Minutes of Buddhist Council meeting 2011-01-03
A Jesse Jiryu Davis
Present were:
Judy Chen, Lawrence Grecco, Rev.T.K. Nakagaki, Bhante Kondanna, Ven.
Piyatissa, Rev. Sirisumana, Ven.Wimalajothi, Judy Seicho Fleischman,
Joren Wagner(taking minutes)
Minutes are passed from 12/2/2010
Forum:
Seicho offers a short review and announces that the consensus of the
inquiry into the most preferred topic for the forum from the BCNY
community - Topic #3 was chosen “What in Buddhist Practice is
important to me?” She and Judy Chen ask Joren if Still Mind Zendo
would be able to host the Buddhist Forum again preferably on March
19th. Sensei Janet Abels and Sensei Gregory Abels are away and will be
able to have an answer after January 10th. It is also reiterated that
Jolie Gorchov is also looking into another possibility with New York
Insight. The council decides that the Forum program will be formally
from 1-5pm and with preparation and clean-up will actually be 12:30 to
6pm. The Council also decided that this year we will use the “Sangha
Space” format from last years forum as it was highly successful and
allowed for more interaction on the topics discussed. Seicho brings up
the caution of “preparing for incompleteness”; solutions are not
necessarily what will be arrived at through the forum. There will be
3 speakers from the 3 schools speaking briefly and no Keynote speaker
this year. The Forum committee is still being formed but right now
includes, Seicho, Judy Chen, Lawrence Grecco, Joren, and Rev. TK.
Clean- up and preparation recruitment will be arranged in advance as
well as other roles to be filled such as Note takers. Judy Chen and
Seicho will draft the invite for the Forum which will include the
basic format decided upon -Several speakers are still being considered
to speak.
Vesak:
The Official Vesak day celebration at the United Nations is on May 16th .
Venerable Piyatissa and Bhante Kondanna are planning a procession
around the UN on May 21st to celebrate the 2600 year of Buddha’s
Enlightenment.
They would like to also bring together the Buddhist Council membership
to participate in Vesak celebration together. Sung Hae Sunim & Myoji
Sunim, are away in Korea and will return in March- so we will continue
to talk with them on their return. Bhante Kondanna will have more
information as the day approaches.
Other Matters:
Judy Chen discusses being the Buddhist Representative on the planning
committee for “The Dialogue Project” an interfaith organization which
last year Shugen Sensei (Fire Lotus) was the Buddhist teacher involved
in the 2010 Interfaith Teach-In sponsored by the organization. Judy
Chen will let us know what kind of topics are of concern so that we
may consider that as part and to be more inclusive to people of all
religions in New York.
Reverend T.K. suggests that the Buddhist Council consider
co-sponsoring the Floating Lantern Ceremony at the pier on 9/11 this
year. It is the 10th anniversary of 9/11
Bhante Kondanna lets the council know that there will be an important conference
“Religions for Peace” the world’s largest and most representative
multi-religious coalition will gather around 9/11 as well. Judy Chen
and Joren think this would be a great event to bring awareness of next
years Meditate NYC. MNYC could be planned later that month or October
as the media of 9/11 would overshadow. This means some planning would
have to be done in summer.
Next BCNY meeting will be either Feb 8th or Feb 9th