***********************************************************************
BSPG News and Meeting (No. 205)
***********************************************************************

Edited by Stony Brook Buddhism Study and Practice Group

From the Editor
In the last newsletter, we wished you a merry Christmas and a happy new year. A reader responded with the following questions:  I'd like to know in what sense I should enagage in merrymaking? Is that not also a karmic-inducing attachment? Also, how can one celebrate Christmas at the same time as having the true dharma-mind? We would like to hear of your thoughts regarding these questions since they touch on some very important issues concerning the practice of Buddhism as well as the appreciation and understanding of other religions. Please send your comments to buddhism@ic.sunysb.edu. We will collect your opinions and publish a summary in a forthcoming newsletter. Your participation is highly appreciated.
 

News
1. Our weekly meeting will resume this Thursday, January 23.
2. We will present the first monthly talk this semester on Thursday, February, 20. The speaker will be David Berman, a martial art teacher and a long time practitioner of Chan Buddhism. He is also a disciple of Chan Master Sheng-yen, and serves on the boards of directors of the Chan Meditation Center and the Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association. He is the editor of Chan Magazine, and teaches meditation classes and Dharma classes on behalf of the Chan Center. More information about his talk will be given in the next newsletters.
3. A new book "Heart of Forgiveness: A Practical Path to Healing" by Rev. Madeline Ko-I Bastis, has just been published by Red Wheel Weiser. It's available from Amazon.com and local bookstores in Jan. 2003. Rev. Bastis recently was made a dharma holder in the White Plum lineage of Soto Zen by Roshi Peter Matthiessen. Congratulation to her!!
4. Long Island Multi Faith Forum (LIMFF) Need your help!!  LIMFF was invited by the Hauppauge Central School District to host an educational "Multi Faith Festival" on Thursday of Feb. 6 in the Hauppauge High School during the week of "Humanity" for students and faculty members. This program has been very well and successfully received by the students last year and the same request have been made to LIMFF from Smithtown, Port Jefferson and Hauppauge School District in this year. The format of  the festival includes 2 parts,  (a) "Building Bridges Panel" (BBP) discussions from each of the faith representative of all 12 faith communities, (b)Show booth for each faith group to demonstrate the religious tradition, culture and history. The Zen Buddhist group at LIMFF really need your help to reach out for either Building Bridge Panel Discussion or Show Booth to demonstrate Zen Meditation. If you would like to volunteer your time and efforts, please contact Fei at jifei2000@yahoo.com or Hai-Dee at haideelee@hotmail.com Tel: 631-689-8548.
5. "Preventing Violence, Promoting Health: Shared Strategies" Opening for the Gandhi-King Season for Nonviolence. Thursday 30, January 2003, 10am to 12:30pm,  United Nations Headquarters, New York City. The Gandhi-King Season for Nonviolence, January 30th through April 4th, is an international, educational, media and grassroots campaign dedicated to promoting nonviolence as a powerful way to heal, transform and empower our lives and our communities.
6. There will be a special event to celebrate the lunar new year(chinese new year) in IBPS (International Buddhist Progress Society) NY on 2/1/2003, from 10am -12:00. please visit their website at http://www.ibpsny.org/ A tour of the facility and lunch will be arranged. Please e-mail Fei at jifei2000@yahoo.com if you are interested in the program.

Meeting
Thursday, 1/23/2003, 7pm to 8:30pm
Room 305, Student Activities Center
Please be on time!

Words from the Suttas/Sutras
"Bhikkhus, it is through not realizing, through not penetrating the Four Noble Truths that this long course of birth and death has been passed through and undergone by me as well as by you." --Mahaparinibba Sutta, Digha Nikaya 16.

Quote of the Week
"The Buddha called suffering a Holy Truth, because our suffering has the capacity of showing us the path to liberation. Embrace your suffering, and let it reveal to you the way to peace."--Thich Nhat-Hanh

To unsubscribe
e-mail buddhism@ic.sunysb.edu