Taego Order Featured on Sweeping Zen

The Taego order is one of the largest Zen orders in the world, and is the second largest order in Korea. They have over 3,100 Zen Temples. For example, Seonamsa is a beautiful temple complex tucked away in the scenic mountains of Korea. It was originally built about 1300 years ago. Depending on its location and purpose, a temple may be home to one monk, or hundreds.

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Taego Monk Training and Ordination Ceremony (행자교육)

한국불교태고종행자교육, 35기득도식, 선암사
This is video from a Korean TV station showing the novice monk training and ordination ceremony that took place earlier this week. Our own Bup Chon Sunim has an English interview near the end of the video starting at the 8:59 mark.

Note: If video doesn't play click on the box to watch on host site.

DVD Spotlight - Jigoku

This is the last entry in the October Halloween Themed Buddhist Horror Movie Collection. Jigoku.

"Jigoku's version of Hell is roughly based on the lowest state of existence in Buddhism, the mythology of which is fascinating. Those who have sinned in life will, in death, go to Hell to atone. Depending on the kind of crime they committed, they'll be sent to one of several different kinds of Hell (the exact number of which numbers somewhere between 8 and 144), all of which are presided over by King Enma, a bearded giant with red skin. One Hell, for “sexual misconduct,” crushes the sinner between two iron mountains. Another slices thieves into neat pieces. However, unlike in other cultures, the Buddhist Hell is not eternal and once atonement is complete, the redeemed sinner can move on to higher states of existence."

What The Constitution Says About Church And State

Many believe the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution clearly declares the separation of church and state. But Senate hopeful Christine O'Donnell alluded recently to the fact that the phrase never appears there. Syndicated columnist Clarence Page says O'Donnell was right -- but that the First Amendment clearly aims to separate church from government.

Listen to the story on NPR's Talk of the Nation

Gallup: Very religious Americans have higher levels of well-being

Christopher Hitchens' atheist manifesto was subtitled "how religion poisons everything," but a new polling analysis challenges that notion, finding that very religious Americans have higher levels of well-being than the rest of the country.

The most religious Americans show the highest levels of well-being as measured by factors ranging from physical and emotional health to self-evaluations of life to perceptions of work environment, according to a Gallup report released Thursday.

Americans for whom religion is an important part of everyday life and who attend religious services roughly once a week or more score an average 68.7 on Gallup's well-being index.

Americans who are moderately religious or who are nonreligious, meanwhile, average 64.2 on the index.

Continue reading here.

Survey on Perceptions of Monasticism within Buddhism

Via Jennifer Harris,

“Hi! Working toward my PhD in community psychology, I’m conducting a survey (one version in English, the other Tibetan) of the perceptions of monasticism within Buddhism. With its spread to the West, Buddhist practitioners in the United States tend mostly to be lay and there are very few monasteries. This study therefore examines the role and relevancy of the monastic tradition within the Western Buddhist cultural community. I will also be posting an exact replica of the survey in the Tibetan language so that I can cross-examine two distinct cultural communities’ perceptions about monasticism.”

The first version of the survey, which is for Westerners, is available here. Help Jennifer out!

TTC Video "Buddhism" on Sale!

The Teaching Company (produces recordings of lectures by nationally top-ranked university professors) has their lecture series on Buddhism on sale currently (up to $185 off). Available in DVD, Audio CD, and Audio Download format, this series features 24 lectures given by Professor Malcolm David Eckel (PhD Ph.D., Harvard University,Boston University).

For more information on course content and reviews visit The Teaching Company website here.

Can meditation change your brain? Contemplative neuroscientists believe it can

Can people strengthen the brain circuits associated with happiness and positive behavior, just as we’re able to strengthen muscles with exercise?

Richard Davidson, who for decades has practiced Buddhist-style meditation – a form of mental exercise, he says – insists that we can.

Read the full story on CNN Belief Blog

Taego Ordination (Congratulations Bup Chon Sunim)

Ven. Bishop Jongmae has confirmed through the president of the Taego order that the Samanera and Sameneri ordination of 104 new monks (both male and female) has been completed in Korea this morning. Congratulations to Brent Eastman on being ordained as Bup Chon Sunim! This Sunday, Muddy Water Zen will hold a special service to introduce Bup Chon Sunim as the newest clergy member of Muddy Water Zen and gather in a celebratory vegetarian potluck after the morning service. Please join us if you can.

Does a dog have Buddha-nature?

This dog certainly does. Best part of the video is at the very end.