Buddhist monk critically injured in butcher knife attack

66-year-old monk stabbed by fellow monk wielding two butcher knives.



Damn. What the hell happened here? This week, an elderly Buddhist monk was hospitalized in critical condition after a fellow monk attacked him with butcher knives at their monastery in Oakland.

Elderly Buddhist Monk Survives Being 'Chopped Up' By Monk Reportedly Wielding Two Butcher Knives

According to Oakland police, the attack occurred Tuesday night at the Branch of International Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks Center, a community "committed to living in peaceful co-existence with one another."

The attack happened on the lower floor of the monastery, where both monks lived. Another monk, Chundoeun Phin, said he heard the attack and rushed downstairs to see the 30-year-old suspect attacking the 66-year-old elder monk with two butcher knives, "just chopping him up."

Woman arrested for vandalizing Buddhist temple

Trang Thu Pham was caught on camera throwing bottles at Buddha statues.



Caught! Asians behaving badly update. In Southern California, the woman who was caught on surveillance video after repeatedly throwing glass bottles at statues outside a Buddhist temple has been arrested.

Woman Arrested for Allegedly Vandalizing Buddhist Temple in Santa Ana

45-year-old Trang Thu Pham was caught on camera chucking bottles at Buddha statues outside the Hoc Tich Buddhist Temple in Santa Ana. There were at least eight incidents between December 16 and January 6. She was finally caught after someone spotted her, recognized her from news reports and called the cops.

Pham told detectives she didn't have any problems with the Buddhist religion -- she apparently had some sort of personal issue with someone associated with the temple.

Woman caught on camera vandalizing Buddhist temple

Surveillance video shows suspect throwing glass bottles at Buddha statues



Asians behaving badly... Buddha statue vandal edition! In Orange County, authorities are asking for the public's help in identifying a woman caught on security camera repeatedly vandalizing a Buddhist temple.

Woman Sought for Vandalizing Buddhist Temple in Santa Ana

Surveillance video shows an unknown woman throwing glass bottles over a fence at statues of Buddha, locatd at the front the Hong Tich Buddhist Temple in Santa Ana. She has apparently done this multiple times.

According to the Santa Ana Police Department, there have been eight incidents of bottles being thrown at the temple in the past three weeks, causing damage to the statues.

Lousiana school board settles religious harassment lawsuit

Federal lawsuit alleged sixth grader was routinely belittled for being Buddhist



Last week in New Orleans, the ACLU settled lawsuit with a Louisiana school board on behalf of a sixth grader who says he was routinely harassed by teachers and administrators because of his Buddhist beliefs.

Settlement In Suit Involving La. Buddhist Student

The federal lawsuit, filed in January, alleged that a teacher at Negreet High School in Sabine Parish declared that Buddhism was stupid. It also said the school regularly incorporated Christian prayer into classes and school events and scrolled Bible verses on an electronic marquee in front of the school.

The student, a lifelong Buddhist of Thai descent, enrolled at Negreet earlier this year and quickly became the target of religious harassment by the school's staff. When his parents raised the issue with school officials,the superintendent told them that "this is the Bible belt" and suggested they change their son's faith.

Anida Yoeu Ali and The Buddhist Bug Project

Artist explores identity by dressing up as a giant orange bug



Got this link passed along to me, and it's so weird and wonderful, I had to share... Artist, activist, friend to the blog (and former Angry Reader of the Week) Anida Yoeu Ali is exploring her cultural and spiritual identity by dressing up as a giant orange bug. Whaaaa? Seriously. A really big bug. And it's pretty awesome.

Artist Dresses Up As A Giant Orange Bug To Explore Her Cambodian Heritage

The Buddhist Bug Project, created with with photographer Masahiro Sugano and Phnom Penh-based Studio Revolt, is rooted in an autobiographical exploration of identity, and Anida's own spiritual turmoil between Islam and Buddhism. Set amongst everyday people in ordinary moments, the Bug "provokes obvious questions of belonging and displacement."

At the very least, you'll get a kick out of seeing this enormously strange orange creature -- the costumes coils can expand to nearly 100 feet -- just chillin' in the most mundane settings. Here's Anida's artist statement:

Louisiana school district sued for religious harassment

Federal lawsuit alleges sixth grader was routinely belittled for being Buddhist



This week, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against a Louisiana school board, alleging that officials at one school routinely harassed and proselytized a sixth-grader because of his Buddhist faith.

ACLU accuses La. school of religious harassment

The federal lawsuit was filed against the Sabine Parish School Board on behalf of two parents, Scott and Sharon Lane, and three of their children, including their son, "C.C.," who is a lifelong Buddhist of Thai descent.

According to the complaint, C.C. enrolled at Negreet High School earlier this year and quickly became the target of religious harassment by the school's staff. In addition to the school board, the lawsuit specifically names Superintendent Sara Ebarb, Negreet High Principal Gene Wright and science teacher Rita Roark: