Monks

www.cbc.ca — Earthquake survivors say it was the Tibetan monks who helped first, bringing food, pitching tents and digging through rubble after disaster hit far western China a week ago, killing thousands.

Now the Buddhist monks who responded first are being pushed out of the disaster area and off of state media - apparently sidelined by Beijing's unease with their heroism and influence.

ecumenicalbuddhism.blogspot.com — During Tibet's history, it has existed as a part of successive Chinese dynasties. At various times from the 1640s until 1950s, a government nominally headed by the Dalai Lamas, a line of spiritual leaders, ruled a large portion of the Tibetan region. During most of this period, the Tibetan administration was subordinate to the Chinese empire of the Qing Dynasty.

thedarkside.hk — Interesting bit on Tibetan spirituality by The Guardian last Sunday. Que pasa? A dude who was previously selected by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of a former spiritual leader recently gave the entire Buddhist order the finger, and is now studying film in Madrid.