“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” These insightful words are commonly attributed to the civil activist and political leader Mahatma Gandhi. And whether or not they were actually expressed by the great man, there can be little doubt that he would agree with the sentiment expressed and would willingly acknowledge what Buddhists, scientists, and animal lovers have long realized—that emotional experiences, pleasure, and pain, are not unique to humans; animals, too, are capable of understanding fear, sadness, anxiety, boredom, and even love.

Buddhist monk Venerable Wei Chueh (唯覺), who founded Taiwan’s Chung Tai Shan Buddhist order and Chung Tai Chan Monastery, has died at the age of 88. The monastery said Wei Chueh passed away on Saturday evening due to complications related to a bone marrow condition. Due to his failing health, Wei Chueh made his last public appearance on 17 January. The monastery is holding daily scripture recitations in remembrance this week until 17 April.

Former military general Thein Sein, who held office as the president of Myanmar from 2011–16, has temporarily ordained as a Buddhist monk, taking on the monastic name of U Thandi Dhamma. The move comes just days after a historic transition of political power in the Southeast Asian country to the former opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party headed by Aung San Suu Kyi.

The neighboring ancient Buddhist complexes of Thotlakonda and Bavikonda in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh have recently undergone extensive reconstruction under the supervision of the State Department of Archaeology and Museums, with the work scheduled to be completed by the end of this month. Bavikonda has been dated to the 3rd century BCE, while Thotlakonda flourished between the 2nd century BCE and the 2nd century CE and might have accommodated more than 100 monks at its peak.

Brynmawr, which means “big hill” in Welsh, is sometimes cited as being the highest town in Wales at an elevation of 1,250–1,500 feet above sea level. With a population of just 5,530, as of 2011, living amid the bucolic setting of the green Welsh valleys, this small market town in southern Wales holds a surprising secret: since 2009 it has been home to Palpung Changchub Dargyeling, a Tibetan Buddhist Dharma center offering courses in Buddhism, meditation classes, and retreats, as well as a library of Buddhist texts.

Plastics are everywhere—present in almost every facet of our daily lives. But once manufactured, these vast quantities of plastics remain with us for decades, sometimes hundreds of years, whether or not we still need them. Offering perhaps a glimmer of hope, researchers in Japan have discovered a strain of bacteria that has evolved to consume the type of plastic commonly used in disposable water bottles, synthetic fibers, and food packaging.

His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, yesterday convened the 7th Khoryug Conference for Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries and Nunneries, aiming to train monks and nuns in the Himalayan region in disaster management and risk reduction and to provide monastic communities with disaster response plans and expertise.

Situated in the Springvale suburb of Melbourne, Australia, Hoa Nghiem Primary School (HNPS) is the first Buddhist school in the city and is providing children from Buddhist and non-Buddhist backgrounds alike with a curriculum that incorporates Buddhist teachings. Its academic program has been designed together with Daylesford Dharma School, the only other Buddhist school in the state of Victoria. HNPS’s motto is: “Strong Mind, Good Heart, Global Responsibility.”

Recently discovered archaeological evidence, unearthed from a 1,800-year-old tomb in the Ngari District of Tibet, suggests that the fabled Silk Road network of trade passages that spanned Asia and beyond was even more extensive than is commonly understood, extending its reach into the rugged high altitudes of the Tibetan Plateau.

Most of our life is directed outward, to the future or the past. Led by Dr. Barry Kerzin, this program will show us ways to access the present moment and hence find calm and inner peace. Turning inward opens the door to a new way of living, in harmony with nature and those around us and leaving no room for anxiety, frustration, fear, or anger. Please join us for an enriching evening, which will include some meditation (no prior experience necessary). The talk will be conducted in English and is free of charge.