September 2008

6 & 7 -- The Life of the Buddha
10AM to 12 noon and 3 to 5PM
Columbus Karma Thegsum Chöling
231 Grubb St.
Columbus, OH
A prominent Tibetan scholar and teacher will  review the Life of the Buddha from a rare Tibetan text and share  information about
Tibetan Buddhism during a unique set of public  lectures in early-September.  More than 2,500 years ago in India, the sage known as Gautama
Buddha  taught that all beings equally possessed the potential for spiritual  well-being and awakening, and that the sufferings of
the world could  be transcended with a path of harmlessness, compassionate action,  and meditative wisdom. After his death, his
teachings and  philosophies spread throughout Asia, and now are being taught in  Western countries, as well.  Khenpo Urgyen Tenzin holds higher degrees in Buddhist philosophy from Nalanda Institute and Sampumanand Sanskrit University in India.  He is a former monastery abbot and former professor at the Nimalung  Monastery in Bhutan and at Nalanda Institute in India.  In 2005 he  came to theUnited States to teach at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra  monastery and its affilitated centers in North America. A donation will be asked to cover costs of offering the program.   Sponsored by Columbus Karma Thegsum Choling www.columbusktc.org

16  -- Ven. Pomnyun Sumin, from Seoul, Korea, Founder of the Jungto Society .  Public Dharma Talk and Question and Answer Session in English: "Ask Me Anything"
7 PM
Columbus Jungto Society
173 Oak Street, Worthington Office park, Columbus, OH 43235  (This is in Worthington, not in downtown Columbus)
Ven. Pomnyun Sunim is a monk and an activist working to obliterate famine, disease, illiteracy, and for the ecology, peace, human rights and the unification of Korean peninsula.  A founder of Jungto Society, we vow to create a world with an open mind, one lives a happy life. When we practice sharing, it becomes a community of good friends.  When we live a simple life, the earth will be beautiful."Unity of work and practice is the hope for the new society."
During the question and answer session you may ask any question on Buddhism, or on personal problems such as relationship, money, job, love, etc.
For mor information and directions please contact Changmi Tam: 614-284-7728 or Susan Ha: 614-296-8113

21 -- Morning of Mimdfulness at Three Creeks Metro Park/Confluence Trail
9 AM - 1 PM
Please join us for a very relaxed morning of  'Nothing to Do and Nowhere to Go' on Sunday, September 21st from 9 am to 1 pm, at beautiful Three Creeks Metro Park/Confluence Trail .
http://www.metroparks.net/ParksThreeCreeks.aspx   We will meet at the bulletin board.  Come to enjoy the beautiful lake, walking/biking trails.  We will sit, walk and share the beauty in our lives and around us.  Please bring a vegetarian dish to share, a drink and your own dish  and silverware.  Please invite a friend to join you. For more information, phone Diane Strausser at 238-3915 or email diane.strausser@sbcglobal.net.   Sponsored by the Bliss Run Mindfulness Community.

27 -- Consecration of new Buddha Statue at Wat Lao Buddhamamakaram
Wat Lao Buddhamamkaram
3624 Bexvie Avenue
Columbus, OH
43227
Please join us on the evening of September 27th, 2008 starting at 8:00 PM to celebrate the arrival of a new Buddha here at Wat Lao Buddhamamkaram.  We will also be joined by several senior monks from through out the country.  Everyone is welcome to join us in prayers and blessings. For those interested in taking the 8 precepts please wear all white and arrive at 7:30, we will begin at 8:00 pm. At 9:00 we will start the prayers, blessings and recitation of Buddhist liturgy. Tradition calls for holding a string which is tied to the new Buddha statue and held by the monks and laypeople to ritually share in the blessing and prayers. The ceremony will go on until sunrise the next morning, but you are welcome to come if only you can stay for a short time and share in the blessing of this wonderful occasion.
For more information: Ajahn Thavone, Abbott Temple Phone: 614-231-9555 or www.theravadapgco.com
An article from the Columbus Dispatch is here:  http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/faith_values/stories/2008/08/29/bexviehall.ART_ART_08-29-08_B7_1DB4LNH.html?sid=101


October 2008

11 -- Friends on the Path Day of Mindfulness
9 AM to 4:30 PM
Saints Peter & Paul's Retreat Center
2734 Seminary Rd. SE
Newark, OH 43056-9339
Our day of mindfulness will be focused on  building community as described in Thich Nhat Hanh\'s book, Friends  on the Path.  We will practice being inclusive and acknowledge our  interbeing. All Sanghas from the state of Ohio are invited to participate and  add their touch to this day of practice sharing. The retreat center is a beautiful location with paths through the  woods, bucolic vistas, a pond and great facilities.  We will sit, walk, discuss, eat and breathe as we enjoy being  mindful and acting as if we are the happiest people on Earth. The suggested donation is $25 for those who are able to pay.
Sponsored by the Bliss Run Mindfulness Community.  For more information, please contact Diane Strasser at 614 238-3915 or diane.strausser@sbcglobal.net  Beautiful overnight accommodations are available by contacting the center directly at 740-928-4246.


ANNOUNCEMENTS

Calligraphy works by the Buddhist monk Venerable Chi Chern
Offered by the Buddhist Bodhi Association of Columbus [BBAC]
Follow the link on the BBAC web page: http://www.columbusbuddhist.org/
The individual calligraphy pieces in this collection are being  offered on our website, to help raise money for some physical  repairs and improvements that need to be made to our center.  The  requested donations for each work are indicated on this same link.


BUDDHIST BOOK OF THE WEEK
The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist  Psychology,  by  Jack Kornfield. 
Both in print and on CD.  He skillfully  weaves stories that illuminate over 2 dozen core principles to promote  looking clearly, using mindfulness to generate healing,  transformation, and liberation.   Most chapters include detailed  exercises for readers to practice.  This is both a pratical handbook  and a sophisticated distillation of Buddhist mind training.  Highly  recommended!  -- Grace Franklin