The Roots of Today’s Buddhism
Interesting to consider that meditation, nowadays considered (at least in the West) to be the central – and certainly the most useful – facet of Buddhism, was once only one of a whole range of ritual practices… and by no means the most important. The piece suggests that the ‘Westerisation’ of Buddhism is not necessarily a good thing, but nor is it a ‘perversion’. After all, Luther modernised Christianity – it even seems more approproate that Buddhism should grow and change as the result of the (other) Enlightenment Project.
Although the historic Buddha, Prince Siddhartha Gautama, is said to have lived approximately 2,500 years ago, Buddhism is often viewed as the most modern of world religions.
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The BBC’s Asian Network goes national today – and about time too
Leaving aside the obvious point that in Britain when you say ‘Asian’, you generally think ‘Indian’, whereas in New Zealand, you think ‘Chinese’, there’s an extraordinarily good case to be made for a similar radio station here – if not for the whole of New Zealand, then at least for Auckland.
Today sees the timely relaunch of the BBC’s Asian Network as a national radio station. It is bidding to break out of the Midlands by including London and the south-east in its programme range, recognising that four out of 10 Asians live in those areas.
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Cigarette Makers Take Anti-Smoking Ads Personally
Saying “You shouldn’t smoke, it’s bad for you” has never worked. An advertising campaign that points out that tobacco companies are evil, manipulative and populated by immoral, cynical bastards who work from behind a barrage of PR spin seems to have flustered them a little. Can I just say – if you want people to stop smoking, you have to get them to understand how addiction works.
Can I recommend the Easy Way to Stop Smoking? Everyone I know who has succeeded in stopping smoking read this book. For me, it’s been four months since I read it. It’s also been four months since I even wanted – let alone had – a cigarette.
Read the book… or do it online, if the gimmickry of it helps.
Body bags. Dying rats. Dog urine. These are some of the images used in state and nationwide anti-smoking commercials that are sounding a contentious theme. Rather than spotlighting the ill effects of cigarettes, the ads are focusing on the supposed evils of the tobacco industry.
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