by Vishvapani | Aug 23, 2013 | Thought for the Day
As the Middle East blazes, what is really worth fighting for? Democracy is the best defence against the tyranny of what Buddhism calls ‘views’. It requires and fosters humility: the uncomfortable knowledge that people are different and that none of us...
by Vishvapani | Aug 2, 2013 | Thought for the Day
The real story about Edward Snowden is not the legal drama or even the should-he-shouldn’t-he whistleblower debate. It’s what we’ve learned from his devastating revelations of state computer surveillance. The ethical framework for secret services should be decided by...
by Vishvapani | Jul 8, 2013 | Buddhism, Talks
The Christian Passion is a dramatic story touching on powerful emotions. Is there a similar drama in the Buddha’s story? Pause for Thought, BBC Radio 2, April 2013 A highlight of my holiday in Southern Spain last Easter was seeing the parade in Malaga. The whole...
by Vishvapani | Jun 22, 2013 | Thought for the Day
Buddhist mobs have been killing Moslems in Burma. How did we come to this pass and how must Buddhism reform itself? Thought for the Day 22/6/2013 If you look in a newsagent today you’ll see, gazing out from the cover of Time magazine, a Buddhist monk dressed in the...
by Vishvapani | Jun 14, 2013 | Buddha, Thought for the Day
As Buddhists celebrated Wesak, Vishvapani reflected on the continuing relevance of the Buddha. ‘Standing apart from political struggles he offered a distinctive outlook on their causes …’ A few hours ago we passed the May full moon. Most of us barely...
by Vishvapani | Jun 7, 2013 | Thought for the Day
More of us are living longer, contracting cancer and often surviving it. As the shape of our lives changes, how can we adjust, applying the Buddhist teaching of the value of facing squarely old age, disease and death. Thought for the Day 8/6/2013 Some time ago the...
