Abstract
This paper explains how Sri Lanka's Theravada monks have been a faction to promote the ongoing ethnic war. The paper provides an account of the role played by monks in politics and explores ethnic chauvinism and the idea of a true Sri Lankan as Sinhalese and Buddhist.

From the Paper
"Sri Lanka's Buddhist monks have always had an important place in social and political life. In the ethnic war has unfolded since the anti-Tamil riots of July 1983, monks have had a strong voice in politics also, many backing the government's military `solution' to the Tamil separatist problem. In September of 2006, bikkus joined Christian nuns and priests and leaders from the Muslim and Hindu communities in a peaceful demonstration in Colombo. They were interrupted by fiery pro-war bikkus who began shouting that the pacifists should go to Sri Lanka's east coast..."

Tags:sri lanka, bikku politics, violence

Abstract
This paper provides a critical analysis of the training and religious practices of the Shaolin monks to determine how they gained such power and how this regimen played out in the social order of the day. A summary of the research is provided in the conclusion.

Introduction
Review and Analysis
Ancient and Contemporary Influences on Shaolin Training and Religions Practices.
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The central unifying quality of the East Asian martial arts that distinguishes them from other martial arts is the influence of Taoism and Zen Buddhism (Kung Fu 2004). According to Donald S. Lopez, Jr. (2002), although the Buddhist sects around the world all tend to embrace certain traditions and practices in common, there are some important differences that have emerged among the different practitioners over the centuries. The Chinese leader Tai Tsung was a patron of Buddhism in general, and the Shaolin order in particular, possibly because he was indebted to the Shaolin "fighting monks," the inventors of the famous lethal kung-fu martial arts of self-defense, for their assistance at the time of his early conquests (Hardacre, Kendall & Keyes 1994). Thirteen such Shaolin monk-soldiers and their "fists of steel" had once saved Tsung's life on the battlefield; as a reward, he granted the Shaolin order an immense tract of land and the unique right to consume the meat and wine that were forbidden to other monks. In fact, in this area particularly, the Shaolin monks seemed to have differentiated themselves from other Buddhist sects (Campany 2001)."

Tags:tsung, chinese, religion

Abstract
This paper explains that the early Mahayana Buddhist sutras showed the close intermingling of lay and monastic lives guided by the Mahayana scripture, which later matured into the patriarchal Chan lineage of the 8th century. The author relates that the Mahayana concepts influenced the roles of monks as renunciants and advocates of the Bodhisattva path: the idea of emptiness and salvation as a means of encouraging withdrawal from the household life and embracing the way of the renunciant. The paper points out that the scriptural translators were incorporating beliefs in filial piety coming from India with the indigenous beliefs of China.

From the Paper
"The emphasis on renunciate life lay in its virtue as a means of overcoming attachment and the importance of emphasizing Mahayana doctrine. Historically this emerges from the early debates between the Hinayana and Mahayana practitioners and it is reflected in the organization of the texts. The Ugra Sutra begins as a text extolling the virtues of the Bodhisattva path and renunciate life and then moves into more philosophical statements in which we find some early references to the actions of Bodhisattvas, Independent Origination and the ideas of the hells and references to karma. This suggests that sutras were compiled with diverse authors, and use of different translations, but the organization retained in the versions entering the cannon indicates recognition of a relationship between the two concepts. The prevailing idea is that as a renunciant the monk will be able to devote himself to contemplation of doctrines essential to the Bodhisattva path."

Tags:chan, renunciant, monks, filial, ugra

Abstract
This paper discusses how when looking at ancient Chinese art and even art today, one can easily see the influence of the Buddhists after they arrived in this country during the Han Period of 200 B.C. It looks at how Buddhism traveled from India to China and how it was transformed into something that could be readily incorporated into the local culture. It also discusses how the Buddhist influence increased to such a significant extent that huge amounts of money and human work were used to create astonishing pieces of art and elaborate temples and how this expanding interest in Buddhism led to new ways of representing deities, different forms of architecture for worship and changing rituals.

From the Paper
"Most Buddhist monks came to China by way of the Silk Road, which was a critical junction at the caravan trails that stretched from China to the Mediterranean. As the easternmost Chinese station on the route, the village of Dunhuang (Tunhuang) became the ideal location for these foreign monks to learn the language and culture before moving into central China. The missionaries and their Chinese disciples built the earliest Buddhist communities at Dunhuang in the late third and early fourth centuries. Many religious sutras were translated at Dunhuang and then distributed outward. Uncountable economic and human resources were used to produce Buddhist sutras and construct religious centers, including thousands of cave temples. "

Tags:monks, silk, road, sung, silk, temple

Abstract
This paper discusses how when looking at ancient Chinese art and even art today, one can easily see the influence of the Buddhists after they arrived in this country during the Han Period of 200 B.C. It looks at how Buddhism traveled from India to China and how it was transformed into something that could be readily incorporated into the local culture. It also discusses how the Buddhist influence increased to such a significant extent that huge amounts of money and human work were used to create astonishing pieces of art and elaborate temples and how this expanding interest in Buddhism led to new ways of representing deities, different forms of architecture for worship and changing rituals.

From the Paper
"Most Buddhist monks came to China by way of the Silk Road, which was a critical junction at the caravan trails that stretched from China to the Mediterranean. As the easternmost Chinese station on the route, the village of Dunhuang (Tunhuang) became the ideal location for these foreign monks to learn the language and culture before moving into central China. The missionaries and their Chinese disciples built the earliest Buddhist communities at Dunhuang in the late third and early fourth centuries. Many religious sutras were translated at Dunhuang and then distributed outward. Uncountable economic and human resources were used to produce Buddhist sutras and construct religious centers, including thousands of cave temples. "

Tags:monks, silk, road, sung, silk, temple

Abstract
Through a study of Buddhism in Vietnam, and how this has been reflected in art and architecture, we can understand how a country-specific approach to the analysis of Buddhism and Buddhist art can illuminate features of both. This paper discusses Buddhism and Buddhist art in Vietnam.

Tags:buddhism, buddhist art

Abstract
The paper looks at various Buddhist traditions - Theravada, Gelug-pa, and Zen - and discusses how each one approaches the difficult process of achieving enlightenment. Just as importantly, the paper looks at some important concepts - the notions of one-self, "wild mind" (as popularized by poet Gary Snyder) and emptiness - and tries to define what they are and their significance in terms that are comprehensible to someone not familiar with them.

From the Paper
"What is emptiness? Newcomers to Zen Buddhism (to say nothing of those newly arriving to Theravada or Gelug-pa) have often asked this question. Briefly stated, emptiness in Buddhism means that all things are without intrinsic essence ("Buddhist Glossary," glossary). The realization of emptiness by the practitioner of Buddhism (through meditation, of course) is what allows for the experience of Nirvana and it must also be said that this realization is seen as the end to all suffering ("Emptiness [Sunyata], para.1). As this writer understands the term from previous..."

Tags:buddhist, tradition, philosophy

Abstract
This paper describes a particular Chinese Buddhist chant used for both individual and group practice, which is the repetition, through singing or chanting, of one of the names of Buddha - Amitabha. The author points out that Amitabha, which is an ancient chant, was written in the Sanskrit language before Buddhism was transmitted to China. The paper relates that the chanting is sometimes accompanied by percussion instruments.

From the Paper
"The Chinese Buddhist chant I have chosen to describe is, perhaps, one of the simplest and most ancient - the chanting of Amitabha. While some Chinese Buddhist chants were originally written in Chinese, this one predates the transmission of Buddhism to China and is therefore written in Sanskrit, the original language of Buddhism that comes from northern India. Amitabha is one of the names of Buddha, and the chant is associated with repentance and forgiveness. It is, in most cases, as simple repetition of the four-syllable word `Amitabha', though in some cases other syllables are added to it. Buddhist thought values simplicity above all things."

Tags:chinese, buddhist, chant

Abstract
This paper explains that Buddhist Art sprang from the religion Buddhism; dragons, flowers, as well as Buddha himself are portrayed in paintings, statues, shrines, tapestry and many various forms and textures across many centuries of art. The author points out that not much is known about the ancient Buddhist artists, but two 19th century Buddhist artists are Utagawa Hiroshige, born in Tokyo and sometimes known as Ando Tokytaro, and Katsushika Hokusai, a master and genius of the Japanese art of woodblock printing. The paper relates that Buddhist Art continues to influence world art today; Cuiun Matsuda is a modern day Buddhist artist and a Buddhist priest. Chart.

Table of Contents
Statement of Thesis
Introduction
Aniconic Phase (5th Century - 1st Century BCE)
Iconic Phase (1st Century CE to Present)
Ancient Artists
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) Buddhist Artist
Katsushika Hokusai (1760 - 1849) Buddhist Artist
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan era which was from 322 BCE to 180 BCE is defined by the first clear manifestations of Buddhist art. It was during the first and second centuries BCE that sculptures gained a characteristic of being explicit in representation of Buddha, his life and his teachings. India's representations of the Buddha were the bodhi tree, the footprint, the empty throne, the lions, the columns or the lotus. The lotus was a symbol of purity."

Tags:centuries, mauryan, hiroshige, india, woodblock

Abstract
This paper explains that the underlying theme of Buddhist economics is the liberation from the confines of need and greed; goods and services exist only to meet need, not to meet ego-needs to fill lives with things and services that are not necessary for survival. The author believes that the Buddhist economy would not be accepted in the United States because the American public is used to a capitalist system. The paper stresses that a major drawback is that the Buddhist system employs the tenets of a religious faith, while the capitalist system works hard to keep business and religion separate.

Table of Contents
Introduction
The Systems
Capitalist economics
Buddhist Economics
Would It Work Here?

From the Paper
"The free market forces are the system by which the merchants and society determine the price of services and goods that they wish to offer the consumer. The system of capitalism is built on the belief that state and business activities should be separate. It further believes that a system should be strong enough on individual effort, profit and merit to survive and grow without the interference by government agencies and offices. It is referred to as private business or private enterprise. While there are situations in which private businesses provide contractual work or services for government need the government does not choose the business to provide those services except through a bidding process. The capitalist system is based on the belief that the government's only role should be to regulate and make sure that the protection of the laws of the land are enforced."

Tags:dhamma, ego-needs, enterprise, separation, liberation