We are from the Soto Zen Tradition. This group is for you if you are curious about Zen practice, or you are a Zen practitioner looking to develop a practice with mentorship and camaraderie. We conduct a formal weekly class on Saturday mornings which includes Zazen, Kinhin, Chanting, Tea and Zen Chat. We also have readings and Dharma discussions. Our guide is Kosho Itagaki, a Zen priest, born, educated and ordained in Japan. Our venue is the Academy of Koei-Kan Karate-Do. Our group hosts Zen retr …

NOTE: I'm putting animefest on hiatus for a little while, as I have been fairly busy. I will still accept new members, but I probably won't have another meeting for a couple of months. Animefest meets once a month to eat dinner, socialize, and watch anime. To get a feel for what we usually show, here's some of what we've watched recently: Michiko to Hatchin, High School of The Dead, Bakemonogatari, Angel's Egg, Ponyo, Ouran High School Host Club, Summer Wars All genres of anime are welcome. Mos …

Hi! Anyone interested in hosting exchange students from Japan, Korea, or China? I work for not-for-profit organization and coordinate exchange students program. Our program is very unique, students come here not only to study English, but they are eager to share their own language and cultures. So, this will be a great match if your family is interested in those cultures and would like to learn more, and having great experience with exchange students. If you would like to know more about this, c …

This group is for people interested in learning Japanese. The methods used are Where Are Your Keys? and Language Hunting, both designed to start conversing from lesson one. There is a blog about the lessons at LHJapanese.

Hear Ye Hear Ye, Calling All Turtles Far and Near R U A Turtle? Y.B.Y.S.A.I.A Looking for a few good turtles to make a few hundred good turtles. If you are interested in joining the greatest fraternity on earth then come on down to T-town and stick your neck out for a fellow turtle. WELCOME TO THE HOTTEST SOCIAL ORGANIZATION NOW IN 100 CITIES Many have seen the question “Are you a Turtle?”  or you have seen YBYSAIA. But who or what  are the Turtles, you ask? The “Turtles” are indeed an illustri …

Buddhism is a practice that allows us to change ourselves by developing the qualities of wisdom, kindness, and awareness. The focus of Buddhism is on practices such as meditating, chanting, and upholding the Buddhist teachings (known as the “Dharma”). Buddhism is non-exclusive, and welcomes those of all religions. Buddhism is a way of life, a practice based on the principle of serving others before yourself.  It is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, or "the awakened one,” …