Dear friends and members of the Unitarian fellowship,
At our May meeting we had an interesting talk with great visuals presented by fellowship member, Chuck Olson, on the topic of "Uncertainty". He anchored his philosphical exploration with his story of growing up in the desert, with casinos and open air nuclear testing, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Next meeting:
June 13th, International House 3:00-5:00
Our speaker will be Azby Brown, originally from Louisiana with degrees from Yale and Todai, architect.
He is now director of the Future Design Institute (field of Media Informatics) , at Kanazawa Institute of Technology.
He is also the author of a new book (which he illustrated) from Kodansha, "Just Enough: Lessons in Living Green from Traditional Japan".
His topic will be: ' The Edo approach to acheiving sustainability.'
The September fellowship meeting (Sept 12) WILL BE AT International House.
Our tentative speaker is Stan Yukevich, fellowship member.
Peggy Kanada, moderator
PS Because our new Unitarian member Miram Levering will be giving a lecture on Buddhism on July 11th (all interested are invited), the date for Peggy's OPEN HOUSE and Pot Luck has been changed to JULY 4TH (Sunday).
Please let me know if that date is NOT good for you.
Details about the Pot Luck will follow once the date is reconfirmed.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
May Topic - Life with Uncertainty
Life and Uncertainty
“For our May 9th speaker, Chuck Olson will be talking about Thoughts on Life with Uncertainty. It will be based on lessons learned from being raised in the desert, exposed to casinos, atomic bomb tests, magic (sleight of hand), hypnosis and the 60’s in general, as well as a career as a journalist, teacher, engineering assistant, stock analyst and CFO, and insights picked up during 35 years in Japan.”
The meeting will be held as usual at the International House in Roppongi from 3-5 p.m. with the usual dinner afterwards for those who want to join. Everyone is welcome.
In April, several members enjoyed the beautiful weather, singing and dancing at the International Hanamatsuri of the Rissho Kosei-kai, with Bonnie's Gospel singing sharing the outdoor stage with singers and dancers from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and Gene Reeves gave the Darma Talk. It was a beautiful day to celebrate a birthday, the Buddha's or anyone else's.
Moderator Peggy Kanada
“For our May 9th speaker, Chuck Olson will be talking about Thoughts on Life with Uncertainty. It will be based on lessons learned from being raised in the desert, exposed to casinos, atomic bomb tests, magic (sleight of hand), hypnosis and the 60’s in general, as well as a career as a journalist, teacher, engineering assistant, stock analyst and CFO, and insights picked up during 35 years in Japan.”
The meeting will be held as usual at the International House in Roppongi from 3-5 p.m. with the usual dinner afterwards for those who want to join. Everyone is welcome.
In April, several members enjoyed the beautiful weather, singing and dancing at the International Hanamatsuri of the Rissho Kosei-kai, with Bonnie's Gospel singing sharing the outdoor stage with singers and dancers from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and Gene Reeves gave the Darma Talk. It was a beautiful day to celebrate a birthday, the Buddha's or anyone else's.
Moderator Peggy Kanada
Friday, April 9, 2010
Easter Reminder - Hanamatsuri
Dear Unitarian Fellowship members and friends,
Greetings at Easter-time, may it be a time of renewal and hope for you.
April 11th (Sunday) Hanamatsuri
(Ceremony and festival for world peace in celebration of the birth of the historic Buddha, Shakyamuni)
Sponsored by International Buddhist Congregation of Rissho Kosei-kai (all in English),
------several South Asian Buddhists will also join, Rev. Gene Reeves will speak
------our member Bonnie McClure plans to sing
Lunch and cultural activities (all free, with a donation)
From 11:00
Former Risshokai Headquaters, 1-15-1 Wada, Suginami-ku,
Place: 5 minutes from Nakano-Fujimi-cho station on Marunouchi Subway Line (about ten minutes from Shinjuku)
Be sure to take the train to Honan-cho NOT THE TRAIN FOR OGIKUBO (change at Saka-no-ue)
No meeting at International House in April.
Out next meeting will be May 9th, 3,00 at International House
Peggy Kanada, moderator Unitarian Fellowship of Tokyo
Greetings at Easter-time, may it be a time of renewal and hope for you.
April 11th (Sunday) Hanamatsuri
(Ceremony and festival for world peace in celebration of the birth of the historic Buddha, Shakyamuni)
Sponsored by International Buddhist Congregation of Rissho Kosei-kai (all in English),
------several South Asian Buddhists will also join, Rev. Gene Reeves will speak
------our member Bonnie McClure plans to sing
Lunch and cultural activities (all free, with a donation)
From 11:00
Former Risshokai Headquaters, 1-15-1 Wada, Suginami-ku,
Place: 5 minutes from Nakano-Fujimi-cho station on Marunouchi Subway Line (about ten minutes from Shinjuku)
Be sure to take the train to Honan-cho NOT THE TRAIN FOR OGIKUBO (change at Saka-no-ue)
No meeting at International House in April.
Out next meeting will be May 9th, 3,00 at International House
Peggy Kanada, moderator Unitarian Fellowship of Tokyo
Sunday, February 28, 2010
The Nature Of Qi (Ki) March 14 at Intl House, Roppoing
March 14th 3:00 at International House (4th fl seminar room)
Speaker: Dr. Yamamura "The Nature Of Qi (Ki)"
YAMAMURA Masaichi taught biochemistry at Tokai U Medical school from 1981 until his retirement last year. Besides being a medical doctor, with another degree in pharmacology from Osaka Univ., he rec'd a Phd from the Univ of London where his research included bone transplantation. His talk will be an intellectually stimulating introduction to scientific research that touches on alternative Asian medicine, aging, and mind/body connections.
Please invite a friend or student to join us.
NOTE: In April there will be NO MEETING at 3:00 at International House.
Instead we will be guests of the International Buddhist Congregation in a celebration of Buddha's birthday (Hanamatsuri)
Sunday April 11th 11:00 Service (in English)
Followed by lunch and cultural programs (including a tea ceremony,activities for children, music)
Place: Original Main Hall (and co-founders garden) Rissho Kosei-kai
5 mins from Nakano-Fujimicho station on Marunouchi subway line (about 15 mins from Shinjuku)
Speaker: Dr. Yamamura "The Nature Of Qi (Ki)"
YAMAMURA Masaichi taught biochemistry at Tokai U Medical school from 1981 until his retirement last year. Besides being a medical doctor, with another degree in pharmacology from Osaka Univ., he rec'd a Phd from the Univ of London where his research included bone transplantation. His talk will be an intellectually stimulating introduction to scientific research that touches on alternative Asian medicine, aging, and mind/body connections.
Please invite a friend or student to join us.
NOTE: In April there will be NO MEETING at 3:00 at International House.
Instead we will be guests of the International Buddhist Congregation in a celebration of Buddha's birthday (Hanamatsuri)
Sunday April 11th 11:00 Service (in English)
Followed by lunch and cultural programs (including a tea ceremony,activities for children, music)
Place: Original Main Hall (and co-founders garden) Rissho Kosei-kai
5 mins from Nakano-Fujimicho station on Marunouchi subway line (about 15 mins from Shinjuku)
Camii Mosque Visit February 21, 2010
On Feb 21 Fellowship and CWAJ members and other guests (38 people) joined Vivek Pinto to visit the Turkish founded Camii Mosque (in Yoyogi-Uehara). The new building (rebuilt in 2000) is a beautiful example of Turkish/Ottoman style dome architecture and calligraphic decoration. Imam Yenturk spoke eloquently about the practices and beliefs of Islam, emphasising the non-violent and humane teachings of the faith. We were fortunate to have Nadia El Borai (a CWAJ member) and a practicing Muslim originally from Egypt to add her insightful perspective to our question and answer session, chaired by Vivek who had also prepared and made copies of an excellent reference/glossary for us.
By Peggy Kanada, moderator
Women and religion - February topic
Our February fellowship meeting hosted the Rev. Gene Reeves who spoke about women in Buddhism. He started with foundational Buddhism and "female monks" who were important in the centuries after the historic Buddha Shakyamuni taught. There were many historic and cultural reasons for continuing discrimination against women both in religious orders and among Buddhist laity. However he pointed out the inclusive and non-discriminatory message of the Lotus Sutra (despite certain passages)--that all can be bodhisattvas of compassion and achieve enlightenment-- within Mahayana teachings.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Jan 10 Speaker What it is like Growing up Unitarian
After a long series of speakers on other religions and cultures, the group is going to start off the new year talking about the group that has given us our name.
On January 10th, Skip Swanson will talk to us about what it was like growing up in a Unitarian Church. His parents were married in the church, were active and he grew up in Des Moines as a member before wondering off to Tokyo and searching for other alternatives, but still feels like that church is his church.
Skip is a 20-year resident of Japan, a great piano player, sings in the British Embassy choir and is a personal and relationship coach and teacher. None of that says much about what he will talk about, but it is all part of his charm. He also will be one of the younger speakers that the group has had for some time.
After the war, the Unitarian Fellowship of Tokyo had many members of all ages, with enough family members with children that care had to be provided for them. The participation of late has tended to an older group, but either through good luck or a response to reach out more, four totally new persons showed up last week and were very welcome. Hopefully, this will be the start of a trend.
If you need help finding the meeting place, please feel free to call the International House, as they are very helpful.
On February 14, the speaker will be Gene Reeves speaking on Women in Buddhism. Details to follow.
Seasons Greetings.
On January 10th, Skip Swanson will talk to us about what it was like growing up in a Unitarian Church. His parents were married in the church, were active and he grew up in Des Moines as a member before wondering off to Tokyo and searching for other alternatives, but still feels like that church is his church.
Skip is a 20-year resident of Japan, a great piano player, sings in the British Embassy choir and is a personal and relationship coach and teacher. None of that says much about what he will talk about, but it is all part of his charm. He also will be one of the younger speakers that the group has had for some time.
After the war, the Unitarian Fellowship of Tokyo had many members of all ages, with enough family members with children that care had to be provided for them. The participation of late has tended to an older group, but either through good luck or a response to reach out more, four totally new persons showed up last week and were very welcome. Hopefully, this will be the start of a trend.
If you need help finding the meeting place, please feel free to call the International House, as they are very helpful.
On February 14, the speaker will be Gene Reeves speaking on Women in Buddhism. Details to follow.
Seasons Greetings.
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