June 30 --Tibetan Buddhist monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery will construct a mandala sand painting and perform related ritual ceremonies July 23-28 at Unity of Fairfax Church, 2854 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton (www.unityoffairfax.org). The sand painting and performances are part of The Mystical Arts of Tibet world tour (www.mysticalartsoftibet.org). From all the artistic traditions of Tantric Buddhism, that of painting with colored sand ranks as one of the most unique and exquisite. Millions of grains of sand are painstakingly laid into place on a flat platform over a period of days to form the image of a mandala, which is then dismantled as a symbol of impermanence. To date the monks have created mandala sand paintings in more than 100 museums, art centers and colleges and universities in the United States and Europe including the Arthur Sackler Gallery, Washington and the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. They also created healing mandalas in New York and Washington, D.C., following the 09/11 terrorist attacks.

Kanderai, Pakistan -- Neglected by the government, Kanderai, the remains of one of the largest and most fascinating Buddhist settlements, will soon crumble to dust.

The results of offering flowers *Bhikku Paduma ruled the Earth seven hundred times and became the Universal Monarch akin to the number of petals in the lotus flower he offered to Padumuththara Buddha and his followers. The result of this good deed helped him to attain Nirvana in the end. (Buddha Wagga – page 193)

Dating from 1971, when a monk named Pasarigo used the hilltop caves for meditation, Wat Tham Sua (“Tiger Cave Temple”) has the feel of a tourist attraction but its caves are now closed to the public.

The Office of National Buddhism represents the Thai government in organizing various activities to mark the World Day of Vesak, or Visakha Puja, from 18 to 24 May 2013.

Considered as the city of monks, Nalanda is a big draw for all Buddhist pilgrims from around the world. Huen Tsang studied in the Nalanda University in mid 600′s. It was one of the biggest and oldest universities of the world and was considered as an epicenter of civilization during that period of time. Located in the state of Bihar, Presently a small town, Nalanda is a historic city with various ancient relics dotting its topography.

JAPANESE Buddhist monk Yoshinobu Fujioka enjoys bringing his congregation together, one cocktail at a time.

Afghanistan plans to put four or five oil and gas extraction and minerals mining projects out to tender for development this year, as the strife-ridden country reaches out to investors to help develop its vast resources.

VIETNAM - Yen Tu Mountain’s beauty is in the harmony between imposing mounts and ancient pagodas and temples lurking under pine forests and bamboo clusters, making tourists relax after trekking sloping roads.  

Fashion photographer and avid dharma practitioner Punsiri Siriwetchapun believes there is little difference between working on his art and meditation.