March 11 - Occupy Wall Street - March 11 memorial

The Tokyo Unitarian Fellowship will be meeting at 3 p.m. March 11 at the International House in Roppongi.  The topic for discussion considerations of the issues raised by the concentration of wealth on politics as raised by the occupy wall street movement.

When this topic was chosen for March we were not conscious that the date would fall on March 11, a date that changed us all, and we will certainly be thinking of all the people lost that day and all the deep changes that have happened or our happening in Japan.

Stan Yukevich will lead the OWS discussion.   Hope to see you there.

Feb. 12 "What Ballam's Ass Said, and What the Women Answered

Next meeting:  February 12

3:00 at International House

Unitarian Barbara Beach (joined by her husband Kim): "What Balaam’s Ass Said, and What the Women Answered”

Kim will speak briefly about "Balaam’s  Ass" work he has been doing.  Barbara will talk about her February activities(and about Unitarians)  in the Philippines (primarily in Negros) as well as about  the forthcoming gathering of Unitarian women in Romania (Transylvania) in October. Barbara after a career in business and consulting has become the president and powerhouse behind the International Convocation of UU Women which seeks to more efficiently (especially thru the internet) link up women's social activism and insights to empower women across the globe. She was the dynamic keynote speaker at the International Ass of Liberal Religious Women in Kerala, India in September 2010.  

Peggy Kanada, moderator

     

PS  Your moderator had to reread about Balaam.  

While not wishing to spoil the intriguing title and their presentation here is a little background. Although there are several interpretations of the story of 'Balaam and his Ass [or Donkey]' found in the Old Testament/Torah (Bk of Numbers) it is told that Balaam is an evil non-Israelite diviner [some scholars say with possible links to Zoroastrianism]  who  attempts to curse the Israelites but Yaweh (God of Israel)  instead puts blessings/affirmations in his mouth making him nearly as famous a prophet as Moses.

In this episode--greedy Balaam (riding his ass) is on his way to collude with another tribal king to hurt the Israelites when angry God sends his Angel to stop him. At first only the donkey can see the Angel [truth] and refuses to go forward. Balaam beats it mercilessly. The ass is given divine power to speak [power of truth] about the Angel's sword about to cut them down and suddenly Balaam can now see the Angel who tells him it was only thanks to his ass's hesitation that he was not killed.  Balaam repents for the moment. 

Nov. 13 Poverty in Japan, Dec. 3 : Suzuki Daisetsu-- Zen and America

Dear friends and members of the Fellowship,

It is with pleasure that i announce a young person as the speaker for our next meeting.

November 13, 3:00-5:00

International House

--Near Azabu-Juban and Roppongi stations (call 3470-4611 for details)

Roy Takahashi will talk about " Poverty in Japan Today".

Currently still a student at Tokyo University, where he just won the prestigious President's Award for his topical writing for the Japan Times newspaper and participation and leadership in the the G8 Youth Summit (http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/stu01/h12_03_j.html).  I am sure  he will bring not only some interesting data about the topic  but enthusiasm and energy to our discussion.

Peggy Kanada, moderator

ps On Dec 11th  Prof. Miriam Levering (our own member) will talk about "Suzuki Daisetsu-- Zen and America."

Denver Unitarian's visit

     On Saturday October 15, 2011 ten members and friends of the Denver Unitarian church choir, under the leadership of Steve Comstock, were guided by your moderator, Peggy, and joined briefly by member Miriam Levering, through a long day of exploring Japanese religion and culture. The group was on a  visit to Japan that  included Takayama and Hiroshima and they spent three days in Tokyo.

Traveling and eating lunch together we had a little time  also to talk about some of of their Unitarian practice and community activities.  First we attended the Rissho Kosei-kai big ceremony (including gagaku music) in honor of the Historic Buddha in the Great Sacred Hall. We then had a chance to see the exhibits about RK founders and the photo of Niwano Nikkyo and UUA president Dr. Greeley (and Homer Jack etc.) in the founder's museum.  Then off to Kamakura to be impressed most by the 14th century Great Buddha. What do modern Japanese believe? what is Buddhism? Amida? Shakyamuni? what is a religion, a cult? How can we work together for peace? I wish more of you from the fellowship could have joined in the discussion.  peggy kanada, moderator

Correction - Meeting Time Sept 11

An update for the meeting time and ceremony time for Sept. 11.

We will met at 9:40  and the ceremony will start at 10:00  (NOT 10:30)

Peggy
Sunday September 11th

Repeating original message below with correction.

   (1) Won't you join me to represent the fellowship at an English-language memorial service for the victims and bereaved of 9/11 on the 10th anniversary of the tragedy. We Unitarians will offer a prayer and join in the chanting meditation (in English) of the Lotus Sutra led by a group from the Sumida Dharma Center of Rissho Kosei-ki.

10:00 at the Iredo (Tokyo Memorial Hall and small park/musuem--that memorializes the victims of the 1923 Great Earthquake and of the Fire-bombing of Tokyo in Jan and March 1945).

     Meet:  9:40

     Place: Exit A3 of Oedo Line Ryogoku station. (If you come by JR Sobu line to JR-Ryogoku station walk around Edo Tokyo Musuem to the east side to find A3).

After the ceremony and a brief tour we plan lunch ("viking style") at the Dai-ichi Ryogoku hotel with a commanding view of Sky Tree and Sumida River.

Please contact me by email or at 080-5077-5515 if you can come.



   (2)  3:00 at International House

We will  hold Our Regular Monthly Meeting as usual on Sept 11th --  Topic -- let's share our experiences and possible solutions for the random acts of violence against civilians that have plagued our world in our lifetime often in the name of religion.



Peggy Kanada, moderator

Sept 11 Activities - Next meeting

Sunday September 11th

   (1) Won't you join me to represent the fellowship at an English-language memorial service for the victims and bereaved of 9/11 on the 10th anniversary of the tragedy. We Unitarians will offer a prayer and join in the chanting meditation (in English) of the Lotus Sutra led by a group from the Sumida Dharma Center of Rissho Kosei-ki.

10:30 at the Iredo (Tokyo Memorial Hall and small park/musuem--that memorializes the victims of the 1923 Great Earthquake and of the Fire-bombing of Tokyo in Jan and March 1945).

     Meet:  10:00

     Place: Exit A3 of Oedo Line Ryogoku station. (If you come by JR Sobu line to JR-Ryogoku station walk around Edo Tokyo Musuem to the east side to find A3).

After the ceremony and a brief tour we plan lunch ("viking style") at the Dai-ichi Ryogoku hotel with a commanding view of Sky Tree and Sumida River.

Please contact me by email or at 080-5077-5515 if you can come.

   (2)  3:00 at International House

We will  hold Our Regular Monthly Meeting as usual on Sept 11th --  Topic -- let's share our experiences and possible solutions for the random acts of violence against civilians that have plagued our world in our lifetime often in the name of religion.

Peggy Kanada, moderator

June speaker - Prof. Norman Havens, Shinto Expert

Dear members and friends of the fellowship,


Next Meeting June12th 3:00

International House Roppongi, Tokyo


At last i have confirmed our speaker Prof. Norman Havens, Kokugakuin Univ., and expert in the field of Shinto and Japanese religion. He will talk about some interesting aspects of Shinto.

He has been the longtime editor of the massive project ---Encyclopedia of Shinto, to be found on line under that title, as well as on the site of Digital Museum Kokugakuin.

You might want to check out some of the info on the site.

The meeting is open to anyone who is interested in the topic, or just some fellowship.
On May 8th we had an interesting talk by Doreen Simmons who it turned out had spoken to the fellowship nine times in the past.


She talked about of a couple of experiences of finding "the sacred"

incuding at Delphi in Greece and of shugendo training (mountain asceticism based in esoteric Buddhism). Among many things she said that she was always open to other experiences and respectful of others beliefs and practices, while never implying to others that she would give up her own Anglican faith from which she has not wavered since age 20 or 21.

A bit of sad news: i have just learned that our member Ella Rutledge decided (too suddenly in April for us to say farwell) to retire from college teaching and move back to the states. She is now in Maine, at least for the moment with her son's family. Please ask me for her address/email if you would like to contact her. We will miss her quiet comments and Unitarian oriented advice, for example about summer retreats at Star Island (New Hampshire).


peggy kanada, moderator



Remember-- no meetings in July and Aug at International House.

July 10 Pot-luck Open House at Peggy Kanada's in Iidabashi

(Kagurazaka) anytime from 3:00.

Please contact me for detailed directions or to let me know what

you can bring. Or just bring yourself and make a Yen contribution to

drinks.