Elisabeth Rosenthal writes in today's New York Times that the recent Sichuan earthquake has pushed Tibetan activism out of the limelight and left activists in a quandary.

The ongoing Olympic torch relay has been a magnet for protests by Tibetan exiles and their supporters. In particular, they had looked to arrival of the Olympic torch in Tibet as a rallying point. The torch is scheduled to be carried into Tibet on June 19. As China mourns and the world sympathizes, however, some advise restraint.

Yesterday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama advised Tibetans not to protest or interfere with the relay.

Some Tibetan activist groups such as Students for a Free Tibet are calling on corporate sponsors of the Olympic Games to pressure the International Olympic Committee to withdraw Tibet from the relay route.

Photo Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Yesterday and today Vesak, or Wesak, is being observed in many parts of Asia. This is the celebration of the Buddha's birth, but for many there is little time for celebrating.

Yesterday I wrote about the work of Burmese monks to get aid to people whose lives were devastated by Cyclone Nargis. Here's more about how the aid is getting into Burma without being seized by the junta.

Brett Popplewell writes for the Toronto Star that the International Burmese Monks Organization is sending the money it raises to Buddhist monks in countries that border Burma (Myanmar).

From there, funds are carried into Burma by handpicked sympathetic civilians who deliver the money to the Burmese monasteries. ... Individual monks use the funds to gather relief supplies. ...

... "It's kind of like a fire brigade of monks," said Jeremy Ledbetter who is organizing a benefit concert at Toronto's Lula Lounge tomorrow night.