I do so wish I could have been in San Francisco this weekend. Two friends of mine, Michele Chavez and Kris Alvarez, will be receiving Jukai and officially joining the traditional Nichiren Shu. Their ceremony will be held on Sunday afternoon at the Faithful Fools Center in San Francisco, and presided over by our very FWP blogger, Ryuei Michael McCormick.
I remember how excited I was when I heard that Kris was coming down (all the way from Alaska, no less!) for the same cermony as Michele. It seemed like a fabulous coming-together of like minded and free souls who were taking the next step (for them) in faith.
Kris is a friend of mine from online, and she also was a part of the conference-call Lotus Sutra study group that I belonged to a few years ago. That was a fabulous bunch of folks, if I do say so myself. Although we had some guys pop in and out, it was mostly the gals, and we tried to get together by conference call every Sunday morning (at least it was morning here in LA). We had women from places as far-flung as Belfast, Northern Ireland, London, England, and of course, Kris in Alaska. Not to mention me in LA, and gals in Arizona, Indiana, and Virginia.
This was the telephone activity where we first discovered the fabulous. world-famous "washing daimoku", a visualization which has served me well for many years, now.
Michele and I also met online. I think she first wrote in to one of the blogs here asking about whether there were any "free-thinking"-type chanting gatherings available. She and her husband started coming to the Ankers' home for their monthly Gathering of Friends, and now Michele and I are the best of friends. I have enjoyed doing inter-faith activities with her, and she also encouraged me to get in shape last year through my marathon trianing (sort of) through the LA Leggers organization. Soon, we will be bike-riding and swimming together, as well (right, Michele?)
Anyway, I am having one of those kind of misty-eyed days where I wish I could be somewhere with someone or an important step, but I have to just settle for sending them the best energy I can - golden rays of Daimoku and good wishes.
I hope that Kris and Michele will be taking pictures at this event and posting them here in a guest blog.
Knock 'em dead, guys!
Be true to yourself, be hopeful, be cool.
Byrd in LA
Posted by wahzoh at April 26, 2008 11:54 AMByrd,
I know your thoughts and daimoku are with us. Ours will also be with you and the Ankers.
You know, I owe some big time debts of gratitude to that particular study group (you know who you are, ladies). I feel like it was an amazing gift to be part of it. When I wonder to myself, "what would a really great study group look like?", that's the image I get - that conference group. I look forward to a time when that exists again in my life.
Full reports at 11:00. Or maybe twelve. Tomorrow. Well, okay, after Jukai, and after dinner.
Here's to hewing to the truths you find in life. And thank you, Byrd, for all your support and energy over the past years.
Namu Myo Ho Renge Kyo,
Kris
Congratulations to both Michele and Kris on this most auspicious occasion! And in commemoration of Rikkyo Kaishu-E as well (the anniversary of Nichiren's first proclamation off the Odaimoku, 28 April, 1254 on the hill at Asahi-gomori).
Namaste, Engyo Mike Barrett
Posted by: Engyo Mike Barrett at April 27, 2008 10:06 AMCongratulations, Kris and Michele! Maybe I'll get
to meet you some day face to face...Byrd, too.
Maybe a new phone study group is
in our future?
I'm with you today in my heart, Patty
Posted by: Patty at April 27, 2008 11:43 AMMike and Patty,
Thank you for the good wishes. Incidentally, both of you were very instrumental in getting me started in Nichiren Shu, and have been inspirations to me (and Mike, please let the folks in the Houston Sangha whom I met at the first Dharma Conference know that I am deeply grateful to them for being good friends on the Path).
Yep, a phone study group may be in the future shortly... and, Patty, bank on meeting me in the future... maybe not until Autumn, but soon.
And Byrd - Barbara Pike was in our thoughts, and her name on the altar.
I'm tired, but I will be posting more tomorrow on a blog.
May the Dharma rain nourish all on the planet,
Kris
Hi Byrd,
The whole experience today was incredible, from the Proclamation Day chanting in the morning at the Nichiren Shu Temple in San Jose to the jukai ceremony in the afternoon at Faithful Fools.
It was such a pleasure to meet Kris, Rocky, and Sunny, plus the folks at the temple and everyone at Faithful Fools.
The jukai ceremony was deep, profound, and very moving.
We took lots of pictures and -- oh, we have something for you from Kris. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
In the morning, I will upload the pictures I took with my camera to the computer and see if I can figure out where is the best place to put them online. Flickr, maybe?
Posted by: Michele at April 27, 2008 11:57 PMHi Byrd,
I posted about the jukai ceremony on my blog.
http://www.genealogytales.com/dragon_kings_daughter/2008/04/jukai-ceremony.html
Posted by: Michele at April 28, 2008 03:38 PM