Memorial Day

Memorial Day:
This holiday honors troops who have died in past wars.

Memorial Day was first held in 1865 after the American Civil War. It was called Decoration Day at that time. The holiday was first called Memorial Day in 1882. It became a federal holiday in 1967.

Let's take this time to remember all the men and women who have served in our armed forces and all they have sacrificed to allow us to live free.

"Even if the world is filled with fire
make sure of hearing the essential Dharma
and enter the path of the Buddha
Cross the wide breadth of birth and death!"
-Larger Sukhavativyuha Sutra (Ogon-ge)

Namo Amida Butsu

Institute of Buddhist Studies Buddhist Chaplaincy Program Open House and Orientation: Saturday May 23rd, Berkeley, California

The Institute of Buddhist Studies will host an Open House and orientation for their new Buddhist chaplaincy program. The IBS has affiliate programs at the Sati Center and the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. I am an IBS alumni and will be presenting in the late morning on military chaplaincy. There will be opportunities to meet the IBS faculty and a look at facilities at the Jodo Shinshu Center in Berkeley, CA. The program is below. Hope anyone who is interested can attend!


Theme: Introducing the Buddhist Chaplaincy Program offered at IBS
Date: Saturday, May 23, 2009
Venue: Jodo Shinshu Center
2140 Durant Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
Registration: Complete the registration form and e-mail it to events@shin-ibs.edu or fax to (510) 809-1443 by May 15, 2009. No registration fee.
Contact: Kumi Hadler
Phone: (510) 809-1444
e-mail: kumi@shin-ibs.edu

[Tentative Schedule]
9:00 am Doors Open & Registration
9:30 am What is Buddhist Chaplaincy?
1) IBS/GTU Overall Program Presentation
2) IBS & Buddhist Chaplaincy Program Presentation
3) IBS Partner Programs Presentation [Sati Center & NYCCC]
11:00 am Coffee Break
11:15 am Voice from the Field of Buddhist Chaplaincy: Military Chaplain
11:45 am Q&A / Free Discussion
12:15 pm Lunch & Building Tour
1:00 pm Buddhism Lecture by Prof. Lisa Grumbach (IBS Faculty)
2:00 pm Adjourn

Like a Thank You Card?

One of our Jodo Shinshu children's Dharma schools is currently working on a project to send thank you cards and care packages to Buddhist servicemembers deployed overseas! If you'd like to be a recipient, please email me your FPO or APO address and I will forward your request to them.

US Air Force Scholarships For Chaplain Candidates

I found this news from the official USAF Web Site: http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123141981
It does not say whether there is a certain faith requirement; currently there are no Buddhist Air Force Chaplains or Chaplain Candidates.

Scholarships available for chaplaincy students

by Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

3/30/2009 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- In an effort to better provide spiritual care to Airmen, Air Force officials are offering scholarships for individuals who want to become service chaplains.

The religious professional scholarship program is designed to help fill manning shortfalls within the chaplaincy for underrepresented faiths within the Air Force. The program is available to any commissioned officer or anyone currently enrolled in a commissioning program, such as the Air Force Academy or ROTC.

For candidates who meet the requirements, the tuition will be paid. In addition, students will receive a stipend to cover certain fees or expenses as determined by Air Force Institute of Technology officials, who manage the academic portion of the program. Individuals will be required to serve for eight years, with any time not completed on active duty spent in the inactive ready reserve, said Mr. Craig W. Duehring, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs.

"This program is a huge step forward in providing qualified chaplains for the Air Force," Mr. Duehring said. "Our chaplains are such an integral part of our Air Force and we have a responsibility to provide their support to Airmen and their families."

The program will help fill manning shortfalls in faiths underrepresented in the Air Force. For example, 14 percent of the 534 active duty chaplains in the Air Force are Roman Catholic, yet they provide services for 25 percent of Airmen, as well as their families, said Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Cecil Richardson, the Air Force chief of chaplains.

"This is a fantastic program that will help us fill vacancies and make sure we're meeting the spiritual needs of our Air Force family," Chaplain Richardson said. "Right now it just so happens we have a shortage in priests, but next year we may need more rabbis. Either way, this provision will apply as the needs of our Air Force change every year."

To qualify for the program, applicants must:
- Meet Air Force commissioning requirements
- Receive written permission from a listed DoD ecclesiastical endorser
- Be in good academic standing
- Be younger than 39 upon completion of theological studies

For more information about the program, send a request to chaplains@rs.af.mil.

"Every Wish Fulfilled"

Happy Hanamatsuri / Vesak! Due to operational commitments I could not post this message so it is late for Hanamatsuri (Japanese Buddhist observance of Buddha's Birthday, which falls on April 8) and it is a little early for Vesak (the commemoration of Buddha's Birth, Enlightenment, and Parinirvana, which is celebrated in May). I hope you are able to return to your homes and temples for observance of these events. The celebration of Buddha's Birth is not merely about historical details, legends, and dates, or only a commemoration of the Tathagata's life, but is a teaching to all people that Enlightenment is possible for all beings regardless of distinctions and abilities, thereby making "every wish fulfilled."

"The Sakya clansmen dwelt along the Rohini River which flows among the southern foothills of the Himalayas. Their king, Shuddhodana Gautama, established his capital at Kapilavastu and there had a great castle built and ruled wisely, winning the acclaim of his people.

The Queen's name was Maya. She was the daughter of the King's uncle who was also the king of a neighboring district of the same Shakya clan.

For twenty years they had no children. But one night Queen Maya had a strange dream, in which she saw a white elephant entering her womb through the right side of her chest, and she became pregnant. The King and the people looked forward with anticipation to the birth of a royal child. According to their custom the Queen returned to her parents' home for the birth, and on her way, in the beautiful spring sunshine, she took a rest in the Lumbini Garden.

All about her were Ashoka blossoms. In delight she reached her right arm out to pluck a branch and as she did so a prince was born. All expressed their heart-felt delight with the glory of the Queen and her princely child; Heaven and Earth rejoiced. This memorable day was the eighth day of April.
The joy of the king was extreme and he named the child Siddhartha, which means "Every wish fulfilled." - The Teaching of Buddha, pp 2-3.

Namo Amida Butsu

Coming Home: Military Families Cope with Change - PBS Tonight at 8PM

Military chaplains work with family members as well as active-duty or reserve military (about 1/2 my chaplaincy work involves families). This special should be of interest to anyone involved with chaplaincy or working with the military:

"This primetime special, presented by Sesame Workshop and featuring Queen Latifah and John Mayer, tells the stories of service members returning home with injuries — both visible and invisible — and explores the heroic struggles their families face on the path to finding a "new normal." Check local listings for air times.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/cominghome/

The Coming Home Project April 23rd - 26th 2009

Any chaplain who specifically works with OIF/OEF veterans may be interested in this retreat. Sharon Salzburg is one of the facilitators. See information below:

The Coming Home Project
The Art of Cultivating
Self-Care and Well Being

A Retreat for Service Providers
Thursday, April 23rd - Sunday, April 26th

Who cares for the care provider?
The Rabbi Hillel wrote:
"If I am not for me, who will be?
If I am only for myself, what am I?
If not now, when?"
We may know about secondary trauma, but it takes resolve to stop, look and listen, and then respond proactively to signs of compassion fatigue.

During this four day retreat we will: explore methods to intervene early and avert burnout; identify common, but hidden, beliefs and conflicts; grow our capacity for well being; and make our compelling work emotionally sustainable and gratifying over the long haul.

Please join us for a weekend of rejuvenation at Angela Center, a place of beauty, in Santa Rosa, California.

Who is eligible? Service Providers with caseloads of at least 25% OIF and OEF veterans and/or their families.
* Priority will be given to applicants working full-time with OIF and OEF veterans.
* Service providers may include: mental health and other health professionals, counselors, veteran service officers, chaplains, military leaders, and veteran service organization staff.
What does the retreat cost? This program is completely free. There is no cost for lodging, meals, workshops or air travel. For more information and to apply: Click Here: http://www.cominghomeproject.net/calendarch/display.asp?id=60

Applications will be accepted until March 23rd, 2009.
Presented by:
Coming Home Project
Holistic Services for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, their Families & their Service Providers