Quick Scan - This Month's Headlines

Local Events

CBT holds delicious fund raiser March 25 and 26
The Cleveland Buddhist Temple will hold a carry-out Japanese food sale on Saturday, March 25 from 1:00 to 6:00 pm and Sunday, March 26 from 12:00 to 4:00 pm. The menu includes chickenteriyaki, pork chow mein, vegetarian chow mein, fruit salad and fruit and seafood salad. Although the food will be packaged for carry out, the upstairs hondo will be set up for self-service picnic dining. Tea and soft drinks will be available. 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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Buddhist Peace Fellowship meets Sunday, March 26
The Cleveland Chapter of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship holds its monthly meeting on Sunday, March 26. BPF Cleveland holds its meetings at members homes on alternate sides of town. It welcomes people of all faith traditions who are interested in supporting its mission to serve as a cataylst and agent for socially engaged Buddhism. Contact Mark McDermott for time and location.

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Dr. Rita Gross visits Cleveland Shambhala March 31 to April 2
The Cleveland Shambhala Meditation Group offers "The Sadhana of Mahamudra" led by Dr. Rita Gross Friday, March 31 through Sunday, April 2. The Sadhana of Mahamudra is a short liturgy practiced by the Shambhala community on the new and full moon days of the lunar calendar. Dr. Gross is a professor of religion emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She is the author of Buddhism after Patriarchy and a senior Shambhala teacher. This class is open to all, however it is recommended that students have some familiarity with the basic view and forms of Tibetan Buddhism. The fee is $125. Students will also need to purchase a $20 workbook. Some work study or discounts are available. Register online or contact the program coordinator Gordon Burgess. CSMG meets at the Tyler Building, 3615 Superior Ave. near downtown Cleveland (Directions).

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Intro to Buddhism Class at CBT Sunday, April 2
Kent Zendo's Tim McCarthy will lead a free Introduction to Buddhism class at the Cleveland Buddhist Temple Sunday April 2. There will be meditation starting at 10:00 a.m., the program will begin at 10:30 am and will be followed by light refreshments in the Temple's social hall. 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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CloudWater program on "Buddhism and Gay Culture" Sunday, April 9
CloudWater Zendo's Miso Soup for the Soul series continues with "Buddhism and Gay Culture" on Sunday, April 9 at 6:30 pm. Ven. Shih Ying-Fa, Abbot of CloudWater Zendo, will examine the Buddhist view of same-sex relationships. An informal discussion will follow the presentation. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. Looking ahead, CloudWater will hold its annual Animal Release Service on Sunday, May 21 at Edgewater State Park. 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 offers Training Level IV April 21-23
April 21-23, Cleveland Shambhala Meditation Group will offer a three-day Shambhala Training Level IV: Awakened Heart led by Director Madeline Conacher, a founding member of Shambhala. Attendees must have completed Shambhala Training Level III. The event begins Friday, April 21 at 7:30 pm and continues Saturday and Sunday 8:30 am to 6:00 pm. The fee is $125, though some discounts are available. CSMG meets at the Tyler Building, 3615 Superior Ave. near downtown Cleveland (Directions). For more information, contact Fred Schwieg, CSMG Coordinator, voice: 440/331-3581.

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Buddhist Peace Fellowship Cleveland plans Change Your Mind Day June 3
The Cleveland Chapter of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship is organizing a Change Your Mind Day (CYMD) observance the afternoon of Saturday, June 3 (location TBA). CYMD is an international event promoted by Tricycle magazine.The free event focuses on the teaching of Buddhist meditation, and will include teachings from at least three Buddhist tradition. If your group would like to get involved, contact Dean Williams.

Local News

Buddhist Precepts Study Group continues in Lakewood
One Saturday a month from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, Lynne Brakeman will host a study group on the Buddhist Precepts This year we are reading from Being Upright: Zen Meditation and the Buddhist Precepts by Tenshin Reb Anderson Roshi. The next study dates are April 8 and May 13. The class will usually be on the second Saturday of each month. E-mail lbrakeman@cox.net for details and directions.

Regional News

Jewel Heart's Gehlek Rimpoche will lead a series of classes on Shantideva's Boddhisattva's Way of Life
In 2006, Jewel Heart Ann Arbor will welcome its spiritual leader, Gehlek Rimpoche, for a series of all day Saturday classes on Shantideva's classic Bodhicaryavatara. The classes will cover Chapter IX: Affection of Wisdom. Class will be from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on seven Saturdays: January 28, March 25, April 8, June 3, July 29, September 30 and October 21. The cost per class is $40 for nonmembers, $20 for members. Jewel Heart Ann Arbor is located at 207 East Washington St. (Directions). For more information, e-mail: programming@jewelheart.org

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Columbus Zen announces 2006 sesshins with Daniel Terragno
Columbus Zen announced dates for two week-long sesshins with Daniel Terragno. The spring sesshin is Friday, March 31 through Friday, April 7. The fall sesshin will be Tuesday, Nov. 7 through Sunday, Nov. 12. Daniel Terragno is the Dharma heir of John Tarrant Roshi of the Pacific Zen Institute. Terragno started his spiritual practice in 1967 studying the Gurdjieff Work with W.A. Nyland before taking up Zen. Terragno received authorization to teach Zen in 1995, and in 2001 received Dharma transmission from Tarrant Roshi. Unless otherwise noted, Zen Columbus activities take place at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, Room 8, 93 W. Weisheimer, Columbus, OH (Directions). For more information, e-mail: flemingms@hotmail.com,

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Chicago: Contemplative Garden Design workshop offered in May
On Saturday, May 13, the Zen Community of Oak Park (near Chicago) offers a workshop on Contemplative Garden Design with Martin Hakubai Mosko and Alxe Noden, co-authors of Landscape as Spirit - Creating a Contemplative Garden (Weatherhill, 2003). The eight-hour workshop will give participants the opportunity to design for an actual space at the community's property, then compare designs with Mosko and Noden. The cost is $175. Call 708/445-1651 for more information.

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Tenshin Reb Anderson Roshi returns for a six-day sesshin in Pittsburgh in June
The Northeast Ohio Soto Zen Group and Pittsburgh Stillpoint Sangha are collaborating to welcome back Tenshin Reb Anderson Roshi for a Soto Zen sesshin retreat, June 16-21 at the Franciscan Spirit and Life Center in Pittsburgh. On June 16 at 7:00 pm, Tenshin Anderson will give a public talk. Space for the sesshin is limited. Registration details are available on the NEOSZG Web site. Contact Mark Kasunic (voice: 412/741-2229) to be added to the announcement list.

National News

Buddhist Peace Fellowship holds international gathering in Garrison, NY, June 22-25
Registration is now open for the Buddhist Peace Fellowship's international Membership Gathering June 22-25 at the Garrison Institute in Garrison, NY. The group's intention is to offer an opportunity to network and build its socially engaged Buddhist sangha in a family- and children-friendly environment. Speakers and workshop leaders will include (tentatively):

• Robert Thurman
• Joshin Althouse
• Michael Callahan
• Maia Duerr
• Alan Senauke

Workshops will cover:

• Issue areas: prison dharma, engaging with and transforming racism and other institutionalized oppressions, militarism
• “Inner Disarmament,” facilitation skills, creating create a dharma-based social change campaign, more
• Best practices and strategies for BPF chapter outreach
• How to create a dharma-based fundraising strategy for BPF chapter

The retreat is limited to 200 people. Visit the BPF Membership Gathering page for registration details and fee.

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Dalai Lama plans visit to Buffalo, NY next September
The University of Buffalo announced that HH The Dalai Lama will speak on Friday, Sept. 21, 2006 at the University's stadium as part of its Distinguished Speakers Series. You can sign up to receive information about ticketing and related events when it is available.

International News

China holds international forum on Buddhism April 13-17
Reuters reports that China's government-sponsored Buddhist Association is holding an international forum on Buddhism April 13-17 ("China set to hold Buddhist forum," Reuters via Washington Post, March 17, 2006). The government announced around 1,000 monks and experts from 10 countries, China and Hong Kong will gather in Hangzhou in the eastern province of Zhejiang. On April 15, the forum will move to nearby Zhoushan, where delegates will pray for world peace. The event is part of the government's campaign to build a "harmonious society." However the exiled Dalai Lama and the Karmapa Lama, the first and third most important Tibetan Buddhist leaders were not invited. Reuteres reporter Benjamin Kang Lim writes it is not yet clear whether the Beijing-sanctioned Panchen Lama would attend. Reuters reported the forum's theme on its brochures is: "A harmonious world begins in the mind." The Chinese government estimates there are around 100 million Buddhists in China.

Related story: "China's prosperity inspires rising spirituality," Christian Science Monitor, March 9, 2006.