Latest Buddhism News

Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa addresses the parliament during the ceremonial inauguration of the session in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Jan. 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka president urges limit on minority political power

Jan. 3, 2020 3:17 AM EST

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka's new president on Friday endorsed amending the constitution to reduce the power of minority political parties, saying the country wasn't suited to a system that creates unstable governments “constantly under the influence of extremism.” In a policy speech...

In this Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019, photo, men stand on top of a lantern-covered float as fireworks light up the sky during the Chichibu Night Festival in Chichibu, north of Tokyo, Japan. Moving six towering floats up a hill and into the town center is the culminating moment of a Shinto festival that has evolved from a harvest thanksgiving into a once-a-year meeting between two local gods. (AP Photo/Toru Hanai)

Shinto festival carries on centuries-old tradition in Japan

Dec. 5, 2019 2:36 AM EST

CHICHIBU, Japan (AP) — As fireworks light up the winter night, scores of men, women and teenagers crying “washoi, washoi” haul the last of six towering, lantern-covered floats up a small hill and into the town center, the culminating moment of a Shinto festival that has evolved from a harvest...

Temple collapses in Cambodia, killing 3 and injuring 13

Dec. 2, 2019 11:14 AM EST

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A Buddhist temple under construction in Siem Reap, home of Cambodia’s famed Angkor temples, collapsed Monday, killing at least three people and injuring 13 others, including two monks, police said. The deputy chief of Siem Reap Provincial Police, Pheung Chendareth, said...

FILE - In this April 5, 2017, file photo, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama greets devotees at the Buddha Park in Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh, India. More than 150 Tibetan religious leaders say their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, should have the sole authority to choose his successor. A resolution adopted by the leaders at a conference on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019, says the Tibetan people will not recognize a candidate chosen by the Chinese government for political ends. ( AP Photo/Tenzin Choejor, File)

Tibetans say the Dalai Lama should choose his successor

Nov. 27, 2019 8:35 AM EST

DHARMSALA, India (AP) — More than 150 Tibetan religious leaders said on Wednesday that their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, should have the sole authority to choose his successor. A resolution adopted by the leaders at a conference said the Tibetan people will not recognize any candidate chosen by the...

In this Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, photo, Yatawatte Dhammananda, a monk and Bodu Bala Sena organizer, stands for a photograph outside a Buddhist temple in Kandy, Sri Lanka. In Myanmar, like Sri Lanka, there is a view among nationalists that Muslims are an existential threat to their faith and way of life, despite Buddhists being the overwhelming majority. “They have the intention of making this a Muslim country. They are working toward that, but we can’t let that happen,” said Yatawatte. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Buddhist nationalists claim victory in Sri Lankan election

Nov. 27, 2019 12:54 AM EST

KANDY, Sri Lanka (AP) — In this mountain city that was for centuries home to Sri Lanka’s kings and in recent years has been riven by religious violence, Buddhist nationalists are rejoicing the election of the country’s newest leader. They hope he ushers in another golden era for the...

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