Will's World 04 25 2010

Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara in Los Angeles.

Near a busy downtown Los Angeles intersection stands a house, converted into rooms for spiritual reflection: Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara. (Dharma means the teachings of the Buddha; Vijaya means victory; Vihara means temple.) A Sri Lankan monk, Bhante B. Kalyanawansa greated us and explained some of his Buddhist Theravada tradition, which is considered by some to be the oldest version of the Buddha’s teachings now surviving. “It preserves the original doctrines and practices taught by the Buddha over 2,500 years ago,” states the temple’s website.


The monks begin their day at 6 a.m. with services in the shrine room, which include offerings to the Buddha, recitation of a sutta (sutra) and meditation.

The vihara performs all rites and ceremonies observed by the Theravada Buddhist communities and offers instruction in meditation.

The vihara also “conducts public lectures to impart basic knowledge of Buddha’s teaching embodied in the Tripitaka texts. These texts are widely referred to as the Pali Canon because they are [written] in Pali, an ancient Indian language that was spoken by Buddha. Weekly evening classes are held at the vihara for the study and discussion of the fundamental theory and practice of Theravada Buddhism,” states the website.

This visit to the vihara by Jacky and I was to gather information about the rites and rituals specific to Theravadins. We promised Bhante Kalyanawansa that we’d return to observe a service in the future.

TO VIEW JACKY’S BLOG, go to:
http://liuontheway.blogspot.com/

Bhante B. Kalyanawansa, one of five monks at the vihara.

A room for meditation.

Jacky L. meditating at the vihara.

The vihara has its own Bodhi tree.

From "Sayings of the Buddha":

This is a religion for one to come and practice

but not just to come and believe.

Will's World 04 24 2010

View from Mount Wilson

High above the freeways and traffic, the frantic people and troubled minds in downtown Los Angeles, the Mount Wilson Observatory has been perched atop a mountain peak since 1904. Known for its large telescopes and astronomic discoveries, the observatory sits majestically among the tall pines and rugged rocks in the Angeles Forest.


“In the twenty-first century, the observatory hosts several of the most technologically advanced facilities in the world for studying astronomical objects with unprecedented resolution and clarity,” states the observatory’s website. “The 100-inch Hooker telescope remains in active scientific service, and the solar towers are daily collecting data representing the world’s longest continuous record of the sun.”

In search of a meditative hike, Jacky L. and I parked at the observatories entrance and trekked along a nearby truck route that led to nearby Harvard Mountain. Sharing the mountains with high-technological instruments, we were able to enjoy a serene environment and moments of reflection.

“Where has humanity gone? Life must be an illusion,” said my Buddhist friend as we laughed and watched the slowly churning clouds that hid from our sight the millions of Angelenos below.

Spirituality can be found anywhere, not just in places constructed specifically to house worshippers.


TO VIEW JACKY’S BLOG, go to:
http://user.qzone.qq.com/983639542?ptlang=2052

Clouds lapping at the Angeles Forest mountains.

Millions of Angelenos are hidden below the clouds.

Jacky takes a photo near satellite dish on Mount Harvard.

The 2009 "Station Fire" scorched many acres in the mountains.

Despite the fire, flowers still bloom in the Angeles Forest.

Natural beauty can still be found.

A few patches of snow remain on the mountain.

Will's World 04 04 2010 Easter Sunday

Worshippers at the First A.M.E. Church, Los Angeles.

“Happy Resurrection Day,” said the fashionably dressed woman who greeted us as we entered the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles. It would be a greeting we would hear often as we met other members of the city’s first predominantly black church, established in 1872. It now has a congregation of over 19, 000.


The words “First to Serve” painted in large letters at the back of the church remind visitors of the church’s involvement in many community activities. Politicians often visit the church because of its influence.

Today’s service was an energetic and inspiration work of art that integrated music, dance and sermon to remind the congregation of the importance of Jesus’ Resurrection. The choir of more than 50 singers, and half a dozen musicians vibrated as they sang gospel songs that had everyone in the audience rhythmically nodding their heads, waving their arms or standing and swaying in the pews.

The sermon by the Rev. Dr. John J. Hunter, senior minister, had the audience engaged from beginning to end. “We’ve been redeemed by God because of Jesus’ crucifixion,” he said and many voices injected “Amen,” and “Yes, God.” Then Hunter told them “Act like you’ve been redeemed. … You’ve been purchased by His blood,” and many applauded and again voiced approval.

Hunter seemed inspired as he challenged to worshippers to live better lives. With the cadence of his sentences, and the content of his speech, he held the attention of all who listened.

Both Jacky L. and I left the church feeling exhilarated. The entire service combined entertainment with information. It was a fun and meaningful adventure for us both.

One of many stained glass windows at First A.M.E. church.

Hundreds of people packed the church

for one of the three service held each Sunday.

Artwork near the entrance door.

Front of First A.M.E. church.

The Rev. Dr. John J. Hunter giving the Easter sermon.

The choir was a key component to the service.

Dancer portraying Jesus during the service.

The audience was engaged throughout the service.

Will's World 03 27 2010

Story Chapel, just inside the main entrance to Mount Auburn

 Cemetery, in Cambridge, Mass.  The cemetery, founded in 1831,

is the first landscaped cemetery in North America. 

I understand that no human is perfect but shouldn’t each one of us be striving to get closer to perfection --- not in a fanatical, but a reasonable manner.


Lin Yutang in From Pagan to Christian mentions Confucius’s concept of ren-ren. “This philosophical idea of ren, or true manhood,” states Lin, “became, for Confucius, an ideal somewhat difficult to attain. … [He] did allow that this true manhood was within reach of everyone. … But to be a ‘real man,’ in English as well as in Chinese society is not easy. I suppose Confucius would say that Abraham Lincoln was a ren-ren, a real man, an example of the human best, consistently maintained at a high level.”

Lin later states: “A harmony is established between the moral universe without and the laws of true manhood within. In discovering his true self, man finds unity with the universe, and conversely, in finding unity with the moral laws of the universe man realizes his true self, or true manhood.”

Although their achievements may be far fewer than those reached by Lincoln, there are people still striving to improve themselves and society at the same time --- Tony Torosian for example.

An obituary in the Thursday, March 25, 2010 Boston Globe describes how Torosian had spent over 25 years attending court proceedings in Boston’s federal and state courtrooms --- just because he enjoyed doing it. And eventually, lawyers and judges began seeking advice from Tony regarding how their cases were developing.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mark L. Wolf is quoted as saying: “There are some people who drop into court proceedings occasionally; there are others who come regularly, but nobody was as almost religiously devoted to observing the operations of this court as Tony.”

Confucius observed that when an individual educates and improves him/herself, society benefits. We all have the opportunity to do just that, and not only society but the universe also will benefit.

A military burial was held for Tony Torosian at Mount Auburn.

"Tony always enjoyed a good cigar," said his brother Bob Torosian,

 above right, as friends and relatives of Tony began smoking

cigars, in remembrance of Tony, soon after the funeral service.

Buds and small blossoms began appearing on some

of the trees in Mount Auburn Cemetery, which covers

175 acres of meadows, hills, ponds and woods.

Harold Edgerton, pioneer in stobe

lights and photography.

B.F. Skinner, pioneer in behavior modification.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The name sounds familiar but I don't know if he ever

accomplished anything with his life. More notable graves include:

Charles Bulfinch, Curt Gowdy, Buckminster Fuller,

Mary Baker Eddy, Felix Frankfurter, Oliver Wendell Holmes,

Winslow Homer, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., and many others.

Interior of Story Chapel

Will's World 03 26 2010

John F. Monahan: Dec. 7, 1954 --- March 19, 2010

“Toward the end of T.S. Eliot’s life,” according to author Bernard Bergonzi in ‘T.S. Eliot,’ “a friend asked him if he could say more about some lines from Little Gidding:


And what the dead had no speech for, when living,

They can tell you, being dead: the communication

Of the dead is tongued with fire beyond the language of the living.


Eliot replied that we cannot fully understand a person’s life, and grasp the totality of his being, until he is dead: ‘Once he is dead, the acts of his life fall into their proper perspective and we can see what he was tending toward.’ ”

But even in death, as in life, it’s very difficult to get a proper perspective of John F. Monahan. John, 55, my dear friend for over 35 years, died last Friday, March 19, by his own effort and left many grieving friends and baffled relatives wondering why.

It was not because his life’s work was complete. John seldom completed anything. His life and his years as a talented photojournalist were an ongoing project with no end in sight. He existed to be doing; he rarely contemplated any long-range results of his actions. He was too busy doing. Capturing the exact photo he wanted; finding the exact word he needed; determining the exact moment to act.

John was interested in, and knew something about, most everything --- atoms to Adam; zits to Zaphod Beeblebrox --- and still thirsted for more knowledge and understanding. But he was never able to understand the complexities of everyday life: the monthly bills, the legal documents; the required forms; the rituals that most folks must go through to have an orderly existence.

He was too busy doing. He was on a quest but I’m not sure if he even knew exactly what would indicate that his quest was attained. He seemed to be fascinated by the journey and intoxicated by air itself.

In recent months John had focused more and more on religious matters. Some might want to believe that he finally achieved his quest by fully embracing his spirituality and his journey has ended in a beautiful place.

But I don’t know and never will. John and I had a falling out. He was extremely angry at me and refused to talk to me during the last weeks of his life. He felt that I betrayed our friendship. I considered him irrational and didn’t bother to respond to some of the statements he made to others.

Maybe it was I who was irrational. I loved John like a brother for three decades then in his last few weeks, when I knew that he was struggling with depression and worse, I foolishly did not try hard enough to break through the barrier between us. I was ignorant of his many recent activities and naively thought that once he got over being angry at me that we would once again be friends. But I didn’t try hard enough to help a friend.

I let him down, and he died.

Illustration by David Rose, presented

to John when leaving for Gannett Newspapers.

Home of The Post community newspaper (second floor) in

Roslindale Square (Boston), where John began his journalism career.

John's sons, Sean (far right) and Paul (third from right),

greet visitors at Thursday's wake.

John's close friend for over 50 years, Matt Carroll shares

memories of John at the Trinitarian Congregational Church

in Wayland, Mass., where the celebration of John's life

was held on Friday, March 26, 2010.

 

John's son Paul reads scripture during the celebration service

at the Trinitarian Congregational Church.

Will's World 03 03 2010

Mildred C. inside the Crystal Cathedral.

Glass, and plenty of it, sparkles in the sunlight, and dazzles visitors at Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif., which is the home of Rev. Robert H. Schuller and his internationally televised “Hour of Power”, which claims an audience of approximately 20 million.


“To inspire and motivate persons through possibility thinking to grow in a loving relationship with Jesus Christ so they can be the persons God dreams, desires, and designed them to be,” is the Cathedral’s mission statement.

Schuller, 83, often preaches sermons focusing on positive actions, and has written 37 books, in hopes of motivating his audiences. He began his career in Orange County when he rented the Orange Drive-In movie theater and held Sunday services from the roof of its snack bar.

According to church officials, “The New Yorker said in 2008 that Dr. Schuller’s ministry is the ‘phenomenon’ behind today’s mega-church movement.”

When we visited the church, my parents enjoyed the architecture and the many statues depicting Biblical scenes that were scattered about the campus.

First stop after leaving the church was the Salvadoran restaurant in Santa Ana, “El Curtido” for some delicious Carne Deshilachada (shredded beef sautéed in onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers.

"Peace Be Still" statue depices Jesus walking on water.

"The Holy Family" statue.

Dining at "El Curtido" in Santa Ana.

Friendly and helpful waitress at "El Curtido" restaurant.