DHARMA AND THE MODERN WORLD: NEWS FROM A BUDDHIST PERSPECTIVE

Image by Ryan Lothian

This resource guide is a continuation from “Peaceful Jihad,” an article by Ven. Gyalten Mindrol from the January-March 2011 issue of Mandala located on page 45.

Understanding truly starts with knowledge. So does compassion. If you’d like to learn more about Islam, check out these resources:

Books

Islam for Dummies

The Koran for Dummies

DVD

Great World Religions: Islam (The Teaching Company)

Website

www.islam-guide.com

For Children

pragmaticmom.com has a wealth of information on how to teach children about Islam, plus many book recommendations for children from preschool to high school: http://www.pragmaticmom.com/?p=11299

What Can I Do?

• If you live in an urban area, check it out! Are there any street fairs or festivals run by your local mosque or Muslim community (think Pakistan, Iran, etc.) that you could attend? Bring your kids!
• Take a class at a local college, community college or adult learning center about Islam, the Middle East, etc.
• Invite a speaker from a moderate mosque to give a talk on Islam at your local Dharma center. Before the speaker comes, inquire about proper etiquette for the event and any cultural considerations that the center should be aware of.
• Organize an interfaith conference at your Dharma center and invite Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and anyone else you can think of to talk about peace or justice or compassion …
• If you’re a center director, invite the director/manager of a local mosque to lunch and compare notes about running a religious organization. You might learn something useful and make a friend.
• Show the video series Great Religions: Islam at your Dharma center.
• Check out the charitable work of your local Muslim community and offer to volunteer a few hours or give money (or clothes or food, whatever they need).
• If you meet a Muslim person while traveling or in everyday life, be friendly. Ask them about their religion in a non-threatening way, be sincerely curious and kind.
• Donate money to Islamic Aid: islamicaid.org.uk