Welcome
Every Wednesday
Weekly Meditation Services (WMS) are on Wednesday evenings. They begin at 6 PM with a discussion or talk (see below for this month’s discussion topics). At about 7 PM there is a meditation service followed at 8 PM by a potluck dinner. All of Wednesday evening’s events are open to the public. There is no fee and reservations are not required.
October Wednesday Meditations and Discussions
4 Buddhist Poetry – poetry has been a feature of the Buddha dharma from the beginning of our tradition. Buddhist have used poetry to elucidate and celebrate the Dharma. We will examine early poetry through the millennia, to contemporary works.
11 Koshi Aaron Proffitt guest lecture – “Genshin” – (942-1017) was an important Tendai Buddhist scholar-monk and systematizer of Japanese Pure Land Buddhist thought. We will explore Genshin’s comprehensive approach to the diversity of Pure Land thought to better understand Tendai Buddhist practices.
18 Buddhists as the Oppressor The Myanmar (Burmese) Army, as well as Buddhist monks, are persecuting Muslims and Hindu Rohingyas in the Rakhine State. It is time to consider what this means for us as Buddhists, and how we should respond.
25 The Multiverse and You.- This discussion is taken from chapter eight of Brook Ziporyn’s book, Emptiness and Omnipresence: An Essential Introduction to Tiantai Buddhism. Indiana University Press (2016).
Other Events in October:
6 -8 Bodhisattva Retreat – A week-end for Sodai, temple leaders, and those who desire to put their practice to the service of others. The practices and discussions are appropriate to practitioners who have been involved with their sangha and wish to enhance their participation. We will begin Friday evening at 7:30 and finish about 1 PM on Sunday. Please reserve a spot early by contacting Shumon or your sangha leader.
8 Segaki Ceremony – 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – (feeding the hungry ghosts) will be included at the end of the Bodhisattva retreat. The segaki began as a way for Maudgalyayna, on instruction of his master, the Sakyamuni Buddha, to free his mother from the realm of the gaki or hungry ghosts. Our ceremony lasts about 30 minutes and is performed in memory of our loved ones who are deceased. Everyone is welcome to attend. Bring a food item that your loved one was fond of to be part of the ceremony. A pot-luck lunch will follow the ceremony
9 Fear of the Other – A conference lead by Monshin and John Amidon. Join us on Monday, 1 to 6 PM, at the Madison Theater. Speakers, workshops, poetry and song, to keep our country free and to challenge Xenophobia, Racism and Islamophobia, and other societal problems. Complete conference information @ www.madisontheater.com or call John at 518.312.6442. Suggested donation $10. Scholarships available if needed. This is sponsored by Tierra Farm, The Madison Theater, and The Interfaith Alliance of New York.
14 Sutra Class and Morning Service, 8:30 – 10:30 AM – The Maha Prajna Paramita Hridaya Sutra (Heart Sutra) is the most often chanted, cited and best known sutras in the Mahayana canon. We will read and discuss two different translations and commentaries (Mu Soeng’s and Red Pine’s) as a set throughout the classes.
30 Religion as the Conscience of the Nation. Where is the conscience of the nation in 2017? Can religion be that toolbox that addresses the role and responsibilities of a nation and speak to justice, equality and balance in a society? This is a panel discussion including; Rabbi David Eligberg, Imam Djafer Sebkhaoui, Bishop Emeritus Howard Hubbard, and Rev. Monshin Naamon. Dr. Aaron Proffitt, will moderate.
Food Pantry at Jiunzan Tendai-ji – The need is ongoing and does not diminish in the summer. Please bring non-perishable food items to the Tendai Buddhist Institute on Wednesday’s. We contribute these items to the Chatham Silent Food Pantry.
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Jushokus’ Thoughts
The Rohingya are an ethnic minority that has been described as the most persecuted in the world. Predominantly Muslim, there are some Hindus, who also live in the Rakhine State of Myanmar (Burma). The population numbers approximately 1.1 million. At the time Burma received independence from Great Britain in 1948 these people were granted full citizenship with all the rights and privileges for education, employment etc. that one might expect.
However, after the 1962 military coup these rights were rescinded and all the Rohingya were given foreign identity cards. As a result of the law, their rights to study, work, travel, marry, practice their religion and access health services have been and continue to be restricted. The Muslim Rohingya have been in this part of Burma since the 12th century.
Since the 1970s Rohingya have fled their country to Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian countries. The UN estimates that there are over 400,000 refugees, and approximately 120,000 internally displaced people from the Rakhine State.
In the words of Al Jazeera: "State Chancellor Aung San Suu Kyi, who is the de facto leader of Myanmar, has refused to really discuss the plight of the Rohingya.
Aung San Suu Kyi and her government do not recognise the Rohingya as an ethnic group and have blamed violence in Rakhine, and subsequent military crackdowns, on those they call "terrorists".
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate does not have control over the military but has been criticised for her failure to condemn indiscriminate force used by troops, as well as to stand up for the rights of the more than one million Rohingya in Myanmar."
We might view this as another human tragedy unfolding, perhaps assist where we can and lament the inhumanity of the world we live in. However, we as Buddhists hold a very special responsibility for this catastrophe. Myanmar is a Buddhist state, and the persecution, while primarily led by the military leaders, is also promulgated by Buddhist monks and leaders within the Buddhist community, who do the bidding for the military.
Further, this issue is close to home, a number of the Rohingya refugees have been relocated to the Capital District. Djafer Sebkhaoui, Imam of the Al Hidaya mosque, reports that many of these refugees are members of his religious community. I suspect, though I have not spoken with other Imam, that all the mosques have refugees in their congregations.
In the next several weeks I will be speaking with Imam at all the mosques to determine how we as a Buddhist Sangha might best assist them in meeting the needs of these displaced people who are suffering at the hands of fellow Buddhists. We cannot stand idly by. I trust there are those in our Sangha who will assist me in extending compassion and assistance to these unjustly persecuted people escaping from Buddhist oppression.
During the discussion on October 18th we will be addressing this issue and exploring ways in which we might mitigate the suffering of our fellow human beings, who are oppressed by Buddhist intolerance. Join us for this very important conversation.
Love and Gassho... Monshin
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