In accordance with their status, some have wives and children, relatives, fiefs, and gold and silver, while others have no treasure. Whether one has wealth or not, no treasure exceeds the one called life.
WND, 1125 – The Gift of Rice
Fryman Park Hike February 19, 2008
Taking good care of your health is most important. In particular, it is vital for those who are advanced in years to get sufficient rest to avoid becoming fatigued. Sleep is the best medicine. I also hope you will put your wisdom to work and find various ways to improve and maintain your health.
-Daisaku Ikeda
Human Rights Film Festival Founder Paolo Davanzo To Give Talk February 14, 2008
A release from the SGI International Center:
SANTA MONICA, CA – Soka Gakkai International-USA’s Culture of Peace Resource Center in Santa Monica will host a lecture with Mr. Paolo Davanzo, Founder and Executive Director of the annual Human Rights Film Festival and the Echo Park Film Center. The lecture will take place on Saturday February 16 at 4:00pm.
“We live in a media-saturated age.” says Mr. Davanzo. “However the majority of us are only consumers of information. It is my hope to excite and encourage people to become the producers of their own media content. By discussing my work as a filmmaker, educator and human rights activist, I hope to demonstrate how change begins in your own neighborhood.”
Every year, the Human Rights Film Festival he organizes presents an engaging variety of documentary and experimental films that explore themes of home and community, basic human rights, including the right to peacefully assemble, the right to religious freedom, the right of political sovereignty and the right to life and liberty. Through anecdotes, short films and examples of community-based media, Mr. Davanzo’s talk will highlight social justice issues too often ignored by the mainstream media in Western industrialized nations.
“One of the first steps in achieving human rights is developing a solid perspective about humanity, realizing that though others may be different from you, we are all members of the same human family.” says series organizer Ian McIlraith. “Paolo Davanzo’s community-based approach to media activism is helping new generations of global citizens create dynamic new ways of promoting thought, discussion, debate and action on human rights issues in their homes, schools and local communities.”
The lecture will take place at the SGI-USA Culture of Peace Resource Center, 606 Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica. All lectures are free and open to the public.
Soka Gakkai International-USA follows the Nichiren school of Mahayana Buddhism and applies those principles to promote human happiness and peace, culture and education. With headquarters in Santa Monica, it has approximately 300,000 members in the United States.
A Day of Satisfied Ease February 12, 2008
Recently, I enjoyed a lovely afternoon of tea with dear friends at Lady Effie’s Tea Parlor. The Parlor is a hidden gem located in South LA, near USC. It is a celebration of old fashioned Southern traditions and culture, and attention to detail and laid back satisfaction. Visit the Parlor’s Web site at http://www.ladyeffiesteaparlor.com/. Once there peruse the extensive tea menu and make a reservation for a day of satisfied ease.
Sitting in the Parlor with good friends it reminded me of the phrase from Nichiren Daishonin, “…enjoy what there is to enjoy.”
Visit this quaint place, and give my best to Lady Effie!
The Two Paths February 8, 2008
The belief of some is like fire while that of others is like water. When the former listen to the teachings, their passion flares up like fire, but as time goes on, they tend to discard their faith. To have faith like water means to believe continuously without ever regressing.
-The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 899
The Gift of Individuality February 8, 2008
Buddhism teaches the principle of cherry, plum, peach and damson, that all things have a unique beauty and mission. Every person has a singular mission, his or her individuality and way of life. That is the natural order of things.
-SGI President, Daisaku Ikeda (Faith into Action, p. 140)
