Matteo Pistono

Engaging the World through Buddhism
The Washington Post July 10, 2011
by Matteo Pistono

Engaged Buddhism refers to Buddhists who are seeking ways to practically apply insights from their meditation practice and spiritual teachings to social, political, environmental, and economic suffering and injustice. While the roots of Engaged Buddhism may be found in the teachings and actions of the Buddha himself, and other great teachers of the past, Engaged Buddhism can also be understood principally as a movement that began in the late 19th century as a response to Western colonialism in Asia. It is best known through its political movements, such as the struggles by the Tibetan, Burmese, and Vietnamese Buddhists for self-determination, democracy, and peace.

Engaged Buddhism is not simply being a Buddhist and involvement in politics and social justice. Rather, Engaged Buddhists critically and creatively apply the Buddha’s teachings to transform themselves and their societies. Thich Nhat Hanh of Vietnam, Ajan Maha Ghosanand of Cambodia, The Dalai Lama of Tibet, Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma, and Ajan Sulak Sivaraksa of Thailand are modern-day leaders who embody Engaged Buddhist principals and have guided organizations such as the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, the International Network of Engaged Buddhist, and the Zen Peacemakers.  Read More 

Practicing Loving Kindness In The Capital
The Huffington Post July 12, 2011
by Matteo Pistono

The historic synagogue at 6th and I Street near Chinatown was host Sunday night to Sharon Salzberg , renowned meditation teacher and NY Times best-selling author, and Krishna Das, often called the rock-star of the Western yoga scene for his captivating devotional chanting. Both have made significant contributions to the transmission of Indian spiritual traditions to the West by sharing their deep knowledge and experiences through music, meditation and teachings.

Sharon Salzberg started the evening by encouraging over a thousand people in the audience to "develop a mind so filled with love that it resembles space." Salzberg co-founded the Insight Meditation Center in Barre, Massachusetts over 30 years ago with Joseph Goldstein and Jack Kornfield. The Center focuses on mindfulness meditation and methods of developing metta, a Pali term for "loving-kindness." Salzberg, like Krishna Das, has devoted years of her life to study and spiritual practice with great masters from India, Tibet, Burma and Thailand.  Read More 

What is a Sand Mandala?
The Washington Post July 9, 2011
by Matteo Pistono

The Dalai Lama has presided over three days of meditation, prayer, and rituals at the Verizon Center. This has included many hours of mantra recitation, complex visualization, intricate hand gestures, profound states of meditation, and ritual music and dance by monks in ceremonial costumes. These strenuous efforts by the Dalai Lama and the monks from Namgyal Monastery are believed to ritually cleanse the area of negativity while at the same time  Read More 

Who Is The Dalai Lama?
The Washington Post July 8, 2011
by Matteo Pistono

There are up to 100,000 people expected to attend events with the Dalai Lama in Washington, D.C., over the next ten days. If you were to ask each of them, “Who is the Dalai Lama?” you will likely receive different response from every individual. Most certainly deep respect and veneration would be expressed. The Dalai Lama describes himself as “a simple Buddhist monk,” while in Beijing, the Chinese government regularly vilifies him as “a wolf in monk’s robes.” The Dalai Lama strikes many different cords.  Read More 

FOX News Channel 5

WASHINGTON - Celebration for His Holiness the Dalai Lama continues in DC.

Matteo Pistono, a Tibetan scholar and author of ‘In the Shadow of the Buddha’ and Mary Beth Markey, president of the International Campaign for Tibet, joined us for more insight into the significance of his visit.

What is the Kalachakra?
The Washington Post On Faith July 6, 2011
by Matteo Pistono

On Faith asks, “The Dalai Lama will preside over the Kalachakra ritual at the Verizon Center. What is the Kalachakra?”

The Kalachakra refers to a corpus of tantric Buddhist teachings, as well as a specific tantric Buddhist deity.

With regards to the body of teachings, the Kalachakra is set of tantric Buddhist practices and teachings that include philosophy, meditation instructions, cosmology, medicine, and yoga. The Kalachakra is one of a number of different systems taught in tantric Buddhism in Tibet, all of which originated in India.  Read More 

The Washington Post On Faith July 5, 2011
by Matteo Pistono

The Dalai Lama arrived in the nation’s capitol and will spend much of the next two weeks (July 6-16) at the Verizon Center conducting rituals and prayers for world peace, and imparting Tibetan Buddhist teachings. The Dalai Lama is also expected to have meetings with U.S. government leaders.

Events on July 6 will include a birthday celebration for the 76 year-old Tibetan leader. Martin King, son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, will join the celebration.

On July 9, the Dalai Lama will give “A Talk for World Peace”on the West Lawn of the National Mall. Whoopi Goldberg will emcee the event, which will include chanting by monks from Namgyal Monastery, performances by cellist Michael Fitzpatrick and singer Skylar Gray.  Read More 

Thanks to everyone who invited me, organized the events, and came to the slideshow and book talks to more than 30 cities around the U.S. It was quite a ride!!

The book will be released in the UK, India, Australia, and South Africa in September. I'll attend the book launch events in London from September 8-12. This is the new cover that my UK publisher will soon release.  Read More 

In Chapter 7 of "In the Shadow of the Buddha", I discuss the tragic imprisonment of Shin Tao, who was imprisoned in 2004 for writing a single email. I discuss Shin Tao's case in the book, and write, "Even a single email containing what the Chinese government deems "state secrets" will bring with it years of  Read More 

On Thursday, April 7, I presented "China, Tibet, and the Human Rights Debate: Why Can’t the Dalai Lama and China find Common Ground?" at the University of Wyoming International Scholars Lectures Series. An engaged crowd of 100 or so students and professors attended.

The gist of the lecture was this:
The Dalai Lama fled a pursuing Communist army in 1959 after the People’s Republic of China invaded Tibet. The Tibetan spiritual leader has lived as a refugee since, setting up a Tibetan government-in-exile in India, and today traveling the world as the spokesperson for the Tibetan struggle for freedom.  Read More