The Scene

When something needs to be done in the world to rectify the wrongs, if one is really concerned with benefiting others, one needs to be engaged, involved.” -–14th Dalai Lama

What is the state of our world today? And what’s Buddhism got to do with it? This section offers commentary on where and how Buddhism interfaces with other larger-picture, higher-level topics: like politics, economy, international relations, the environment, and virtual reality.

Learn and Live

The Scene  |  The University   |   James Roberts  |   April 20, 2013, 4:49 pm

There is a growing segment in education that is beginning to take to this more broad-minded approach, to consider content and pedagogy that place considerations like enjoyment, aptitude, and economic decision-making factors into the context of a more systematic understanding. This movement is embraced by DRBU, but it is by no means limited to our institution. A recent article posted on the Harvard Crimson reports that “Ethical Reasoning 18: Classical Chinese Ethical and Political Theory is Harvard’s third most popular class.” Why so popular? [...]
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Requisites of a Bodhisattva

The Mind  |  The Scene   |   Lauren Bausch  |   March 31, 2013, 2:14 pm

Although these figures may use different words to express their ideals and look after separate communities, they all share one thing in common. They do not live for themselves. In the eight months that I have spent in India so far this year, I have encountered a number of modern day gurus. I stumbled across [...]

Mental Habits and the Criminal Justice System

The Mind  |  The Scene   |   Alexandra Gross  |   December 13, 2012, 5:00 pm

… we are born with particular mental tendencies … and over time, certain tendencies are repeatedly reinforced, creating ever-deeper tracks for our minds to follow. When the Buddha taught about the human mind, he put forth an idea that has been developed independently by psychologists and neuroscientists in more recent years: that we mainly interpret [...]

Higgs Boson

The Mind  |  The Scene   |   Lauren Bausch  |   November 28, 2012, 9:49 pm

On July 13th, UC Berkeley physicists, including Professors Beate Heinemann and Marjorie Shapiro - collaborators in the ATLAS experiment, explained the discovery of what could be the Higgs Boson. Their explanation of the decades long search for the Higgs Boson serves as an interesting comparison to Buddhist practice - not as a comparison of ultimate claims about the nature of reality, but a comparison of deep and prolonged investigations in subtle, invisible fields. This deep and prolonged investigation is at the heart of Buddhism as a personal practice, in contrast to Buddhism as a set of philosophical or religious assertions. [...]
[Admin note: We’re very happy that Alexandra’s piece has been published on Huffington Post. Here is the repost in its entirety.] Last spring, my friend Paris Carriger was diagnosed with liver disease and told he had just a few months to live. His voice from the hospital was weak but calm. “This isn’t the first [...]

On Decisions: Monastic Life, Focus, and Obama

The Monastery  |  The Scene   |   Jason Tseng  |   September 20, 2012, 4:00 pm

Jason Kottke had a short informative post about Michael Lewis’ profile on President Obama, titled Obama’s Way, in the upcoming issue of Vanity Fair. (Lewis shadowed the President for 6 months, observing how he lives and works.) Kottke had two interesting excerpts. [...]

Awakening by Light

The Mind  |  The Scene   |   Don Cornell  |   September 10, 2012, 7:30 pm

In one instant observing measureless eons Without going, coming, or dwelling, Thus comprehending the events of past, present, and future, Buddhas transcend expedients and fulfill ten powers. Like unto the infinite worlds in space, Without coming or going, pervading the ten directions, Becoming and disintegrating, having no resting place, So does the Buddha prevade space [...]
Hi, DRBU and DRBA community.  Buddhist Global Relief has announced its 2012 “Walk to Feed the Hungry” fundraising events. [...]