HAIB virtual Vesak Day celebration Monday May 16, 2022 from 5:30-7:00 pm

WHAT THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS  MEAN TO ME: A panel discussion

You are cordially invited to join us and other millions of Buddhists around the world to celebrate the Day of Vesak.

The General Assembly, by its resolution 54/115 of 1999, recognized internationally the Day of Vesak to acknowledge the contribution that Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made for over two and a half millennia and continues to make to the spirituality of humanity. 

"Vesak", the Day of the Full Moon in the month of May, is the most sacred day to millions of Buddhists around the world. It was on the Day of Vesak two and a half millennia ago, in the year 623 B.C., that the Buddha was born. It was also on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha attained enlightenment, and it was on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha in his eightieth year passed away.

A Message from the former Secretary-General, Javier Perez de Cuellar, to Buddhists on the Day of Vesak in May 1986 reads:

"For Buddhists everywhere it is indeed a felicitous opportunity, while commemorating the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Guatama [Sic] Buddha, to celebrate his message of compassion and devotion to the service of humanity. This message is today perhaps more relevant than ever before."

https://www.un.org/en/observances/vesak-day

Program Agenda

5:30   Welcome --- Michael Kieran, Roshi, the HAIB President

5:35   Reading of Vow of Humankind

5:40   Introduction of Panel--- Moderator, Gregory Pai, Ph.D., a HAIB Advisory Board member

5:45-6:30  Panel Discussion

6:30-6:50  Questions and Answers

6:55           Reading of Metta Sutta ---Rev. Jiko Nakade, the HAIB Vice President

7:00           Closing 

Panel Discussion Speakers

ALEXANDRIANNA HARMAN

Alex has attended Moiliili Hongwanji Preschool, Hongwanji Mission School and is a 2020 Graduate of Pacific Buddhist Academy.  Alex will be graduating from Leeward Community College with honors.  She will then be pursuing a degree in Veterinary Medicine and a minor in Business. 

Alex is a baptized member of the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin.  Alex grew up in a strong Jodo Shinshu Family.  Alex is an exceptional athlete, she played numerous sports and excelled in all of them.  Alex is also active in Honpa Hongwanji Girl Scouts.  Attended Dharma School.  She was the President for Honolulu Jr. Young Buddhist Association.  Alex was selected to be an exchange student to Japan for Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii and the President of the Buddhist Club for Pacific Buddhist Academy.  She is currently a Director on the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin Board.

KIM HUYNH 

Kim Huynh is an award-winning filmmaker and photographer based in Southern California who has produced projects for PBS, NBC, Google and the San Francisco Symphony. Growing up on O’ahu, Kim became interested in mindfulness at a very young age when her parents hosted weekly sittings and dharma talks in their home through Vipassana Hawai’i. She has been practicing insight meditation for over 20 years and was recently accepted into Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach's Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program at the Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California.

KATE VOST

Kate Vosti is a Somatic Facilitator who offers a unique, therapeutic experience using dance and movement to repurpose grief, reconnect to joy, and claim authentic expression and confidence. She has a Masters Degree in Leadership Studies and Somatic Psychotherapy), has studied Buddhism for 10 years, and trained in various forms of dance for 25 years. Kate has led her compassion based leadership program for Buddhist nuns in Indonesia, Vietnam, and India. She is passionate about weaving the Dharma, Leadership, and Psychosomatic Movement Practice together to help women heal from trauma and live vibrant, fulfilling lives.

JING ‘CRYSTAL’ ZHONG

Jing ‘Crystal’ Zhong encountered Chan when she attended a five-day Chan retreat for young people held by Dharma Drum Mountain Hong Kong in 2015, and became serious about the practice. She has since then studied Chan meditation from Master Sheng Yen and his dharma heirs in the Dharma Drum Mountain lineage. In 2016 she became a student of Michael Kieran and started practicing with the Honolulu Diamond Sangha, where she now serves as the President of the Board of Directors. She takes refuge in the Three Treasures, and in doing so reclaims the richness and fullness of life. She is now a PhD candidate in the Department of Second Language Studies at the University of Hawaii. 

Moderator

GREGORY PAI, Ph.D.

Gregory Pai, Ph.D. has studied and practiced meditation since the mid 1970’s in the Tibetan, Zen, and Vipassana or Insight Meditation traditions.  He currently teaches a public meditation class at the Broken Ridge Korean Temple.  He formerly served in the administrations of Governor Benjamin Cayetano and  John Waihee, as well as Chief Economist for the First Hawaiian Bank. 

You can register for the event below