Here’s a summary of what the press has been noticing about Buddhist America during the “week” from April 6–12.
- “The Buddha” airs on PBS, to much fanfare. [New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Daily News, Huffington Post]
- Wat Lao Siri Buddharam opens its door in Worthington, Minnesota, with a celebration of the upcoming Lao New Year on April 24. [Daily Globe]
- I wonder what prayers Tiger Woods is reading on his Blackberry… [ShowbizSpy, TransWorldNews]
- He also got heckled from above with “TIGER: DID YOU MEAN BOOTYISM?”—instead of Buddhism. [X17 Online, Huffington Post, Herald Sun, CNN SI, SF Gate, ANI, New Zealand Herald]
- The publicity goes on. [Fanhouse, Detroit News, Golf Digest, On The Tee]
- He’s still cursing. [The Mirror, Culture Map, Huffington Post, CBS Sports, American Culture]
- A Christian narrates his encounter with a “Buddhist” statue. [WORLD Magazine]
- Yik Fai Tam presents “Propagation and Transformation of Buddhism” at Penn State Altoona on April 12. [Penn State Altoona News]
- Yukio Lippit lectures on the artistic influence of Zen Buddhism at Vassar College on April 8. [Miscellany News]
- Wat Lao Rattanaram navigates new roles in Northern California’s Lao American community. [San Jose Mercury News, Macon Telegraph]
- The charismatic and endlessly entertaining Rev. Tetsuo Unno leads a lecture at Oxnard Buddhist Temple on April 10. [Camarillo Acorn]
- The Jade Buddha for World Peace is touring the United States. [UPI]
- Hsi Lai Temple is trying to figure out how much they can expand. [San Gabriel Valley Tribune]
- Photos of Vietnamese refugees, many of them engaged in Buddhist ceremonies, are on display at Camp Pendleton. [LA Times]
- Buddhism gets some publicity in Wyoming State Prison. [Billings Gazette]
- Psychology Today presents some “pop-Buddhist” approaches to “ease shame, increase self-esteem.” [Psychology Today]
- San Antonio Councilwoman Elisa Chan was raised Buddhist (as a side note). [LA Times]
- Is it time for a Buddhist on the Supreme Court? [Huffington Post]
- Dae Yen Sa Buddhist Temple is struggling with tax issues in New Hartford, Connecticut. [Register Citizen]
- Visalia’s Lao Buddhist Temple celebrates Lao New Year. [Visalia Times-Delta]
- Gardena Buddhist Church is hosting its Fujimatsuri Bazaar on Saturday, May 1. [Rafu Shimpo]
You can check out previous summaries here, here and here. More updates to come.