Topic: Buddhism

The Monitor's View: Clinton trip to Burma: a contest to define power in Asia

Burma's regime seeks distance from China by welcoming a Clinton visit. And the US can help bring freedom to Burma (Myanmar), but it must better understand legitimacy in this Buddhist society.

Rumors of vice rattle China's Shaolin monastery and the home of kung fu

Shi Yongxin, abbot of China's Shaolin monastery, where kung fu and Zen Buddhism were born, has been attacked by Internet rumors alleging improper behavior. The abbot has long been a controversial figure in China.

China's bidding: Should South Africa issue a visa to the Dalai Lama?

South Africa's delay in issuing a visa to the Dalai Lama – scheduled to attend the 80th birthday bash of fellow Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu – has created a controversy over China's growing influence.

Autumnal equinox: 5 things you need to know

Ready or not, it’s the first day of fall, also known as the September, fall, or autumnal equinox. It’s a time marked as much by the emergence of wayfaring leaf peepers as it is by celestial coincidences. Sure, it happens every year, but this time you’ll be able to impress your friends with your budding seasonal knowledge. Take a look at the things you ought to know.

iBIO of Steve Jobs

Thailand's female monks (cautiously) lobby for legal recognition

A quiet campaign to grant female monks legal recognition began this summer. Advocates hope that the minimal fanfare will help the 'Bhikkhunis' evade conservative religious opposition.

Opinion: A revolutionary development: Religions are speaking in common tongues

Religious fanatics capture headlines, but the big story is that interfaith cooperation has reached unprecedented levels. This is because religious communities are increasingly laying aside denominational jargon for the language of public collaboration.

South Korea lights up for Buddha's birthday

Even though fewer than a quarter of Koreans are Buddhists, the celebration for Buddha's birthday, the Lotus Lantern Festival, is one of the country's biggest annual events.

Learning from Japan, once again. I'll bow to that.

The Japanese disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is providing good lessons for US atomic plants. In either negative or positive ways, Japan's influence on America keeps growing, like shiitake mushrooms.

The surprising factors behind Asia's renaissance

With a bright future ahead of it, Asia is increasingly rediscovering its past. To fully understand Asia's rise, we must come to grips with the forces that shaped its history: Western, Islamic, and Buddhist heritage. It's time to consider Asia's lesson on religious and cultural pluralism.