already stirring up controversy. This article from the Toronto Star brings up some of the problems, and if you read between the lines, you can get some idea of Canadian Buddhists’ thoughts on . . . Read More.

Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society promotes organic farming in PEI

This article from the Charlottetown Guardian is about how the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society has taken root in Montague, PEI. The story includes information on the centre’s future plans, reactions from the local community, and a major focus on an organic farming project.

. . . Read More.

What do Canadian Buddhists think about Alberta’s tar sands development?

Here’s an interesting article from the Rossland Telegraph about opposition to the Alberta tar sands development. Several prominent Buddhist leaders are clearly against the plan (as cited in the article). Where do Canada’s Buddhists stand? For the record, I’d much rather see our efforts . . . Read More.

Numata Lectures

The University of Toronto/McMaster University Numata Buddhist Studies Program presents

“Conventional Truth and Symbolic Terms in Saraha’s Adamantine Songs” Dr. Lara Braitstein, McGill University Lecture: Thursday, January 26, 4-6 pm, University Hall 122, McMaster University

“Rdo ring pa’s Rnam thar and the Limits of . . . Read More.

Corporate Craving and Buddhist Compassion

UBC’s Buddhism and Contemporary Society Program presents a lecture by Jan W. Walls.

“Corporate Craving and Buddhist Compassion: Is There a Middle Ground for Buddhism in Business?”

Date: Thursday, 02 February 2012 Time: 5:00 – 7:00 PM Place: Room 120, C.K. Choi Building, 1855 West Mall

. . . Read More.

Canadian Buddhism Survey update

We’ve received 60 surveys so far and much encouragement. Thank you to all participants!

If your centre is one of the 440+ who have not yet submitted your completed survey, please visit our page with complete information about the initiative and downloadable survey packages: http://www.sumeru-books.com/2011/11/canadian-buddhism-survey/

Thrangu Monastery, Richmond, BC

Here’s a beautiful photo-essay on this Buddhist temple by Nathan Bauman, from his excellent blog, Western Odysseus: http://nathanbauman.com/odysseus/?p=1238

Lingyen Mountain Temple, Richmond, BC

Here’s a beautiful photo-essay on this Buddhist temple by Nathan Bauman, from his excellent blog, Western Odysseus: http://nathanbauman.com/odysseus/?p=2660

International Buddhist Society Temple, Richmond, BC

Here’s a beautiful photo-essay on this Buddhist temple by Nathan Bauman, from his excellent blog, Western Odysseus: http://nathanbauman.com/odysseus/?p=2852

Seokwang-sa, Surrey, BC

Here’s a beautiful photo-essay about this Korean Buddhist temple in BC, from Nathan Bauman’s blog, Western Odysseus: http://nathanbauman.com/odysseus/?p=1862

Looking West: A Primer for American Buddhism

Charles Prebish, author of “An American Buddhist Life,” published by Sumeru, and of many other books on Buddhism, has a new e-book out –  ”Looking West: A Primer for American Buddhism” – a short, basic introduction to one of the fastest growing new religions . . . Read More.