Jamyang Norbu's blog
McMindfullness & Traditional Buddhism JAMYANG NORBU In a promotional talk for his insightful book Why Buddhism is True, evolutionary psychologist and mindfulness meditator Robert Wright made a statement that perplexed me: “And by the way, most Buddhists in Asia don’t meditate; it’s a kind of Western stereotype. They don’t meditate, but they do believe in …
Resolving the Mystery of Herodotus’ Gold-Digging Ants Herodotus of Halicarnasis“Father of History” In the world’s oldest history book, if one may call it that, China does not receive mention, neither does Britain, but “Tibet did not escape the notice of the Father of History,” or so Charles Bell tells us. “Writing some two thousand four …
A month or so ago, Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani was “exposed” by the New York Times for identifying as both “Black” and “Asian” on his Columbia University application form, much to the indignation of his opponents, Mayor Eric Adams et al. Most US official forms require racial and ethnic identification. This is perhaps done …
Myself with an exciting new generation of Tibetan intellectuals at JNU, Delhi. Prof. Tashi Phuntsok-la sitting, front left. This rambling essay is based on a rambling talk I gave to Tibetan students at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi on the 1st of April 2019. I had been invited to speak at the Dawa …
Continue reading “Transcending the Confines of Traditional Male-Dominated Society in Old Tibet”
The Death (parinirvana) of the Buddha, c.AD 20. Grey schist from ancient Gandhara. The Victoria and Albert Museum, London. At a time when many democracies are being undermined at home by corrupt politicians or threatened externally by would-be totalitarian regimes, perhaps a discourse the Buddha gave before his great passing, his mahaparinirvana, might provide an …
Continue reading “The Buddha’s Discourse on Defending Democracy”
Pilgrims from Jhangthang visiting Karmapa’s Monastery at Tsurphu in Tölung Cultural Monuments of Tibet Michael Henss, …
The voice of physicist Stephen Hawking was broadcast into space (toward the black hole 1A0620-00) after his memorial service on June 15, last year. I have no idea what utterances of his were selected, but for a science geek like me it surely could not have been more exciting than something he said nearly forty …
Making Sense of Samdhong Rinpoche’s Views on Modern Science In January this year at the 106th Indian Science Congress (inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi) the head of a South Indian university cited an old Hindu text as proof that stem cell research was discovered in India thousands of years ago. The vice chancellor of …
The big news following the 59’ Uprising was, of course, the escape of the Dalai Lama from Lhasa, which was featured in cover stories in TIME, LIFE, Reader’s Digest and other journals and papers. But the world press also took note of the violence and oppression taking place inside Tibet and journalists attempted to cover …
Bill Gates eyeing a jar of human feces at the “Reinvented Toilet Expo” in Beijing on Nov. 22, 2018. AFP. Bill Gates and his impressive spouse, Melinda, have accomplished an enormous amount of good works throughout the world, not least being the eradication of polio throughout India. But one project of the Gates Foundation, the …
Continue reading “Bill Gates And The Ancient “Secret” Of Tibetan Toilets”
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