“Racists violate the principle of equality by giving greater weight to the interests of members of their own race when there is a clash between their interests and the interests of those of another race. Sexists violate the principle of equality by favoring the interests of their own sex. Similarly, speciesists allow the interests of… Continue reading ANIMAL LIBERATION, SAVING LIVES. ETHICS AND CONTROVERSIES: A conversation with ‘dangerous philosopher’ and author of the groundbreaking and influential book ‘Animal Liberation’, Prof. Peter Singer (Dakini Conversations podcast (Ep. 8))
Month: Apr 2024
32nd Parinirvana Anniversary of Third Jamgon Kongtrul
Today the 26th April 2024, is the anniversary of the 3rd Jamgon Kongtrul, Karma Lodro Chokyi Senge (1954-1992), one of the main lineage holders of Karma Kagyu and the 19th Century Non-Sectarian movement in Tibet (Rimey), heart-son of 16th Gyalwang Karmapa and Kālacakra master (who passed away suddenly in a tragic car crash in 1992).… Continue reading 32nd Parinirvana Anniversary of Third Jamgon Kongtrul
TURNING THE WHEEL OF TIME: Kālacakra Duchen and Amitabha Day (Full moon day)
According to the Tibetan Tsurphu calendar, today's full moon (15th day of 3rd lunar month) is a very auspicious day, as Buddha Amithāba Day, on which the effects of all actions are multiplied 100 times and practice is emphasized. It is also the day on which Buddha Shakyamuni was said to have given the teaching… Continue reading TURNING THE WHEEL OF TIME: Kālacakra Duchen and Amitabha Day (Full moon day)
THE WORLD’S BIGGEST SOLID GOLD BUDDHA IN VINTAGE BANGKOK: Chinese-influenced Talat Noi and the biggest solid gold Buddha in Bangkok
Vintage streets and sacred trees of Talad Noi One of my favourite parts of Bangkok was Talat Noi, and area that is very central next to the main river and Chinatown, I have never been a fan of modern shopping malls and skyscrapers, which Bangkok is well-known for. However, Talat Noi is very different… Continue reading THE WORLD’S BIGGEST SOLID GOLD BUDDHA IN VINTAGE BANGKOK: Chinese-influenced Talat Noi and the biggest solid gold Buddha in Bangkok
SHARING THE MERIT: FUNDRAISER FOR ‘LABOUR OF LOVE’ DAKINI TRANSLATIONS
“I fell over backwards when I saw your work.” “Pithy, brilliant and epic. Beautiful.” “You are a genius! Your work is like a treasure trove. I am a great admirer of your website.” "Your emailed translations have disrupted my decades-long addiction to the New York Times, which seems rather grey and paltry in comparison.” "Out… Continue reading SHARING THE MERIT: FUNDRAISER FOR ‘LABOUR OF LOVE’ DAKINI TRANSLATIONS
THE ILLUSION OF STABILITY: A new, challenging and provocative Thai art exhibition by the Bangkok river
"The artworks, grand in scale but introspective, embody the paradox of what people, numbering in the millions around the globe, relentlessly seek and strive for – a quest for emotional security, a pursuit commonly known as ‘stability’."--introduction to the Illusion of Stability exhibition After visiting the sacred Buddhist ruins of Ayutthaya, Thailand I returned to… Continue reading THE ILLUSION OF STABILITY: A new, challenging and provocative Thai art exhibition by the Bangkok river
BEAUTIFUL BUDDHA ‘FACE’ THRIVING IN THE ROOTS OF RUINS AND THE COSMOLOGICAL SIGHTS AT ‘MOUNT MERU MANDALA’ OF THAILAND: The historic ruined’ city of the ‘Venice of the East’, Ayutthaya, towers, statues and Buddha’s head in the root trunk of an ancient Bodhi tree (Thailand Pilgrimage V)
"Once an important center of global diplomacy and commerce, Ayutthaya is now an archaeological ruin, characterized by the remains of tall prang (reliquary towers) and Buddhist monasteries of monumental proportions, which give an idea of the city’s past size and the splendor of its architecture....Indeed, when the capital of the restored kingdom was moved downstream… Continue reading BEAUTIFUL BUDDHA ‘FACE’ THRIVING IN THE ROOTS OF RUINS AND THE COSMOLOGICAL SIGHTS AT ‘MOUNT MERU MANDALA’ OF THAILAND: The historic ruined’ city of the ‘Venice of the East’, Ayutthaya, towers, statues and Buddha’s head in the root trunk of an ancient Bodhi tree (Thailand Pilgrimage V)
The Buddha’s Footprint Mountain (Sri Pada) and Elephant Rock (Athugala) (Sri Lanka Pilgrimage V)
"Thus have I heard. The Blessed One once stayed in the Castle of Laṅkā which is situated on the peak of Mount Malaya on the great ocean, and which is adorned with flowers made of jewels of various kinds. He was with a large assembly of Bhikṣus and with a great multitude of Bodhisattvas, who… Continue reading The Buddha’s Footprint Mountain (Sri Pada) and Elephant Rock (Athugala) (Sri Lanka Pilgrimage V)
AN INFIDELITY TO THE EXTERNAL WORLD: Launch of first poem in new audio-video poetry reading from collection ‘Tales from the Yoni Stone’ I
For Dakini Day today, am delighted to launch the first in a series of video/audio readings of the poems from my published poetry collection 'Tales from the Yoni Stone' (2nd Edition). The short poetry collection can be downloaded as a .pdf for free here. The first poem recording is 'Infidelity to the External World', which… Continue reading AN INFIDELITY TO THE EXTERNAL WORLD: Launch of first poem in new audio-video poetry reading from collection ‘Tales from the Yoni Stone’ I
Indo-Thai collaboration on Buddha’s skullbone relics trip to Thailand re-affirms and strengthens spiritual and political shared interests and friendship (February-March 2024)
“Mahākāśyapa let out a long sigh, said a few verses, and circumambulated the pyre seven times. After Mahākāśyapa had seen the Buddha’s remains the pyre self-ignited. They had tried to ignite the remains several times but had been unable to do so. Now, the remains naturally ignited themselves.” “This third nirvana is called the “final… Continue reading Indo-Thai collaboration on Buddha’s skullbone relics trip to Thailand re-affirms and strengthens spiritual and political shared interests and friendship (February-March 2024)
Dakini Translations and Publications མཁའ་འགྲོ་མའི་ལོ་ཙཱ་བའི་འགྱུར་དང་འགྲེམས་སྤེལ། 