Tokyo, Japan, 17 April 2014 - The 1200 people who gathered to listen to His Holiness the Dalai Lama teach in Tokyo today were mostly Japanese, but also included Koreans, Mongolians and Chinese, some from Taiwan and some from China. To begin with His Holiness explained what would be recited at the beginning, a verse of Pali, the Heart Sutra in Japanese and the verses of salutation from Nagarjuna’s’ Fundamental Treatise on the Middle Way’ and Maitreya’s ‘Ornament for Clear Realization.

Koyasan, Japan, 15 April 2014 - Once more Koyasan was bathed in bright sunshine as His Holiness the Dalai Lama paid a visit to the Daito Stupa. It stands in the Danjo Garan, an area of Koyasan established by Kobo Daishi for training in the practice of esoteric Buddhism. He visited one of the adjacent halls which contain colossal statues related to Vairochana and admired paintings of Kobo Daishi and Nagarjuna high on the walls.

Koyasan, Japan, 14 April 2014 - In contrast to yesterday, the weather this morning was bright as His Holiness the Dalai Lama walked to the Koyasan University Auditorium. He was to undertake the preparatory rituals for the Vairochana-abhisambodhi empowerment he was going to give.

Koyasan, Japan, 13 April 2014 - Skies were grey and there was a chill in the air this morning as His Holiness the Dalai Lama left Kyoto to drive to Koyasan. The Koyasan mountains south of Osaka are the headquarters of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism, sometimes referred to as Esoteric Buddhism, an epithet for the path of secret mantra. This is what Kobo Daishi, founder of the Shingon tradition, learned and brought back to Japan after travelling to China in the early ninth century CE. One of his motives for making the journey was to learn Sanskrit to better understand Buddhist scriptures and it seems that one of his early teachers was an Indian Pandit called Prajna who had studied at Nalanda. Kobo Daishi founded the Kongobuji Temple at Koyasan in 816 and passed away in 835 at the age of 62. His Holiness has been invited to teach and grant the Mahakarunagarbhodbhava Mandala Initiation.

Kyoto, Japan, 11 April 2014 - A two day dialogue between scientists and contemplative scholars and practitioners focussed on the theme ‘Mapping the Mind’ in Japan’s erstwhile capital, Kyoto, began promptly today. Arthur Zajonc, President of the Mind & Life Institute and Sakiko Yoshikawa, Director of the Kokoro Research Center, Kyoto University were brisk in their introductory remarks. They invited His Holiness the Dalai Lama to open the proceedings, which he did.

Sendai, Japan, 8 April 2014 - After the formal air of yesterday’s purification prayers and His Holiness’s public talk, today there was an opportunity for easier interaction between him and Shinto followers from many walks of life. After brief introductory speeches an elderly man offered His Holiness a framed calligraphy of the Japanese character for ‘peace’ along with a flyer he said he has been distributing to promote peace in the world.

April 3 -- After three weeks of fruitless searching for clues to the ultimate fate of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, a mass Buddhist prayer will be held on April 6 in Malaysia in support of the deceased and their relatives. The ceremony, which is co-organized by the Malaysian Buddhist Association, and open to all interested, will be held at Dewan San, Wisma MCA in Jalan Ampang and commences at 10 am. 

Dharamsala, HP, India, 1 April 2014 - In a letter to the National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressed his sadness about the passing away of His Holiness Thich Tri Tinh, the First Supreme Patriarch at the age of ninety-seven. His Holiness offered prayers for the Patriarch and conveyed his condolences to the Patriarch's followers in Vietnam and elsewhere.

India’s state of Odisha is looking to Thailand and Malaysia for to boost its Buddhist tourism, with 70,000 people visiting the state last year.

New Delhi, India, 25 March 2014 (Indian Education Bureau) – Shri Ram College of Commerce celebrated its 88th Annual Day on Monday, March 24, 2014. The Chief Guest was His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet and the Guest of Honour was Shri Analjit Singh, Eminent SRCC alumnus and Founder and CMD, Max India Ltd.