Quick Scan - This Month's Headlines

Local Events

• BPF Cleveland meets Sept 25; holds "Inner Disarmament Workshop" in October
• CloudWater holds "Dharma dialogue" on eight-fold path and eight limbs of yoga
• Kent Zendo's Tim McCarthy holds Intro to Buddhism class on Oct. 2
• Jewel Heart holds potluck and discussion with Namgyal monastery monks on Oct. 6
• Bodhidharma Day is Oct. 5
• Cleveland Shambhala announces Training Level 2: Birth of the Warrior
• Thomas Merton disciple will speak at St. Joseph Center Oct. 14-16
• NEO Soto Zen Group plans November retreat with Reb Anderson

Local News

• Monks from Namgyal Monastery continue work on Kalachakra Mandala at Cleveland City Hall
• Jewel Heart's graduated study and practice program begins fall schedule
• CloudWater offers "Basics of Buddhism" beginning Sept. 22
• Noted Zen teacher and scholar Shohaku Okumura visits Pittsburgh in November; Cleveland in April 2006

Regional News

• Michigan Mindfulness Weekend Sept. 23-25 in Vanderbilt, MI
• Public talk on Zen in Mansfield on Oct.3
• Jewel Heart fall retreat in Garrison, NY Oct. 7-10

National News

• Dalai Lama's U.S. tour is in full swing
• Buddhist Peace Fellowship joins anti-war march on Washington D.C.Sept. 23-26

International News

• Head of Korean Chogye order dies after heart surgery

The Arts

• Cinematheque screens documentary on spirituality in the U.S. on Saturday, Oct. 29

Local Events

BPF Cleveland meets Sept 25; holds "Inner Disarmament Workshop" in October

The newly formed Cleveland Chapter of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship will hold its Sept. meeting on Sunday, Sept. 25. The Cleveland Chapter of BPF meets at a different location each month. Contact Mark McDermott for more information about the next meeting.

BPF Cleveland held its first event on Sunday, Sept. 11. More than 100 people attended the chapter's "Prayer for Peace" ecumenical remembrance event at the First Unitarian Church in Shaker Heights.

On Oct. 14-16, BPF Cleveland will welcome Joshin Robert Althouse for a weekend retreat on "Inner Disarmament." The retreat will be at the Cleveland Buddhist Temple. The Friday evening talk is open to the public; the donation is $10. The Saturday and Sunday workshops cost $175, $150 for BPF members. For moreinformation, download the event flyer (PDF, 626k) or contact Dean Williams.

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CloudWater holds "Dharma dialogue" on eight-fold path and eight limbs of yoga

CloudWater Zendo holds the fourth in its "Dharma Dialogue"series on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 7:00 pm. The class will compare the Noble Eightfold Path to the eight limbs of yoga set forth in Patanjali's yoga sutras. The Dharma Dialogue will be moderated by Ven. Shih Bao-Hua, a member of the CloudWater Zendo Senior Sangha. CloudWater Zendo is located at 14436 Puritas Ave. on Cleveland's West Side. Call 216/889-1393 or e-mail yingfa@cloudwater.org for more information.

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Kent Zendo's Tim McCarthy holds Intro to Buddhism class on Oct. 2

The Cleveland Buddhist Temple welcomes Tim McCarthy, director of the Kent Zendo, for an introductory class on Buddhism on Sunday, Oct. 2. The class will be tailored to the interests of those that attend. The program will begin with a sitting meditation at 10:00 am. Discussion will begin at 10:30 am. The Cleveland Buddhist Temple is located at 1573 E. 214th St. (corner of E. 214th St. and Euclid AVe.), Euclid, OH (Directions). For more information, contact Peter Junger.

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Jewel Heart holds potluck and discussion with Namgyal monastery monks on Oct. 6

Jewel Heart Cleveland holds a free program on the first Sunday of the month. On Sunday, Oct. 2, they will host the monks from the Namgyal monastery who are painting the sand mandala at city hall this month. There will be a potluck lunch at 12:00 pm and a discussion from 1:00 to 2:00 pm.

On Sunday, Nov. 6, Hartmut Sagolla, one of the national organization's top teachers, will speak on "Taking Refuge in Spiritual Practice." Jewel Heart Cleveland is located at 2670 W. 14th Street in the Tremont neighborhood. For more information, call 216/687-1617 or e-mail cleveland@jewelheart.org.

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Bodhidharma Day is Oct. 5

Bodhidharma was a Mahayana Buddhist monk from southern India who traveled to China to spread the Dharma. His students founded the Ch'an school of Buddhism which would eventually incorporate elements of Chinese culture, including Daoism and Confucianism. "Ch'an" is a Chinese transliteration of the Sanskrit word "Dhyana" which means meditative concentration. The Japanese transliterated the Chinese word "Ch'an" into "Zen." In the broadest terms, the Zen school places its focus firmly on the practice of sitting meditation (zazen).

Some Zen traditions observe Oct. 5 as the death anniversary of Bodhidharma. Others place the day in December. The Sotoshu Shumucho, the head of the Soto school of Zen in Japan recently published two articles articles about Bodhidharma and Soto Zen to commemorate Bodhidharma Day.

CloudWater Zendo will hold a Bodhidharma Day observance on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 7:00 pm. CloudWater Zendo is located at 14436 Puritas Ave. on Cleveland's West Side. Call 216/889-1393 or e-mail yingfa@cloudwater.org for more information.

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Cleveland Shambhala announces Training Level 2: Birth of the Warrior

Cleveland Shambhala Meditation Group will hold a weekend seminar Oct. 7-9 called Shambhala Training Level 2: Birth of the Warrior led by Richard Weiner. The course costs $125. A prerequisite is completion of Shambala Training Level 1. Discounts are available but registration is limited. CSMG meets at the Tyler Building, 3615 Superior Ave. near downtown Cleveland (Directions). For more information, contact oaktree@gwis.com.

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Thomas Merton disciple will speak at St. Joseph Center Oct. 14-16

James Finley, a clinical psychologist in private practice and former monk at the Trappist monastery of the Abbey of Gethsemane in Kentucky, will teach a weekend workshop Oct. 14-16 at the St. Joseph Center, 3430 Rocky River Dr. on the West Side of Cleveland. Finley lived six years in community with Thomas Merton. Finley is the author ofThomas Merton's Path to the Palace of Nowhere, The Contemplative Heart, and Christian Meditation and Christian Meditation: Experiencing the Presence of God. For more information, call 216 688 3487 or e-mail gsullivan@csjcleveland.org.

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NEO Soto Zen Group plans November retreat with Reb Anderson

In November, the Northeast Ohio Soto Zen Group will welcome it's teacher, Reb Anderson Tenshin Roshi, of the San Francisco Zen Center, for a three-day weekend event. The visit will include a public talk on Friday, November 11; and all-day sittings on Saturday and Sunday, November 12 and 13. For more information, download the information flyer (PDF, 136k).

Local News

Monks from Namgyal Monastery continue work on Kalachakra Mandala at Cleveland City Hall

The Cleveland Museum of Art presents Circle of Compassion: The Sand Mandala Painting of Tibet, Aug. 27 through Oct. 8, a six-week residency of three lamas from the Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca, NY ­ the North American monastery of HH Dalai Lama. During their residency the lamas will create a sacred mandala ­ spiritual design ­ by painstakingly laying millions of colorful grains of sand into the intricate design of a Kalachakra mandala. The mandala will be created in the rotunda of Cleveland’s City Hall.

The six-week residency began Saturday, Aug. 27 at 10:00 a.m. with a traditional opening ceremony. During the entire six-week project, spectators are invited to ask questions of the monks and join them during their daily meditations, held each morning at 10 a.m. On October 8, there will be a closing ceremony and the mandala will be dismantled, to be deposited in Lake Erie.

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Jewel Heart's graduated study and practice program begins fall schedule

Jewel Heart Cleveland announced its fall schedule of classes. The classes are part of a graduated study and practice program based on the teachings of Gehlek Rimpoche.

• Gateway to the Spiritual Path, eight Mondays, 7-8:30 pm, beginning Sept. 26, $80
• Deepening Awareness: The Practice of Mindfulness Meditation, eight Saturdays 10:30 am to noon beginning Oct. 1, $80
• Healing and Self Healing through White Tara, Sunday, Oct. 16, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, $40
• Odyssey to Freedom, Wednesday, 7:00-8:30 pm

Jewel Heart Cleveland is located at 2670 W. 14th Street in the Tremont neighborhood. For more information, call 216/687-1617 or e-mail cleveland@jewelheart.org.

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CloudWater offers "Basics of Buddhism" beginning Sept. 22

CloudWater Zendo will hold an eight-week course on the core teachings of Buddhism beginning Sept. 22. The text for the class will be "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Buddhism" by Gary Gach. Additional activities will include guided field trips, observing an Introduction to Ch'an class and Sunday morning services, and participating in work practice. Regular tuition is $100. CloudWater Zendo is located at 14436 Puritas Ave. on Cleveland's West Side. Call 216/889-1393 or e-mail yingfa@cloudwater.org for more information.

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Noted Zen teacher and scholar Shohaku Okumura visits Pittsburgh in November; Cleveland in April 2006

The Pittsburgh-based Stillpoint Zen Community will host noted Soto Zen teacher Shohaku Okumura Roshi for a three-day sesshin November 18-20. For more information, contact Stillpoint's Don Orr, voice: 412/366-4268.

Okumura Roshi founded the Sanshin Zen Community and currently resides with his family in Bloomington, IN. He has translated many important Zen texts from Japanese into English, most recently Dogen's Extensive Record : A Translation of the Eihei Koroku with Taigen Dan Leighton.

Okumura Roshi will also visit Cleveland for a weekend event April 14-16, 2006. For more information on that event, e-mail lbrakeman@cox.net.

Regional News

Michigan Mindfulness Weekend Sept. 23-25 in Vanderbilt, MI

The Blue Water Community of Mindful Living from Port Huron, MI and Sarnia, Ontario issued a general invitation to its annual Michigan Mindfulness Weekend Sept. 23-25 at Song of the Morning Meditation and Retreat Center in Vanderbilt, MI about a half hour drive from Detroit.

"We practice in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese Buddhist teacher. However, it is not necessary to have any particular religious affiliation to join with us. We welcome everyone who wants to practice sitting and walking meditation in a friendly, supportive atmosphere."

The retreat will begin with dinner on Friday at 5:00 pm, followed by a get acquainted and planning session at 7:00 pm. The cost for the weekend, including lodging and meals is just $75. Private rooms will be a bit higher and camping a bit less. To register or for further information please email Sam Ewalt, or call 810/679-4625.

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Public talk on Zen in Mansfield on Oct.3

Dean Williams of Jijuyu-ji Zen Group will give a public talk on Monday, Oct. 3 at the Main Branch of the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library. Hispresentation is called "You're It: The Practice Of Zen Meditation." The talk is sponsored by the Mansfield Zen Sangha.

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Jewel Heart fall retreat in Garrison, NY Oct. 7-10

Jewel Heart (parent of Jewel Heart Cleveland) holds its fall retreat Oct. 7-10 at the Garrison Institute in Garrison, NY. Gehlek Rimpoche will lead the retreat on "Song of the Four Mindfulnesses." The Garrison Institute is a former Christian monastery overlooking the Hudson River. The retreat costs between $300 - $450 depending on the type of accommodation chosen. You can download the retreat brochure with complete details and a registration form from the Jewel Heart home page.

National News

Buddhist Peace Fellowship joins anti-war march on Washington D.C.Sept. 23-26

The Buddhist Peace Fellowship is organizing a "Buddhist Peace Delegation" to join the anti-war demonstration planned for Washington D.C. Sept. 23-26.

"This will be a major mobilization calling for an end the war in Iraq, bringing the troops home, and reparations to Iraqis -- hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come."

Visit BPF's Web site for specifics about the events planned and how to join the BPF Peace Delegation.

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Dalai Lama's U.S. tour is in full swing

HH The Dalai Lama's extensive U.S. tour is well underway. The published schedule is below. Check out the latest headlines from Google News.

International News

Head of Korean Chogye order dies after heart surgery

Ven. Beopjang, 64, head of the Korean Chogye (Jogye) Order, died on Sept. 11 from complications after heart surgery on Sept. 5. He had been a monk for 45 years. He became the 31st president of the Chogye Order in March 2003. The Chogye Order is the largest Buddhist order in South Korea. Rather than a traditional cremation, Ven,. Beopjang requested his body be donated to science.

Related stories:

"Body of Chogye Order Leader Donated for Research," Korea Times,Sept.13, 2005.

mage: "Monks and representatives of Korean Buddhist organizations line up to pay their respects to the late Rev. Bub Jang.", Korea Times, Sept. 15, 2005

The Arts

Cinematheque screens documentary on spirituality in the U.S. on Saturday, Oct. 29

The Cleveland Cinematheque will screen the documentary "One," by Michigan filmmakers Scott Carter and Ward M. Powers on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 8:00 pm. the filmmakers crossed the country with a digital video camera to ask people questions like: What happens to you after you die? Why is there poverty and suffering in the world? What does God look like? Includes interviews with Deepak Chopra, Ram Dass, Robert Thurman and others. Ward Powers will attend and answer audience questions after the screening. Admission is $10, $7 for Cinematheque members.