Buddhism

A collage of photos from top left to bottom right: a Buddhist altar, a childhood photo of the author with his father standing in front of two large hanging Vesak lanterns, a string of lanterns hanging outdoors from the overhang of a roof, a Sri Lankan temple surrounded by trees, a Buddhist altar inside a temple, and the Buddhist flag
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Buddhists celebrate the teachings of Vesak 2,570 years on

Peak Web May 24, 2026

By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer Vesak is a religious celebration that marks the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana (passing away) of Siddhartha Gautama, the Lord Buddha. The day is regarded as the most important religious day of the year for the nearly 506 million Buddhists around the world. As a Buddhist myself, I regard the date as not only an important reflection of my faith, but an important point of cultural expression as many different cultures who have adopted Buddhism express this day differently.  Though generally held on the first full moon day of May — the interpretation of the date…

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This is an aerial photograph of a temple in Myanmar. The roof is solid gold.
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An exploration of shinbyu and reincarnation in Myanmar

Peak Web January 31, 2023

By: Olivia Sherman, SFU student For Buddhist people in Myanmar, earning merit creates a better chance of a good life after rebirth. The pursuit of merit can be understood as “the Buddhist way to develop a wise sense of self”…

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A group of white men holding sticks and pointing them together facing each other, with one man at the front playing a drum
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What the Buddha Never Taught showcases outdated narratives

Peak Web July 25, 2022

By: Yasmin Vejs Simsek, Staff Writer What the Buddha Never Taught is advertised as a “rock opera” and is based on the book with the same name by Tim Ward. Playing at Jericho Arts Centre until July 10, this show was…

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