Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Portland Chapter

Festival Planning Meeting

2012-01-16T00:20:00.000-08:00

Buddhist Festival Planning

Sunday, February 5, 2012

2 pm

Oregon Buddhist Temple

3720 SE 34th Ave

Portland, Oregon

The Portland Buddhist Festival in the Park will take place on June 2, 2012.

"Be Present" with Occupy Wall Street

2011-10-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

In solidarity with the Occupy movement
Buddhist Peace Fellowship will be offering public meditations around the country.

Sunday, October 16, noon to 1 pm
Meditation instruction
and public meditation
offered by BPF Portland
SW 4th and Main, Portland, Oregon
Occupy Portland
Library Workshop space
Near the soldier's monument

Check back at our facebook page for breaking information:
https://www.facebook.com/bpfportland

revolution begins within

10 Years in Afghanistan

2011-10-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

RALLY, MARCH AND FORUM TO MARK

ANNIVERSARY OF 2001 AFGHAN INVASION

October 15, 2011

END THE WARS-Bring Our $$ Home

1 PM RALLY
at Shemanski Park
(South Park Blocks at Salmon)
1:30 PM MARCH
2:30 PM FORUM
at First Unitarian Church (SW 12th and Main)

Speakers at the rally and forum will also address these topics:
--Self Determination for the Middle East
--End Militarism
--Money for Jobs and Health Care
--Protect Human and Civil Rights

The forum speakers will be PSU sociology professor Veronica Dujon, Lewis and Clark College economics professor Martin Hart-Landsberg, and executive director of the national Bill of Rights Defense Committee Shahid Buttar.

Tabling takes place at the forum, and Portland BPF will be there as an endorser.

October 15 has also been picked as a day of national action by the United National Antiwar campaign (http://nepajac.org/oct15page1.htm). The themes of economy and war are reflected by many attending the "Occupy Wall Street" events in Portland and around the nation.

Cosponsors of the Portland event include Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group,Portland Peaceful Response Coalition, the Peace Action Committee of the First Unitarian Church, Alliance for Democracy-Portland Chapter, Metanoia Peace Community, East Timor Action Network/Portland, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, International Socialist Organization , Portland Jobs with Justice, KBOO Community Radio 90.7 FM (media cosponsor), Women's International League for Peace and Freedom-Portland, Tikkun Olam committee of P'nai Or, Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights (AUPHR), Augustana Lutheran Church, Portland Area Rethinking Schools, St. Luke Lutheran Peace and Justice Advocacy Group and American Friends Service Committee.

Endorsers include Recruiter Watch PDX, Little Light of Mine Friends Worship Group, Jewish Voice for Peace-Portland, Freedom Socialist Party, Women in Black-Portland, Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights (SUPER), Portland Alliance (media endorser), No War Drum Corps, Oregon Wildlife Federation, Back 2 the WALL, Street Roots (media endorser), Portland Central America Solidarity Committee, Oak Grove Peace Vigil, and Progressive Responses--a program of Community Alliance of Lane County (CALC). ...and Portland Buddhist Peace Fellowship.

2nd Annual Portland City Sit

2011-09-26T18:31:00.000-07:00

Friday, September 30, 2011

11:30am - 6:00pm

SECOND ANNUAL PORTLAND CITY SIT
Downtown Portland ~ Pioneer Courthouse Square

• Experience meditation in the middle of downtown Portland

• Meditation instruction available • Instruction also available in Spanish!

• Cushions & chairs provided

• Drop on by & explore meditation for yourself

Local religious and secular groups are joining forces to raise awareness about the benefits of meditation for mind, body, and spirit! No experience is necessary and all are welcome to participate.

Click here to register, or just stop on by.

Sponsors: Maitripa College, Shambhala Center of Portland, Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple

Sharing the Dharma: 8th Annual Buddhist Festival in the Park

2011-06-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

Schedule

Main Pavilion

11:00 am: Tabling by participating groups throughout the day.
12 noon: Opening Bells and Incense offering
Workshop: Simple Tea Ceremony
1:00 pm: Panel for Discussion: Teresa Keishi SotodeRomán, Oregon Buddhist Temple; Heidi Enji Hoogstra, Portland BPF, Dharma Rain Zen Center; Dr. Dan Rubin, Maitripa College, Portland Shambhala
2:15 pm: All Beings Blessings Ceremony (includes blessings for people and pets)
3:00 pm: Keynote speaker: Rev. Jundo Gregory Gibbs, Oregon Buddhist Temple
3:40 pm: Free prize drawing
3:45 pm: Dance Mandal with Prajwal Vajracharya
4:30 pm: Closing

Workshop 12:05 pm: Mindfulness in Daily Life by Peggy Lindquist, Portland Community of Mindful Living, Joyful Refuge Sangha.

Three workshops will be occurring from 12:05 pm to 1:00 pm. Each is designed to allow people to drop in, so all can attend all three.

Children's Pavilion

11:00 am: Scavenger Hunt with prizes, coloring, and simple craft projects available throughout the day
12:05 pm: Workshop: Chanting with drumming: "Namu Myoho Renge Kyo" offered by Jason Litts of Vancouver Nichiren Sangha
1:00 pm: Storytime with Jody Shintai Dungay, Dharma Rain Zen Center
2:15 pm: All Beings Blessings Ceremony (includes blessings for people and pets)
3:00 pm: Storytime with Heidi Enji Hoogstra, Dharma Rain Zen Center
3:40 pm: Free prize drawing
4:00 pm: Dance Mandal with Prajwal Vajracharya

More info at the festival website.

End the Wars and Occupations

2011-03-09T22:13:00.001-08:00

Meet up under our Buddhist Peace Fellowship banner at the Rally and March for Peace

Eight Years in Iraq --
Nine Years in Afghanistan:
Saturday, March 19, 2011
12:30 PM Gathering/Music
1:00 PM Rally 1:30 PM March
To mark the 8th anniversary of the
2003 invasion of Iraq

How is the War Economy
Working for You?
Pioneer Courthouse Square
SW 6th & Yamhill, Downtown Portland

Topics to be covered by the event include:
--End the Wars and Occupations--Bring the Troops Home Now
--Fund Jobs, Healthcare and Human Needs, Not the War Machine
--Stand for Civil Rights at Home and Abroad
--Take Action!

Full info and fliers here. We have much gratitude for the dedicated activists who have planned this march and rally.

Gathering for Discussion

2010-11-11T23:16:00.000-08:00

What's On Your Mind?

Belmont Library
Sunday, November 28
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

It has been a while since we had a gathering for discussion. In the past year, we hosted a Nonviolent Peaceforce Presentation, sponsored the 7th Annual Buddhist Festival in the Park, endorsed Maitripa College's First Annual Portland City Sit, took part in the Division/Clinton Street Fair, and endorsed the Portland Rizwan Mosque's Vigil of Interfaith Friendship.

What would you like to see this chapter do, and commit to help that happen?

What's on our mind is how to keep the Buddhist Festival in the Park going. We need a resurgence of energy...more dedicated volunteers, and useful ideas for fund-raising for it. Next year's date for the festival is June 4.

Standing Together: A Vigil of Interfaith Friendship

2010-09-08T13:17:00.000-07:00

Portland Rizwan Mosque

9925 SW 35^th Drive

Portland, OR 97219

Saturday, September 11, 2010 @ 11:00am

The divisiveness continues as politicized religious groups continue to oppose the rights of American people of the Muslim faith to practice where they wish. Even while Feisal Abdul Rauf, imam of the Farah mosque in Lower Manhattan, explains his group's peaceful plans to continue with building their NYC community center, an evangelical church out of Florida intends to hold an international "Burn the Koran" day on September 11.

In response to this church's attempt to create division and discord among people of different faiths, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is hosting this interfaith event. Portland area interfaith leaders will be there, including Kyogen Carlson of Dharma Rain Zen Center.

Go here for more information.

Division/Clinton Street Fair

2010-07-11T23:58:00.000-07:00

Saturday, July 24
10 am to 5 pm

Find us somewhere between 32nd and 37th on Division

Celebrate summer and Community at the Division/Clinton Street Fair. Stop in to chat with the Chapter contact. What are you interested in for the Portland Chapter? What do you have to offer? Make this stand-in for the bimonthly gathering of the Portland Chapter what you want it to be... bring your portable chair and sit awhile, be neighborly.

The first 15 people to inquire receive a free silver metal water bottle from the Portland Buddhist Festival in the Park.

You also have the chance to receive an enso from Enji.

First Annual Portland City Sit

2010-06-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

The Portland Chapter of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship is happy to endorse Maitripa College's First Annual Portland City Sit.

FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 2010
PORTLAND CITY SIT
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Downtown Portland ~ Pioneer Courthouse Square
Open to all - Stop by anytime ~ No charge

Our annual Buddhist Festival in the Park has veered more in a direction of fostering community, and educating the public about Buddhist options in the Portland Metro Area. Consequently, we have veered away from actual teaching of meditation at the festival, encouraging festival-goers to visit those temples where they found some resonance.

We see this City Sit not only as filling a need, but as filling a gap that we've left behind in our festivals in recent years.

So spread the word, and find some time to visit the Portland City Sit. There is something to be said about meditating in public, without the sound barriers of a roof and four walls. It is possible, and enlightening. Let what will be, will be, and who knows what effect it could have on others.

7th Annual Buddhist Festival in the Park

2010-05-23T21:44:00.000-07:00

Unity and Diversity
A Buddhist Festival in the Park
June 5, 2010, 11:00 am to 4:30 pm
Colonel Summers Park
SE 17th and Taylor, Portland, Oregon

Schedule

11 am: Tabling by participating groups, food vendors, Buddhist goods vendors: available through the day
12 noon: Opening Ceremony
12:15: Community presentations (all Buddhist communities present are invited to take a few minutes to introduce themselves to the audience)
1:30 pm: Keynote speaker: Gyokuko Carlson, Dharma Rain Zen Center
2:15 pm: Unity and Diversity Candle Ceremony
2:45 pm: Panel Discussion: Rev. Jundo Gregory Gibbs, Oregon Buddhist Temple; Domyo Burk, Dharma Rain Zen Center; Gregory Satir, Portland Friends of the Dhamma
4:00 pm: Closing Dedication
Free prize drawing
Japanese Fan Dance to Ifu Dodo: Youth Division, with youth band and jazz band from SGI Portland

Children's Pavilion Schedule

12:15 pm: Storytime with Craft by Cynthia Pietrak Wong
1:15 pm: Scavenger Hunt and Cooperative Games
2:15 pm: Unity and Diversity Candle Ceremony
3:15 pm: Storytime with Craft by Heidi Enji Hoogstra
4:00 pm: Closing

See the festival website for more information.

Coming years: June 4, 2011; June 2, 2012.

Nonviolent Peaceforce Presentation

2010-01-06T21:04:00.001-08:00

Sunday, January 17
2:30 to 4:30 pm
Belmont Library

Nonviolent Peaceforce
Presentation by Terri Shofner, Peaceforce Oregon

Nonviolent Peaceforce, making Gandhi’s vision of a Shanti Sena, Peace Army, a reality in our world.

Terri Shofner of Peaceforce Oregon will present information on NP and invite you to participate in an activity so that you can experience a little of what it might be like to serve on an international peacekeeping team.
................................................................................

Some of us have been saying “NO” to war for so long it’s become our mantra, but sometimes it’s nice to have something we can say “YES” to. Nonviolent Peaceforce is that something we can say “YES” to when we say “NO” to war. NP is a truly global organization made up of Member Organizations from across the globe, including the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. As a Member Organization BPF is able to participate and be a voting member of NP on such important items as long-term organizational plans and the approval and changes to the Nonviolent Peaceforce's by-laws.

Nonviolent Peaceforce is an unarmed, professional civilian peacekeeping force that works in conflict zones worldwide. We have teams currently deployed in Sri Lanka, Mindinao and soon we will have new teams on the ground in Southern Sudan.

We envision a world in which large-scale unarmed civilian peacekeeping using proven nonviolent strategies is recognized as a viable alternative in preventing, addressing, and mitigating violent conflicts worldwide.

In North America, NP is expanding it’s outreach by offering Nonviolenct Conflict Intervention workshops and training for domestic peace teams. NP is supported locally by the United States Nonviolent Peaceforce Chapters Association (USNPCA), another Member Organization of NP. We also have chapters forming in many cities across America and Canada to promote this work, including Peaceforce Oregon in Portland.

The concept of the Global Nonviolent Peaceforce is an important contribution to the new millennium in that people working for peace, whose lives represent an ethical commitment towards that end, are an important part of the construction of a world where tolerance, respect, equality, improvement and justice become humanity's most essential values.

Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Guatemala, Nobel Peace Laureate

Gathering for Discussion

2009-10-30T23:26:00.000-07:00

Sunday, November 15
2:30 to 4:30 pm
Belmont Library

Reflection on the Year
Plans and wishes for the year to come

Meet other local engaged Buddhists, think about where we've been, and consider where we're going in the next year. Take an active part in deciding the direction of our Portland Chapter.

If there is time, we can talk about the current issue of Turning Wheel, which did not arrive in time for the previous gathering. If you didn't get it, consider becoming a paying member of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship so you do. Did you notice I wrote "paying member?" It is possible now to become a member of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship without giving a donation. Of course all donations help, but please show your support by becoming a member now. Put the magazine in your hands by giving a donation.

Also, if you're starting to think about holiday gifts, consider our Buddhist Festival water bottles. We can't make sales at the gathering at the library, but let's make arrangements via email. If you're close by, we can save on shipping costs by meeting in person.

Gathering for Discussion

2009-10-18T14:32:00.000-07:00

Sunday, October 18, 2009
2:30 to 4:30 pm
Belmont Library

The new issue of Turning Wheel is due to come out in early October.

Let's meet face to face, get to know each other, or catch up, and let's talk informally about the topics covered in the latest issue.

All are welcome to join us in the Belmont Library meeting room.

350.org Day of Action

2009-10-05T23:17:00.000-07:00

350.org
Day of Action
Saturday, October 24
11 am to 1 pm

The Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Portland Chapter endorses and is participating in this action. Please try to make the time to come to the vigil at 11 am to help create a substantial "350" of contemplative beings.

Here is the letter from the organizer:

Hello all, my name is Satya and I live with Touching Earth Sangha, a new meditation community here in Portland. We consider our lifestyle choices and our compassionate actions in the world as an essential part of our spiritual practice, as I'm sure many of you do. In line with this we're trying to organize some events in the near future that offer a way for the Portland meditation community to get involved with efforts to reduce suffering for all beings around the issue of climate change.

As I'm sure you're aware, global warming and climate change is perhaps the greatest issue of social and environmental consequence in the world today, with effects on species extinction, worldwide drought and famine, floods and weather disasters, and even the spread of warfare and disease.

As there is a worldwide governmental meeting about the issue in Copenhagen in December, many groups are trying to organize public expressions of concern around the world in the coming months, in order to persuade the various governments to take real, substantive action to reduce atmospheric carbon to safer levels (350 ppm, according to recent scientific consensus). This will involve serious policy changes in order to ensure the most wasteful and polluting countries (like this one) dramatically simplify our energy needs; and help poorer countries, already feeling the impacts and much less responsible for the problem, adapt to changing conditions with the least suffering and destruction.

One group, 350.org, is organizing a global day of action on October 24th, with events invented and planned by thousands of local groups in almost every country in the world to emphasize the importance of "350" and demonstrate how much the world community is aware and concerned. (check out their website for lots more info). I thought it would be wonderful to see a bunch of folks from the contemplative spiritual traditions in Portland participate by engaging in a public session of meditation on the riverfront, in the shape of "350" which is a theme of the various actions. This would occur right in front of one of the already planned events - a flotilla of kayaks on the river (between the Hawthorne and Morrison bridges) also in this shape - both could be seen at the same time from above. This would occur at 11 am. After this is a gathering and rally in Pioneer square at 1pm. If anyone is interested in participating, or contributing feedback/ideas, please contact me at touchingearth@riseup.net.

Another group, Climate Justice Fast!, is planning to awaken global awareness by conducting publicized fasts of various lengths all over the world. A core group of individuals from many different countries will be undertaking long fasts (over 40 days) leading up to and through the Copenhagen summit. They are working to gather large numbers of people to engage in solidarity fasts of however long folks are comfortable, to help spread the word, and to make people's personal commitment and resolve palpable and intimate. The organizers are very much influenced by Gandhi and his perspective that outer change is rooted in personal spiritual commitment and transformation, and specifically by his method of fasting.

I am wondering if there are folks in the Portland meditation community, (or anyone else!) who would want to fast for one to four days with me, probably while doing lots of sitting, in a public place(maybe the same waterfront location above) and with some info of the various issues involved. Some folks might be able to help with video/media stuff to share what we're doing with a wide audience. The starting date will probably be November 6. Again, if interested, drop me an e-mail at touchingearth@riseup.net.

And for more info on this movement see climatejusticefast.com.
Thanks so much for reading, and please send any feedback and suggestions. If anyone's interested in our sangha, you can check out our website at touchingearth.wordpress.com.

Aluminum Bottles For Sale

2009-06-28T22:46:00.000-07:00

The bottles feature the image of the Buddha Touching the Earth, created for Portland's Buddhist Festival in the Park by Jason Litts. Below the image, the words:

Buddhist Festival in the Park
Portland, Oregon

Bottles were purchased from Identity-Links, a family-owned company based in the United States.

Festival Debrief Meeting

2009-06-28T21:48:00.000-07:00

If you attended the Buddhist Festival in the Park and would like to get involved for next year, please join us for the debrief meeting:

Sunday, July 12, 2009
Oregon Buddhist Temple
3720 SE 34th Ave, Portland

2 pm to 4 pm (or earlier)

We discuss what worked well, what didn't work, and ideas for the future.

Here is the feedback we received at the festival.

Touching the Earth

2009-05-16T01:11:00.000-07:00

Touching the Earth
Buddhist Festival in the Park 2009

Saturday, June 13, 2009
11 am to 4:30 pm

Colonel Summers Park
SE 17th and Taylor
Portland, Oregon

Children's Pavilion
spiritual science projects
cooperative contests
stories and drama
community craft project
meditative activities
drinks and snacks

Workshops

chants/ mantras

meditation

daily practice

Teaching Pavilion
keynote speaker
panel discussion

Schedule

(subject to change)

Teaching Pavilion

11 am: Tabling by participating groups, food vendors, Buddhist goods vendors: available through the day
12 noon: Opening Ceremony
12:15 pm: Keynote speaker: Michael Conklin, Kagyu Changchub Chuling
1 pm: Workshops
2 pm: Singing of Dharma School songs
3 pm: Panel Discussion: Jim Blumenthal, Maitripa Institute; David Kakumyo Lowe, Dharma Rain Zen Center; Jason Litts, Nichiren Shu Temple
4 pm: Yasuko Fields, Koto Player, and friends
4:20 pm: Closing Dedication

Children's Pavilion

12:15 pm to 4:30 pm: Ongoing activities: story times; coloring; community craft project
12 noon: Opening Ceremony
2 pm: Singing of Dharma School Songs

Participating Groups:

(most of these groups will have tables at the festival)
Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Portland (main sponsor)
Portland Yeshe Nyingpo
Oregon Buddhist Temple
Maitripa Institute
Dharma Rain Zen Center
Mercy and Wisdom Healing Center
Zen Center of Portland
Portland Insight Meditation Community
Kagyu Changchub Chuling
Nichiren Buddhist Temple of Portland
SGI-USA
Diamond Way, Portland
NW Portland Ministries
NW Vipassana Association as taught by S.N. Goenka
Zen Community of Oregon

Vendors

Tibet A Gift: assortment, Tibetan prayer flags, imports
BPF Portland: assortment, festival keepsake metal water bottles, personalized Ensos by Enji; tickets for raffle prizes
Nakayama Butsudans: Butsudan products such as Prayer Beads, Candles, Kyo Tables, Japanese Bells, Buddhist Gongs, Omamori Cases and much more

Food Vendors

Vegi Dog: all vegan hot dogs and sausages made by Turtle Island Foods (Hood River) with local and organic fixin's
Todbott's Triangles: Rice Balls, vegan and salmon
Sol Pops (find Sol Pops on Facebook)

About the Theme: Touching the Earth

The green movement and Buddhist teachings go very well together. It is said when Shakyamuni sat under the Bodhi Tree, and Mara, the great distracter, questioned his right to be there and to find enlightenment, that Shakyamuni touched the earth, and the earth was his witness. For centuries, Buddhist monastics have vowed to live simply on what is given them. Buddhism teaches that we are all connected, and as interconnected beings we wish to take good care of our connection with the earth, water, and sky.

The Greening of Buddhism

Discussion: Israel and Palestine

2009-02-03T22:18:00.000-08:00

Portland Buddhist Peace Fellowship
Gathering for Discussion:
Israel and Palestine
Sunday, February 15
2 pm to 4 pm
Belmont Library

Please join us for our bi-monthly gathering for discussion. This topic brings up strong emotions and opinions. May we find some clarity through respectful reflection.

Please read BPF's Hozan Alan Senauke on Gaza, found here.

For further information:

BBC's country profile overview.
BBC's Gaza conflict page.
Multnomah County Library's conflict hot spot page.

Samples of opposing viewpoints:
Ceasefire analysis at HuffPost
Judea Pearl on Evil at WSJ

Social Gathering and Reflection

2008-12-14T13:00:00.000-08:00

BPF Portland
Potluck Social
Sunday, December 14
1 pm to 3:30 pm

Gregory Heights Library
7921 N.E. Sandy Boulevard

Meet other Buddhists, share memories and food, reflect on the Portland Chapter's activities, and think about plans for the coming year and beyond.

Think of this as a chance to socialize with other Buddhists. We'll keep business to a minimum. All are welcome.

Voting Early is Voting Green

2008-10-19T07:25:00.000-07:00

If you thought the election junk mail was bad...it's only going to get worse between now and election day. By now, Oregon voters should have received your ballots. If you vote right away, the junk mail will stop, as well as the phone calls. Entities sending these things out get voter lists daily, I hear. (Not how you've voted, just, who hasn't voted yet.)

No one came to our scheduled presentation on Ballot Measures 57 and 61. In a nutshell, here's the advice from Partnership for Safety and Justice:

Partnership for Safety and Justice (PSJ) is working hard to defeat the mandatory minimum ballot measure (M61) that Oregonians will vote on in November 2008. This year the election is complicated and the best way to defeat the mandatory minimum ballot measure is to support an alternative, competing measure (M57). We have compiled a wide range of information to help people better understand the crime related ballot measures, their policies, projected impacts, and the politics behind them. You will also find positions that PSJ is taking on other ballot measures, along with plenty of information on how to support our election-related organizing efforts.

If you did not receive your ballot, are you sure you're registered to vote? If you moved, you still should be able to vote...you just have to go to your elections office to get your ballot.

Presentation on Ballot Measures 57 and 61

2008-09-27T00:43:00.000-07:00

A Better Way to Fight Crime: Presentation on
Ballot Measures 57 and 61

Monday, October 13
6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Hollywood Library
4040 NE Tillamook St.

This year's ballot will have two measures concerning criminal justice policy. This presentation will contain information about both ballot measures that will help you make an informed decision.

Presenter is Jeff Kerr, a member of the Portland Insight Meditation Center and a volunteer with the Partnership for Safety and Justice. Partnership for Safety and Justice works to reduce our state's reliance on incarceration as the primary means to fight crime.

This is our Portland Chapter gathering for the fall. We will have another gathering in November for the Year-end Review.

This gathering is for informational purposes. We do not solicit memberships or donations when using the library as a gathering place.

Hiroshima Day

2008-08-06T18:00:00.000-07:00

Hiroshima Day
Wednesday, August 6
6 pm to 7 pm
Waterfront Park
(NW Naito and Couch)

From Oregon PSR: Join us in marking the anniversary of the 1945 nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Each year we remember this history with reflections, music, and a call to action. In doing so, we hope to prevent such a grave mistake from happening again.

Buddhas on Bikes

2008-06-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

Buddhas On Bikes

a PedalPalooza event

Saturday, June 28

10 am to 2 pm

On this beginner-friendly (for Buddhists and cyclists) ride, we'll learn why inner SE is called the "Buddhist Ghetto," and see what Willamette Week calls "Portland's Best Buddha."

We'll meet at Dharma Rain Zen Center, do a quick meet and greet, possibly with a short meditation. Then we'll do a pretty mellow ride visiting about a dozen local temples. (Which is only a hinting at the number of Buddhist groups in town, but also a do-able bike loop.)

Midway, we'll stop at Van Hanh Restaurant for wonderful vegan food served by Buddhist nuns. Ideally, we should end up at the Multnomah County Bike Fair at Col. Summers park (not far from Dharma Rain) shortly after the fair begins at 2pm or so.

Here is a map of the ride. (This is a work in progress, it may be not all the stops will occur.)

A: Dharma Rain Zen Center
C: Chua Linh Son
D: Van Hanh Restaurant
E: Bodhi Tree Center
F: Oregon Buddhist Temple
G: Portland Buddhist Priory
H: Mahasiddha Buddhist Center
I: Maitripa Institute
J: Portland Shambhala Center
K: Nichiren Buddhist Temple
L: Miao Fa Chan Temple
M: Colonel Summers Park, and MCBF

Bring $$ for lunch and optional donations.

This will be our BPF Portland Gathering for the month.

Gay Pride photos

2008-06-21T00:30:00.001-07:00

Gay Pride Parade

2008-06-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

Portland Gay Pride Parade

Sunday, June 15

11 am

Parade route map found here.

The Portland Chapter of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship will be marching in Portland's Gay Pride Parade this year. Many faith congregations join the parade, proudly displaying their welcome of all GBLTQs in their places of worship.

In 2007, the only Buddhist congregation represented was SGI-USA. BPF Portland would like to increase that number, so we are joining the parade. We invite any Buddhist communities to join us behind our banner, and any Buddhist or Buddhist-friendly individuals may join us as well.

Please bring your own hand-lettered signs with your Buddhist temple's names, or with Buddhist sayings such as

May all beings be happy.
Hatred never ceases by hatred, but by love alone is healed ~Buddha
The heart that breaks open can contain the whole universe. ~Joanna Macy
To find a buddha, all you have to do is see your nature. Your nature is the buddha. ~Bodhidharma

Any who join us, please be aware of the parade rules.

5th Annual Buddhist Festival in the Park

2008-06-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

Harmony in the Park

Saturday, June 7, 2008
12 pm to 4:30 pm

Colonel Summers Park
SE 17th and Taylor
Portland, Oregon

Children's Pavilion
spiritual science projects
cooperative contests
stories
craft activities
meditative activities

Workshops

chants/ mantras

meditation

altars

daily practice

Teaching Pavilion
keynote speaker
panel discussion

Schedule

Teaching Pavilion

11 am: Food served to monastics
12 noon: Opening Ceremony
12:15 pm: Keynote speaker: Larry Christensen, Zen Center of Portland
1 pm: Workshops: 1. meditation and chant by several Asian groups 2. chant by Oregon Buddhist Temple 3. starting a daily practice
2 pm: Main Ceremony
3 pm: Panel Discussion: Kyogen Carlson, Dharma Rain Zen Center; Jacqueline Mandell, Samden Ling; Rev. Gregory Gibbs, Oregon Buddhist Temple, Jampel Gyatsho (Clark Hansen), Portland Yeshe Nyingpo
4 pm: Thai Association of Oregon: Thai Classical Dance
4:30 pm: Closing Dedication

Children's Pavilion

12:15 pm to 4:30 pm: Ongoing activities: rock polishing; story times; coloring; crafts
12 noon: Opening Ceremony
12:15 pm: Relay Races and Cooperative Contests
1:00 pm: Workshops: Chanting "Om Mani Padme Hum" with Dion; meditation, chanting with Adhi; craft project
2:00 pm: Main Ceremony
3:00 pm: Spiritual Experiments
4:00 pm: Thai dancers; Closing Ceremony

Participating Groups:

(most of these groups will have tables at the festival)
Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Portland (main sponsor)
Northwest Dharma Association
Portland Yeshe Nyingpo
Oregon Buddhist Temple
Maitripa Institute
Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition
Dharma Rain Zen Center
Awaken Portland
Mercy and Wisdom Healing Center
Zen Center of Portland
Samden Ling
Miao Fa Chan Temple
Kagyu Changchub Chuling
Nichiren Buddhist Temple of Portland
Zen Community of Oregon
Portland Dzogchen Practice Group
SGI-USA
Diamond Way, Portland
NW Portland Ministries
Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka
Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
Skillful Meditation Project Portland

Vendors

Food Court sponsored by BPF Portland

Donations of food, supplies, and labor by these establishments:

Thai Orchid, Chai Yo, Mai Thai, Lemon Leaf, Som Tum Thai, Sivalaya, PeemKaew Thai, Bangkok Palace, Rama Thai, Arawan, Thai Lotus, Aroy Thai, D&N , Authentic Thai Cuisine, Baan Thai, Vege Thai, Sawasdee Thai, Pok Pok, Appethaizing, E-San Thai, Nichiren Buddhist Temple

Buddhist Items

Samden Ling: Tibetan Rugs
Tibet A Gift: assortment, Tibetan prayer flags, imports
The Foundation Store: assortment, books, meditation and altar supplies
Miao Fa Chan Temple: assortment, books, altar supplies, imports
BPF Portland: assortment
The Monkey and the Rat: assortment, imports

Flier full page, color

Buttons for Burma

2008-06-01T14:00:00.000-07:00

Buttons for Burma
Sunday, June 1
2:00 to 4:30 pm
Belmont Library

Make buttons, bookmarks and other simple art or craft items for BPF to sell at the Buddhist Festival in the Park. Proceeds from these particular items will be given to aid organizations for Burmese cyclone victims.

Bring your favorite materials to make bookmarks, cards, or small artwork so BPF can sell these at the festival. While we are only allowed to sell items at the festival, and cannot accept donations, we are certainly willing to sell them at a high mark-up. ;-)

BPF will provide the materials to make buttons and small mirrors, but if you have an image you're fond of that is 2 1/4 inches in diameter (with 1/4 inch border) we can cut it and use it to make buttons. Lightweight paper only.

Helping Burmese

2008-05-07T01:14:00.000-07:00

Go to Project Maje for good information on the cyclone crisis in Burma.

DONATIONS for disaster relief can be made via these organizations:

Medecins Sans Frontiers (already distributing emergency aid in affected areas)

Medical Emergency Relief International (already bringing aid to Delta)

Thirst-Aid (water purification is an urgent priority)

Avaaz.org (special fund via Burma's Buddhist monks)

MercyCorps (experienced disaster relief experts with local partners)

Back in January, we held a gathering on Burmese Refugee support. BPF Portland is encouraging the formation of a support team to help a refugee family. Help us form that team. Here are the notes from that gathering.

Pastor King Mang Zam with Oregon Myanmar Christian Church

He focuses on just giving. People have lost their nationality, identity. His reward is seeing people change and transform. When they learn to speak English. When they graduate.

Many were born in refugee camps, have lived there for 14 years. They need to learn what things are, for example one family thought cheese was a soap. They were confined in refugee camps, unwanted by Thailand.

If we want to know what it's like, the new Rambo movie, it's like that. At the time of this talk, it was 4 months since the crackdown. The crackdown has been happening for 60 years in remote areas. The city may look calm but the government is still taking prisoners. No monks under 40 are being allowed in the monasteries.

He sees three groups coming from Burma: 1. They're here, and they're not concerned about Burma. 2. They don't want to do anything with political involvement, and they see anything against the government as political. 3. They want to be actively involved.

Pastor King does a lot of community involvement, taking care of souls and physical care.

We have to understand that in Burma the government wants people to mistrust each other so they can govern more. "If you're a Christian, or a Buddhist, you do not get rice." There is mistrust between Buddhists and Christians, but Pastor King's message is that we need unity. He works with Buddhist monks. Here in the US, we have to have unity. Here, Burmese are just American.

There are about 400 Burmese here.

Tara, with Burma Action Committee

Burma is:
o The largest country in SE Asia
o Culturally and ecologically diverse
o 8 major ethnic groups
o actually hundreds of distinct cultures
o Government refused to honor elections results in 1988
o In demos earlier this year, around 3,000 people killed
o Government went to monasteries directly
o 1000s of monks are disappearing, the monasteries are empty
o this could be a greater crackdown than 88, but government is doing a better job of hiding it
o The movement is still going on (this was in March)
o Fuel prices went up 500%; this triggered the protests
o Economic mismanagement: government controls, inflates prices; tied to social and political conditions

This crisis goes further back than 1988. Parts of the ethnic states joined Burma reluctantly in 1948 when Britain left. There are "Burmanization policies." They teach in Burmese even though it's not their own language. Soldiers are encouraged with rewards to marry into ethnic minorities. Soldiers can rape with impunity.

The US quota for Burmese refugees is 70,000. We took in 15,000 last year. None are getting processed because of a clause in the Patriot Act. "Terrorists" are anyone who takes up arms or supports those against the government.

Bill Coddington with SOAR

Bill helps groups get set up to help sponsor families. (1 to 5 people.)
o You need 8-10 people in a support group. Expect 250-300 volunteer hours over the course of 3 to 4 months
o Costs $2500 to $5000 (depending on material donations)
o Provide monetary support 1^st month or 2
o The family receives a check, best to hold that in savings for after the 2^nd month
o After 60 days they get a stipend
o Provide a prepaid cell phone
o 1^st month: many appointments
o Goal: finally self-sufficient by 6 months; diminish monetary support, provide friendship support
o Church World Services: provide loan for tickets here; refugees are to begin paying back at 4 months, and have 4-5 years to pay it back
o IRCO: provides ESL classes, job training, employment agency, free bus tickets…for 5 years

3 tiers of support needed: financial, time, and both together…let's team up!

-English tutors also needed: "aid and abet" the ESL teaching

Qualified organizations for Refugee Resettlement

SOAR: small organization

Lutheran Family Services

Catholic Charities

Meditation Vigil Space

2008-03-18T01:08:00.001-07:00

March 15, 2008:

Peace Rally and March

2008-03-14T01:36:00.000-07:00

Saturday, March 15

Peace Action Camp

10 am to 6 pm

Rally and March

2 pm

Organized by PdxPeace

While the rally and Action Camp is going on, the Portland Chapter of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship will have a meditation vigil.

We hope you will join us, for a few minutes or as long as you wish. I don't know exactly where, but the tables in general are to be near SW Park and Madison.

We also hope you would like to join us in the march, showing a solid Buddhist presence for peace.

I welcome any lending of cushions for the day. The Action Camp ends at 6, but I plan to close the meditation vigil around 4:30 pm.

Please share this info as you are able.

BPF Portland is a co-sponsor.

Planning for Park Festival

2008-02-26T18:38:00.000-08:00

Planning for 5th Annual Park Festival

Sunday, March 2, 2008

2 pm to 4:00 pm

Holgate Branch Library

7905 SE Holgate Blvd, Portland

The festival will be on Saturday, June 7
Most likely noon to 4:30 with food available for Vinaya-observant monks before noon.

Our goal for this meeting is to decide on a theme, and to discuss some of the major elements of the festival. (Possible speakers/teachers, children's activities, ceremonies.) Based on my knowledge of the criteria for park use, I will try to have some documents ready for vendor applications, and registration forms for groups.

Holgate has wifi available, so we should have access to the internet.

Burmese Refuge Support

2008-01-27T14:00:00.000-08:00

Portland Buddhist Peace Fellowship presents
Burmese Refugee Support
How you can sponsor Burmese refugees

January 27
Belmont Library
2pm to 4pm

Portland has become home to a growing number of Burmese refugees as they seek asylum from over fifty years of human rights abuses in their homeland of Burma. Refugees that make it out of border camps and through the labyrinthine immigration process still face the many challenges of resettlement. Sponsoring a refugee family during this time of transition can help ensure their success. There are many ways you can help.
Find out how you can get involved.

Presentations:
· Tara Horn, activist: An introduction to the Burmese crisis
· Film: A Prayer of Peace by Front Films
· Pastor King Mang Zam: Burmese refugees and community in Portland

Sponsorship planning session: Form a co-sponsor team!
· Bill Coddington and Nan Whitaker-Emrich, sponsorship advisors: How to sponsor and support refugees

Home for Good: Modules Homework

2007-12-11T19:00:00.000-08:00

Training for Home for Good in Oregon begins with self-directed modules found here.

For those who are interested, we're having an informal gathering on Tuesday, December 11, 7 pm, at Sckavone's Restaurant, 4100 SE Division. Sckavone's has free wifi available, so if you have a laptop, bring it, or bring a printout of the modules. We will have one printout available, hoping to save paper. Let's work on these modules together, feel free to come if you've started but haven't finished, or haven't started, or want to talk with others who are planning to get involved with a Buddhist component of Home For Good. (Sckavone's has decent diner food and Italian sodas.)

After that, we'll see if we can get enough people interested in the volunteer training. They say they will arrange one for us if we have at least 5 people.

For more information on just what's going on here, check this out.

Discussion Gathering: Yearly Reflection

2007-12-09T14:00:00.000-08:00

Annual Reflection

Sunday, December 9, 2007

2 pm

Belmont Library

We have 6 gatherings a year, this will be our one gathering that deals with the business of the chapter. All who are interested in participating are welcome to attend.

We will reflect on these questions:
Is our leadership structure working?

Is our decision-making process working? What has been useful, what has not been useful?
What was our most meaningful activity of previous year?
What challenged do we face as a chapter?
Any other feedback? For the chapter? For BPF as a whole?

Responses to related questions last year can be found here.

Background on the questions:

1. Our leadership structure has been looser than we aimed for in the past. We've had a core group of 6 people, recently adding a 7th. These people were invited to be part of the core group as they'd already demonstrated a persistent interest in the routine activities and questions of the chapter.

All input is welcome, but this core group shares the commitment of somewhat regular communication regarding the doings of the chapter. This has helped to make decisions possible without bogging down the entire yahoo group, or pestering those members who don't wish to do decisions.

2. The core group emails each other privately about the decisions of the chapter. They let the yahoo group know about decisions, and feedback is welcome. Most decisions are straightforward. Decisions not so straightforward are opened up for wider discussion.

3. See the website archives for a review.

4. This could be an interesting and useful discussion.

Metta Sutta Peace March

2007-10-03T00:14:00.000-07:00

5 pm

Wednesday, October 3

SW Corner of Pioneer Courthouse Square

Portland, Oregon

METTA (LOVING-KINDNESS) SUTTA TO BE CHANTED DURING PEACE MARCH IN SUPPORT OF BUDDHIST MONKS PROTESTING AGAINST BURMA’S OPPRESSIVE MILITARY JUNTA

The military junta in Burma has escalated its violent crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators in the City of Rangoon, and other small towns throughout the country. Last month the military government more than doubled the cost of fuel and increased the cost of gas that powers public transportation buses five times, causing extreme hardship for the Burmese people already struggling to meet their survival needs. Mass protests were immediately quelled by riot police. In response to this violence, tens of thousands of highly revered Buddhist monks joined thousands of peaceful demonstrators last week in the streets of Rangoon. The military brutally suppressed the protest by firing into the crowds killing at least nine people including a Japanese photojournalist. To end the uprising, soldiers have invaded five Buddhist monasteries brutally beating and arresting hundreds of monks. Six Buddhist monks are known to have been killed thus far.

The military have surrounded neighborhoods and imposed strict curfews to curtail any further protests. In an attempt to stop communications with the outside world by citizen journalists, the military government has blocked all access to the internet, cell phones and landlines. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy Burmese leader, remains in long-term house arrest.

As Buddhists, we can gather our voices together to pray for a nonviolent resolution to this conflict and send a clear message to our leaders that "The World is Watching."

We will meet at 5 pm at the southwest corner of Pioneer Courthouse Square, where the Burmese people of Portland are already gathering in protest.
We will walk down to Waterfront Park, along Naito, and return to the square, being mindful not to block pedestrian or vehicle traffic.
Monks will lead chanting of the Metta Sutta, the sutra being chanted by the monks in Burma, that expounds the qualities of loving-kindness.
We will alternate between chanting the sutra in Pali and English.
Other than chanting, this march will be a silent meditation vigil, following nonviolent principles.
Wear red to show your support.

Go to the Buddhist Peace Fellowship website for the metta sutta text in Pali and English http://www.bpf.org/html/whats_now/2007/burmaevents.html

Home For Good in Oregon

2007-09-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

Informational gathering on Oregon Dept. of Justice's

Home For Good in Oregon program

Speaker: Rev. Furlton Burns, First Covenant Church

Regional Re-entry Chaplain

Friday, September 21, 7 pm

Portland Dharma Center, 2514 SE Madison St.

DRZC and BPF Portland invite any who wish to know more about Oregon Dept of Justice's program "Home For Good."

Ex-prisoners are less likely to commit crimes again if they are integrated safely into the community. "Home For Good" is Oregon's program that includes faith communities in that effort. Prisoners need the Three Refuges when they are in prison, and they need the Refuges when they are released. The time is ripe for a Buddhist welcome for them when they are released.

This could be the beginning of a Buddhist participation in Portland. Rev. Furlton will give information on the program, on becoming a chaplain and/or a volunteer in the program.

For a solid Buddhist program to flourish in Portland, participation by interested Buddhists across Sangha lines will be needed. Dharma Rain Zen Center is willing to take point, and welcomes potential volunteers from other communities.

It is the hope of BPF Portland that this could be the first in a series of Engaged Buddhist cooperative efforts. We will be glad to serve as a conduit for other aspects of Engaged Buddhism.

That link again: http://www.oregon.gov/DOC/TRANS/religious_services/rs_hgo_program.shtml

Aristophanes' Peace

2007-09-09T15:37:00.000-07:00

The Classic Greek Theatre of Oregon is presenting Aristophanes' Peace. It is outdoors, so showings are at 4 pm and some are at noon. BPF Portland has been invited to table: those tending the table are allowed in free, and other BPF members are offered tickets for half-price.

We could use some volunteers to tend our table for Saturday showings, and the weekday noon showings.

From the Reed College website:

Peace, directed by Keith Scales, is based on one of Aristophanes’ “wittiest and cleverest comedies.” The goddess Peace, long held prisoner by War, is rescued and restored to the world by a farmer riding a beetle—in this instance, a VW bug. Tickets: $20 general, $15 senior, $10 student; free to Reed students, staff, and faculty, with a current Reed i.d. Tickets at the door, or phone 503/258-9313.

September 8 & 9, 15 & 16, 22 & 23, and 29 & 30: 4 p.m., Cerf Amphitheatre.

September 20 & 21, and 26–28: noon, Cerf Amphitheatre.

Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki

2007-09-04T01:22:00.000-07:00

This year BPF Portland was a co-sponsor of the event remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki here in Portland. I went to this for the first time. This was the 45th Annual Commemoration.

NW Tibetan Cultural Association Chanters began the ceremony with chants for peace from HH The Dalai Lama. There were speakers. They weren't just speakers...they were people who've walked their talk for years. I think they said Carol Urner from WILPF was in her eighties. There were singers, the Aurora Chorus. There was ceremony. There was an interactive art piece.

The first thing I did when I got there was create my peace prayer flag for the art project. There already were many flags that had been created at street fairs, school events, and other events.There were around 300 people there, I figured.

Many of my photos were too blurry due to low light. The dancing art piece called Harmos was an extra thing after the whole ceremony and speakers, so it was pretty dark by the end. The creator took words from the peace prayer flags and wove them into a poem that she intoned while the child dancers made the lotus bloom. I finally got around to playing with the photos, so here you have my August 5th experience:

Gathering for Discussion: Coming Home Initiative

2007-07-01T01:30:00.000-07:00

Listen to recording of Bhante Suhita Dharma and Alan Senauke among others speak about the California prison system and the BPF Coming Home Initiative

Sunday, July 22

2:30 to 4:30 pm

Belmont Library meeting room

We will listen as a group, then discuss. Some local prison program volunteers may talk about their experiences in Oregon. Click on the photo to link to the BPF Radio web page with this recording.

Visit BPF's information on it's Transformative Justice Program, formerly Prison Program, here.

Visit Oregon's Dept of Corrections here. Their Home for Good program could be a good entry point for Buddhists interested in welcoming people transition back into the community.

Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki

2007-06-28T22:03:00.000-07:00

We are involved in 2 separate events related to the remembrance of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

5th Annual 24 Hour Chant for Peace

Express your wish for peace at this interfaith event

4th Annual Buddhist Festival in the Park: Path of Compassion

2007-06-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Path of Compassion
A Buddhist Festival in the Park
Saturday, June 2, 2006
12:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Colonel Summers Park
SE 17th and Taylor, Portland, Oregon

Buddhist talks
Celebratory ceremony including Blessings for people and pets
Tabling by Buddhist Communities
Meditation and Practice Workshops
Panel Discussion on the Theme Path of Compassion
Food and Buddhist items for sale
Activities for Children

Portland's fourth annual Buddhist festival features talks by Reverend Jundo Gregory Gibbs of the Oregon Buddhist Temple, and Professor James Blumenthal of the Maitripa Institute. While talks, ceremony, and panel discussions occur in the park's main shelter, the children's pavilion has story times and activities scheduled during the afternoon.

The paths of Buddhism are diverse. All are meant to lead to liberation and compassion. Buddhist communities offer booths with information about their temples. In this fourth year of the festival in the park, new features are added to celebrate, connect, and learn about the all-encompassing paths of Buddhism. Restaurants will provide food for sale, and Buddhist items will be for sale from TibetanPrayerflag.com (Tibet Gift) and Buddhist Peace Fellowship.

Gathering for Discussion: Button Making

2007-04-26T01:32:00.000-07:00

Make Buttons for the Portland Buddhist Festival

Sunday, May 20

2:30 to 4:30 pm

Make some buttons for yourself and for Portland BPF. Share in conversation and bring finger-food snacks for potluck fun.

Woodstock Library
Community Meeting Room
6008 SE 49th Ave,
Portland, Oregon

Update: We now have the parts to make pocket mirrors as well as buttons.
If you bring your own button printouts, there are two sizes of buttons: 1 1/4 inch and 2 1/4 inch. The outer circle for the smaller should be 1 5/8 inches, and the outer circle for the larger should be 2 3/4 inches. Keep in mind smaller has a border of about 5 mm that wraps around the button parts, and the larger a border of about a quarter inch. These are the button making machines we will use. If you want to see the instructions before the gathering, you can find them here. BPF Portland will provide the button parts and machines, we just ask that you make a few buttons for us, and you can take a few with you.

Drop in as you can, this will be an informal, fun, and family-friendly gathering. We also have some fun button patterns for kids that came with the pieces.

BPF Gathering for Discussion March 25

2007-03-22T23:04:00.000-07:00

Report from Washington DC

Sunday, March 25
2:30 to 4:30 pm
Belmont Library

Deb Beardsley and her husband were inspired to go to the march on Washington at the end of January thanks to our call for a representative. She found it such a rewarding experience that she returned our check intended to pay for her airfare. Deb will share stories from her trip, and has photos.

We will also participate in BPF's Action Alert, a call to chapters to send letters supporting Peace Tax Legislation. Follow the link for more info.

Also, see stories and photos from the Buddhist Peace Delegation. The YouTube Slideshow from BPF in Cincinnati is wonderful. Maia Duerr reports even more people marched in the delegation than 2 years ago. She said, "People came to us as we were walking, perhaps because we were such a contrast to the rest of the march." They had an inspiring meeting with Dennis Kucinich: he told them that groups like us are very necessary in these times; he showed them his kata from the Dalai Lama, received 2 years ago. Maia said the slideshow creator, Paul Davis, is a Vietnam Vet, student of Thich Nhat Hanh. He was the Buddhist Peace Delegation's lead speaker in John McCain's office, quite eloquent.

Owning Up: Report from West Bank, Israel, and Jordan

2007-03-07T09:58:00.000-08:00

Owning Up:
Addressing Americans’ Responsibilities
Regarding “Palestine and Israel”

photo by Jill Severson

Thursday March 22nd, 2007
7:00-9:30pm
PSU Multicultural Center
Smith Memorial Union room 228

Join Jill Severson as she Reports Back from two trips to the West Bank, Israel and Jordan, and Reflects on her—and our—Relationships and responsibilities as Americans to bring peace to the US and the region. All are welcome!!!

A Reflective REPORT BACK towards more Peace

FYI: Audience participation will be expected—via reflection and conversation!

Sponsored by: PSU’s Students United for Nonviolence (SUN)

and supported by: Portland Buddhist Peace Fellowship. Jill Severson is a member of AUPHR, WILPF, and other organizations for peace.

Portland Stop the War March 18

2007-03-06T19:25:00.000-08:00

Stop the War
Bring the Troops Home Now!

South Park Blocks
Sunday, March 18

Peace Action Camp noon to 5 pm

Rally and March 1:30 pm

photographer unknown, 2003

Make your presence known to End the War and Bring the Troops Home. Participate in Democracy, speak out, and exercise your creativity in the Action Camp starting at 12 noon, Rally and March together from 1:30pm. There will be speakers, music, actions and more! Check back at their website as more information becomes available - be sure to get on the Action Alert email newsletter to get up to date information on how you can get involved! Help get the word out....see how here.

BPF Portland is a co-sponsor if the Portland march and rally to stop the War in Iraq.

2006 Year in Review

2007-02-01T22:02:00.000-08:00

Activities
Generally
Served as conduit for information from like-minded groups and from Buddhist Peace Fellowship. Participated in opportunities for input to BPF. Remained a group member of the NW Dharma Association, participation which inspired BPF Seattle to engage more with the Association.

March
Meditation Vigil during 'End the War, Begin the Peace' rally and march. Some meditated, some marched, some marched and meditated.

Supported citizen lobbyists who occupied Senator Ron Wyden's office, including our member, Christina Hulbe. She also wrote a statement coming from us for the press packet.

April
Christina represented BPF Portland at a meeting with Ron Wyden and his chief of staff with around a dozen local peace groups.June
Co-sponsored Finding Refuge: A Buddhist Festival in the Park

Enji Hoogstra represented at the BPF Member Gathering, came back with fresh ideas for the chapter's future.

July
Participated in the 24-Hour Chant for Peace at Great Vow Monastery. Seattle BPF members Viki and Elaine joined Enji in leading an hour of our street chant.

August
First gathering for discussion at the library. Core members identified, discussed future direction of the chapter.

September
Had booth, made Buddhist peace buttons at the Belmont Street Fair, space courtesy of the Nichiren Buddhist Temple.

October
Hosted a showing of "Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers"

November
Bimonthly discussion, explored the BPF's Mandala for Socially Engaged Buddhism

Funds

Account balance
January 1, 2006: $283 plus $189 in savings, for Summer Park Festival
Savings, to maintain account: $5.00
$477 total

December 31, 2006: $256
($41 belongs to 2007 Summer Park Festival)
Savings, to maintain account: $5.00
$40 cash, not deposited
$301 total

Expenses
Co-sponsorship for peace march: $50
Buddhist Peace Fellowship donation: $108
Park Festival: $238
Northwest Dharma Association: $50
Kinko's Copy Card $20
$466 total

Donations
For Park Festival: $20
For Park Festival from fundraiser: $69
Member donations: $45 (down from $120 in 2005)
Anon: $56
Maitripa Institute: $100
$290 total

Reflection
These are the responses to BPF's annual questions. I should have conferred with core members on these, my apologies. The due date crept up on me. Let me know if any of this needs amending.

(Questions 1 through 3 were on contact info.)

4. How often does your chapter meet?
Every other month. In 2006 we met less often, but around 4 times.

5. How many people belong to your chapter? We're experimenting with no formal membership: 5 core members; around 10 that express continued, consistent interest; around 150 on email list
(If you don’t have formal membership, please give an estimate of the average attendance of each chapter meeting.)

6. Are there at least 3 people who serve as stewards/caretakers of the chapter’s wellbeing? Yes
What leadership structure has your chapter found most useful?
Core members make decisions. Core members are those who have demonstrated consistent involvement, not necessarily attendance, but maintain communication. All email list members are encouraged to vet ideas and propose projects for which they are willing to take a leadership role.

7. What kind of decision-making process has your chapter found most useful?
Core members use cooperative consensus. So far no difficult decisions have been addressed. Decisions with bigger implications are brought to the email list for input.

8. What event or activity has your chapter found to be the most meaningful in this past year? Please tell us in detail, and attach any flyers or other materials you created that you’re excited about.
Co-hosting our summer Buddhist Festival in the Park: Finding Refuge.

9. What challenges does your chapter face?

People are busy with many interests, so we are scattered and not always able to meet in person.

10. Have you been in touch with your Regional Representative this year? If yes, how did the interaction go?

Our contact is our representative. We've made efforts to spread out the communication responsibilities, so when I'm in the role of regional rep, other core members can pass on information to the chapter email list.

11. What else do you want the BPF Office to know? How can we serve you better?

The BPF member gathering was a great resource and raised my energy for new ideas. Many thanks to Maia for her graceful leadership.

BPF Gathering for Discussion January 28

2007-01-28T14:00:00.000-08:00

Peak Oil presented by Lisa Mann

Sunday, January 28
2:30 pm -4:30 pm
Belmont Library

PEAK OIL RESOURCES

(Warning- Peak Oil is approached from many different angles, depending on the view of the writer/ researcher. Some writers on the subject are “doomsdayers” who make broad conclusions about the “end of civilization.” Others are working for fossil fuel or other energy industries, or for companies providing alternative energies, who may have financial interests in painting a rosy picture. Keep your thinking cap on, and don’t take everything you find at face value)

ON THE WEB

http://www.portlandpeakoil.org/
our local group, lots of links, articles, and information about Peak Oil. Also learn about the Portland Peak Oil Task Force here.

A draft of the Task Force’s final recommendations can be found at Portland’s Office of Sustainable Development: www.portlandonline.com/osd

PORTLAND PEAK OIL MEETS EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 7 PM AT ST. FRANCIS CHURCH DINING HALL, 1182 SE PINE STREET IN PORTLAND.

http://www.peakoil.com/
Peak Oil news and message boards

http://www.energybulletin.net/
a clearing house of the most recent articles and information about Peak Oil and related energy issues.

http://www.peakoil.net/
The Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas website. Scholarly and straightforward, provides many points of view. Highly recommended.

http://www.postcarbon.org/
Julian Darley created the “Post Carbon Network” to start making global connections between groups preparing for a post-Peak Oil world. Very positive.

RECOMMENDED READING

Richard Heinberg: “The Party’s Over” and “Power Down” The seminal works on the crisis.

Julian Darley: “High Noon for Natural Gas: The New Energy Crisis”

Michael T. Klare: “Blood and Oil : The Dangers and Consequences of America’s Growing Dependency on Imported Petroleum”

Paul Roberts: “The End of Oil : On the Edge of a Perilous New World”

BPF Gathering for Discussion November 19

2006-10-08T23:02:00.000-07:00

Exploring the BPF Mandala of Socially Engaged Buddhism

Sunday, November 19
2:30 pm -4:30 pm
Belmont Library

We will explore internally and with each other the meaning we find in BPF's Mandala of Socially Engaged Buddhism. How can each of us make it our own? How can this exploration of the mandala inform our lives?

The mandala can be found here.

All are welcome to attend BPF Portland's bimonthly public gathering for discussion.

October activities

2006-09-18T22:55:00.000-07:00

October 6

Showing of An Inconvenient Truth at DRZC, Friday, 7 pm. Tina is facilitating (should show up here. )

October 8

Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers. Film and Discussion. Enji's place, 7 pm.

The film is short, we'll have time to reflect and share in a mindful discussion until around 9 pm. RSVP for location: sign up here.

October 14

Wholehearted Practice in Troubled Times
Saturday, 10:00 AM 5:00 PM
Nalanda West, 3902 Woodland Park Avenue N, Seattle, WA USA

A BPF-Seattle Dharma Symposium. Buddhist teachers and practitioners with varied backgrounds will share their practices, personal experience, challenges and efforts.

More info here.

September activities

2006-09-16T22:39:00.000-07:00

September 9

Belmont Street Fair. Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm
We're invited to have a booth at the Nichiren Buddhist Temple, SE 20th and Belmont. Info about the street fair here.

September 11

Prayer and Fast for Peace. Monday, 10 am - 6 pm
South Park Blocks, SW Salmon and Main
sponsored by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon

Every hour on the hour, 15 minutes of prayer, song, or chant, followed by quiet time in the park. All are welcome, even if not fasting. Includes Nichiren Shu at 10 am, Great Vow at 2 pm.

September 21

Declaration of Peace Portland. Thursday, 11:30 pm-2 pm
downtown Portland
Organization: Civil Resist Portland and others

A combination of street theater, permitted public street hearing on the war, and non-violent civil resistance. More info here.

September 23

Candlelight Vigil on the Bridges Saturday, 7:30-9 pm
Organization: Living Earth Gatherings

A Candlelight Vigil on the Bridges of Portland, to stand side by side in witness for peace. We'll stay on walkways, honor pedestrians, and hold our gentle light in friendship and quiet reflection, to declare peace with one another, peace with our neighbors and all nations, and peace with the Earth.

More info here. And on the Living Earth website.

Notes from 8-16 mtg, future plans

2006-08-19T22:25:00.000-07:00

Bimonthly meetings and planning

All present willing to be considered 'core members': Enji, Rich, Bud, Aaron, George. (Tina and Rhea not present, also core members.) We will conduct the 'business' of BPF Portland via email, plan bi-monthly gatherings, involvement in events, etc. For now we will use email, and if it comes up that we need to discuss stuff in person, we will arrange a meeting.

We will plan to have bi-monthly gatherings,usually in January, March, May, July, September, and November. Our overarching theme for the year the same as BPF, and we will have discussions and/or presentations available to BPF members and the public at our bi-monthly gatherings.

We'll try this out, and see if we'd like to expand our meetings to bimonthly discussions, and 'business' meetings the opposite months, next year. The idea of 'core members' is not meant to exclude, but simply to acknowledge that these are the people willing to do the clerical/planning work of the chapter on a consistent basis.

Meditation vigils

We had a short discussion, mostly questions, about our involvement in the big rallies. How many are affected by the meditation vigils? Hard to say, we've had as many as 20 at a time, as little as 2, but people coming and going, affecting a good amount through the day. We certainly have people taking fliers and brochures and leaving donations. Are there other Fellowship of Reconciliation groups in Portland? Maybe. Bud exploring connections if possible.

Providing space for coming together

Rich raised concerns about how many activists are skeptical about the connection between meditation (inner peace) and activism for world peace, which led to a discussion of what we have to offer as Buddhists.

Rich: Could be helpful to have time/space for coming together where peace and justice groups can share their tools, have a dialog.
George: We could be in a position of creating dialog in the peace community. A place to reconcile how each group carries out activities, create an awareness of what drives each group, create an opportunity not to defend or change, but to show.
Enji: good idea, we could provide a space for listening. we have the model of listening circles from BPF and elsewhere.
Addendum for action: it's possible to start we could invite other peace, justice, and Buddhist groups to share in a listening circle as one of our bi-monthly meetings?

Park Festival

Enji intends to ask all previous teachers if they can act as a nominating panel for future teachers at the festival. This would take pressure off organizers as well as eliminate some touchy situations such as unknown visiting teachers and maverick teachers offering their services. On the question if we want to make it "our" event: we're in a good position to host, being an ecumenical group. We're doing the most work on it. Good to keep it co-sponsored with NWDA, also ecumenical, and keep it in the realm of a multi-sangha collaborative effort.

could change the structure to more of a workshop basis, have topics covered throughout the day, and related to the theme of the festival.
could have panels that cover those topics, rather than teacher after teacher covering beginning instruction as well as dharma talks.
would not need then to depend on leading area teachers, but other sangha members qualified to cover the topics, nominated by teachers who've gone before
would be an opportunity for discussion

Action: Enji will compose letter to teachers, and additional letter to past organizers and NWDA regarding workshop format proposal

8-16 BPF Portland meets

2006-07-26T18:47:00.000-07:00

What's Next? BPF Portland meeting.
Where: Belmont Library (SE 39th near Belmont)
When: Wednesday, August 16, 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm

Enji Hoogstra will be available to discuss her recent experience at the BPF member gathering in New York, "Peace in Ourselves, Peace in the World: Wholehearted Practice in Difficult Times". We'll talk about that, and what's next. All are welcome.

24 Hour Interfaith Peace Chant

2006-07-26T18:45:00.000-07:00

July 28-29, 7 pm to 7 pm. Detailed info here.

BPF Portland participates at 1 pm on Saturday, July 29. (Enji leaving Portland at 11:30 am, if anybody wants a ride.)

BPF Gathering: Closing

2006-07-12T00:46:00.000-07:00

As this conference/retreat went on, the interconnected energy of the folks there grew to a ripe fullness in a way I haven't experienced in retreats, nor in a similarly structured weekend training through the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Maybe it's because of the position I was in, being responsible for coordinating the rituals, or the space of mind I was in to, receptive to the vibes of the group, but I think it was also because of the nature of the gathering. Maia said in a post-gathering email, "Probably the most important thing all of us did was get to know each other better... as Viki from Seattle reminded us, building relationships needs to be the foundation for all of our work. I am so grateful for the time we had to learn, practice, and break bread together and strengthen those relationships."

We had time for reflection before dinner on Friday and Saturday, based on the Meeting of Friends' worship sharing. To introduce it I read a quote from the North Pacific Yearly Meeting website. This filled a need exactly as I'd hoped it would: we could share as a group the things that had touched us as we went our separate ways during the day, in a thoughtful, mindful way. As I said in our first Reflection period, I enjoyed being able to meet people's eyes and get hugs, not something that happens in meditation retreats. Alan Senauke lightened the mood with the poem Meditation on Grasping and Clinging by Barton Stone, which tells us birth and death are relentless and proceeds to list all the things that will not save you, for example, "Organic produce will not save you/ Your vows will not save you/ Mutual funds will not save you...Extended orgasms will not save you..." (damn!)

Saturday evening we had a 'peace jam'. One or two poems were shared. Alan gets more animated talking about music than he does about Zen (sometimes). If you follow this link he's the one on the right. We'd been told to bring our songs, our poems, our instruments. I brought a toy wooden fish drum, at least I can keep a beat if I can't keep a tune. A woman I'd met, formerly from around here, but who now lives in New York, led us in beginning a body-drumming session. She has the kind of voice you'd like to hear in a relaxation spa, hypnotic, cadence slow and thoughtful. Judy instructed us to put a hand to our chest, to listen to the frogs, the rain patter, feel our heartbeat. Listen to the world's rhythm, feel how it fits in with our own, and start a beat along with our own heartbeat. It was something that started out slowly, concentrating on my own heartbeat and trying not to switch to my neighbors'. Soon some started adding voice, or other sounds. The clink of a pen on glass. I picked up my drum, drawn to the bumpy fin where I could scrape the stick and mimic the call of the frogs. We didn't get all too wild, and somehow one or two drew it down, brought us to quiet again.

We moved on. Alan sang a great song about Bodhisattva Never Disparages, a bodhisattva most sacred to the Nichiren-Shu. No matter what anybody does to him, this bodhisattva always bows and says "I will never disparage you, I will never despise you. I know you will be a Buddha someday." He also sang a Tom Waits song that mentions a bodhisattva. Then Rick from Florida picked up his guitar and shared a song I know from our Buddhist Sunday school. "There's ol' Buddha, sitting under that Bodhi Tree (bodhi tree)..." (At my Zen Center we sing it faster....got a lotta songs to sing, after all.)

I hadn't thought I had anything to bring, but after the body-drumming, I wasn't ready for that sort of thing to end, so I suggested we could do a similar sort of thing with Portland's street chant that Portland BPF also brings to the 24 Hour Chant for Peace. Maybe together we could come up with a new rhythm. We didn't, but I think I'll seed the room with sticks and shakers and other drumming things to get people inspired to make it lively. Rick also led us in Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around. Sure, we had our share of political words we stuck in there, but we also stuck Buddhist stuff into it, like "ain't gonna let no samsara turn me around..."

Jesse had commented to me that he wished he could know what people's personal practices were. So I conferred with Maia and Alan, and I asked people to think about a piece of their practice they could bring to this Sunday morning ritual. It could be a snippet from a ceremony we might otherwise not know about, something that was special to them. Together we could create a mosaic that is a BPF shared ritual. We'd had some practice in other segments of the weekend in 'sharing time equally', and around 50 people shared their practice introduction and actual piece in just a half hour. I remember a Theravadin chant in Pali. My own repeated "Namu Kanzeon Bosatsu". (Bodhisattva of Compassion, Japanese) Somebody else mentioned Kwanzeum Bosal (the same in Korean). Somebody mentioned walking as a meaningful meditation practice for them.

Finally, we got a dharma talk from Alan. All along, he sat among us, democratically, no separation. Now, he put on his rakusu and spoke with wisdom. I found myself resonating with his words on identity action. Searching for the root word, I find he has written of this before. It could be called non-duality, but I sense that doesn't quite capture it. Non-duality in action, that is what we want to cultivate. I find the word: samanattata. Some translate it "adaptability," others "putting oneself in communion". It is knowing just the right thing to do because there is no separation. Alan shifted papers in front of him, reading quotes from here, notes from there. He spoke off the cuff, didn't have a written draft, and it was a great talk. Lucinda, one of the attendees, volunteered to transcribe it.

This is our touchstone as we work for peace. This is what we were doing at the gathering, creating a space in which we connected on a personal and spiritual level. I felt as if we moved through water, each movement affecting others, each of us a bubble dancing among the waves. Identity action works with those waves, not against, because the bubbles are not separate from the waves. (There is a traditional metaphor in Buddhism about bubbles floating on the ocean, something that occurred to me after this image came up...I'm not sure if my thoughts fit with the traditional understanding.)

On that final morning we had opportunity to discuss the board's strategic plan. We'd been slightly worried that the mosaic ritual might go over time, but this was the piece that cut into lunch. Enough concerns arose that it became clear chapters and membership need a way to express their ideas to the board before it's adopted. One woman reflected my own feelings about the weekend and the people there. She said "I've fallen in love with people here, and we need to trust them to do this right." I too felt that intimacy of love.

Finally, we dedicated the merit of our gathering. It's pretty much traditional across all sects of Buddhism to dedicate the merit of a ceremony. Once or twice in the weekend someone mentioned the unheard voices, the voices of women needing to be heard. Tellingly to me, this white-haired sweet woman kept raising her hand and raising her hand while the mike kept getting handed to someone else. Even here, for a while, she wasn't seen. Appropriately we ended with a dedication that remembers the women, and we chanted the lineage of women ancestors as done at my Zen Center, with similar ones emerging elsewhere in the US. (Sallie Tisdale recently release her book, Women of the Way that tells the stories of the women's lineage, my reading material for the plane.)

I could have caught a ride with someone heading back to New York, but I opted to take the train so I could talk to Viki. We talked shop, and connections. At Grand Central Station, we parted. She took the subway to LaGuardia, me to the Hotel Chelsea. As we hugged goodbye she said, "You were the glue that held it together, Enji." (wow, who me?) I'd certainly felt a feeling of special connection to many people. It wasn't me, but I guess I was swimming in identity action. It seems to be something I think of as love.

BPF Gathering: Open Space Technology

2006-07-08T14:42:00.000-07:00

On Saturday afternoon (6/22) we had three hours slated for Open Space Technology. But before that was...lunch. Did I mention that the food was really good even though it was good for you? Funny thing, now I can't remember details, because there were so many other things occupying my brain. I remember a cheesy polenta, fresh salad greens at every lunch and dinner, and a barley dish better than any I've had. (That one bitter green was *not* in the salad until the very last meal....hmmmm.) Whatever it was this hour, I thought I'd wait until after a little side trip to Cold Spring, but I snagged a little just in case I ran out of time.

Chris, the really local local guy, of the Middle Way Meditation Center of Cold Spring, told us all about a little peace demo that happens (once a month? week?) on the main drag of Cold Spring. He himself hadn't had a chance to go to it because his Saturdays are usually otherwise occupied. Five or six of us carpooled just a few minutes away for the half hour vigil. I found myself holding one end of a banner and standing next to a silver-haired Vietnam vet who told me they'd been doing this since the war began, with just a short period of time when it disbanded. At first there was a counter-demo, pro-war, but that dwindled and stopped. Also at first local cops gave them a really hard time, most of them being ex-military, but that too has stopped. I was bubbling over with the idea from Aidan Delgado on sending packages to the troops, as I'd just come from that workshop. He seemed to think it a good idea too. Oh yeah, someone drove by in a pickup blaring one of those schmaltzy patriotic new country songs. I do believe I got a hug before I left. I ended up eating just a little more lunch.

I am so glad we made sure Viki from Seattle made it to the gathering. She introduced and facilitated the open space time. For those who don't know, open space is a way to have meetings that has only four rules and one law:

Whoever comes are the right people
Whatever happens is the only thing that could
Whenever it starts is the right time
Whenever it's over, it's over

The Law of Two Feet

I hadn't experienced it before, but I was the one who suggested we find a way to include it. With only 3 hours, we just had time for two sessions. As far as I know, no one really utilized the "law of two feet." Viki told me she suspected that might happen, that "Buddhists would be too polite." The second sessions were all small, people escaping from the stifling heat to rest, no doubt. We certainly had a packed schedule. Our thematic question, related to the theme of the gathering: What practices for creating peace in difficult times do we hope to learn together? (and to lead to items for action) How will we do this?

We had about 4 or 5 offerings in each session. Each one had notes and action items to come out of them, which will probably also be on the BPF website soon. I offered one based on a long-standing conundrum of mine (of any organizer I suppose) on how to get people involved and stay involved. I came up with a metaphor from physics: if you drop a balloon on a nail sticking up, it will pop, but if you drop a balloon on 10 nails, it will be held up. My topic for discussion was, "How to get more Nails?" Five or six of us talked about what our experiences in our chapters were, including Denis from my 'mentor chapter'. In fact I think that was a possible action item: identify mentor chapters. Also match chapters up with like interests.

A theme from the Fundraising workshop continued here for me: work from our core values rather than focus on numbers. Maybe rather than create stratification with 'steering group' and 'members' and 'friends', simply identify a few core people who can work together to do a few tasks, and not worry about how many members we have. Another plan of action for me, rather than ask the Portland group generally about a need for more help with various tasks, to ask for help with specific tasks. Denis stressed the importance that BPF chapter meetings *not* be about business, but practice and discussion, something that keeps people wanting to come back. Business is taken care of via email and other meetings among the core group. Actually, I just remembered a related conversation with another BPF Chapter Council member, Jeff. (During a break...the very sort of thing that inspired open space technology.) He said we (he and I) find ourselves in the position of being a leader but not trying to be an authority, that we then end up being more of a 'leader-servant'. I've really got to talk to him more about that. (Can you tell I've been over-extending myself?)

I stayed in the same room for Denis' offering, "Right Relationships". (I think he did that on purpose.) There were only 3 of us, or was it 4? Viki said often small is better, and she was right. This almost was a continuation of the previous session. No one had left, and no one wandered in, either time. (darn) Denis was thinking about the relationships between groups, and between chapters and BPF. How do we define our relationships? I took the notes for this one, which helped me see patterns develop in our conversation and zoom in on spots that needed clarifying. We identified core values that our groups would bring to relationships to other groups, and that alone was pretty impressive, I thought. I look forward seeing the write-up, hope it still makes sense. We also got a start on answering the questions, "What responsibility does BPF have to chapters?" and "What responsibility do the chapters have to BPF?" Having been on the chapter council for over a year, and dealt with non-responses from chapter contacts, I found it interesting that Denis was long on responses to the first, but not on the second. (Denis is not a chapter contact.) I got one possible solution for the non-responsiveness later from Viki: get more core member contacts from chapters, and include them in my queries.

Later, during the break, one of our a/v guys set up the pre-recorded video of Aitken Roshi's dharma talk. I wanted to watch, but I also had taken on the task of making the notes legible from both my sessions, so I sat in the room and copied. This time, I was too preoccupied to hear the full quote about getting naked in the streets. Of course I realized he'd just said it when everyone else in the room reacted. Heh. I'm hoping to get a copy anyway, so I could show it here in Portland. I also hope to get a copy of the 11 minute film they showed to us on the very first night, "Being Peace in Time of War." It has footage of peace demos that BPF was involved in, and bits of interviews with Aitken Roshi and Sulak Sivaraksa, two BPF venerables.

BPF Gathering: The Workshops

2006-07-07T14:12:00.000-07:00

It was really hard to choose from the workshops. Anchalee of the refugee work had one called Strengthening Our Global Connections. At the same time I could choose one on Prison Dharma, led by BPF's staff for that program, Michael, and Alan Senauke, spiritual advisor to BPF. I would go to that one as much for Alan's presence as for the subject. At the last moment I chose to go to one I'd already decided against, because of my intention for the weekend. Since I wished to help others take joy in their interconnections, I realized the best thing for me to do would not be some new, intriguing subject, but something that I would be likely to bring back and use here at home. A few year years ago I was there when the group synergy led Maia (before she was director) to come up with the Mandala of Socially Engaged Buddhism. Before I reflected, it seemed as though this would be review. When I made it not about me, but what I could share, this was obviously what I needed to do. The bulk of my work lies in creating community...I'm not likely to find the time to follow up on Prison Dharma or global connections. Going to those might be educational, but they would be a distraction.

I came out of that workshop excited to bring it back home. Maia and Jesse (board member) said they'd presented the Mandala to chapters before, but never as a workshop. I couldn't imagine it any other way. Drawing my own Mandala, engaging it and sharing my engaged dharma with another gave it a focus for me that merely knowing about it hadn't. Also, my Seattle compadres were in the workshop, and during one part we were encouraged to form into groups according to region, and talk about actions we've participated in that had been a positive experience. We emerged determined to fortify our chapter connections and our friendship. Viki and I both felt there needed to be a fifth segment to the Mandala: cultivating or serving as a conduit. We both felt so much of the work we do is just that, cultivating community and peace and just letting what wants to happen, happen. And personally, the question for our personal mandala, "What's missing?" gave me a clear answer: more zazen.

I'd already considered Viki a mentor, but found myself really drawn to Denis as well. As one of the opening ritual Directions, he'd expressed some uncertainty over his piece of it. Actually, they all did a little. It had come together so perfectly, in my exuberance I'd gone to each of them and asked for a hug, because I could. In my usual experience of Buddhist retreats, there is no eye contact, and definitely no hugs. Well, not until the last day and we let our hair down. Later, Denis found me and asked for a hug.

Again, I had a dilemma for the afternoon workshop. Alan Senauke's "Dharma of Martin Luther King Jr.", or "Fundraising Inside Out: Relating to Money with Joy, Equanimity, and Courage." I can only hope I have a chance again to hear Alan talk of MLK's Dharma. I don't need to raise a whole lot of money, but the little that I do has been like pulling teeth, so I went to the fundraising one. This actually turned out to be quite an inspiring workshop (as did Alan's) and throughout the weekend people were referring back to one or the other. Kristi developed this model as a consultant because as a fundraiser, she herself had cringed at the way traditional fundraising went against her core values. For example, creating classifications of membership encourages stratification, which goes against a core value of equality. Or when money buys access to seating or clubs or inner circles, it encourages homogeneity when a core value is diversity. She gave the vibrant example of Maya Angelou receiving some award and reading a poem, and all the people in front surrounding her were white. She mentioned Lynne Twist several times: Soul of Money. I'm going to have to check it out just to find the poem by Tagore that Kristi said was in there. It brought me to tears. This workshop certainly has me thinking about changing the way we ask for money in our membership brochure, but it also brings a thread of articulating core values that I want to bring back to my core members (and determined to get those core members to come forward).

Saturday morning we had one more workshop. Again I had the chance to attend Anchalee's global connections. I was also intrigued by the one on the Department of Peace campaign, but I just had to go to the one presented by Aidan Delgado, Buddhist Conscientious Objector. Earlier he had given a talk in which he told his story: enlisting on the morning of 9/11; beginning to realize during basic training that this wasn't for him; starting a Buddhist practice; Abu Ghraib; putting his gun down; having his armor taken away. He told us what we know publicly is only a small piece of it. What happened over there, all over not just Abu Ghraib, was so bad that he saw people go one of two ways: they either got more deeply spiritual, or they got incredibly hateful and cruel. He told us that while he was made a pariah...he had to stay there during the year his CO status was decided...while it was really bad, it wasn't as bad as the deep pain in his heart when he'd held the gun that was pointed at Iraqis. See Alternet interview with Aidan here. This 24 year old was quite self-possessed and a good speaker, partly because he's spoken hundreds of times at colleges and some high schools. Friday night he'd been gratified to hear from me, a long-time practitioner, that I can feel like I'm not doing enough zazen. It had taken me a long time to realize this for myself, but it was easy to see he needed to hear what I told him: "You will do what you need to do when you need to do it."

To wind up his speech he told us he had some practical ideas that we could do, and he would talk about that in his workshop. There was no doubt I wanted to attend this workshop. I am hungry for something to do that doesn't feel like I was just spinning my wheels. When our videographer suggested we could continue to film Aidan if the workshop stayed in that room, a quick group decision confirmed we wanted that. (Audio and video may be available sometime soon at the BPF website.)

Aidan began the workshop with an analysis of peace work as it exists, and how that relates to the enlistment and deployment process. There is a downward curve in numbers of soldiers: say a million enlist, slightly less make it through basic training, less again are deployed, slightly less come back home and of those, many are disaffected, and of those disillusioned soldiers, only a few hundred become involved in peace groups, and only a few, like Aidan, become prominent spokespeople. Basically he outlined a strategic plan, and for once in these several years I've been actively working for peace, I feel like I've come across something that could work.

Aidan said we have a lot of activists going after the recruitment numbers, and that's good. Anti-recruitment (Aidan would prefer we said "honest recruitment" because recruiters make promises that are never filled all the time) is working, recruiters are not making their goals. But there are two key areas that are ignored by us. There are many enlistees that realize their mistake in that first week or two of basic training. If they could, they would get out. What they don't know is that they can. They are told they will be arrested, but they are not usually told they can still change their mind. They don't know all their rights, and the military isn't going to volunteer information. We could find ways to do that.

Another weak time for the military, strong for peace workers, is that time when soldiers are first deployed. Like Aidan, they may know in their hearts this is the wrong thing for them to do, but they are stuck. Again, that's not true, but it is a difficult process to achieve Conscientious Objector status. To succeed, a soldier needs skills s/he may not have, such as good writing skills, and being persuasive. It is at that point too, that Aidan said we could be most effective in getting information to the soldiers about their rights and about the GI Rights Hotline, and even helping them put all their ducks in a row by volunteering for the GI Rights Hotline. We could send the soldiers mailings, care packages, include some simple information, some hotline numbers. This had me very excited. This is something so simple and so concrete that we could do as religious communities, as chapters of BPF. If we could help even one soldier get out of the insanity, it would be worth it. Aidan has promised he will write up the process on how to go about sending care packages.

A weak point for us peace workers is a culture gap. There may be many soldiers returning from deployment that are for peace, but they don't get involved because, as Aidan said, "We are freaks." The military is ritualistic and formal, and he said it "could be frightening to come to a drum circle." Some of us chuckled, thinking of the very ritualistic and formal Zen. (Claude AnShin Thomas is doing good work there.) We can't just plan an event and invite veterans and wonder why they don't come. Then there's the gap of pro-peace but uninvolved vets. They may need some skills training so they are better able to become public spokespersons, more regional, not necessarily national like Aidan. A strong message I heard from Aidan is that we need to meet the soldiers where they are at. All too often, and I agree, progressives cannot help but wax holy on how bad war itself is, violence itself is, social injustice itself is. If we cannot meet an anti-war returning vet where he is, it is no wonder the perception persists among soldiers that if you're anti-war, you're anti-them. It is not very peaceful to hold ourselves apart, and I have found this to be a critical flaw in the peace movement: everyone must have their specific critical pet issue represented. When veterans return with PTSD, with doubts about the war, with confusing reactions to their own homes and families, they don't need to be lectured about "abolishing the military". Number one, they need skills to find peace within themselves, and two, they need to find an outlet for their convictions that honors the skills they do have, or want to have.

Still to come: open space technology and closing.

BPF Gathering: Aitken Roshi

2006-07-07T14:11:00.000-07:00

Something I'm sure we all felt most honored to experience was a dharma talk on Friday night (6/23) by Robert Aitken Roshi. Just that week he turned 89 years, and long of ill health, there was no way he could travel from Hawaii to New York, but he gave the talk via telephone, and took questions from us. A highlight for many was his dharma advice to do something drastic...we should be getting naked in the streets. He is known for saying that there is no Buddhism that isn't engaged, but he also will be in your face with his messages. It wasn't the easiest dharma talk to listen to, faint speaker phone line along with his old gravelly voice, so either people were too shy or they'd been too busy concentrating to be ready with questions for him. One person asked him to repeat the naked in streets line, but both times I couldn't hear exactly what came before or after. Some Zen quote, I think.

Something he'd said prompted me to ask, "What would you say to Buddhist teachers who will not talk about politics in dharma talks?" (My teacher does not, and I haven't had a problem with that. I see my ecumenical group as the place for people to channel those energies.) I was curious what this feisty and venerable teacher would say to that. He said, "Well they don't want to be of the world!" And actually that answer quite aptly reflected my thoughts about my teacher lately: he does set himself apart from us, his students. He's very good at helping us grow up spiritually, but I'm beginning to realize there's a way in which I could never be his peer, never be 'of his world'. Eh, well, my teacher still learns too.

Another person referred to Aitken Roshi's mention of Phil Berrigan, and asked something about doing actions that get one arrested. Roshi told us to consider others who are involved in our lives. It was a hardship for Phil Berrigan's children all those years he was in jail, and sometimes his wife was in jail too. He gave a similar answer about withholding income tax too. Roshi and his wife did that for years, but when the IRS finally decided to pursue them, it was a horrible experience trying to jump through all the hoops asked of them. It was clear he was thinking of the pain his wife went through. I heard in that a very keen understanding of the Middle Way. We must speak, we must act, we must put our very naked bodies on the line for the good of the world, but in doing so we must consider our loved ones and all who could be affected by our actions.

[I learned after I got back that while I was in the city on Monday the 26th there was a rally/walk/civil disobedience in Manhattan to close down Guantanamo. Dan Berrigan was there, as well as Phil's daughter, Frida. A person from the BPF Gathering found herself walking beside Frida, "an eloquent courageous activist." Slideshow found here.]

It was around this time, maybe a little earlier, that I realized this BPF gathering was really coming together. In the way that it was a retreat, our container for the practice was making us a community. I noticed that while some people were naturally quiet or reserved, those same quiet ones would step forward quickly to move chairs or offer help, eager to feel a part of the group. As ritual coordinator, I had no lack of timekeepers for the optional meditation periods. Magically, just as I was thinking some kind of movement would be appropriate for a shared ceremony time, a woman approached me offering to lead some qi gong as it was something she did every morning.

BPF Gathering: Arrival

2006-07-07T14:07:00.000-07:00

First of all, I loved the chance to experience the New York transit system. After a night in a hotel near the airport (6-21), I took the AirTrain and subway to Grand Central Station. Of course I got a late start because noon was my 9 am, but I didn't have to be anywhere until late afternoon. OK, it wasn't absolutely perfect...the hotel only supplied Folgers coffee. I made my first touristy purchase in a little shop at Grand Central when I realized how hot and muggy it was and I hadn't packed any hair sticks to get my thick long hair up off my neck. I put one of the two hairsticks immediately in my hair.

I went to New York to take part in the Buddhist Peace Fellowship's Member Gathering.

BPF booked the Garrison Institute in Garrison, about an hour from the city. It was really kind of funny, this place. It's very beautiful and seemingly serene, but there were little things that were like annoying little gnats: they supplied us with only one towel for 4 days; the dishes all seemed designed to spill; they had a rule about using fragrance-free soaps. I joked that it seemed they wanted to mess with our spiritual practice. (Really, the glasses were narrower at the bottom, and if you tilted your glass just a little the water sloshed like a mini water funnel up and over the side...I spilled more water that weekend....) It was hot and muggy and it was deer tick season and they put us on the third floor, the hottest and no elevator. On the other hand the meals they provided were great, except at the very last when the salad had one certain bitter leaf that made you scrunch up your face. That was pretty much symbolic of the Garrison Institute. Oh, and they also had hot tubs, that was a good thing. The others wouldn't believe me when I told them it helped a person cool off.

In spite of the bitter-leaf-in-the-salad, the 4 days were perfect. I'd helped to plan the schedule, and a couple days before Maia, the director, had given us responsibilities for pieces of the weekend. She asked me to take point on the ritual portions of the schedule. This member gathering, it wasn't exactly a conference, it wasn't exactly a Buddhist retreat, but it was somewhere in between. An Engaged Buddhist Middle Way, of sorts. We'd already established that since BPF is ecumenical and egalitarian in nature, we wanted the ritual portions to come from the attendees and their particular practices. We also knew we wanted the opening ceremony to be something completely reflective of BPF, and not some particular sect of Buddhism. We'd rounded up a few volunteers to lead some ceremony, but I had many more schedule bits to fill.

While on the phone with Maia I'd mentioned to her I was just beginning to think of *my* intentions for the weekend, that until then I'd been focused on what it would be for other people. She took that thought and incorporated it into her idea for our opening ceremony. We had 4 people who spoke of specific concerns that came from the regions they represented, and they offered 4 responses to the suffering. Then we went around the room, when each participant could tell who they were, where they came from, and a succinct expression of their intention for the weekend gathering.

Lance began in the West. He spoke of the war, and our need to bear witness and not just think about the suffering but feel it. He led a tonglen meditation, once a 'secret' practice but made not secret by Pema Chodron. Basically you breathe in the ills of the world, and breathe out healing and happiness. Then Anchalee in the East, originally from Thailand. She has worked with refugees ever since she graduated from college. She especially wanted to mention those who were put into involuntary servitude. The ritual piece she brought was beautiful: homage to the 3 refuges in Pali, and the precepts in Pali. She said it's something one always recites in her Theravadin practice at the beginning of any ceremony. When she was young she didn't understand why but now she realizes it is to set the intention. Then it was to Jose in the South. Originally from Argentina, he spoke eloquently of how people 'were disappeared' in the politics of Latin America. But now, the ways of his country seems to be transplanted to this country, while in Latin America there are indigenous movements that are transforming the politics. He read a poem of Neruda, mostly in English, some Spanish. Finally there was Denis from Seattle in the North. He spoke of the riches we have, but of the suffering we have, war, environmental concerns, people in poverty, without health care. He invoked interbeing, and how we all need to find ourselves in the other. He read a poem by Robert Bly about how two people had no more to do but be, and love that third being in the room that was their connection.

In the go-round, some people expressed some very anguished distress over the state of this country, and the hope they could find some answers in the weekend. That was a tall order, but I think there were some answers found. I certainly found some. My intention had just come together that evening: I wanted to take joy in our interconnections, and help others make their interconnections, and get my self out of the way. In my role as ritual coordinator, that came together for me in a profound way.

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2006-07-07T08:35:00.000-07:00

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2006-07-07T08:30:00.000-07:00