Latest news with #BuddhistMonk
Wall Street Journal
3 days ago
- General
- Wall Street Journal
Seeking the Dalai Lama's Blessing, a Tibetan Monk Sets Out to Flee China
DHARAMSHALA, India—For Jamyang Monlam, a 24-year-old Buddhist monk in Tibet, time was running out. He longed to meet the Dalai Lama, the 89-year-old religious leader revered by Tibetans but viewed by China's Communist leaders as a dangerous separatist. Now, the Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in India since China seized control of Tibet in the 1950s, was growing frailer.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
It's green, tastes grassy and is everywhere... what's the appeal of matcha?
It's as green as Kermit the Frog and has a unique taste that's grassy according to some. Glance at any trendy coffee shop or tea room menu around Nottingham and you'll see matcha in some incarnation. It's not new - it first started creeping into drinks in the UK around a decade ago. I remember sipping on a matcha latte years ago, wondering if it would ever catch on but now the slime-coloured beverage, which looks like it's been dredged from the River Trent, seems to have become an obsession especially with Gen Z thanks to social media trends and purported heath benefits. The global matcha market is currently valued at £1.8 billion and rather than a passing fad it's become a lifestyle staple. Google searches for "matcha near me" have skyrocketed by over 5,000% in the past year alone. READ MORE: Freddie Mercury's secret daughter says he 'adored and was devoted' to her in moving letter READ MORE: Nottingham GP added 'extremely vulnerable' patient on Facebook and 'pursued her for sex' So what is matcha? It's a vibrant Japanese green tea powder made from finely powdered dried tea leaves. Originating in China, it has been around for centuries and be traced back to the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century. A Buddhist monk is credited with bringing the seeds to Japan in the 1100s where it was turned into powered green tea. Considered to be the highest quality tea leaves in the country, it was used at tea ceremonies. Fast forward to 2025 and you'll find matcha used for much more than lattes. You can have it hot or cold. Look out for matcha frappuccinos, milkshakes, flavoured matcha teas, smoothies, lemonade and even cocktails. And chances are anyone who has ever eaten at one of Nottingham's most popular restaurants, Kushi-ya, has had matcha cheesecake for dessert. Matcha is Bird & Blend's fastest growing product range. The company says its a reflection of the growing demand for natural feel-good energy as coffee drinkers replace their morning caffeine boost with antioxidant rich matcha, which delivers lasting energy alongside the additional benefits of traditional green tea. The Nottingham tea shop is putting its own twist on the flavour for summer with an iced mint choc chip matcha latte and butterscotch matcha latte. Matcha enthusiasts can also experiment with a selection box of 12 with the goodness of the base ingredients and extra flavour such as gingernut, birthday cake, salted caramel, banana and peaches and cream. Joyce Maina, head of tea at Bird & Blend said: 'We've seen a continued rise in matcha's popularity over the past few years, driven by a growing interest in wellness, Japanese culture, mindful rituals and clean energy. At Bird & Blend Tea Co, we're passionate about making matcha fun and accessible and now have the largest range with pure, ceremonial grade and a wide variety of flavoured matcha in Europe. "We add tasty ingredients and sugar-free natural flavouring to our matcha to make it more accessible to first-time drinkers and to put a fun, modern twist on a traditional Japanese drink. Our newest flavours include Honey Bunny Matcha, Butterscotch Matcha and Tutti Frutti Matcha and are made with pure, ceremonial grade matcha to ensure a smooth, rich flavour that sets it apart from lower grades. "Making yourself a matcha invites you to slow down and savour the moment, and that's something we believe more people are craving today. It is also a great alternative to coffee, full of antioxidants and naturally caffeinated, it gives the drinker feel-good energy without the jitters."Coffee chain Caffè Nero has just launched it's first matcha range after "overwhelming" calls on social media. They said every detail, from the velvety vanilla infusion to the ceremonial-grade matcha, has been obsessively fine-tuned. If you've never tried it before the summery strawberry and vanilla iced matcha latte is a good starting point. Because it can be an acquired taste, the jammy kick of sweet strawberries tempers the earthy matcha taste. It's made with a ceremonial grade, single-origin PerfecTed matcha (reflected in the price of £4.60), now the number one matcha in the UK after the founders appeared on BBC's Dragon's Den. Popularity stems from the many reported health benefits. High in antioxidants, research shows that it could boost brain function and may help protect against heart disease. "This is the matcha worth waiting for," says Will Stratton-Morris, CEO of Caffè Nero UK. "We've seen the demand and taken our time to perfect it. "What we've created is something we're incredibly proud of – a matcha that stands out in both taste and quality. And judging by the sales just days after launch, it's clear our customers feel the same."
CBS News
16-05-2025
- CBS News
Monk arrested for allegedly embezzling $9 million from temple in Thailand
Thai police have arrested a Buddhist monk over allegations he embezzled more than $9 million from the prominent temple he ran which was funded by donations from devotees. Investigators from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) accuse Abbot Phra Thammachiranuwat from Wat Rai Khing of siphoning more than 300 million baht ($9.05 million) from the temple's bank account into his own. Investigators traced funds from the temple on Bangkok's western outskirts to an illegal online gambling network running baccarat card games, local media said. Temples in Buddhist-majority Thailand rely heavily on income from "merit-making" ceremonies where worshippers make donations in hopes of gaining good fortune and better reincarnation. Police charged Phra Thammachiranuwat with corruption and malfeasance, CIB deputy commissioner Jaroonkiat Pankaew told reporters at a press conference on Thursday. "This (arrest) is to help purify our religion," Jaroonkiat said. Authorities have arrested a second suspect and are investigating whether others were involved, while local media reported the abbot has now left the monkhood. Wat Rai Khing, believed to have been founded in 1851, houses a replica of the Buddha's footprint. Buddhist monks make merit during the Visakha Bucha Day or Vesak Day celebrations at Wat Dhammakaya Buddhist temple in Pathum Thani province, north of Bangkok on May 11, 2025. LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images The arrest from one of the Bangkok suburb's most prominent temples has triggered significant backlash on social media. "Next time I will donate to a hospital or school for good causes, not a temple," one user posted on social media. Others cautioned their fellow Buddhists to remain firm in their faith. "Not all monks are bad. Don't generalize," another social media user wrote. Buddhist temples in Thailand have made headlines for unusual reasons before. Last November, Thai police launched an investigation of a Buddhist monastery after authorities discovered 41 bodies on site which were allegedly used for meditation practices. In 2022, every single monk at a Buddhist temple in central Thailand was defrocked after they tested positive for methamphetamine. The monks were sent to a health clinic to undergo drug rehabilitation.
South China Morning Post
16-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Thai monk arrested for stealing US$9 million from temple, funds traced to online gambling
Thai police have arrested a Buddhist monk over allegations he embezzled more than US$9 million from the prominent temple he ran which was funded by donations from devotees. Advertisement Investigators from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) accuse abbot Phra Thammachiranuwat from Wat Rai Khing of siphoning more than 300 million baht (US$9.05 million) from the temple's bank account into his own. Investigators traced funds from the temple on Bangkok's western outskirts to an illegal online gambling network running baccarat card games, local media said. Temples in Buddhist-majority Thailand rely heavily on income from 'merit-making' ceremonies where worshippers make donations in hopes of gaining good fortune and better reincarnation. Police charged Phra Thammachiranuwat with corruption and wrongdoing, CIB deputy commissioner Jaroonkiat Pankaew told reporters at a press conference on Thursday. Advertisement 'This [arrest] is to help purify our religion,' Jaroonkiat said.
CNA
16-05-2025
- CNA
Thai monk arrested over US$9 million temple embezzlement
BANGKOK: Thai police have arrested a Buddhist monk over allegations that he embezzled more than US$9 million from the prominent temple he ran, which was funded by donations from devotees. Investigators from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) are accusing Abbot Phra Thammachiranuwat from Wat Rai Khing of siphoning more than 300 million baht (US$9.05 million) from the temple's bank account into his own. Investigators traced funds from the temple on Bangkok's western outskirts to an illegal online gambling network running baccarat card games, local media said. Temples in Buddhist-majority Thailand rely heavily on income from "merit-making" ceremonies where worshippers make donations in hopes of gaining good fortune and better reincarnation. Police charged Phra Thammachiranuwat with corruption and malfeasance, CIB deputy commissioner Jaroonkiat Pankaew told reporters at a press conference on Thursday (May 15). "This (arrest) is to help purify our religion," Jaroonkiat said. Authorities have arrested a second suspect and are investigating whether others were involved, while local media reported the abbot has now left the monkhood. Wat Rai Khing, believed to have been founded in 1851, houses a replica of the Buddha's footprint. The arrest from one of the Bangkok suburb's most prominent temples has triggered significant backlash on social media. "Next time I will donate to a hospital or school for good causes, not a temple," one user posted on social media platform X. Others cautioned their fellow Buddhists to remain firm in their faith.
