Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh is no longer in a coma, according to his doctors. An official announcement from the Plum Village organization, released on 3 January, highlighted the gradual emergence of the influential Buddhist monk into “wakefulness.” He has been able to keep his eyes open throughout the day and recognize familiar faces, which has led his doctors to conclude that he is no longer in a comatose state. He remains in a state of recovery in Bordeaux, France.

In some countries in Asia Buddhism still takes the form that it has assumed for well over a thousand years. Due to its long-standing tradition, many people believe that as a religion it has always been relatively popular, gone unchallenged, and remained immune to external oppression, and that today it is spreading effectively throughout the world. However, two recent talks by Professor Lewis Lancaster, “Contemporary Buddhism: Peak of Revival” and “Tomorrow’s Buddhism: Moving Time and Place,” which took place at The University of Hong Kong on 1 and 15 November, offered a fresh perspective on the survival and state of Buddhism over the centuries.

The greatest Buddhist teachers are not just priests or lamas, they are renaissance men and women—people whose mastery expresses itself in all facets of life. More than a light to Buddhism, these beings are a light to humanity as a whole. Last month, one such teacher—a master, an accomplished martial artist, a professor, and of the world’s great scholars of Jodo Shinshu (Shin) Buddhism—passed away. Reverend Dr. Taitetsu Unno died peacefully on 13 December at his home at the age of 85.

Pune, Maharashtra, India, 31 December 2014 - His Holiness the Dalai Lama was invited to Maharashtra’s second city, Pune, by Avinash Dharmadhikari, the Founder Director of the Chanakya Mandal Pariwar (CMP). The CMP is a Network Organization and Public Charitable Trust working in the fields of Career Guidance, Competitive Exam Training, Entrepreneurship Building and Personality Development.

Carmela Javellana, who was recently ordained in Kyoto, has become Salt Lake Buddhist Temple’s (SLBT) latest minister. SLBT, which is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, is one of 63 temples within the Buddhist Churches of America (BCA) organization, and is affiliated with Jodo Shinshu Honganji Ha (or Nishi Honganji), the largest school of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism.

Mundgod, Karnataka, India, 28 December 2014 - “Today, the people of Mundgod settlement have gathered together to perform a long life prayer on my behalf,” announced His Holiness the Dalai Lama this morning.  “They are joined by people from Dzachukha, the native place of Dza Patrul Rinpoche. They represent the people in Tibet. I’ve read the mandala prayer and request, so you can abbreviate it if you like. I’ve read the letter from the Dzachukha people too.

Mundgod, Karnataka, India, 27 December 2014 - Thousands of monks, nuns and lay-people seated in the basement, in the temple, on its verandas and under the canopy over the courtyard were ready to listen to His Holiness the Dalai Lama when he arrived from Ganden Shartse a little early this morning.

Mundgod, Karnataka, India, 25 December 2014 - Invited to inaugurate the new Drepung Gomang Mongolian Students' Hostel at that other end of the Mundgod Tibetan Settlement, His Holiness the Dalai Lama drove out of the Ganden Jangtse compound early this morning. He made a couple of other visits on the way.

Mundgod, Karnataka, India, 23 December 2014 - More than 25,000 people, including more than 2000 foreigners from 43 countries, eagerly awaited His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Ganden Jangtse Monastery this morning. He descended from his quarters on the monastery’s top floor and walked around the veranda, acknowledging well-wisher’s greetings and waving to old friends, to enter the temple through the main door.

Tumkur, Karnataka, India 21 December 2014 - When His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Bangalore yesterday after a comfortable flight from Delhi the road to his hotel was lined with Tibetans eager to catch a glimpse of their spiritual leader. This morning too they lined the street in the warm sunshine, katags, flowers and incense in their hands and smiles on their faces, to see him off. A drive of about 70kms brought him to Tumkur University for his third visit. This time he was invited to lead the inauguration of a conference on the theme ‘Ethics in a New Millennium; Buddhist Perspectives’, which is being held as part of the fruitful ongoing collaboration between Tumkur University and Sera Jey Monastic University.