LAY TEACHERS PROGRAM
We will begin the third year of our Lay Teachers Program beginning in March, 2005. All current students are encouraged to attend, regardless of whether you completed the 2003-2004.
We are no longer accepting new certificate students, but we can accept a few new students who want to participate for the purpose of enrichment. Anyone with questions about Shin Buddhism or about Unno Sensei's books should feel free email us at [email protected].
The program is aimed at deepening our appreciation of everyday living and its meaning, understood through the Dharma. It is a process of awakening to reality, here and now, and the stirrings of gratitude from deep within regardless of what "I" perceive as the experience. The words, Namu Amida Butsu, are not dualistic, but are the expressions of life itself as a gift, calling/embracing me within this unrepeatable moment of living. This appreciation comes naturally as one listens to the Dharma and reflects, introspects, shares, and lives, cherishing all of life's interconnections.
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 Important Notes
We usually meet at Smith College, Wright Hall, Room 234, from 2:00 - 4:30 p.m., one Sunday each month.
It is entirely possible to pursue the Lay Teacher program as "distance learning," and several people are doing so already!
The annual fee for this program is $25 to cover the cost of xeroxing of supplementary articles, mailings, and other expenses.
You will be asked to obtain a copy of the appropriate texts, some of which may be available to purchase at a discount through the Unnos.
Please turn in your WRITTEN RESPONSES, even if they are late. Only those who send in responses on a regular basis will qualify for the two-year LTP Certificate of Completion at the end of their studies.
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
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2005 LAY TEACHERS PROGRAM (LTP) SCHEDULE
Note: the 2003 assignments and 2004 assignmentsare still available in case you need to reference them.
MARCH 27, 2:00-4:30 p.m.
We encourage everyone to continue with our program,
since its
continuation beyond 2005 is uncertain.
If you intend to participate, please let us know by March 20
(email [email protected]).
This year we will read and discuss short articles on Shin living, Shin poems, and other writings that will aid us in deepening our appreciation of the Buddha Dharma and help us integrate its basic teachings into our lives.
The poems for our first meeting will be distributed on March 27 (those unable to attend should request this collection of poems). We will
also return all responses from last year.
This year's program is designed with multiple purposes.
First, it will provide an opportunity for those who already qualify for a certificate of completion to continue deepening their experience of Nembutsu,
Namu-amida-butsu, reminding ourselves to keep the beginner's mind,
because "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in
the expert's there are few."
Second, it will be an opportunity to complete the program for those
who were unable to do so for a variety of reasons, such that the Shin
teachings will become part of one's daily life. The Buddhist path is
never ending, renewing our experience and appreciation constantly.
Third, we also welcome those who wish to acquire some understanding
of Shin Buddhist teachings, regardless of any interest in
certificates of any kind.
APRIL 24, 2:00-4:30 p.m.
Assignment:
1) Read the poems taken from "Dharma Treasures: Spiritual Insights From Hawaii's Shin Buddhist Pioneers" English translation of Nembutsu Poems and Commentaries by Tatsuo Muneto. Selections were taken from the book and assigned for our NLTP members. For those who were unable to attend our March 27th meeting, a copy of the poems will be sent to you.
The poems were all originally written in Japanese and translated
into English and published in 1997. The selected poems were all written by women, except for those by Mr. J. Oshima, as follows: Haru Matsuda (pp. 8-9), Nami Sogi (pp. 12-13) Mitsuyo Makinodan (pp. 25-31), and Masako Fujikawa, J. Oshima, Tai Oshima, and Kiku Kato (pp. 34-39).
These Shin Buddhists had only minimal formal education, raised
large families, labored in coffee plantations, and experienced many
hardships as immigrants. Yet they were all enriched by the Buddha
Dharma. This year we want to see how the Shin teachings can be
realized by us for a richer, fuller life here and now.
2) Select at least three that are your favorites.
3) Be prepared to discuss your selections and to share your understanding
of their religious significance.
Everyday life is our practice in Shin Buddhism.
No Meeting in May
JUNE 5, 2:00-4:30 p.m.
Assignment: Read the following articles and come prepared to share
your views as cited in items one and three.
1. "What is Shin Buddhism?" by Nobuo Haneda. What is the main point
of this article?
2. Review the article on Coffinman by Juliet Lee.
3. "When Things Fall Apart" by Pema Chodron. An excellent article on Tibetan
Buddhism. What would be the Shin comment on this approach?
4. Two charts that will help us appreciate the connotation of "evil"
as found in Shin literature.
No Meeting in July or August
In July, the Northampton Shin Buddhist Sangha will have our annual weekend retreat at BCBS, and a half-day workshop at Smith College.
SEPETEMBER 18, 2:00-4:30 p.m.
Assignment: We will conclude the Lay Teachers Program with three
meetings in the Fall: September 18, November 20, and December 12. We
will focus on selected sections of the TANNISHO for discussion. For
September 18, Sections I, II, and VIII will be discussed.
No Meeting in October
NOVEMBER 20, 2:00-4:30 p.m.
Assignment: We will focus on selected sections of the TANNISHO for discussion (Sections V and VI will be discussed).
DECEMBER 11, 2:00-4:30 p.m.
Assignment: We will continue discussing TANNISHO, Sections V and VI, plus Section IX.
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