Saturday, April 10

2-4 pm

Ekoji Buddhist Sangha will celebrate Buddha's birthday with an afternoon of music, chants, and the traditional bathing of the baby Buddha.  We will also share in food and drink in buffet style. This is a wonderful family event, so please feel free to bring children. If you wish, you can bring an offering of flowers and help us fill the temple with spring color.

Photo copyright Octavio Ocampo.

Monday, April 12

7 p.m.

What happens when you take a punk rocker and monster movie connoisseur from Ohio and expose him to the deadly rays of Buddha's Enlightenment? Just such an diabolical experiment is Brad Warner, zen priest, author, musician, and filmaker. Brad has made loud fast music in Ohio and monster movies in Japan, where he also met Zen teacher Gudo Nishijima. He was ordained by Nishijima and now serves as head of Dogen Sangha International.

Join us for an evening with Brad. We will have one period of zazen, followed by a Dharma Talk. This event is free. Teaching donations are welcomed.

Beginning January 2010, for 8 weekly classes

This course is designed for those new to meditation, or for those simply seeking a refresher. The course teaches the refinement of a range of skills aimed at increasing relaxation and awareness of psychological states, physical states, and actions. Participants learn to mobilize their inner resources for taking better care of themselves and making positive life changes. The program aims to help participants develop the inherent capacity for "wise attention" (mindfulness) that can be applied to everyday situations as a means to cope more effectively with stress and to enhance a sense of ease, peace of mind, and well-being over a lifetime. This course can also serve as a gateway to practice in any of the five Ekoji meditation groups.

Click here for more details on this course

Each session will include instruction, a meditation period, and discussion / question and answer. Exact format will vary, depending on needs of people attending. Beginners are welcome!

Sessions begin every hour on the hour. Please arrive 10 minutes before the first session you attend. You can attend any one or more of the sessions.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

9:00 am to 12:00 noon / 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
at Ekoji Buddhist Sangha of Richmond

Suggested donation: $10 per session
Proceeds go to Partners in Health on behalf of the people of Haiti

Partners In Health works to bring modern medical care to poor communities in nine countries around the world. The work of PIH has three goals: to care for our patients, to alleviate the root causes of disease in their communities, and to share lessons learned around the world. Based in Boston, PIH employs more than 11,000 people worldwide, including doctors, nurses and community health workers. The vast majority of PIH staff are local nationals based in the communities we serve. Partners In Health (PIH) has been working on the ground in Haiti for over 20 years. See www.pih.org

Our instructor Lama Chonam completed the traditional Tibetan Buddhist three-year retreat in 2007 under the guidance of the Venerable Lama Norlha Rinpoche. He has traveled in Tibet and assisted in the day-to-day running of Kagyu Thubten Choling monastery in upstate New York. He holds a degree in Religious Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University.