This series is a Lotus Communication Network Production – July 2020.

Communication Needs of Buddhist Communities in Asia

This series is produced and presented by Kalinga Seneviratne. It has been made possible by a research grant from the Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness The Dalai Lama in India.

 

Part 1: Is Thai Media Buddhist?

Duration: 14 mins 18 secs

About 95 percent of Thais identify themselves as Buddhists,  and Buddhism seems tightly ingrained  with the everyday life of the people of Thailand – a Buddhist Kingdom. Yet, there are many questions asked  whether the mainstream media in Thailand reflect Buddhist values. This feature explores this question through the viewpoints of Thai Buddhist media practitioners and Buddhist scholars.

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Part 2: Singapore: Developing Buddhist Counseling and Education

Duration: 8 mins 52 secs

Singapore is a multi-religious nation wth Buddhism and Taoism – which are traditional religions of the majority Chinese population - together  accounting for 43 percent of the population in 2015. Yet, the practice of Buddhism in Singapore is too ritualistic and is often seen as not modern enough by young Singaporeans, who get increasingly attracted  to Evangelical Christian groups. This feature looks at how a young modernist monk is trying to change this trend through his work with Dot Connections Growth Centre which he set up in 2014.

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Part 3: Lumbini: Challenge To Develop A Buddhist Community

Duration: 10 mins 8 secs

Tens of thousands of Buddhist pilgrims from Asian countries, visit the Buddha’s birthplace Lumbini each year to pay homage to its teacher. Yet, there is no local Buddhist community there. About 60 percent of the population there are Muslims and the rest are mainly Hindus. In this program we look at how the Lumbini Development Trust is trying to develop a local Buddhist community in Lumbini to attract foreign Buddhist pilgrims and tourists with its Vice Chairman Venerable Metteyya Sakyaputta.

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Part 4: Tripura: Uphill Battle To Save Buddhist Communities 

Duration: 12 mins 53 secs

Tripura is a small formerly princely state in north-east India, bordering Bangladesh and Myanmar. It became a Union Territory of India in 1972. There are 19 tribal communities across the state, and according to the Census of 2011 3.4 percent of Tripura’s population are Buddhists. These communities are facing an aggressive campaign from missionaries to convert them to the Christian faith. In this feature, Venerable Dr Dhammapiya, chairman of the Bahujana Hitaya Educational Trust and  Dhamma Dipa Foundation in Tripura discuss the formidable challenges he face to empower the Buddhists socio-economically to withstand this challenge.

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Part 5: Sikkim – Protecting the Buddhist Heritage

Duration: 14 mins 56 secs

Sikkim, a former Buddhist kingdom became part of the Indian Union in 1975. When Buddhism travelled from the ancient Nalanda University to Tibet it went through the caravan convoys that passed through the mountains of Sikkim. Thus, Buddhism here predates that in Tibet.  However, since the Indian annexation of the Kingdom the influence of Buddhism in the state has waned, while there are many constitutional guarantees to protect its heritage, This issue is explored in this feature with Sikkim Buddhist leaders.

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