Aldous Huxley 1958 Interview with Mike Wallace

Reading Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World' in High School had a dramatic and continuing impact on my life even today, as you may find by listening to this rare interview with him. The other two books that shaped much of my world view were '1984' by George Orwell and 'Fahrenheit 451' by Ray Bradbury.
Much of what Mr. Huxley says is very prevalent today, and all three of these men were true visionaries.

Beomeo-sa monk found hanged

A Beomeo-sa monk has been found hanged in eastern coast town of Sokcho, Gangwon Province, casting suspicion that he may be linked to the arson of the temple on Dec. 15.

Police in Busan said that a 48-year-old monk, identified as Yeo in family name, was found dead around 2 p.m. Monday at a motel room in Nohak-dong.

Yeo has left no suicide notes but his address was confirmed as Beomeo-sa, Cheongyong-dong, Geumjeong-gu, on his resident card, a police officer said, adding that the temple also confirmed him as the monk from the temple.

Yeo was checked to have stayed in Gwangsan Temple in Masan, South Gyeongsang Province, in the trace of his cellphone calls on Dec. 15, when the main gate of the temple was set aflame, according to the police.

“So far, there has been no evidence that he is involved in the arson in the initial probe,” the police officer said. “But we are still investigating his suicide further.”

Temple fire fuels Buddhists' fury

By Park Si-soo

The destruction of a wooden gate in a Buddhist temple by arson, Thursday, has put a negative spin on the already chilled relations between Korean Buddhism and President Lee Myung-bak, a devoted Christian.

The fire, which reduced Cheonwangmun gate in a 1300-year-old Beomeo temple in Busan to ashes, broke out amid escalating tension between the second largest religion of the country and President Lee’s Grand National Party (GNP) following a budget cut for “templestay” programs in the process of the GNP’s railroading of next year’s state budget early this month.

It was the latest in a series of cases deepening Buddhists’ hostility against the ruling party and the government during Lee’s presidency.

Police have opened an investigation into the fire and placed a man spotted on a surveillance camera video on a wanted list since flames began to engulf the wooden gate upon his departure from the temple.

Police believe there was no political motive behind the incident. Yet, Buddhist circles seem to be trying to take advantage of the case to gain leverage in its protest against what they call “Christian-friendly” President Lee and his administration.

A group of monks held a press conference in Seoul Thursday morning, just hours after the fire was extinguished. They called for an extensive probe into the incident and condemned President Lee for his “biased” religious policies.

“The number of incidents meant to hurt the properties and value of Buddhism has surged since the Lee administration took over,” an association for young Buddhists said in a statement. “The incident came as a great surprise because it took place at a time when the entire Buddhist circle was raising voices against the ruling party’s short-sighted passage of bills regarding the templestay budget.”

Currently, all Buddhists leaders refuse to have any official meeting with those from the GNP, under the direction of Ven. Jaseung, chief executive of Jogye, the largest Buddhist order. In a statement issued last Friday, Jaseung denounce the budget reduction and urged all Buddhist leaders “not to meet with any figures from the ruling camp.”

Following the incident, the ruling camp moved first to break the deadlock.

Kim Moo-sung, floor leader of the GNP, hurriedly visited the site of the fire about 400 kilometers south of Seoul on the same day it broke out. Kim, an aide to President Lee, offered commiseration to the angered monks there and promised that his party will fully cooperate to restore the burnt structure in the first high-profile meeting between a ruling party lawmaker and a senior monk since the boycotting.

During a lunch with Ven. Jeongyeo, head of Beomeo temple, Kim apologized for the budget reduction and said his party was suffering from “a sense of guilt.”

“We have set plans to secure additional budget for the programs,” Kim told the head monk. “Please forgive us and, if necessary, berate us.”

Presidential spokesman Hong Sang-pyo also talked with the head monk over the phone and delivered President Lee’s message regarding the restoration plan.

However, Ven. Jeongyeo’s meeting with GNP leaders also drew criticism from the Jogye Order leaders who have declared that they will not meet any of GNP members.

Since Lee’s inauguration in early 2008, Buddhist groups have often clashed with his administration over its religious policies and Lee’s alleged bias as a Christian. Lee is well known as an elder of the Christian Somang church in Seoul. The conflict reached the highest level in August 2008 when tens of thousands of monks and Buddhists took to downtown Seoul to hold a massive rally against Lee’s “biased” religious policies.

Mike Monsoor - Navy Seal

Mike Monsoor 
April 5th, 1981 – September 29th, 2009 
Navy Petty Officer PO2 
(Petty Officer, Second Class) 
EOD2 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Second Class) 

Mike Monsoor was awarded "the Congressional Medal of Honor" last week, for giving his life in Iraq. As he jumped on, and covered with his body, a live hand grenade, saving the lives of a large group of navy seals that was passing by!

During mike Monsoor's funeral, at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery , in San Diego , California, the six pallbearers removed the rosewood casket from the hearse, and lined up on each side of mike Monsoor’s casket, where his family members, friends, fellow sailors, and well-wishers were present. The column of people continued from the hearse, all the way to the gravesite. What the group did not know at the time was, that every navy seal (45 to be exact) that Mike Monsoor saved that day were scattered throughout the column! As the pallbearers carried the rosewood casket down the column of people to the graveside, the column would collapse and formed the group of people that followed behind. Every time the rosewood casket passed a Navy Seal, he would remove his gold trident pin from his uniform, and slap it down hard, causing the gold trident pin to embed itself into the top of the wooden casket! Then the navy seal would step back from the column, and salute!

Now for those, who do not know what a trident pin is, here is the definition! after one completes the basic navy seals program which lasts for three weeks, and is followed by seal qualification training, which is 15 more weeks of training, necessary to continue improving basic skills and to learn new tactics and techniques, required for an assignment to a navy seal platoon. After successful completion, trainees are given their naval enlisted code, and are awarded the navy seal trident pin. With this gold pin they are now officially navy seals! It was said, that you could hear each of the 45 slaps from across the cemetery! By the time the rosewood casket reached the gravesite, it looked as though it had a gold inlay from the 45 trident pins that lined the top!

This was a fitting end to an eternal send-off for a warrior hero! 

Jogye Order to Host 2012 WFB Conference

The 2012 World Fellowship of Buddhist Conference will be held in Korea hosted by the Jogye Order. The decision came during the 25^th WFB Conference on November 13 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The 26^th WFB Conference will be organized by the Jogye Order and the Jogye Order’s Central Council of the Laity. The plan is to have the conference coincide with the 2012 World Expo in Yeosu City and the very popular Lotus Lantern Festival.

Director of Social Affairs Ven. Hyegyeong said, “The reason for coinciding the conference with the expo and the Lotus Lantern Festival is that it would be a good way to show the world the beauty and richness of Korean Buddhist tradition and to promote Korean Buddhism. We will have a tentative six-day visit plan with half the time spent in Yeosu City and the conference, and the other days to see the Lotus Lantern Festival.” 

Jogye Order plans to make strong efforts in seeing the conference to be successful. In this way, the success can be carried over to the 2013 World Religious Leaders Conference, also hosted by the Jogye Order.

The WFB first began in May of 1950 in Sri Lanka as Buddhist representatives from 27 countries met to transcend sectarian barriers. This year marks the 60 year anniversary. Now, 153 WFB branches in 40 countries exist to unify Buddhists from all traditions and uphold the Buddha’s teachings. The conference is held every two years. There are seven WFB branches in Korea including the Jogye Order and the Jogye Order Central Council of the Laity.

 

Korea hosted the 17^th WFB Conference in 1990 in Seoul. Now the conference returns after 22 years. The opportunity to host the WFB conference will be a chance to showcase the excellence of Korean Buddhism and share with the world Korean Buddhist cultural treasures such as templestay, temple food, and the Lotus Lantern Festival.

The 25^th WFB Conference, with the theme “Solving Social Issues with Dharma,” was held on November 13 in Colombo. Along with the conference, a Board of Directors Meeting, a symposium, and the 60-year Commemoration Ceremony were held until November 17. More than 500 representatives from North Korea, Japan, China, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, and other countries attended this year’s conference.

The Naked Asestic

Thus I have heard, that on one occasion Śakyamuni Buddha was staying near Rajagaha in the Bamboo Grove, in the Squirrels’ Sanctuary. Then early in the morning the Blessed One, having put on his robes and carrying his bowl and outer robe, went into Rajagaha for alms. Kassapa, a naked, ascetic saw him coming from a great distance and went to him upon his arrival, and exchanged courteous greetings with him. After an exchange of friendly greetings and courtesies, he stood to one side. As he was standing there, he said to the Blessed One, “I would like to question Master Śakyamuni about a certain point, if he would take the time to answer my question.”

“This is not an appropriate time for questioning Kassapa as we have entered among the houses.”

A second time, and a third time Kassapa the naked ascetic appealed to him, “I would like to question Master Śakyamuni about a certain point, if you would take the time to answer my question.”

“This is not an appropriate time for questioning Kassapa as we have entered among the houses.”

Following this exchange, Kassapa the naked ascetic said, “What I wish to ask isn’t won’t take much of your time.”

“Then ask as you like.”

“Master Śakyamuni, is stress self-made?”

“This is not correct, Kassapa.”

“Then is it other-made?”

“This is also not correct, Kassapa.”

“Then is it both self-made and other-made?”

“This too is not correct, Kassapa.”

“Then is it the case that stress, being neither self-made nor other-made, arises spontaneously?”

“This statement as the others is not correct, Kassapa.”

“Then does stress not exist?”

“This is not the case, Kassapa that stress does not exist. Stress does exist.”

“Well, in that case, does Master Śakyamuni not know or see stress?”

“Kassapa, it’s not the case that I don’t know or see stress, I do know stress and I also see stress.”

“Now, when asked, ‘Is stress self-made?’ you say, ‘This is not correct, Kassapa.’ When asked, ‘Then is it other-made?’ you say, ‘This is also not correct, Kassapa.’ When asked, ‘Then is it both self-made and other-made?’ you say, ‘This too is not correct, Kassapa.’ When asked, ‘Then is it the case that stress, being neither self-made nor other-made, arises spontaneously?’ you say, ‘This statement as the others is not correct, Kassapa.’ When asked, ‘Then does stress not exist?’ you say, ‘It’s not the case, Kassapa that stress does not exist. Stress does exist.’ When asked, ‘Well, in that case, does Master Śakyamuni not know or see stress?’ you say, ‘Kassapa, it’s not the case that I don’t know or see stress. I know stress. I see stress.’ Then explain stress to me, Blessed One. Teach me about stress, Blessed One!”

“‘The one who acts is the one who experiences [the result of the act]’ amounts to the eternalist statement, ‘Existing from the very beginning, stress is self-made.’ ‘The one who acts is someone other than the one who experiences’ amounts to the annihilationist statement, ‘For one existing harassed by feeling, stress is other-made.’ Avoiding these two extremes, the Tathāgata teaches the Dharma via the middle way:

• From ignorance as a requisite condition come fabrications.
• From fabrications as a requisite condition comes consciousness.
• From consciousness as a requisite condition comes name and form.
• From name and form as a requisite condition come the six senses.
• From the six senses as a requisite condition comes contact.
• From contact as a requisite condition comes feeling.
• From feeling as a requisite condition comes craving.
• From craving as a requisite condition come clinging/sustenance.
• From clinging/sustenance as a requisite condition comes becoming.
• From becoming as a requisite condition comes birth.
• From birth as a requisite condition, then aging and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair come into play. Such is the origination of this entire mass of stress and suffering.

“Now from the beginingless fading and cessation of that very ignorance comes the cessation of fabrications. From the cessation of fabrications comes the cessation of consciousness. From the cessation of consciousness comes the cessation of name and form. From the cessation of name and form comes the cessation of the six sense media. From the cessation of the six sense media comes the cessation of contact. From the cessation of contact comes the cessation of feeling. From the cessation of feeling comes the cessation of craving. From the cessation of craving comes the cessation of clinging/ sustenance. From the cessation of clinging/sustenance comes the cessation of becoming. From the cessation of becoming comes the cessation of birth. From the cessation of birth, then aging and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair all cease. Such is the cessation of this entire mass of stress and suffering.”

When this was said, Kassapa the naked ascetic said, “Magnificent, lord! Magnificent! Just as if he were to place upright what was overturned, to reveal what was hidden, to show the way to one who was lost, or to carry a lamp into the dark so that those with eyes could see forms, in the same way has the Blessed One — through many lines of reasoning — made the Dharma clear. I go to the Blessed One for refuge, to the Dharma, and to the community of monks. Let me obtain the going forth in the Blessed One’s presence, let me obtain admission.”

“Anyone, Kassapa, who has previously belonged to another sect and who desires the going forth and admission in this doctrine and discipline, must first undergo probation for four months. If, at the end of four months, the monks feel so moved, they give him the going forth and admit him to the monk’s state. But I know distinctions among individuals in this matter.”

“Lord, if that is so, I am willing to undergo probation for four years. If, at the end of four years, the monks feel so moved, let them give me the going forth and admit me to the monk’s state.”

Then Kassapa the naked ascetic obtained the going forth in the Blessed One’s presence, he obtained admission. And not long after his admission — dwelling alone, secluded, heedful, ardent, and resolute — he in no long time reached and remained in the supreme goal of the holy life, for which clansmen rightly go forth from home into homelessness, knowing and realizing it for himself in the here and now. He knew: “Birth is ended, the holy life fulfilled, the task done. There is nothing further for the sake of this world.” And thus Ven. Kassapa became another one of the enlightening beings.”

A version of the Acela Sutra from the Pali Cannon which was created from several English Versions of the text.

Buddhists close temples to Korean President allies, GNP reps

By Ser Myo-ja, JoongAng Daily, December 11, 2010

Seoul, South Korea -- After funding for a temple stay program was slashed in the national budget passed Wednesday, the Buddhist community has lashed back at the Lee Myung-bak administration, and Grand National Chairman Ahn Sang-soo vowed yesterday to find out who cut the funds and punish them.

<< Korean President Lee Myung Bak at a Buddhist function (file pic)

The Jogye Order, the country’s largest Buddhist sect, issued a statement Thursday banning all Grand National Party lawmakers and Lee Myung-bak administration officials from entering its temples. “The ruling party and the administration rammed through next year’s budget on Wednesday, and the amount earmarked for the temple stay project was cut based on religious bias,” the statement said. “We cannot accept this situation and we ban all public servants and GNP lawmakers from entering temples nationwide.”

The order also said it opposed the four-rivers restoration project - a signature policy of the Lee administration - because the government has failed to listen to public opinion about it.

The annual budget for temple stays, a signature cultural program that allows tourists to experience Buddhist culture firsthand, was 18.5 billion won ($16.2 million) in 2010. But in next year’s budget, the budget was slashed to 12.25 billion won.

According to the GNP, the government had originally allocated 10.95 billion won for next year, and lawmakers raised the amount to 18.5 billion won in the culture committee. But the amount was cut by 6.3 billion won in the budget committee at the request of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the GNP said. Ruling and opposition lawmakers agreed to the cut.
“We will investigate what happened, because we had issued a special order to keep the budget,” Ahn said. “Based on the outcome, we will punish whoever is responsible.”
Ahn said the community’s rage is acceptable, adding that the party will try to explain the unfortunate incident once its probe is concluded.
“Since the party made the promise, we will do our best to keep the promise,” said GNP spokeswoman Bae Eun-hee. Sources said the GNP is studying whether to reallocate other parts of the cultural budgets or create a supplementary budget to calm the Buddhists.
This isn’t the first time the administration has rubbed the Buddhist community the wrong way. The Buddhist community and the government became estranged shortly after Lee, a Protestant, took office in February 2008 after a series of what the administration called “unfortunate mistakes and misunderstandings.”
Buddhists were angry over a state-run agency’s omission of Buddhist temples from an updated online traffic map. They also complained about perceived Christian favoritism in Lee’s appointments in his cabinet and Blue House staff.
A series of incidents involving the police further fueled Buddhist rage. An annual memorial service on Buddha’s birthday, which was to be held in a sermon hall inside the National Police Agency, was canceled in May 2008 because of a delay in getting permission. In addition, the appearance of the then-national police chief, Eo Cheong-soo, on Christian-themed posters didn’t help matters.
Lee expressed regret in September 2008 for angering the Buddhist community with his administration’s perceived religious bias, but tensions were renewed in March this year when the Venerable Myeongjin, the leader of Bongeun Temple at the time, claimed that the GNP’s Ahn had interfered in the affairs of the country’s most affluent temple because Myeongjin was too critical of the Lee administration.
The soured relationship was restored when Ahn issued an apology in July and promised to maintain the temple stay yearly budget.
After the Jogye Order issued its angry statement Thursday, Presidential Chief of Staff Yim Tae-hee and other senior GNP lawmakers tried to meet the Venerable Jaseung, the head of the order, on Thursday to explain what had happened but were rejected.

Buddhists Angered Over Budget Cut

By Jaeyeon Woo

After their recent heated brawls in the National Assembly, Korean lawmakers may need to find some inner peace and calm.

One way to do that in South Korea is to take part in the “Temple Stay” program, which lets locals and tourists stay over at Buddhist temples and join in such practices as meditation and tea ceremonies.

It’s open to everyone. Or at least it was before the nation’s biggest Buddhist group on Thursday banned ruling Grand National Party lawmakers from visiting their temples around the country.

Associated Press

Jogye Temple, Seoul

The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism issued the order after the GNP cut the state budget for the Temple Stay program.

The budget, which was originally around 11 billion won but was then raised to 18.5 billion won due to strong complaints from the Buddhist group, was subsequently cut to 12.2 billion won.

In an angry statement, the Jogye Order said the move can “never be tolerated.” The group took aim at President Lee Myung-Bak, a devout Christian, for what it called his “biased religious position and distorted ideas towards the national culture.”

“We deny entry to our temples by the Lee government and GNP lawmakers,” it said.

It’s not the first time Lee has drawn heat from Buddhist groups. When he was Seoul mayor in 2004 he was criticized when video footage of him saying he would dedicate the city to God was widely circulated online.

And in 2008, Buddhists staged a protest in downtown Seoul attended by around 50,000 people and rallied against perceived religious favoritism by the government. There are roughly 10.7 million Buddhists in South Korea, about 13 percent more than Christians of 8.6 million.

However, the latest incident may yet be a storm in a teacup.

The GNP said the budget cut seems to be a “mistake,” and the party is investigating why it happened.

'Sailor' Bob Adamson

This is the direct and immediate introduction to the natural state, the actuality 'That Thou Art', expressed through 'Sailor' Bob Adamson and addressed to seekers who have found their way to him over the past 34 years.

Bob's search ended one day in 1976 when he was in the presence of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, a much revered Jnani who functioned always from the 'natural state'. Nisargadatta told Bob that "the greatest help that can be given to anyone is to take them beyond the need for further help".

Bob says: "Nisargadatta did this by pointing to the reality, the actuality, THAT I AM. Now, I abide as THAT".

So as the opportunity arises, Bob passes on this message to those who are attracted to this wisdom.