A Byrd's Eye View

The Gathering

Wow, I just looked at my title for this entry and it looked like something Stephen King would author. I don't read a lot of Stephen King, but I'm sure those of you who do can tell me if there is such a book.

No, the "gathering" I'm talking about is the so-called Gathering of Friends, an eclectic and non-denominational gathering of Nichiren Buddhists which meets once a month at the home of Bill and Jean Anker in Granada Hills, a northern suburb of Los Angeles. What I like about the group is that you can sort of check your denominational affiliations at the door. I have been asked by some SGI members "are there temple members there?", as though Nichiren Shoshu Hokkeko members could be spotted on sight, like pitiful drooling spiritual morons who need our help in finding their way to the Gohonzon. Actually, the ongoing concern in regard to "temple members" and evil priests infecting the faith of SGI members sometimes reminds me more of the AIDS scares of the 80's when people thought that the HIV virus could be spread by a handshake or a hug. When asked this question, about "temple members" at the Gathering of Friends, I can honestly shrug my shoulders and say I don't know, and you know what? I don't care, either. Actually, the regular attendees includes Nichiren Buddhists of every affiliation, as well as a couple of regular Hindus and a New Ager or two.

Some of us lobbied for different names, including "Empty District" and (my personal favorite) "Evil District", but somehow the Gathering of Friends has stuck so far. It sounds like something the Quakers would do, but it's not.

This Gathering got kicked off back in April, 2005 when Bill Anker, who together with his wife had been an SGI district leader for over a decade, was removed from his leadership post and told that SGI meetings could no longer be held at his home or the other district meeting house. Ryuei Michael McCormick gave a good history in his blog on the topic, entered back in January, 2006:

http://www.fraughtwithperil.com/blogs/ryuei/archives/000805.html

The first year, we studied the Lotus Sutra, the second year, we studied (on and off) the actual figures on Nichiren's mandala Gohonzon (using Ryuei's book "Lotus World" as a suggested text), and this year we are reaching out to other religious groups and doing some interfaith activities. This has been a very liberating experience, overall.

This has been an eclectic Spring. In April, a number of us participated in the annual celebration of the establishment of Nichiren Buddhist practice:

http://www.fraughtwithperil.com/blogs/byrd/archives/001454.html

http://www.fraughtwithperil.com/blogs/byrd/archives/001455.html

In May, we were visited by someone called a "reconnective healer". She chanted together with us and we all sort of learned to run healing energy into each other. Well, that was special. Last month, June, we were visited by a Wiccan couple and their son, who led us in a backyard summer solstice celebration. I thought that was very cool, as I had never been to a Wiccan ceremony before. We all stood in a circle around a table on the Ankers' back patio and welcomed the sun.

I have no idea what the future will hold as far as this interfaith thing goes. Part of me is in the World of Hunger, getting greedy for cool new guests...ooh! ooh! ooh! Can we get that wonderful young Thai Canadian meditating monk? Ooh! ooh! ooh! How about that yogi? Can we get this one? That one?

We're circling back into Nichirenland next Sunday July 29th with another visit from Michael McCormick, who will be speaking on the Four Aims or the Four Methods of Teaching and how they relate to what Nichiren said about benefit and tie it in with the current new age fad over "The Secret". I have a neighbor who is seriously into "The Secret", and so I hope this will be a good Nichiren Buddhist lecture for her.

Part of me loves the eclecticism of the Gathering and part of me really loves the predictability of my good old SGI district. Well, here I am, enjoying a sunny July afternoon, having my cake and eating it, too...

I shall report on the talk next week.

Be flexible, be strong, be cool.

Byrd in LA

Posted by wahzoh at July 21, 2007 10:45 AM