Lewis R. Lancaster, one of the greatest living scholars of Mahāyāna Buddhism, presents a talk as part of the University of California-Berkeley’s Burke Lectureship series on “Religion and Society”:
I received the following message from the Zen Hospice Project this afternoon:
It is with great pride and excitement that we introduce to our new Speakers Bureau Service. This is outreach effort has been created in response to the many requests we receive for information about our organization, our volunteer program and our hospice philosophy. Our speakers are all volunteers from Zen Hospice who have a wealth of experience to share with others. Each has participated in a training to ready themselves for this endeavor.
As the people who sit at the bedside of the dying and companion the bereaved, these speakers are the best way to carry the essence of Zen Hospice Project out beyond our walls. Given the wealth of their personal hospice stories, their compassion and knowledge cultivated through deep reflection, and the generosity of their hearts, each speaker is certain to generate understanding and inspiration to whomever offers them an invitation!
We look forward to offering this service in a variety of settings, such as schools, care facilities, faith groups, and social service agencies in the Bay Area. Currently, there is no fee for the Speakers Bureau. Over the years, we have learned that offering gifts to the community is a wonderful way to express our gratitude for the privilege of accompanying people at the end of their lives.
For more information on how to bring a Zen Hospice speaker to your group or organization, please contact Jennifer Block, our Education Director, at 415.863.2910 or email her at jblock@zenhospice.org.
Sincerely,
Zen Hospice Project
This from Secundra Beasley: Lama Choyin Rangdrol, the only African-American teacher of Vajrayana Buddhism recognized by the First Conference of Tibetan Buddhist Centers in North and South America, is currently working on a film about his life as a Buddhist practitioner. You can view 40 minutes of his work on the film at his website Rainbow Dharma
Hot on the heels of legislation seeking to block the import of gems from Burma, the Agence France-Presse is reporting that the U.S. Congress has passed the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act, which effectively renews sanctions first imposed on the junta in 2003. According to the report, the legislation imposes sanctions until the General Than Shwe and his cadre make dramatic changes in Burma, “including steps toward reconciliation and democratization, an end to attacks on ethnic minorities and the release of all ‘prisoners of conscience.’”
