Quick Scan - This Month's Headlines

Local Events

Cinematheque presents "How to Cook Your Life" Feb. 29 and March 1

The Cleveland Cinematheque will show a new movie about Zen priest, vegetarian chef and cookbook author, Edward Espe Brown, called "How to Cook Your Life," Friday, Feb. 29 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, March 1 at 5:30 PM. The director, Doris Dörrie, also directed "Enlightenment Guaranteed." View the trailer and read the New York Times review.

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CWRU offers free lecture by David R. Loy March 5

"Getting Beyond Good vs. Evil: A Buddhist reflection on the new holy war." is David Loy's subject for his free lecture, Wednesday, March 5, 4:15 pm at CWRU's Clark Hall, Room 206, 11130 Bellflower Road. Loy is a professor of ethics, religion and society at Xaviar University in Cincinnati, and a member of the new Buddhist Peace Fellowship chapter there. His talk is sponsored by the Asian Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences. For more information, visit the program's event's calendar.

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Cleveland Zen Group welcomes Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede March 14-16

The Cleveland Zen Group, an affiliate of the Rochester Zen Center, will host the center's spiritual leader, Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede the weekend of March 14. Roshi Kjolhede is the dharma heir of Philip Kapleau Roshi, author of the influential Three Pillars of Zen. Roshi Kjolhede schedule:

• Friday, March 14, 7:30-9:00 pm, free public talk: "Politics, Suffering and Zen," Unitarian Universalist Society, Lancashire Road, Cleveland Heights.

• Saturday, March 15, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, all-day sitting, 1824 Wilton Road, Cleveland Heights (registration required). Fee: $50 (includes vegetarian lunch and snack)

• Sunday, March 16, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, zazen with teisho (dharma lecture) by Roshi Kholhede, followed by brunch (e-mail rsvp required).

The Cleveland Zen Group meets for zazen every Tuesday evening and two Sundays a month at a member's home in Cleveland Heights. For more information visit their Web site or e-mail Susan Rakow

BPF Cleveland plans Iraq War anniversary observance

The Cleveland Chapter of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship will hold an hour of silent meditation to observe the fifth anniversary of the Iraq War on Wednesday, March 19 at the WestShore Unitarian Church, 20401 Hilliard Blvd. in Rocky River (directions).

The observance will be in the church's beautiful Fireside Room. Periods of sitting meditation will alternate with walking meditation. The observance will close with the recitation of the Metta Sutra, followed by light refreshments.

Doors open at 6:30 pm. Meditation begins at 7:00 pm. For more information, contact Lynne Brakeman, 216 521 4239.

The Cleveland chapter of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship is affiliated with the international Buddhist Peace Fellowship headquartered in San Francisco. The group meets monthly at members' homes and sponsors activities throughout the year aimed at carrying the organization's message of socially engaged Buddhism.

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Insight Meditation welcomes Amita Schmidt, March 28-30

Insight Meditation of Cleveland will sponsor a three-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat at the Cedar Hills Conference Center in Painesville, March 28-30. Amita Schmidt will lead the group in alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation.

Schmidt was a resident teacher at the Barre, Mass. headquarters of the Insight Meditation Society from 2000 to 2006. She is an author and co-founded a Buddhist community and retreat center in New Mexico.

The retreat fee is $150 which includes meals and accommodations. A limited scholarship fund is available. Registration deadline: March 11, payment due in full. You can download the registration form at the IM-Cleveland Web site. For more information, contact Susan Cyphers.

Insight Meditation of Cleveland meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7:00 pm at the First Unitarian Church of Cleveland, 21600 Shaker Blvd, Shaker Heights. On the first and third Tuesdays of each month, IM's Brecksville Sangha meets at the Brecksville Library at 7:00 pm.

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Jewel Heart Cleveland welcomes Gelek Rimpoche April 30

Gelek Rimpoche, founder and spiritual leader of Jewel Heart will visit Cleveland on Wednesday, April 30 from 7:00-9:00 pm. In a follow up to HH the Dalai Lama's presentation in Ann Arbor (see Regional News, below), Gelek Rimpoche will speak on "Engaging Wisdom and Compassion." Fee: Donation

.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.

Local News

CloudWater Zendo plans busy March schedule

CloudWater Zendo announced several upcoming events and classes:

• Meditation Intensive, Saturday, March 1, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.; and Sunday, March 2, 8:30 am ot 3:30 pm. Fee: Suggested donation $10.

• Visualization Class, Module 2, March 6, 13 and 20, 7:00 pm. No fee.
  

• Zen and the Martial Arts, Satuday, March 8, 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. Fee: Donation.
  

• The Buddhist Cafe, Wednesday, March 19, 7:00 pm. The group will discuss Start Where You Are by Pema Chodron.
  

• Basics of Buddhism, Saturdays, March 22, 29, April 5, 12, 19, 28, May 3, 10. Fee: Tuition for students wishing to take the Five Lay Precepts at the end of the course: $80. Others: $100. The tuition includes cost of textbook: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Buddhism. For students who wish to take the five lay Buddhist precepts after the series, a ceremony will be held on Tuesday, May 13, 7:00 pm. The course will cover core Buddhist teachings and the evolution of Buddhism from ancient India to modern times. Deadline to register: March 19.

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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Ani Palmo offers meditation classes in multiple locations

Buddhist nun Ani Palmo, who has trained in both the Theravada and Vajryana traditions, offers a wide variety of classes at venues on both the East and West Sides of town. Check out her upcoming class schedule.

She will also give a public talk at Delphic Books in Coventry on March 16, 5-7 pm, entitled "Healing Ego: Methods for curing the self-centric heart." Fee: Donation.

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Jewel Heart Cleveland announces Spring class schedule

Jewel Heart Cleveland announced several ongoing classes and one new one for its current session:

• Deepening Awareness, 8 Sundays beginning March 16, 1:00-2:30 pm. Bill Kirchner will lead this course based on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. Open to all. Fee: $80 for nonmembers.

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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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. Currently, the group is finishing up Being Upright: Zen Meditation and the Buddhist Precepts by Tenshin Reb Anderson Roshi.

The next study dates are Saturday, March 8, April 12, May 10 and June 14. E-mail lbrakeman@cox.net for details and directions. Everyone is welcome and anyone who wants to join the study group can help the group identify its next study book.

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NEO Soto Zen Group-East moves sittings to Saturday mornings

The Northeast Ohio Soto Zen Group's sittings on the East Side at Evolution Yoga in Beachwood have moved to Saturday mornings at 9:15 am. Instruction for beginners at 9:00 am. For more information, contact Rannigan Walsh.

NEO SZG-West continues to hold zazen every Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm at West Shore Unitarian Church in Rocky River. Contact Lynne Brakeman for more information.

The Northeast Ohio Soto Zen Group is an affiliate of the San Francisco Zen Center and practices under the guidance of Senior Dharma Teacher Tenshin Reb Anderson Roshi.

One-day Michigan Mindfulness Retreat on the shores of Lake Huron

The Bluewater Community of Mindful Living will hold a one-day meditation retreat, Saturday, March 1, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Lake Huron Retreat Center. in Lakeport, Mich. Activities will include sitting and walking meditation, stretching, guided meditation, silent potluck lunch and free time. Beginners are welcome; instruction will be provided. Suggested donation: $5 to $10. For more information, contact Mary Basrai, 810/982-4597.

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Yellow Springs Dharma Center Spring Sesshin will be April 18-25

The Yellow Springs Dharma Center will hold its Spring Sesshin with Daniel Terragno Roshi April 18-25 at the Grailville Retreat Center in Southwestern Ohio. Attendees can choose either the full week or weekend option. Fee: $460 for the full week; $240 for the weekendFriday, April 18 to Sunday, April 20. Fees cover vegetarian meals, facility rental and travel arrangements for the teacher. In keeping with the Buddhist tradition of "dana," the fees do not include compensation for the teacher. At the end of the sesshin, attendees will have an opportunity to make a donation to Terragno Roshi.

Daniel Terragno is a teacher in the koan tradition of the Diamond Sangha, which was founded by Robert Aitken Roshi. Terragno is the dharma heir of John Tarrant Roshi of the Pacific Zen Institute. Daniel started his spiritual practice in 1967 studying the Gurdjieff Work with W.A. Nyland before taking up Zen. Daniel received authorization to teach Zen in 1995, and in 2001 received dharma transmission from Tarrant Roshi.

For more information about this retreat, contact Donna Denman, (937) 767-7877. The Yellow Springs Dharma Center is a Buddhist meditation center supporting practice in the three traditions of Vipassana, Zen, and Tibetan Buddhism. The center is located at 502 Livermore Street, Yellow Springs, Ohio. Call (937) 767-9919 for more information.

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HH The Dalai Lama visits Jewel Heart Ann Arbor in April

April 19-20, Jewel Heart, the Tibet Fund and the Garrison Institute will host His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet in Ann Arbor.On Saturday, April 19 and Sunday morning, April 20, HH will lecture on Nagarjuna Commentary on Ultimate Compassion and Je Tsong Khapa's In Praise of Dependent Origination. On the afternoon of April 20, HH will deliver a lecture on sustainability. For more information about free tickets, visit www.dalailamaannarbor.com.

Jewel Heart Cleveland is organizing car pooling to Ann Arbor for this event. E-mail cleveland@jewelheart.org with contact information and travel plans by March 20.Other upcoming Jewel Heart (Ann Arbor) events:

• Memorial Weekend Retreat: "Inner World of Mind," Friday, May 23 to Monday, May 26, Garrison Institute, Garrison, N.Y.


• Summer Retreat: "Compassion in Action," Friday, June 26 to Sunday, July 6, Jewel Heart Ann Arbor


• Fall Retreat, Friday, October 10 to Monday, October 13, Garrison Institute, Garrison, N.Y

For more information, visit www.jewelheart.org.

Beijing's hand-picked Panchen Lama to enter politics

AsiaNews.com reports that the Communist-picked Panchen Lama soon may become a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, a rank equivalent to that of cabinet minister. At 18, he would become the youngest Chinese leader ever appointed. The young Panchen Lama picked by HH The Dalai Lama in 1995 remains in Chinese custody. The National People's Congress opens March 5. Read the full story...See also:

• "Panchen Lama to become youngest China minister - sources," Reuters, February 13, 2008.


• "Tibet's missing spiritual guide," BBC World News, May 16, 2005.

Pop Culture

NEO Buddhist News editor joins social networking craze

Yes, dear readers, I'm finally branching out into audio and video and all that good stuff. My YouTube "handle" is JidenLynne. Check out my playlist of Buddhist YouTube videos. Are you on YouTube? "Friend" me!

NetFlix has turned out to be a treasure trove of hard-to-find videos about just about anything. I'm also JidenLynne there, and have created a "Top Ten" list of Buddhist movies. If you're on Netflix, we could "friend" each other there too. It's sometimes very interesting to see what's in someone else's queue!

Finally, I'm also JidenLynne on MySpace. I'm not doing too much on that site (it's not very user friendly to manipulate). But I'm up for finding some friends there too.

—Lynne B.

Northeast Ohio Buddhist News, Copyright 2008 Lynne Brakeman, All Rights Reserved.
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