Chicago Zen Center Bulletin Board

Help Aung San Suu Kyi

2009-05-31T19:02:00.000-05:00

Aung San Suu Kyi on Trial

Take Action Today

Dear Friends of Burma,
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's legal situation remains critical. Her 3rd day of trial ended today, and the case continues all week. In May, Suu's doctors became seriously concerned about her health, and now she is confined in one of the world's notorious prisons. But she remains the peaceful warrior she has always been.

Bangkok's Nation reports that on day one of her trial:

"The Nobel laureate reportedly refused at first to enter the court room or to acknowledge her case when the court abbreviated her name to Suu Kyi, leaving out the Aung San which is the name of her famous father, an independence hero. "If you cannot call me by my right name, I will not move," she reportedly told the court. Court officials then relented, using her full name, and she entered the courtroom. "

Security is extremely tight around the prison, and yet many Burmese risk arrest keeping vigils going outside the prisons, and engaging in acts of protests throughout the country. There are supporting protests and vigils around the world. Numerous heads of state are united in calling for her release, including ASEAN, Pakistan, the EU, the U.S. and many others.

We suggest these actions to help secure her freedom.

1. Amnesty International has sent out an alert to write Senior General Than Shwe about ASSK's arrest.
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&template=x.ascx&action=11134&ICID=I0905A01&tr=y&auid=

2. Avaaz.org has highlighted Burma in the past year and offers the following. "We have just six days to get a flood of petition signatures to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon calling on him to make their release a top priority. He can make this a condition of any renewed international engagement. Follow the link to sign the petition, to ensure that Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners are freed. Burmese activists will present the global petition to the media on May 26th."
http://www.avaaz.org/en/free_aung_san_suu_kyi/?cl=236901994&v=3318

Sources say that the military regime is fearful of a unified and massive online call to the UN - over 160 Burma exile and solidarity groups in 24 countries are participating in this campaign. The Secretary General and key regional players looking to re-engage with the Burmese regime can influence the fate of these prisoners. Last week Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said: 'Aung San Suu Kyi and all those that have a contribution to make to the future of their country must be free'. Let's undertake a global call for the UN to act on his words and stop the arrests and brutality.

BURMA VJ: REPORTING FROM A CLOSED COUNTRY
On another note, the award-winning documentary BURMA VJ: REPORTING FROM A CLOSED COUNTRY has just been released. This tells the story of the 2007 Saffron Revolution and features many of the monks who are now living in exile in the US. It may be coming to a theater near you (list below). If you want to do a special showing in your town, contact us for information.
Here are links to more info about it. www.filmforum.org/films/burma.html

Here is a link to the trailer at the NY Times website: movies.nytimes.com/movie/456574/Burma-VJ/trailers

A review from the Sundance Film Festival: blog.spout.com/2009/01/19/burma-vj-review-sundance-2009/

20-May New York NY, Film Forum
29-May Los Angeles CA, Laemmle Sunset 5
29-May Irvine CA, University 5-June Boston MA, Balcony Coolidge
5-June Portland OR, Regal Fox Tower 1
9-June Charlotte NC, Park Terrace
26-June Tallahassee FL, Regal Miracle 5
26-June Austin TX, Regal Arbor
10-July Santa Fe NM, Center for Contemporary Arts
31-July Washington DC, Landmark E-Street
28-Aug Seattle WA, NW Film Forum

Thanks for your concern and action.
Peace,

Margaret Howe Clear View Project
707-360-8452
margaret@clearviewproject.org

For information about Clear View and about our Adopt a Monk program supporting Burmese political prisoners, go to our website: www.clearviewproject.org

Clear View Project is an affiliate of Buddhist Peace Fellowship, under the fiscal sponsorship of Inochi www.inochi.us, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.

Clear View Project
1933 Russell St.
Berkeley, CA 94704,

25th International Buddhism Festival

2009-05-31T18:33:00.005-05:00

25 Years of Nurturing the Bodhi Tree:
Many Lineages, Many Cultures, One Dharma

The Buddhist Council of the Midwest
presents the 25th International Buddhism Festival

Saturday, June 13, 2009
Lake Street Church, Evanston
(NW corner of Lake and Chicago)

Everyone is welcome!
Festivities include food,
talks from three major traditions,
meditation instruction, workshops,
a children's program and cultural performances.

General Schedule:
9:30-11am Opening Ceremony and Keynote presentation
11am Lunch
1-5pm Exhibits and Workshops
6-8:30pm Cultural Exhibits

www.buddhistcouncilmidwest.org

SORROW IN THE GOLDEN LAND OF BURMA

2009-04-09T08:05:00.001-05:00

A free public talk with photos, featuring Hozan Alan Senauke May 3rd, Sunday 4-6 PM

DePaul University, Lincoln Park Campus
Schmitt Academic Center (SAC) Room 161
2320 N. Kenmore (at Belden), Chicago IL

Hozan Alan Senauke visited Burma (Myanmar) on a Buddhist Witness delegation in December of 2007, just after the Saffron Revolution. He returned there in January of 2009 to work with young Burmese cyclone relief workers. Alan’s talk (including photos) will touch on these experiences and expand on the ongoing crisis in Burma, prospects for change, and what we can do in solidarity with Burma’s democracy movement.

Hozan Alan Senauke is vice-abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center in California. He is founder of the Clear View Project, developing Buddhist-based resources for relief and social change (www.clearviewproject.org). Alan is also Senior Advisor to the Buddhist Peace Fellowship (www.bpf.org), and was one of the founders of Think Sangha, a group of Buddhist-activist intellectuals and writers (International Network of Engaged Buddhists, www.inebnetwork.org).

Sponsored by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship Chicago chapter and the Religious Studies Department of DePaul University.
For additional info call 773-465-4279 or visit www.bpf.org/chicago

BUDDHIST PEACE FELLOWSHIP Chicago Chapter

Burma Videos, March 1st

2009-02-21T16:07:00.004-06:00

click to see larger image.

Buddhist Women's Conf - EARLY BIRD Registration

2009-02-13T09:37:00.002-06:00

The 4th Annual Buddhist Women’s Conference

Healing Dharma

To be held in DePaul University, Chicago, IL ,

March 14, 2009

With Sensei Ellen Birx and many other outstanding Buddhist women leaders from all traditions. More than a dozen workshops offer global and local perspectives for practitioners at all levels, from beginners to advanced.

EARLY BIRD Registration ($70, includes lunch) deadline is February 14.

Regular Registration ($90, includes lunch) until March 1, 2009

Late Registration ($90) will be available at the door as space allows.

For more information, download brochure or to register please see http://www.dharmawomen.org

Please help us get the word out by passing on this

e-mail to sangha members and dharma friends, mentioning us in your newslettr or posting the attached flier.

Vinati DeVane's Ordination

2008-02-05T10:13:00.001-06:00

Over 40 Sangha members, friends, and family came together Sunday, Feb. 3, to affirm the transformation of Caroline DeVane, long a resident of the CZC, into Vinati DeVane. (Vinati means humility, service, bowing in Pali and Sanskrit; it is pronounced vin-NA-tee.) The ceremony was moving, and the potluck wonderful. The party raged on for hours. Thank yous go out to all who pitched in, most especially Kathy, Gerrie, Jim, Elie, and Deena. Nine bows to all.

Hit Primetime Show Seeks a Spiritual Family!

2007-08-24T17:16:00.000-05:00

OK, here's your big chance to show that all those sesshins and all that sitting have made you more caring and flexible!! By the way, this is the second contact of interest I've gotten in two weeks for a reality show. The other comes from the same network but is unrelated.

Sensei

From: Juanita Hong
Subject: Hit Primetime Show Seeks a Spiritual Family!

Good Afternoon!

My name is Juanita Hong and I am a casting producer for ABC Television's hit reality show, Wife Swap. I am currently trying to cast a spiritual family for an episode of our show and thought perhaps one of the people in your temple might be interested in this great opportunity. Your temple has caught my attention and I thought it couldn't hurt to send you an email to see if you might be able to help me with this.

In case you are unfamiliar with the show, the premise of Wife Swap is to take two different families and have the mom's switch places to experience how another family lives. For half of the week, the mom lives the life of the family she is staying with. Then she introduces a "rule change" where she implements rules and activities that her family has. It's a positive experience for people to not only learn but teach about other families and other ways of life.

Wife Swap airs on Disney owned ABC television on Mondays at 8 pm - the family hour! There is another show that copies ours but our main focus is to have fun, learn, and teach others in a positive light. They focus on conflict. I just want to make sure our show doesn't get confused with theirs!

Requirements: Each family must consist of two parents (marriage is not required) and at least one child between the ages of 7 and 17 and should reside in the continental U.S. (There may be other children living in the home who are older or younger than the required age…as long as one child is in the required age range.)

My hope is that you would pass this information on to your members and if they are interested, they will be able to reach me. Maybe you even have a family in mind that you could refer me to. This is a very unique experience that can be a life changing for everyone. In addition, each family that tapes an episode of Wife Swap receives a $20,000 honorarium for their time. Anyone who refers a family that appears on our program receives $1,000 as a 'thank you’ from us.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this - I know it is an unusual request. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at my number below. Thank you for your time and have a great day!

Juanita Hong

Juanita Hong | Casting Productions Assistant | Wife Swap
RDF Media | 1790 Broadway | 11th Floor | New York, NY 10019
Phone: 646.747.7959 | Fax: 212.586.3419
juanita.hong@rdfnewyork.com | www.rdfusa.com

Donating your used bikes will help change lives in Angola

2007-04-11T17:50:00.000-05:00

Dear Evanston Friends,

We are gathering used bikes to send to Africa. Can you help us spread the word?

The Bike Drive will be Sunday, April 15, at the corner of Lake Street and Chicago Avenue, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. All bicycles and bicycle parts, whether broken, rusted or old, will be accepted and greatly appreciated.

The bikes collected will be sent to Angola, Africa by SHARE-circle.

SHARE-circle is an Evanston-based organization, started by two Angolans, that is devoted to rebuilding war-torn Angola, in southwestern Africa. More information is on the back of this letter and will be available at the event.

The bikes will be repaired by Working Bikes Cooperative, a Chicago nonprofit organization that repairs bicycles, sells them at a discounted rate to Chicagoans, and uses this money to fund shipments of bikes around the world.

Questions about the event can be emailed to bikedrive.
If you have bikes to give, but are unable to bring them to the event, we would be happy to pick them up at your convenience. Please call Guerra: 847-733-1276.

If you are unable to donate at this time but would like to consider Working Bikes as a future option, please visit www.workingbikes.org to learn more.

Thank you in advance,

Patricia Deer
Chair, SHARE-circle Board

Free Massage

2007-03-04T06:29:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone! My friend Sara has completed her Thai
Massage coursework and is looking for people to
practice on. She would especially like to see people
that have previous experience with Thai massage. She
is a certified asian bodyworker (AOBTA) and is
currently seeing people on Fridays and Saturdays. Zen
Center members are free for a limited time!!! Call
our office at 773-296-6700 x2001 to schedule (I'll
give you her cell number) or email me directly at
Apothecary@wholehealthchicago.com

Gassho, Seanna

Freecycle - Better than Recycle

2007-01-14T08:55:00.000-06:00

If you have not heard about Freecycle then I know you will be thrilled. Freecycle are web based communities of people who post advertisement for giving things away from their houses. Free.

Here is the basic info from their website:
When you want to find a new home for something -- whether it's a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door -- you simply send an e-mail offering it to members of the local Freecycle group.

Or, maybe you're looking to acquire something yourself. Simply respond to a member's offer, and you just might get it. After that, it's up to the giver to decide who receives the gift and to set up a pickup time for passing on the treasure.

Our main rule: Everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.

Non-profit organizations also benefit from The Freecycle Network. Post the item or items you want to give away and specify that you wish the gift to go to a nonprofit cause. It's entirely your choice! It's a free cycle of giving. The Freecycle Network is incorporated as a nonprofit organization and is tax-exempt under the IRS 501(c)3 ruling.

And here is the link:
http://www.freecycle.org

They also have http://www.freecyclefinder.org where you can look for things that you need.

Pretty Neat (lot lot better than Recycle) !

Deep bow,
Girish

Death of Brad Will

2006-11-05T08:29:00.000-06:00

On October 27, an acquaintance of mine, Brad Will, was
shot and killed by the Mexican authorities while
covering the teacher's strike in Oaxaca, Mexico. His
death is not being widely covered by the press. Brad
grew up here, he was born in Evanston, grew up in
Kenilworth, and graduated from New Trier in 1988. For
more information on Brad, please see the story at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Will.

May all beings be at ease. Gassho, Seanna

An invitation to join Buddhist Peace Fellowship

2006-09-17T16:23:00.000-05:00

[Forwarded by Jody Wilson. Click image for larger view.]

baby-sitter available

2006-09-01T10:01:00.000-05:00

Hello Dear Sangha again!
I would like to offer my services as a baby-sitter. I have some evenings free- Fridays after 8 pm, Saturdays after 4 pm and sometimes Sundays after 4 pm also. I have experience in France where I served as a baby-sitter for more than 1 year. Call me if you need me to care for yours kids at 773 822 2584
Thank you

Deep bow
Kasia

small art studio needed

2006-09-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

Dear Sangha!
I am looking for a small studio (preferably with access to water and a bathroom) where I could freely draw and paint without being disturbed. It must be inexpensive - I can’t spend more then 150$, utilities included. Usually I will be in that studio only once or twice a week. So, if you have in your house a room, which is unused that could be adapted as a studio think about me. The studio could be a place in an attic or basement. You could give me the possibilities to create and some extra money for yourself.
You can call me any time at 773 822 2584.

Deep bow

Kasia

Buddhist Peace Fellowship statement on situation in Israel and Lebanon

2006-07-19T20:29:00.000-05:00

July 19, 2006

During the past week, the world has been witness to a frightening drama unfolding in the Middle East, as Israel and Hezbollah are locked in an escalating conflict that neither party seems willing or able to diminish, and at the same time Israel’s operation in Gaza is creating a humanitarian catastrophe.

Each time such a situation comes to pass, we at the Buddhist Peace Fellowship are reminded of the Buddha’s injunction that “hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love.”

These words are easy enough to say for those of us outside the conflict zone. We realize that life must feel quite different right now in a place like Beirut, Lebanon, where men, women, and children are under fire by Israeli bombers. Just today--July 19th--news sources report anywhere from 19 to 49 civilians have been killed by these air strikes, and more than 200 have died in the past week. And we empathize with the citizens of Haifa, Israel, and in other areas along the northern border where at least 30 people have been killed. There, wise words from any religious tradition may seem irrelevant with rockets landing in backyards and people injured or dying. For those of us who have never lived in a war zone, it may be impossible to realize just how stressful such a situation is and how easy to succumb to the practice of retaliation in the name of protecting one’s own people.

Still, it is up to all of us in the global community to speak clearly for sanity amidst this insane march toward destruction, and to hold up the truth that violence only perpetuates more violence. And we must take actions to support this belief and to support our sisters and brothers in Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, and the entire Middle East.

One action that those living in the U.S. can take is to contact the Bush Administration and Congress to demand that the U.S. take immediate action to help the conflicting parties declare a ceasefire and begin negotiations. We can also organize delegations of peace advocates to Congressional offices. Call the White House (202-456-1111), the U.S. State Department (202-647-4000), and the Congressional switchboard (202-224-3121), which will connect you to your Congressmembers' offices,

Click here for more information on actions you can take to support peace in the Middle East.

The Buddhist Peace Fellowship shares the perspective of the United for Peace and Justice coalition: “Just as in Iraq, there is no military solution to the current crisis. The only real and lasting solution is to resolve the source of conflict by negotiating a resolution based on freedom from occupation and equal rights for all as enshrined in international law… The Lebanese government is imploring the international community to press for an immediate ceasefire, for United Nations intervention, a negotiated settlement and release of all prisoners -- Palestinian, Lebanese and Israeli.” We at BPF and in the peace movement can and should add our voices to this call, as soon as possible. We join in making this call with friends from groups of all religious traditions, including Jewish Voice for Peace, Tikkun, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

We recognize that this is a complex issue, and the current situation has widening circles of involvement beyond Israel and Lebanon, with the U.S., Iran, and Syria all implicated. The weapons and financial aid these countries provide to Israel and Hezbollah fuel the fire of this conflict. All parties must be encouraged to see the utter futility of this approach.

BPF calls upon the U.S., as a world leader, to use its diplomatic influence to immediately help bring these parties together in dialogue and to make it clear that the current violent methods are unacceptable. We encourage the U.S. to support the efforts of the United Nations and the European Union to broker a cease fire.

While Hezbollah's attacks on Israel are unconscionable and we should certainly speak out against them, those of us who are Americans must recognize that we have some accountability for the acts of the Israeli defense force. Israel is our close ally, and Israel's weapons have been supplied by the U.S. government. The U.S. Senate has just passed a resolution endorsing Israel's military actions in Lebanon. So it is all the more incumbent upon us to raise our voices. Those of us who live in the U.S. need to pressure our government to withhold financial and military support from Israel when it violates international law by acts of massive retaliation such as the current offensives, and refuses to negotiate with the party the Palestinian people have elected.

Homeland security, in every sense of the word and for all people of the earth, depends on upon our participation in this process.

CZC now a member of Interfaith Action of Evanston

2006-07-17T10:59:00.000-05:00

Our Zen Center has joined a re-formed local interfaith organization here in Evanston called INTERFAITH ACTION OF EVANSTON. This organization used to be known as the Evanston Ecumenical Action Council. The organization, formerly an association of local Christian churches, is newly configured and states as its mission: "to bring together communities of faith and spirit to serve people who are hungry and homeless, and to express our shared values through action and interfaith dialogue." This organization operates soup kitchens, warming centers, a morning shelter, etc.

When a community is small, such as our ZC, it is often best to pool resources with greater umbrella groups to effect such social changes as we might. Sangha members should feel free to explore helping opportunities with the IAE. In this way we as a community of practitioners can really practice "Engaged Buddhism" as best we can as individuals, while at the same time undermining the walls we sometimes build between ourselves and other faith communities. Each Sangha member can do with this opportunity what she or he wishes, but the CZC will make an appropriate donation to IAE's efforts each year in any case.

Just for clarification, any donations one would wish to give to the IAE should be made to them directly and need not involve the CZC or Kannon Society.
IAE can be contacted by going to: www.interfaithactionofevanston.org.

Sensei

Religious communities take action to end state-sanctioned torture

2006-06-15T14:01:00.000-05:00

The Buddhist Peace Fellowship {BPF) is a member of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT). We received this important message from the NRCAT. Please pass on to your chapters and friends:

Tuesday, June 13, 27 religious leaders from across the religious spectrum, including Nobel laureates Pres. Jimmy Carter and Elie Weisel, joined together in an advertisement on the op-ed page of the New York Times, calling for the elimination of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment as part of U.S. policy. View the ad (The ad was paid for in full by an anonymous donor.)

You can help amplify the effect of this unprecedented action. Here's what you can do:

** Tell two other people you know about the ad.

** Take this ad to your house of worship this coming weekend and encourage individuals there to endorse the NRCAT "Torture is a Moral Issue" statement.

** Place this ad in your congregation’s newsletter.

** Put this ad in your regional religious body’s newsletter or journal, asking religious leaders in your denomination or faith group to also endorse the ad for that printing.

** Raise the money to place a copy of this ad in your local newspaper.

** Feature notice of this ad on the hope page of your congregation's website.

** Send notice of this ad to your congregation's listserve, with the link to the ad (www.nrcat.org/ad.aspx), suggesting that members of the congregation make arrangements for wide re-broadcast to religious and secular groups.

** Donate funds to NRCAT to keep this campaign moving ahead.

Let us know what you did, so that we can share your strategies with others. Send an email to campaign@nrcat.org. Please share all press copies of the ad and articles about the ad with us for our clipping file!

The links to the website's of NRCAT's member organizations are posted on the NRCAT website: www.nrcat.org/members.aspx. Visit these organizations' websites for more information about anti-torture action ideas.

And, thank you for your help in the campaign to end U.S.-sponsored torture.

Jeanne Herrick-Stare, Chair of the BPF Coordinating Committee

Buddhist Peace Fellowship Statement on Iran

2006-04-26T08:36:00.000-05:00

Dance of Fools: The Iran-U.S. Nuclear Crisis

from the Buddhist Peace Fellowship
April 25, 2006

Short statement:
For the sake of peace and life, the Buddhist Peace Fellowship calls for immediate, direct negotiations and dialogue between the United States and Iran, and we urge our leaders to sit down and talk with Iran in the spirit of sincerity and determination. As citizens investigating right and wrong, we cannot sanction a pre-emptive attack on Iran. Using the life-giving creativity of nonviolent direct action we vow ourselves to intervene with U.S. leaders to prevent war with Iran, and end the pointless U.S. war in Iraq. Trapped in their fears and beliefs, our political leaders on all sides are terribly eager to lead a dance of death, but life itself is dear to all. We yearn for a dance of life.

Full article:
In the holy city of Mashad, on April 11, dancers whirled about, raising capsules of uranium hexaflouride in joy as Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that Iran had successfully enriched a small amount of uranium and pronounced, “Iran has joined the club of nuclear countries.” Later, responding to international concern about Iran’s nuclear program, President Ahmadinejad said, “Our answer to those who are angry about Iran achieving the full nuclear fuel cycle is just one phrase. We say: Be angry at us and die of this anger.”

While we at the Buddhist Peace Fellowship are alarmed by President Ahmadinejad’s inflammatory rhetoric and views on various international matters, we are first responsible for and to our own government. In the case of those of us who are citizens of the United States, that responsibility compels us to understand our karmic ties and historical relationship to Iran. It is a history so entangled with national, corporate, and military self-interests that our present conflict comes as no surprise.

A little background: In 1953, the CIA and British MI6 orchestrated a coup against Mohammad Mosaddegh, the elected prime minister of Iran, who had moved to nationalize the oil resources of his country. In the wake of this coup, Shah Reza Pahlavi took the reins of power and led a brutal autocracy that lasted until 1979. He was widely feared and abhorred by his subjects, but the U.S. government found him a compliant and useful ally in the Middle East. Valuing the Shah’s friendship, the U.S. provided the first technology and materials for an Iranian nuclear program in the middle 1960s. This program was shut down after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, but restarted in the 1980s when the U.S. supplied Iraq with massive amounts of military aid (including chemical and biological agents) supporting its eight-year war with Iran.

Jumping to the present day, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said, “There will have to be some consequence for (Iran’s) action and that defiance…and we will look at the full range of options available to the Security Council.” A week later, President Bush, when asked whether the U.S. would consider a nuclear strike to prevent Iran from developing atomic weapons, replied “all options are on the table.”

At the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, we are dismayed by this deadly pas de deux. The circumstances call to mind the Buddha’s words in a verse from the Dhammapada:

"All tremble at violence; life is dear to all. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill." (Dhammapada 130)

The Buddha’s words point directly to the practice of nonviolence. Not passivity, not avoidance, not denial, but adherence to the belief and practice that human conflicts can be resolved by means other than the threat and actuality of killing and wounding.

President Bush claims to be looking at a diplomatic solution to this crisis. But his notion of “diplomacy” means using the United Nations to pressure Iran into compliance with U.S. wishes. This stretches the meaning of diplomacy beyond recognition.

From a Buddhist perspective, we understand that all beings exist in relation to each other, that we co-create the world in which we live. This is the law of dependent origination: this is because that is, because that arises, this arises. In an interdependent world, diplomacy implies dialogue. We must take responsibility for our actions, and on that basis we talk with our opponents to arrive at a resolution of conflicts. The United States has had virtually no direct talks — nation to nation — with Iran since the fall of the Shah in 1979. Rather, there have been 26 years of threats, mutual vilification, and diplomatic isolation (with the single strange interlude of Iran-Contra, where the U.S. sold arms to Iran to raise funds for its illegal war against Nicaragua’s democratically elected government in the 1980s).

The Buddha said:

"Not by passing arbitrary judgments does a man become just; a wise man is he who investigates both right and wrong." (Dhammapada 56)

Investigating both right and wrong means looking at entangled strands of cause and effect. But the Buddhist understanding of karma is not determinism. Karma creates the opportunity for transformation. By engaging in a true dialogue, the United States has an opportunity to transform 50 years of manipulation, anger, and resentment in our relationship with Iran. The alternative—a pre-emptive attack and war with Iran, possibly involving nuclear weapons—is so wrong and potentially destructive that it must be taken off the table. Attacking Iran would invite a global war that would have no boundaries and no rules.

For the sake of peace and life, the Buddhist Peace Fellowship calls for immediate, direct negotiations and dialogue between the United States and Iran, and we urge our leaders to sit down and talk with Iran in the spirit of sincerity and determination. As citizens investigating right and wrong, we cannot sanction a pre-emptive attack on Iran. Using the life-giving creativity of nonviolent direct action we vow ourselves to intervene with U.S. leaders to prevent war with Iran, and end the pointless U.S. war in Iraq. Trapped in their fears and beliefs, our political leaders on all sides are terribly eager to lead a dance of death, but life itself is dear to all. We yearn for a dance of life.

*************
This statement and article was authored by BPF senior staff Hozan Alan Senauke.

Future January Sesshins to be shortened

2006-02-10T15:20:00.000-06:00

For the forseeable future, January sesshins will be four-day sesshins, and will begin Fri. evenings. Since so few people can commit vacation time to sesshins so early in the year, we are shortening this sesshin, but because of NW's party schedule, we will start on Fri., thus saving the quieter nights for the end of sesshin.

Meditation Benches

2005-11-06T11:13:00.000-06:00

Dear Sangha,

I would like to let you know about a small business that I have here at Windhorse Zen Community. I am a resident priest and a woodworker here, and have just started to offer meditation benches to the larger Sangha. I was amazed at the prices that people charge for benches, some as high as $130!! If your in the market for a bench, please check out my website at www.seizabench.com I can assure you that the quality is every bit as good as any bench on the market and at a reasonable price. Thank you to Sevan-sensei, an old friend of mine, for letting me post this on your blog!

Teshin Sweger
Windhorse Zen Community
Asheville, NC

Zen Center Revised Guidelines

2005-10-25T09:44:00.000-05:00

Dear Fellow Travelers,

I would like to change a few small guidelines at our Zen Center. I’m sensitive to what I call the “fishbowl effect” for residents. Having lived at the Center for three years, and having lived at the Rochester Center, I know how hard it can be to maintain privacy – imagine having twenty people hanging around your bedroom door six days a week.

When attending the Center, please note the following:

We will restrict “tea night” to Thursdays now. The evening ends earlier and there is more time. If residents don’t hang around for tea, don’t be upset – perhaps they too need to turn in earlier, or they have other plans. I’m asking the downstairs residents to close the HALL DOORS as well as their bedroom doors to ensure greater privacy. Please respect these boundaries and use the kitchen to leave.

I’m also asking people to become more sensitive to actually getting out the door in a reasonable time after sittings. Please remember that there is a resident somewhere literally waiting for you to leave so that they can do lockup and lights, even if you don’t see them.

Please be sensitive about walking into residents’ bedrooms. Make sure you are invited first.

Refrain from “dropping by” the Center off hours. If you must, ALWAYS call first so that the residents have some choice in the matter. ( Kathy and I once found a Sangha member putting something in our refrigerator upstairs at the Center – on an evening we were closed.)

These requests are not driven by any one event, and no resident has complained to me about anything specific – I can just feel that as the Center grows and changes that these adaptations could be useful.

See you soon,
Sensei

Three Jewels Order Teachers' Meeting

2005-10-14T15:48:00.000-05:00

Pictures from the meeting. Teachers are: Sevan Ross, Gerardo Gally, Sante Pooroma, Kanja Odland, Amala Wrightson, and Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.

Buddha Figure finds a New Temple

2005-10-11T18:25:00.000-05:00

by Sevan Sensei

Occasionally we get calls from people who want to donate a statue of a Buddha to the temple. In my experience these rarely turn out to be decent figures; usually they are stone or even fake stone yard figures. So when recently I got a call from Joseph Mack's nephew saying that his uncle was looking to find a home for a figure, I didn't take it seriously, but as we talked and he gave me the history, I became intrigued. I went to the Mack residence, where the figure greeted be on the front porch. Note the pictures. It is bronze, about 24" high, weighs about as much as our Vairochana Buddha figure in the Buddha Hall (a LOT!), and actually resided in a Japanese Zen temple at one time -- some documentation asserts that it is 150 years old. Also, there was a large carp (bronze, 24" also) with the figure.

It appears that Mr. Mack has in his life been quite the collector of real temple statuary and instruments (a large temple bell was in his past). All this was connected with a wonderful Japanese garden he had built at his residence in Glenview in the 1960's. He has since sold this property and doesn't have a proper place for so large a figure. Hence the call to us. I'll post an article and other background material at the Center within the next week, for anyone interested.

But I invite all our members to take in this latest great figure. Chances are that it will become the main figure used in our Buddha Hall, at least alternating with the Vairochana.

Let me express publicly our temple's and our community's deep appreciation for such a wonderful gift. From a Japanese temple to ours, Joseph Mack, thank you for keeping this figure safe so that once again it can inspire us in our spiritual work.

ZAZEN ROBE AND UNDER-ROBE OFFER

2005-08-19T12:57:00.000-05:00

I would like to offer my mother as a professional seamstress who is ready to sew robes and under-robes for CZC members and non-member as well.
My mother’s name is Czeslawa and she lives in Poland now, but she is willing to work for us.
The prices are reasonable and she has references in the Sangha.
You can find an order form at CZC and below.

Deep bow
Kasia

ITEM FABRIC COLOR PRICE
Robe -Cotton/Polyester blend
-100% Cotton Brown $115

Under-robe - Muslin
- Flannel for winter White $85

Under-robe top* - Muslin
- Linen
- Cotton White $40

Pants* - Linen
- Cotton White $35

The prices including tax and shipping

[CLICK FOR PDF ORDER FORM.]

If you have any questions call Kasia 773-744-8072 or send an e-mail to: mojra_m@yahoo.com

IN THIS MOMENT UNDER-ROBE TOPS (size large) ARE AVAILABLE IN CZC.

SPECIAL KANNON SOCIETY DONATION CARDS NOW AVAILABLE — HALLMARK, EAT YOUR HEART OUT!

2005-07-24T12:05:00.000-05:00

We now have very special hand-made cards available, featuring a print of an original image by Zoe Kaufman called "Mind of Kindness." All proceeds from the sale of these beautiful and unique cards benefit the Kannon Society of the Chicago Zen Center. These lovely cards are great for birthdays and anniversaries and other secular holidays, and to make all of your "ordinary" correspondence "extraordinary." The Kannon image (so wonderfully envisioned and expressed by Zoe) makes these cards perfect for Buddhist holidays and observances. The cards are being offered in two sizes, have complementary envelopes and are blank inside for your own message. The smaller size card is $3.50, the larger $5.00 and they are available in the "gift shop" in the living room of the Center (the book shelves closest to the door). For about the price of a Hallmark card, you can have the pleasure of sending a truly unique work of art and benefiting our Kannon Society. Be sure to take a look at these special cards the next time you're at the Center and when you make a purchase, be sure to note "Kannon Society Cards" on the envelope before putting it in the donation box.