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Greetings!
Many years ago when we were starting the Zen Center of
Hawaii, I learned about Sarvodaya from Bernie
Glassman Roshi and Joanna Macy. This movement,
founded by Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, grew out of grass roots
service at the local level. Sarvodaya means "the
awakening of all".
Sarvodaya is a widely respected movement. As a
model for development, it is compelling for many
reasons. They use Buddhist teachings and slogans to
help organize villagers. Instead
of throwing money at problems or assuming they know
what the problems are, they begin by going out into
the village and listening to the people. Once they have
learned what the people need, they serve as
facilitators to help empower the villagers to organize
themselves to solve their own problems.
Here are some of their slogans and saying from
organizers:
"Don't do for the child
what he can do for himself. Don't over-help. That way he
can find his swashakti (own power)."
"You say you have waited two years for the government
to clean that canal. You can keep on waiting, while your
fields bake. But where is your own power? You won't find
it sitting around till the government does it for you. Your
power is not in Colombo; it is in you, in your heads and
hands.
"We build the road and the road builds us." "The road we
build may wash away, but the attitudes we build do not."
Over the years, in spite of many obstacles such as a
raging civil war between the Tamals and the
Buddhists
in Sri Lanka, they have continued doing good work at
all levels of their society. So I am deeply honored and
grateful
that this month we have the opportunity to host Dr.
Charika Marasinge who grew up in the Sarvodaya
movement and who's life reflects this complete
dedication and service in the work she does to
protect and advocate for childrens' rights.
We are also fortunate to host my dharma sister, Rev.
Joan Hogetsu Hoeberichts, Sensei at the same time.
Both she
and Dr. Marasinge are receiving an Engaged
Buddhism Award at the Midwest Buddhist Women's
Conference here in Chicago for their work in Sri
Lanka. In a time when we as Americans often feel
discouraged and cynical, these two extra-ordinary
individuals can inspire us to renew our active
participation in our communities and our world. Please
join us for these events, and give
generously to support their work.
in gassho with respect and gratitude, Joshin Sensei
| Dharma Talk by Sensei Joan Hoeberichts, Sunday, March 9th |
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Sensei Joan Hogetsu Hoeberichts will give a dharma talk
on her work in Sri Lanka at the Zen Community of Oak
Park, on Sunday, March 9th at 9:00 am.
Following the tsunami earthquake of 2004, Sensei
Hoeberichts and Dr. Charika Marasinge started the Sri
Lankan-based Psycho-Spiritual Healing program. The
work involves senior American therapists training a
team of Sri Lankan counselors to conduct grief and
trauma counseling with emphasis on the spiritual
aspects of healing.
Sensei Hoeberichts is a full time psychotherapist with
a private practice in Manhattan and Montclair, New
York. She has a BA from Cornell, an MBA from NYU
and an MSW from Fordham University. She received
post-graduate certifications in Pastoral Psychotherapy
and Marriage and Family Therapy from Blanton-Peale
Graduate Institute.
Sensei Hoeberichts is an ordained Zen Buddhist Priest,
and a Zen teacher in the White Plum Lineage. She is a
dharma successor of Roshi Nicolee McMahon, and the
Abbot of Heart Circle Sangha in New Jersey.
All dana collected will go towards supporting her work in
Sri Lanka.
To find out more about her work, visit:
http://www.heartcirclesangha.org/sections/tsunamiproject
.htm
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| Buddhist Women's Conference: Saturday, March 8th |
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Dr. Charika Marasinge and Rev. Joan Hogetsu
Hoeberichts, are co-recipients of the 2008 Award for
Women in Engaged Buddhism for their collaboration
to develop counseling for treatment of grief and
trauma. Together they will receive this award at the
"Women Being the Dharma" Conference in Chicago
on Saturday, March 8th.
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| Children's Dharma Class, Sun., March 9th |
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The Children's Dharma Class will take place on Sunday,
Feb. 17 from 9:00 am to 10:45 am. The
class is taught by Susanne Fairfax and Rev. June
Ryushin
Tanoue.
The class includes stories, some simple meditation and
mindfulness exercises, singing, hula and
more. The class is open to all ages. Cost is $15 per
child
Call 708.445.1651 or email kaili@zencommunity.org to
register your child.
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| Entering the Way Beginning Meditation class, Sun. March 9th |
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There will be a beginning meditation class at the Zen
Community of Oak Park on Sunday, March 9th,
beginning at 8:00 am. Instructions on how to meditate will
include postures, breathe, and working with the mind.
Cost: $25
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| Weekly Sunday and Saturday Programs |
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Every week the Zen Community offers Sunday and
Saturday programs. The Sunday programs are from 9:00
am until 11:00 am. They include a period of meditation, a
service and a Dharma Talk. They are followed by tea and
fellowship in the sangha room.
The Saturday Interfaith Program is held every
Saturday
from 10 am until 12 noon. Each program involves a
meditation followed by a presentation and discussion.
For the month of March the programs are as follow:
3/1: Sky Mountain will present a text from Trungpa
Rinpoche;
3/8: Marshall Nelson will speak about Christianity;
3/15: Hoda Boyer will talk about Sufism; 3/22: Marco
Marciel will talk about Karate; 3/29: Sharon Ankrum
will offer a writing workshop.
PLEASE NOTE A CHANGE IN THE WEEKLY
SCHEDULE:
We have discontinued the morning zazen periods on
Tuesday and Thursday. In the future, if we are able to
resolve parking issues and there is enough interest, we
will resume the morning zazen schedule.
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| Hula Classes in Chicago |
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New Beginners Hula: Monday 6:00-7:00 pm; includes
basic footwork and hand movements - hula auana.
Adults and children are welcome. $15/class.
Intermediate Hula: Wednesday: 6:30-7:30 pm; Includes
basic footwork and hands - hula auana. Adults with at
least a year's dance experience. $15/class.
Kahiko Class: Wednesday: 7:30-8:30 pm; Adults with at
least a year's dance experience - ancient or traditional
hula. $15/class.
Come dressed comfortably. If you are interested or have
questions, call
Kumu Kaililani at 708.445.1651. You can also email her
at kaili@zencommunity.org.
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| Hula Classes in New York |
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THE LOCATION FOR CLASSES:
Dance Theatre Workshop, 219 W. 19th St. (between 7th
and 8th Ave)
Saturday, March 1st, New Beginners: 12-1 pm
Saturday, March 1st, Beginner's Kahiko: 1-3 pm
Sunday, March 2nd, Auana class: 10 am - 1 pm
Sunday, March 2nd, Kahiko class: 1 pm - 4 pm
The Beginning Meditation Class continues in New
York City on
Saturday, March 1st from 4:00-5:30 pm (after the 1-3
p.m. beginning hula class at DTW). All levels are
welcome. For those who have had the beginning
meditation instruction, there will be a 20-25 minute sit.
Beginning instruction will be offered to those who are
new. A discussion will follow. The class is held at 458
W. 23rd St. #4A (Buzzer #10) between 9th and 10th
Ave. in NYC, 10011. Tel: 212-982-4102 or 917-502-
8105. If you plan to come and haven't responded,
please let Kumu Kaililani know.
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| Coming Home Practice Circle: Fri. March 28th |
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On the last Friday of each month, the Zen Community of
Oak Park will host a Coming Home Practice Circle as a
way of supporting and honoring veterans in our
community.
This practice circle will be facilitated by Joshin Sensei.
Also leading this group will be David Pyle and Seanon
Holland. They are both veterans and students at
Meadville
Lombard Theological School. A member of the Zen
Community of Oak Park, David is a US Army
Chaplaincy Candidate. He has served in Panama,
Colombia, El Salvador and Bosnia y Herzegovina.
Seanon served in the Marine Corps in Kosovo, Zaire
and Iraq, and is preparing to return to active duty as a
chaplain.
Because of the sensitive nature of this circle, at the
present time it is only open to Veterans and active
members of the Zen Community of Oak Park.
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| Django Jam, Friday, March 14th |
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This gypsy jazz music, which
was developed by Django Reinhardt, is a form of
swing jazz, which has become a highly developed
genre of music. All musicians and instruments are
welcome. We also invite anyone who would like to
come and hang out to join us. Bring along some food
and drink and enjoy the music.
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| Support the Zen Comunity of Oak Park |
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Make an online contribution today.
The Zen Community of Oak Park is a 501 (c)(3)
non-profit organization so your donation here to the
Zen Community is fully tax deductible
$
USD
Learn More
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an Evening with Dr. Charika Marasinge: Friday, Mar. 7th at 7:30 pm |
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Dr. Charika Marasinge will spend an evening at the Zen
Community of Oak Park on Friday, March 7th speaking
about her work caring for children in Sri Lanka. The
program begins at 7:30 pm.
Dr. Marasinge is a Human Rights and Child Rights
Law Consultant in Sri Lanka. She has a Bachelor of
Law from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. In
2005 she was awarded the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy in Law by Balliol College, University of
Oxford, for her thesis entitled "A Child's Right to
Privacy in International Law". She is the first Sri
Lankan woman to obtain this qualification. She taught
law for 17 years. She if founder-trustee of the
Sarvodaya Vishva Niketan International Peace
Centre.
In 2005 she pioneered a company, Child Rights Law
Guarantee Limited. She wanted to break the
"dependency" mentality since most organizations that
help children and women depend on external funding to
support their activities.
The eldest daughter of Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne, she grew up in
the Sarvodaya movement. Dr. Ariyaratne founded the
Sarvodaya Sharamadana movement in 1958.
All dana contributions will go to support Dr. Marasinge's
work in Sri Lanka.
more:
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