Jiunzan Tendaiji
August Events
3 The Foundations of Peace
10 Integration of Sacred and Secular
17 Mikkyo’s (esoteric practices) place in Buddhism
24 Sangha as Community
28 Mahasangha Sunday 11:00 AM – Meditation Service and Potluck Lunch
31 Interfaith Prayers for Peace at Darrow School – Join us! There will be no Meditation Service at Jiunzan Tendaiji.
Mahasangha News
There will be a refuge ceremony (jukai) coming up in October for those who are interested in making a commitment to following the Buddha path. We will have a one-day retreat that is required for all those interested in taking refuge this autumn. Let the leaders of your sangha know if you are interested in taking refuge at this time.
We are initiating the Mahasangha Day in August, which will be a monthly event to provide members of all the area sanghas, as well as other interested people, an opportunity to participate in regular meditation at Jiunzan Tendaiji. The meditation will be followed by a potluck lunch. Many who find it difficult to attend on Wednesday evenings have expressed interest in a regular weekend meditation period. We are looking for the time that is best for everyone. In August we will hold the first Mahasangha Day Meditation on the 28th at 11 a.m. Is earlier or later in the day better? Let us know.
With our new facility comes new opportunity and new responsibility. This is a great chance to be more involved in the activities that will be taking place at the Tendai Buddhist Institute. Especially important is keeping our web site up to date, and putting new material on the site. This does not require technical expertise as much of it is writing and editing. Let us know if you can take on some of this work.
This summer’s ten-day gyo was completed late this year due to the timing of the Rakkei-shiki. Two people, Koyo Susan Spang and Sansho Tamarck Garlow, took Doshu ordination. Thank you to all the sangha. You contribute a great deal to the flourishing of Tendai Buddhism in the West by supporting this important work of training the leaders.
On Friday, August 5, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Chatham Peace Initiative will hold an educational/cultural event in memory of those who died in the bombings of Hiroshima on August 5, 1945 and of and Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. The community is invited to join in the making of origami peace cranes under a tent on the Village Green. The cranes have become an international symbol of peace. Expert origami makers will be there to teach others. Adults and children alike are welcome. At 3 p.m. there will be a reading from the story of Sadako and the Thousand Cranes. At 7 p.m. the day will end with a moment of silence and a closing ceremony led by the Ven. Monshin Naamon of the Karuna Tendai Dharma Center in Canaan. Throughout the day strings of peace cranes will be taken to shops and establishments in the village who wish to participate by hanging them in their windows. Participants are also welcome to take cranes home or share them with their friends and family. For information about the Chatham Peace Initiative check www.chathampeace.org
The Grafton Peace Pagoda will sponsor the Hibakusha Peace Project on Friday, August 12, 7:30 p.m., and an Interfaith Prayer Service at 8:15 p.m. An Interfaith Pilgrimage for Peace will be held the following day, Saturday, August 13, at 9 a.m., beginning at National Lead Industry, 1116 Central Avenue, Albany, and walking to Knolls Atomic Lab, a total of about 13 3/4 miles.