Podcasts about soka gakkai international

In this episode of the Cult Vault podcast, host Kacey speaks with Jay, a former member of Soka Gakkai International (SGI), who shares her personal experiences growing up in the organisation. Jay discusses her family's background, her early involvement in SGI, and the pressures and expectations placed on her as a member. She reflects on her experiences at SGI meetings, the financial contributions required, and the impact of leadership dynamics on her family. Jay also shares her struggles with identity, her meeting with Daisaku Ikeda, and the manipulative control tactics used by SGI. Ultimately, she emphasises the importance of individuality and critical thinking in the face of high-control groups.Get in Touch or Support: Patreon - patreon.com/thecultvaultCrimecon UK 2025 https://www.crimecon.co.uk - use code CULT for 10% off tickets!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultvaultpod/Twitter: https://twitter.com/CultVaultPodReddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/Cult-VaultGmail: cultvaultpodcast@gmail.com

Zoning amendments could nix Beacon drive-thru The Healey family, which for 40 years operated auto dealerships along Fishkill Avenue in Beacon, says the City Council is unfairly targeting its effort to redevelop one of its lots, according to a letter addressed to Mayor Lee Kyriacou and council members. The letter, sent Monday (Feb. 10) on behalf of Dwight Healey and his sons, Jay and Dylan, accuses the mayor and council of expediting "incomplete recommendations" made by the Fishkill Avenue Concepts Committee, a citizen workgroup assembled by Kyriacou to study the corridor. (Jay Healey is a member of the committee.) The recommendations contradict Beacon's comprehensive plan and lack analysis by traffic consultants and other experts contracted by the city, wrote Taylor Palmer, the Healeys' attorney. Kyriacou said Wednesday that he had been away because of a family matter and had not had time to read the letter in full. After purchasing a Ford dealership on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie and constructing a Hyundai facility on Route 52 in Fishkill, the Healey family placed four substantial Fishkill Avenue parcels on the market in 2023. The Planning Board last year approved applications from Carvana, the used-car retailer, and Soka Gakkai International, a Buddhist organization, to occupy two of the parcels. In November, the family brought a proposal to the board to convert a building at 420 Fishkill Ave., its former Ford dealership, to a Dunkin' coffeehouse with a drive-thru, three apartments and additional commercial space. At the same time, the council in November asked the Fishkill Avenue committee to develop interim zoning recommendations for the corridor while continuing its work, which includes studying streetscapes and pedestrian accessibility. J.C. Calderon, the committee chair, delivered the recommendations during the council's Jan. 27 workshop: Prohibit self-storage facilities. Prohibit drive-thrus. Reduce the minimum front-yard setback for new development and require parking behind, underneath or to the side of a building. Prohibit gas stations, car washes, auto lots and repair shops, but allow existing auto-related uses to remain as non-conformities. Calderon noted that committee members had not unanimously agreed but said the proposals align with input received during three public "pop-ups" last summer and an online survey. Another public information session is scheduled for March 9 at Industrial Arts Brewing Co. Planning Board members also questioned the committee's recommendations, Calderon said. During a work session before its Dec. 10 meeting, John Gunn, the board chair, said that auto-related uses and drive-thrus "could be considered appropriate" in the Fishkill Avenue corridor while emphasizing traffic-calming and the pedestrian experience "in context of some of these types of uses." The City Council on Monday agreed to send a draft law prohibiting self-storage facilities and drive-thrus to the city and county planning boards for review. Council members said they requested the "quick-fix" measures to preserve the city's vision for a walkable corridor that would complement recreational uses such as biking and hiking before incompatible development is approved. The Planning Board held a public hearing the next night on the Dunkin' proposal. Three residents, one of them the husband of Council Member Pam Wetherbee, opposed the plans. One person favored the project. Thirteen more (eight for, five against) submitted written comments. In the letter from Palmer, the Healeys asked the council members, if they decide to prohibit self-storage and drive-thrus, to exempt their project because it had been proposed beforehand. Rose Hill Manor The owner of Rose Hill Manor Day School, a preschool located for 40 years at 1064 Wolcott Ave., has proposed redeveloping the site as a three-story, 41-room hotel with a gym, spa and 56-seat restaurant. The hotel would be open year-round with the spa open Tuesday through Sunday. The restaurant ...

Ann is a lifelong performing artist with an illustrious career spanning Broadway, Off-Broadway, and major venues across the country. Having worked with top producers and directors, Ann's onstage presence is matched only by her offstage passions. Beyond the spotlight, Ann indulges in historical fiction and philosophy, enjoys hiking and biking, watches golf, and savors tequila alongside Jacques Torres chocolate. A New York City resident, Ann lives with her husband and children, continually finding inspiration in the city's vibrant energy.Ann is dedicated to giving back to the community, serving on the Advisory Boards of The American Songbook Association and The Capital Cabaret Organization. She is passionate about bringing the art of cabaret to underprivileged NYC public school students and promoting the art form in the nation's capital. Additionally, Ann is an active member of Soka Gakkai International, a Buddhist NGO of the United Nations.Ann can share insights from her theatrical career and multifaceted life. Listeners can learn about the intersection of performance, philosophy, and community service, all while being entertained by Ann's dynamic storytelling and infectious passion.https://www.annkittredge.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/i-am-refocused-radio--2671113/support.

Creativity through the lens of a performer, school advocate and mother,"The depth of creativity is accumulative" Ann is a lifelong performing artist with an illustrious career spanning Broadway, Off-Broadway, and major venues across the country. Having worked with top producers and directors, Ann's onstage presence is matched only by her offstage passions. Beyond the spotlight, Ann indulges in historical fiction and philosophy, enjoys hiking and biking, watches golf, and savors tequila alongside Jacques Torres chocolate. A New York City resident, Ann lives with her husband and children, continually finding inspiration in the city's vibrant energy.Ann is dedicated to giving back to the community, serving on the Advisory Boards of The American Songbook Association and The Capital Cabaret Organization. She is passionate about bringing the art of cabaret to underprivileged NYC public school students and promoting the art form in the nation's capital. Additionally, Ann is an active member of Soka Gakkai International, a Buddhist NGO of the United Nations.Ann can share insights from her theatrical career and multifaceted life. Listeners can learn about the intersection of performance, philosophy, and community service, all while being entertained by Ann's dynamic storytelling and infectious passion.https://www.annkittredge.com/https://www.facebook.com/AnnKittredgeHappenings/https://www.instagram.com/annkittredge/?hl=enhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdIee4o4cH49pPkXWGc13kQ?view_as=subscriberSend us a text

PEG Podcast With Ann Kittredge: Versatile Talent: Singer, Actress, Volunteer, Advocate & More Performing Arts Ann is a lifelong performing artist with an illustrious career spanning Broadway, Off-Broadway, and major venues across the country. Having worked with top producers and directors, Ann's onstage presence is matched only by her offstage passions.  Beyond the spotlight, Ann indulges in historical fiction and philosophy, enjoys hiking and biking, watches golf, and savors tequila alongside Jacques Torres chocolate. A New York City resident, Ann lives with her husband and children, continually finding inspiration in the city's vibrant energy. Ann is dedicated to giving back to the community, serving on the Advisory Boards of The American Songbook Association and The Capital Cabaret Organization. She is passionate about bringing the art of cabaret to underprivileged NYC public school students and promoting the art form in the nation's capital. Additionally, Ann is an active member of Soka Gakkai International, a Buddhist NGO of the United Nations. Ann can share insights from her theatrical career and multifaceted life. Listeners can learn about the intersection of performance, philosophy, and community service, all while being entertained by Ann's dynamic storytelling and infectious passion. Link: https://www.annkittredge.com/ Donate to support PEG free artist interviews: PayPalMe link Any contribution is appreciated: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/PhantomElectric?locale.x=en_US Support PEG by checking out our Sponsors: Download and use Newsly for free now from www.newsly.me or from the link in the description, and use promo code “GHOST” and receive a 1-month free premium subscription. The best tool for getting podcast guests:  Podmatch.com https://podmatch.com/signup/phantomelectricghost Subscribe to our Instagram for exclusive content: https://www.instagram.com/expansive_sound_experiments/ Donate to support PEG free artist interviews: Subscribe to our YouTube  https://youtube.com/@phantomelectricghost?si=rEyT56WQvDsAoRpr PEG uses StreamYard.com for our live podcasts https://streamyard.com/pal/c/6290085463457792 Get $10.00 Credit for using StreamYard.com when you sign up with our link RSS https://anchor.fm/s/3b31908/podcast/rss

The subject tonight is Love And for tomorrow night as well, As a matter of fact I know of no better topic For us to discuss Until we all Die! - Hafiz Crisis, war, injustice, and violence have a certain logic—and social change processes working to address these challenges carry a similar, reactionary logic. How can love help us to step out of the perceived reality of “what is possible” in building peace during conflict? Turning points in conflicts and crises are often mysterious, require acts of enormous creativity, and a willingness to risk. Social change is an artistic act, mobilizing love and prophetic imagination–and it requires us to step into the mystery of the unknown that lies beyond the far too familiar landscape of violence. In this series, join Host Serena Bian in speaking with three people who bear witness to the best and worst of humanity, holding a courageous moral imagination. Working and witnessing the front lines of injustice, war, climate change, these peacebuilders, mystics, storytellers hold space for the miraculous to emerge, refusing to be bound by a perceived reality of “what is possible.” Events in the serves Monday, April 29 | Deepa Patel Weds, May 29 | Aljosie Aldrich Harding Tues, June 25 | Kalyanee Mam Aljosie Aldrich Harding Reared in segregated North Carolina, Aljosie began learning, teaching, and building social justice skills along with organizing in the 1960s as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Lome, Togo, West Africa. She has been a servant-leader at the Institute of the Black World (Atlanta), a think tank and advocacy organization, and the Learning House (Atlanta) an independent Afrocentric freedom school. She has worked in community organizing in several southern and northern cities and in empowerment building with women's circles, organizations, and colleges. With her co-worker, partner, and late husband, Vincent Harding, she built intergenerational relationships with social justice and peace organizations across the United States and abroad. Her organizational links have included the Bruderhof, Soka Gakkai International, Young Adult Quakers, the Dorothy Cotton Institute, the Walter Rodney Symposium and Foundation, Tewa Women United, Kid Cultivators, and the Yale-National University of Singapore. As a spiritual guide (director) she shares healing justice practices in all her organizational work. Serena Bian Serena is pursuing a life that remains attentive to the tenderness of a snail's soft body and reverent to the miracle of its spiraled shell. Working with U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, Serena serves as a Special Advisor and brings a spiritual and systemic understanding to the public health crisis of loneliness and isolation. As a chaplain-in-training, Serena is pursuing questions of how we chaplain the end of extractive systems that isolate communities from themselves and one another. She is involved with multi-generational, multi-spiritual communities like the Nuns and Nones, devoted to courage, peacebuilding, and love. She participates on the Board of Commonweal and CoGenerate. #newschoolcommonweal #commonweal #interfaith #peacebuilding #peace

“When your determination changes, everything will begin to move in the direction you desire.  The moment you resolve to be victorious, every nerve and fiber in your being will immediately orient itself toward your success.  On the other hand if you think “this will never work out,” then at that instant every cell in your being will be deflated and give up the fight. Everything then will move in the direction of failure.  I want you to understand the subtle workings of the mind.  How you orient your mind, the kind of attitude you have, greatly influences both yourself and your environment.”   This quote is from Daisaku Ikeda, former president of Soka Gakkai International, the largest and most diverse lay organization of Buddhist practitioners in the world. And it has been on or by my desk for at least 10 years. And I'm pretty sure that I first scribbled it down over 20 years ago when I first moved to Seattle, Washington in 2005.  Now after 13 years of studying esoterics and metaphysics it still rings true it just has so many additional levels of meaning and truth.   Forbes Magazine recently stated that - “intention is a critical factor in achieving success…It provides a purposeful and strategic approach to navigating life's complexities and a guiding force propelling you toward a future of purpose, genuineness and success.” the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy shares that  Intention is “mental directedness towards objects, as if the mind were construed as a mental bow whose arrows could be properly aimed at different targets.”  The key here that unlocks the Power of Intention is the alignment and purposeful direction of your thoughts and actions toward a desire that you really want to achieve in your life. A prerequisite then for this alignment is you must know for yourself what you desire. What do you really want for your life?  Where do your passions lie? What gives you a sense of true fulfillment? If you do not know what you want and desire in the heart of your hearts then it is really going to be hard to align your thoughts and actions to make that desire happen. And you never unlock the true power of intention.   The definition of intentional according to Webster's dictionary is “Done on purpose; deliberate.” Synonyms include “Conscious, Willed and Purposeful.”   In my esoteric and Kabbalistic training we are taught that the Magickian or Alchemist uses their imagination to clearly identify and describe their specific desire, and then they must set their intention, concentration and will upon the appropriate object.  None of this saying "Walk around your life like a zombie doing whatever everyone else says you should do.”  In fact, it is specifically the opposite.  Intention is “thinking ahead and making choices based on personal beliefs, values, and goals.”  Not acting on impulse, but planning ahead to choose things that create a positive impact for your life and the things you value.  Okay, okay, Angel, you might be saying.  Great, be more positive. Be more intentional.  Those are great buzzwords but how do I do that? But that's just it.  I'm not telling you to BE MORE positive, or BE MORE Intentional.  That would be me “shoulding” on you.  Instead I'm giving you an equation that if you choose to follow it for yourself - your thoughts and actions will be the cause that results in the effect of an intentional life.  And that intentional life of thinking and doing on purpose with purpose will result in you achieving more of what you actually want, desire and desire, which will result in you feeling more fulfillment and joy and gratitude for what you have and have been able to accomplish.  Which will fuel more gratitude, and more ability to to be intentional.  It is a positive cycle of cause and effect which will in turn result in you becoming positive and living a more joyful life.  No shoulding needed. Because you will be doing it. And that is the most important thing.  So let's review the equation that allows you to unlock the Power of Intentional creation in your life.  Step one and the foundational piece is that you need to get clear on what it is you want and desire in your life.  What do you really want for you? All studies and literature on this point to you identifying for you what brings you joy and passion. (not simply what brings you momentary pleasure) But what are your values, what gives you a sense of fulfillment?  What feels purposeful?  Now if you are at this step (step one) and already stuck, don't worry.  Start small. Identify a very short term clear achievable thing you would like in your life that you personally would feel good about if you accomplished.  This can be very selfish (or may feel selfish and that is ok, we have to start somewhere). So this could be taking a weekend trip to a place you want to see.  Or paying off a credit card. Balancing your budget. Cleaning your garage. Going to the gym two or three times a week.  If you allow yourself to hear what you want to do for yourself the answer is there.  Feel out your desires, your intuition and higher self are telling you every day what you actually want.  Another technique to get there is to attend a meditation or listen to a meditation app.  This act of meditating is going to create space in your monkey mind as in it's going to quiet the noise so you can actually hear what your higher self is saying.  But meditation aside - just ask yourself what do I actually want?  And be honest with yourself.  Stop denying your inner voice and desire.  Listen.  You know the answer.   You must get past step one in order to harness the power of intention.  You have to have an appropriate and specific objective to focus on.  A place to point your mental bow and arrow.  And you really have to actually want it or else you will not be able to focus on it or determine to create it or achieve it without desire.  Once you have step one.  The thing you desire to achieve then you can begin step two, which is the alignment of your thoughts toward the achievement of the objective.  If you go back to season one episode two or three I speak to this.  The 4 worlds.  1. Idea 2. Thought 3. plan  4. Action.  This is always the path to intentional creation.  In this case Idea = Your desired objective (identifying what you want, specifically). Thought = alignment of your thoughts.  “I am going to create this and I am committed to taking steps to do it.  I am determined and won't give up.”  Then 3. Plan!  Yes, what are the microsteps and daily intentions you are going to take until you reach what it is you desire?  What is your daily routine going to be?  How are you going to prioritize your time and perhaps even block your time to ensure you have the time to do the things necessary.  Then finally Action = which equals action is alignment with your thoughts and doing the things you have planned to do such that it results in the thing you desire.  So, this is your equation to harness the power of intention.  Alignment and purposeful direction of your thoughts and actions toward a specific desired objective.  Now, intentionality is a practice like any other skill. It will take practice before it is second nature and then it is never going to be autonomous programming/ habitual because it is specifically the opposite of automatic/without thought/habit/subconscious doing.  Because you are specifically choosing to be intentional and choosing a disciplined set of daily rituals to move your life in a positive direction and accomplish not only goals but personal development and progression.   So, it is going to take the specific application of daily consistent effort, but it will be effort that brings you joy and satisfaction and stress reduction versus jogging on the hamster wheel of purposeless action.   So, let me tell you about the power of intention. Once upon a time I was a very unhappy lawyer working in the corporate realm.  I believed in nothing woo woo like energy healing and I even thought things like power of intention or positive thinking were a pile of huey. I read the quote from Daisaku Ikeda (I was practicing buddhism at the time) and thought how nice it would be to have something to be determined about. I was stressed out, tired all the time and suffered from chronic anxiety and itching because I had a body wide candida infection and no idea.  The doctors I talked to were like “shrug. There is nothing wrong with you.  You must have chronic fatigue.”  I was 27 years old and tired of being tired. I had no purpose.  I had accomplished everything I was supposed to do in life (college, law school, a job in a law firm).  But as a reward I hated my job, was sick, bored and generally meh about the whole thing that was my life.  There was nothing I enjoyed doing besides drinking and listening to music with my friends - but that wasn't making me happy or feeling any better. Then a friend introduced me to the practice I now do and teach in the Empower Thyself class & initiation.  And I completely ignored her for like 4 or more years.  Because I am a hard head stubbornly attached to my suffering like many logic and achievement driven attorneys I know.  But I eventually caved because I needed a change so badly.  And I saw a change in my friend who took the class.  So it couldn't hurt right?  Well, it could.  I saw the loss of what I considered a crazy investment of money and time into some spiritual, mindful, wellness, blah, blah, blah, bullshit.  But I cringed and took the chance and invested my $ into the process.  And most of what I learned in that first weekend I dismissed as complete Fooey. How could daily affirmations and intentional statements and some meditations help anything I was facing?  I had medical problems and career problems and satisfaction problems.  But I did believe in testing things to see if they worked.  I paid for the class after all.  I might as well try what I paid for and put it to use.  So I started doing the daily rituals and asking for specific things to come into my life.  And after a while (not overnight and not immediately, but over time) I started to see shifts, and started to be a little different.  One big change was that I started choosing to do things that I enjoyed for the sheer sake of doing them.  I really liked writing and traveling and food.  So I started a food and travel blog.  And I made an editorial calendar and I created content on that calendar.  I planned trips to create more content for the blog and because I wanted to travel.  My boyfriend/partner at the time thought I was being irresponsible and that Id turned crazy on him because I didn't just stay home and drink wine and make him dinner anymore.  And eventually that relationship changed/ended because we became different people.  I chose then to move to a nicer big light filled house, and the toxic people in my life started falling away, and my health got better, and my boundaries got better, and I actually started being happy and finding purpose in working with people as a healer and as an attorney.  I started actually charging for my services in a way that brought me abundance so I could invest more in myself and in things I enjoyed and wanted to explore.  I started having opinions about areas I held expertise and I didn't stress about it.  I stopped worrying about everything and what everyone thought I should do with my life.  Until eventually I intentionally decided to launch my own business and leave my corporate environment all together.   But honestly the biggest shift was the daily investment in intentional choice.  I chose to do something every day and make small changes.  Then I grew the courage to start choosing things that I was passionate about instead of continuing on the path of SHOULD (what I thought other people wanted me to do, or what one should do to live a successful life).  Shoulding was killing me slowly.  Drinking and chronic purposelessness was causing me illness, not fulfillment.  So the biggest shift was the little shift in me identifying a passion and doing something that brought me joy.  Then taking baby steps to accomplish that.  Eventually all those microsteps led me to be able to make bigger choices about my life and find my actual purpose that keeps me going on a grander scale.  I can read Daisaku Ikeda's words about determination today and understand hermetically with my actual life what he is talking about - because I am living purposefully and actualizing the Power of Intention in my life every day.   But it all started with step one.  Me identifying something I desired and that I was passionate about.  So for our exercise this month that is your homework assignment.  What are you passionate about?  What brings you joy?  Not momentary pleasure. What is something that if you did it you would feel really fulfilled internally?  Not something you Should achieve.  But simply something that you want. You are going to delve into your heart of hearts and be honest with yourself.  You know what you desire.  Go inside and listen to yourself and figure it out.  Then write it down.  Articulate what you desire and specifically want for yourself and write it on a piece of paper.  Then bonus - do a vision board.  Make this desire visual so you are really clear what it looks like.  Because if you are really clear about it, and really want it, and are really passionate about it - you are going to have the motivation to align your thoughts to take action.  You will create a plan, even if that is baby steps you are going to take every day to achieve that thing.  You are going to focus your attention and will upon an appropriate object such to manifest it in your life.  And when you do you are going to celebrate it.  And maybe even tell me about it.  And if you are truly stuck - reach out! I can help with that!  Let's get you on your path to purpose, joy and harnessing the power of intention. 

Bright on Buddhism - Episode 85 - What are omamori? What is their history? What is their significance? Resources: Reader, Ian; Tanabe, George J. (1998). Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of Japan. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. p. 46. ISBN 0824820908.; General Stone Tiger (2010-06-15). "Using the Omamori Gohonzon" (PDF). Soka Gakkai International. Retrieved 2017-06-11.; Swanger, Eugene R.; Takayama, K. Peter (1 January 1981). "A Preliminary Examination of the "Omamori" Phenomenon". Asian Folklore Studies. 40 (2): 237–252. doi:10.2307/1177866. JSTOR 1177866.; Kunio, Yanagita (1969). Japanese Culture in the Meiji Era Tokyo (Vol. 4). pp. 314–315.; Jacobsen, Natalie (2015-05-13). "Japanese Lucky Charms: The Guide to Omamori". Tokyo Weekender. Retrieved 2017-01-27.; "Guide To Japanese Lucky Charms Omamori For The New Year 2021 - Japan Truly". japantruly.com. 2021-02-19. Retrieved 2021-03-30.; Guth, Christine (1996), Art of Edo Japan: the artist and the city 1615-1868, H.N. Abrams, ISBN 9780300164138; Haga, Tōru (2021), Pax Tokugawana: The Cultural Flowering of Japan, 1603–1853 (First English ed.), Tokyo: Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture, ISBN 978-4-86658-148-4, archived from the original on 2021-11-10, retrieved 2021-04-29; Jansen, Marius B. (1986), Japan in transition, from Tokugawa to Meiji, Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, ISBN 0-691-05459-2; Roberts, Luke S. (2012), Performing the Great Peace: Political Space and Open Secrets in Tokugawa Japan, Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press, ISBN 978-0824835132 Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by tweeting to us @BrightBuddhism, emailing us at Bright.On.Buddhism@gmail.com, or joining us on our discord server, Hidden Sangha ⁠https://discord.gg/tEwcVpu⁠! Credits: Nick Bright: Script, Cover Art, Music, Voice of Hearer, Co-Host Proven Paradox: Editing, mixing and mastering, social media, Voice of Hermit, Co-Host --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brightonbuddhism/message

In this episode I sit down to chat with James, an ex-member the Soka Gakkai International. He tells me his candid story about becoming a part of, being wholly involved in and finally leaving SGI. This is the first episode covered on the show with plenty more available on the back catalogue of the podcast. For more information about SGI, please visit - Soka Gakkai (SGI) Whistleblowers (reddit.com)Get in Touch or Support:Patreon - patreon.com/thecultvaultCrimecon UK 2024 - https://www.crimecon.co.uk - use code CULT for 10% off tickets!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultvaultpod/Twitter: https://twitter.com/CultVaultPodReddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/Cult-VaultGmail: cultvaultpodcast@gmail.com

Mixed-use project proposed for congested intersection Adeveloper has submitted plans to build two four-story, mixed-use buildings at one of Beacon's busiest intersections, the corner of Wolcott Avenue (Route 9D) and Beekman Street. If the project is approved, the developer would demolish a three-story commercial building - the former site of the Beacon Popmart, an art event space - and merge its lot with two vacant parcels. The two buildings would include 14,000 square feet of commercial space and 65 one- and two-bedroom apartments. The project also includes 89 parking spaces, some of which would be located beneath one of the buildings. The site is almost entirely within Beacon's Linkage District, a zone that the 2017 comprehensive plan says should promote residential development that reinforces connections between the Main Street and waterfront areas. Specifically, it instructs mixed-use development to be allowed adjacent to the intersection of Route 9D and Beekman Street to create "a more inviting and active pedestrian gateway between the Linkage District and Main Street." Developments such as the River Ridge townhouses, The View condominiums and the West End Lofts have been added to the area in recent years. A year ago, the Planning Board also approved the Beacon Commons, a 62-unit building that will be constructed at the corner of West Main and Bank streets, and the 246-apartment Edgewater complex is under construction a few blocks away. However, on weekday afternoons the area is also easily Beacon's most congested, as vehicles leaving the Metro-North station routinely back up almost to City Hall waiting to get to Interstate 84. A traffic consultant for the project acknowledged to the Planning Board, which began its review of the application on Tuesday (Dec. 12), that "there's some issues there," and suggested adding a traffic signal at Wolcott (which is known as North Avenue in that area) and Tompkins Avenue. A light would have to be approved by the state Department of Transportation. The consultant also suggested timing modifications for the existing signal at Wolcott and Beekman to better handle the traffic flow. Planning Board members were cautious. Kevin Byrne noted the importance of the intersection as one of the entrances to Beacon. "The city has an opportunity here to repair some of the damage done" decades ago by urban renewal, "which was significant," he said. "There's a real public interest in making this a significant building." One of the proposed buildings will also adjoin High Street, which "has a collection of some of the most stately Victorian homes" in Beacon, said Len Warner. "It's a gem of a street." "So don't mess it up," said John Gunn, the Planning Board chair. Cell tower approved The Planning Board on Tuesday approved an application by Verizon to erect a 120-foot cell tower in the Fairview Cemetery, about 400 feet from residences on Helen Court. Approval was granted despite protests from neighbors, who cited health concerns and its effect on property values. A Verizon attorney, David Brennan, told the board that the structure is necessary because a tower on Mount Beacon that provided coverage in the 1990s, when few people used cellphones, is no longer feasible. "It's too far away, it's too high up and it's too far from the population it's serving," he said. The new tower will have three "sectors," each with an antenna, plus three boxes that include overvoltage protectors and other equipment. Other wireless carriers could install antennas on the tower if there is a need, Brennan said. Verizon's lease on the site is for five years and will automatically renew, unless canceled by the company, for up to 25 years. 409 Fishkill Ave. Soka Gakkai International, a Buddhist organization, has submitted plans to repurpose 409 Fishkill Ave., a parcel owned by the Healey Brothers auto dealership, as a worship center that would accommodate up to 200 people. The parcel is one of four being vacated by Healey, whi...

Hello, and welcome back to Practical Transcendence, a podcast in which we have grounded discussions on the tangibility of spiritual awakening, where we explore the guiding and common principles, as well as what is unique to each individual. Today I'm talking to Paul Eyers, a Buddhist in the lineage of Nichiren Daishonin which has been revived in todays world by Soka Gakkai International. He provides an overview of this slightly different take on the teachings of the Buddha and the centrality of a specific chant in manifesting your Buddha Nature. Paul goes into detail regarding two significant awakenings that came after a period of suffering linked to feeling like an outsider, and puts this in the context of his practice. Paul's experiences reflect many of our own process on the spiritual path, in that nothing is linear, and when we go deeper within, we inevitably encounter pain points that can be the pathway to realisation.

"There Is Opportunity In Every Obstacle"This will be an interesting podcast for those that are in the process and looking to define their path or gain clarity. Tony is in "the process" and doing the work to take real and/or perceived obstacles and turn them into opportunities. I will be doing a personal Akashic Record reading for Tony during the Live, which is one tool that I have used on my path to bring clarity in my own process. About Tony...I'm on a mission to share my life experiences, with individuals who are yearning for a better now. Communicating the importance of self discovery and personal growth is essential. My goal is to  have my mission become my sole occupation, by writing self help books, traveling the world attending speaking events impacting others, bringing value and solution to life. I've been an active member of A.A. for over 15 yrs. I have overcome many obstacles that I once thought were dispositions but in time became clear to be opportunities for producing inner strength and personal development. I'm also an active member of SGI, "Soka Gakkai International" which educates in the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism. This practice allows me to persevere through the challenges of day to day life by chanting Daimoku bringing happiness to self and others without exception. Tony's hobbies and interests include Cycling, Art museums, Traveling, Indulging in different Cultures and Food, I have a love for Jazz; John Coltrane, Billie Holiday, Etta Jones just to name a few. I'm an extrovert who enjoys in depth intellectual conversation. I have a natural ability to guide others by showing compassion and empathy. With a solution oriented perception, the  opportunities for my audience to discover that there is an answer for every obstacle, are limitless.Spiritual Alchemy Energy it's Woo Woo For Your Boo HooPodcast Host: Julie Ann Guthrie-Smulson at Spiritual Alchemy Energy Transfigurationshttps://www.facebook.com/spiritualalchemyenergyhttps://www.facebook.com/julie.a.guthrie.smulsonhttps://www.julieannguthriesmulson.comFacebook & Instagram: @spiritualalchemyenergySupport the show

On the “Vegan & Fit” episode host Rachel ‘Rae' Crowder had a conversation with Randi Franklin who is an expert in veganism and fitness. We talked about the traditional American diet, how plants can give us life, and what it means to truly be a healthy vegan. Randi is originally from Toledo, OH, and currently lives in Indianapolis, IN with her husband Chad and puppy Lee. She graduated from Bowling Green State University with a degree in broadcast journalism and from The University of Toledo with an MBA in marketing management and international business. In 2021, Randi left her career as a director of marketing to start her own consultancy, RMF Brand & Marketing Consulting. This year, to overcome her fitness and health challenges, she applied and was hired as a fitness coach at [solidcore] in Indianapolis where she supports and encourages clients accomplishing their personal wellness goals. In January, Randi also began her plant-based journey, choosing a whole-foods, low calorie density approach to gain more energy and better health. In her spare time, Randi loves hiking, traveling, trying new vegan foods and spending time with Chad and Lee. She is currently enrolled vegan cooking courses through Forks Over Knives and Rouxbe where she will earn credits from the American Culinary Foundation. She is also a Young Women's District Leader in Indianapolis for the Soka Gakkai International, a Buddhist organization that promotes world peace and teaches that each person has within them the courage, wisdom and compassion to face and surmount any of life's challenges. Let's Connect: IG: @blackhealthlit @icandirandi Twitter: @blackhealthlit Website(s): www.blackhealthlit.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/randimfuller/ https://www.facebook.com/randimfuller/ Resource Links: Forks Over Knives Forks Over Knives Cookbook Dr. John McDougall'sWorks: The McDougall Program for Maximum Weight Loss The McDougall Program The Starch Solution McDougall Quick & Easy Cookbook Unbelievably Vegan by Charity Morgan Vegan Protein Sources (online resource) Whole Grains List (online resource) Legumes List (online resource) Whole Foods, Plant Based Guide Calorie Density Chart --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/blackhealthlit/support

Buddhism has become more visible in society whether a statue in a garden, an image on a t-shirt, jewelry, a coffee mug, weaving its way into pop culture. People associate the image of the Buddha with peace and tranquility however, the assumption is that the Buddha was only one person. So what is or who is a Buddha? The answer is......YOU! Every living being possesses the potential to become enlightened by revealing the innate Buddha nature that lies in every living being. Buddhahood is not a final, static destination reached and you magically become an enlightened Buddha. It simply means to tirelessly continue to strive along the path of absolute happiness for oneself and others. In past episodes we have briefly mentioned that we both practice Buddhism. There are so many different sects so we've decided to discuss and share with you our knowledge and experiences of this philosophy we both have implemented in our lives, Nichiren Buddhism. We briefly discuss the history, tenets and concepts as well as the community, lay educational organization, Soka Gakkai International. Awaken your dormant Buddha nature. You deserve it so go and "grab" your happy! Soka Gakkai International: https://www.sgi-usa.org/ Email the show: rockyourlife@thevignatis.com Intro Song: "Gypsy Rock'n'Roll by The Vignatis Outro Song: "Un jour de bonheur" by The Vignatis

From the outside, my 18 year old self looked exceptionally successful for my age.  I was an honor student, with a full ride academic scholarship to an expensive liberal arts college. I was a creative person, who appeared with my well built masks to be flamboyant and confident in herself, her direction and dreams.  No one knew I was dying inside and so afraid to leave my room everyday without multiple layers of psychological armor.  But I was so afraid. The negative self talk and anxiety was so loud and took up so much room in my life. I didn't even know there was space for me to exist.  The true me. Me who was not all of those masks.  You follow? A Clear Mind is a Creative Mind A quiet mind is a powerful mind. A quiet mind equals an empowered person and a joyful life.  I will repeat myself on this topic many, many, many more times over. Ultimately if you have mind clutter it is just as bad as a hoarder's house - there is no room for new thoughts because there are already thoughts piled up to the ceiling. Your thoughts, other people's thoughts, to-do list thoughts, childhood memory thoughts, negative self-talk thoughts, imposter syndrome thoughts, etc… In this hoarder's house of mind cluttered with all these loud boisterous, obnoxious or chirpy or even hurtful thoughts floating around - how can you hear your brilliant higher self thoughts above the cacophony?  Abundance producing thoughts of godlike wonder and light are covered and hidden because it is too loud in there. There are too many distractions and things and you just can't discern or hear your true creator voice in the mess.  So that is why this Law of Abundance is so essential. A quiet mind is a creative mind. Yoda said it. Quiet your mind. Buddha said it about 500 different ways.  Jesus said it. Deepak Chopra says it. All the new age gurus on YouTube and beyond say it.  The Lineage of King Solomon says it and the first and foremost step for anyone on a personal development journey is - Meditation: the practice of quieting the mind.   Without first meditating and clearing out the noise factory you cannot actually observe what is going on - let alone be open to new wonders of creation that come from your higher self.  And although I'm a guide & teacher in the Lineage of King Solomon, sharing tools from an over 3000 year old path - of which the #1 tool is meditation - you don't have to take my word for it.  Just Google  “benefits of meditation” and see what comes up.  There is study after study that shows people who meditate are more healthy, productive, creative and happy than those who do not meditate. This is one of the many areas where science and metaphysics and spiritually completely agree.  Meditation - the act of quieting and observing the mind, makes you better at life, and allows you to have and create more abundance.  Why it works is because it clears the mind chatter of the subconscious and collective consciousness out of your way. So you can simply tune in to source, to your high self, to you, to your positive ego. By tuning into the quiet pond of stillness within you releases the hoarder's house of funk in your mind that keeps you trapped in FEAR and monkey mind, you break the cycle of autonomous programming that puts you on repeat. You release the pen up energy of anxiety.  As  a Kabbalist we say “you empty your cup” as a Buddhist we say we bow to your buddha nature and get past your fundamental darkness that keeps you blind.  As a spiritual guide I say “you tap into the Holy Spirit - the collective consciousness of higher selves of humanity.” And when all you can hear is quiet - the matrix machine of manufactured stories is turned off. Then and only then you can hear yourself. Know the truth, and like Neo who stepped out of the matrix you can learn your true power and create unabashedly in a multidimensional way because you will be flowing abundance of creative energy with true sight, free of limiting beliefs.  I admit it wholeheartedly, I am a meditating pusher. It is a possible thing for a human being to do daily.  It saved my life when I was 18 years old. I had severe social anxiety and an eating disorder, because the only thing I thought I had control over was my body. And I was slowly killing myself, not eating, medicating myself with marijuana to function.  Then I started meditating and chanting nam myoho renge kyo daily when I met these lovely young women who told me about it.  They said it helped them be happier.  So I tried it.  I was miserable, I had nothing to lose.   Then I started chanting and meditating and my first big epiphany that ultimately saved my life was this “ You have the right to breathe. You can take up space in this world.”  In other words, you Angel, a unique being on this planet - feel free to move about this world, by the very nature of your existence.   My higher self started with the fundamentals for me. I told me what I needed to hear. “You have the right to exist and take up space in this world.” And from that point forward I began to grow into the multidimensional renaissance woman that I am today.  All because every day I go to the quiet pond and I get to know myself. I call in my true self. I clear away the thought clutter and I allow my higher self to speak to me.  Anyone listening to this - entrepreneur, creative artist, business owner, fellow attorney (especially attorneys, please listen we have so many weights on our shoulders because of our profession), moms, corporate ladder climbers, whoever you are, whatever labels you identify with, whatever you are trying to do with your life. If you start daily with a little bit of meditation and a quiet mind it is going to help you. There are actually think tanks out there that only work with people who meditate because they are a better investment.  So alright angel - you might be saying, I buy it but “I can't meditate, I've tried and I've failed countless times.” So to this I call Bullshit. And I encourage you to try again with some assistance. There are so many meditation apps available now, and daily on the interwebs there is someone out there in my spiritual lineage teaching the max meditation system. The max meditation system is an easy to do , introductory method of meditation that anyone can do and everyone will at some point in the 30 min to 60 min session  will reach a meditative brain wave state.   The max meditation system was developed by Founder Gudni Gudnason and Ipsissimus i.e. fully actualize human benign and one of my mentors on the planet today. He is a lineage holder for the lineage of King Solomon and the Founder of the Modern Mystery School International - the school that I go to to pursue study of the Universal Hermetic Ray Kabbalah and learn other energy and healing means I choose to learn for myself and others. Founder Gudni combined eastern and western means of meditation in a specific order to allow people to achieve the state of actual meditation. The 5 steps lead you naturally there and all you have to do is follow the voice of the meditation facilitator. The method works for everyone. I promise.  Another means to meditate is to chant nam myoho renge kyo. It might feel weird to chant words you don't understand over and over again, but the energy and vibration of the mantra is purifying and raises your chi and your vibration such that you clear the mind clutter and positive energy and creative energy come into your life.  One just needs to look at the exceptionally productive and impactful life of Daisaku Ikeda, President of the Soka Gakkai International to see that Nam myoho renge kyo is a wellspring of light and joy for one who chooses to use it.  And I have been lucky to be able to study and listen to his prolific words for the past 25 years of my life to learn from him as a mentor and another example of what a fully actualized human being can do if they quiet the mind, open the heart and live from their highest self.  Chanting and quiet meditation through systems offered in the organized spiritual system of the Soka Gakkai or the Modern Mystery School International have been my way to access the quiet pond - to get to my abundance creator goddess self so that I can live my life as the protagonist of my story.  I make my reality because I choose to meditate and learn and lean into my power.  I offer them as means that are out there - and also to be completely direct that I have used schools of thought with structure to find my path, because structure is necessary for creation. Learning a discipline and practicing it is a means to freedome  And I share because Both are organizations that have been slandered as cults and pervoyers of mind control and other abuses of their members - Founder Gudni, Ipsissimus Dave Lanyon and Ipsissmus Hideto _______ were recently been accused of being leaders of a sex cult, and Daisaku Ikeda has been arrested multiple times for attempting to propogate the way to reach buddhahood in this lifetime.  To this I just want to note that Jesus too was persecuted because he was speaking the truth.  A truth that leads individuals to their source, their higher self, their power, their empowerment - which is dangerous.  An empowered person is not a controllable person.  A person who is aware that they create their own reality is a threat to those who prefer that humans remain sheeple. So I pose this - if someone is truly showing people how to be free, how to think for themselves, how to hear their own voice and tap into their highest human potential and power - is not there being attacked by the powers that be, the powers that prey on sheeple, a sign that what they are saying truly powerful and good for the sake of humanity?   This is a topic for a whole other podcast episode and I will likely revisit it sooner than later, but for now I just want to put it out there.  As I do not want anyone to google the Modern Mystery School or the Soka Gakkai and think I am brainwashed by not one but two cults because of what some drama creating tabloid writer has posted on the internet.  And honestly if you do think I'm brainwashed - you aren't listening to me at all.  I've created my world because I am an independent discerning thinker who meditates and practices gratitude and love everyday of her life.  I chose a path and methods practiced by others because I find discipline freeing and it produces results.  I, like a scientist, tested the methods in my life and like the results they have offered me after days, months, years and decades of daily practice.   So let's switch gears here for a second.  Even more real talk. I am an attorney who volunteers on the front lines of social justice assisting with the Housing Justice Project here in Seattle. I've been trying through my work for the past 15 years to prevent homelessness, using the means my legal education, and my spiritual education have given me. As I have these skills I take responsibility where I can to attempt to help solve the problem.   What does this have to do with meditation?  The human condition today is a melee of angry, sad, crisis ridden thoughts. People are in different states of victim and energy expending loops of futility. But even when I'm sitting with a person facing down the crisis of possible homelessness I always encourage them. Not by feeding the fire of Victim, but by having us take a deep breath and look at where, from the quiet mind (as best as we can get there in the moment) they have a choice and power in the situation. And maybe, that place is only their own personal reaction to what is going on around them, and/or to the person who may be wronging them.  If we can reach that perspective in the now - it will turn off the reactionary mind and you can create choices that empower and help you even in the face of multiple crappy choices.   So please, for the sake of the endeavors you want to create, for your own personal abundance, and the greater good of humanity I encourage you to start finding a way to meditate. If even 2% of the world is able to find a way to access their higher self and wake up to their power, there will be a quantum shift in the collective consciousness and the whole world could awaken. This is a principle in quantum physics, not religion.  Look it up.  In the meantime - there is a free 15 minute quiet pond meditation on my website.  Go there, watch it, download an App like Calm, go out to a meditation in your area, watch a guided meditation online. If you are completely stuck - reach out! I can help with that! Remember a  quiet mind is a creative mind.  A quiet mind is a powerful mind. A quiet mind equals and empowered person and a joyful life.  Meditation is like magic. You will create something from the nothing of the quiet mind.

For the video edition, click here and subscribe: https://youtu.be/BxVfYt0hehQ Currently, Ann Kittredge has been producing and starring in an innovative, online program called Virtual Shorts that has been garnering rave reviews. Prior to this “theatrical intermission,” she has entertained New York and regional theatre audiences for decades. Numerous NY appearances include Dessa Rose at Lincoln Center, King David at the New Amsterdam Theatre, Nunsense Off-Broadway and multiple seasons of City Center Encores! and Menken and Ahrens’ A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden. A consummate performer, Ann's musical theatre repertoire is just the tip of the iceberg. Her recent foray into cabaret earned her a MAC Award and a BWW Audience nomination for her lauded tribute show: Fancy Meeting You Here: An Evening of Ahrens and Flaherty. Ann also devotes her time to Soka Gakkai International, a non- governmental organization of the United Nations that promotes peace, culture and education centered on respect for the dignity of life and the ideal of world citizenship, to contribute to the establishment of a peaceful world.  https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Ann-Kittredge https://annkittredge.com/about-me https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0457806 http://www.bretadamsltd.net/content/client/female-actors/ann-kittredge

Heute teile ich mit Dir ein sehr spannendes Interview mit Anette Wiencke-Naniwa von der Soka Gakkai International (SGI). Die Soka Gakkai ist eine buddhistische Vereinigung, die sich für Frieden, Kultur und Bildung einsetzt und ihre Mitglieder üben den Nichiren-Buddhismus aus.  Anette gehört genau wie ich zum Vorstand der Buddhistischen Religionsgemeinschaft Hamburg e.V. (BRG). Wir sprachen über Anette und ihre buddhistische Richtung und auch intensiv über "das Rückrat von Buddhas Lehre, dem König der Sutren, dem Lotos Sutra" (Zitat aus den Daily Reminders von Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim) Das Lotos Sutra ist das Herzstück unserer beider buddhistischen Glaubensrichtungen. Sozialer Buddhismus/ Nichiren. Es ist mir noch ganz wichtig hinzuzufügen, dass die spezielle Schreibpraxis des Lotos Sutras, welche ich in dieser Folge erwähne, mit dem Segen und der Unterstützung von Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim praktiziert wird, für den eigenen Nutzen, der guten Weiterentwicklung und der Balance der Energien. Viel Freude beim Zuhören! Deine Gak Duk

In this episode of TYPP!, JFOD interviews Buddhist veterinarian and dear friend, Rhonda Windham. They explore mental health from the perspective of a Buddhist. Support JFOD: patreon.com/typp. Become a psycho: jfodnews.com. Learn about Soka Gakkai: International: sgi-usa.org.

In this weeks episode I chat with Mark. Mark has spent years contesting the teachings of Soka Gakkai International after he realised it was a cult. He came to this conclusion after serving the movement for over a decade. Mark has since found fulfilment in another type of Buddhism which he preaches and practices to this day.http://markrogow.blogspot.com/Ex-SGI Subreddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/sgiwhistleblowers/Get In TouchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultvaultpod/Twitter: https://twitter.com/CultVaultPodTumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/cultvaultReddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/Cult-VaultGmail: cultvaultpodcast@gmail.comPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecultvaultSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/cultvaultpodcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Soka Gakkai International. In this episode, I sit down to chat with James, an ex-member of this movement. He tells me his candid story about becoming a part of, being wholly involved in and finally leaving SGI.Get In TouchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultvaultpod/Twitter: https://twitter.com/CultVaultPodTumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/cultvaultReddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/Cult-VaultGmail: cultvaultpodcast@gmail.comPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/thecultvaultSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/cultvaultpodcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Steven Sater is a two time Tony Award winning, Olivier Award winning, and Grammy Award winning, writer and author of shows such as Murder at the Gates, Alice by Heart, and of course, Spring Awakening. He is now also the author of Alice by Heart the novel, being released on Feb 4th, 2020. Born in Evansville Indiana, Steven didn’t have a childhood like most. An injury left him bed ridden where he taught himself ancient greek and started writing his first plays. This has now resulted in some of the most beloved musicals of all time, such as Spring Awakening. His latest project is the release of his new book, based off of his musical, Alice by Heart, inspired by the story of Alice in Wonderland.  In this episode, we discuss:  Growing up as a ‘bubble boy’, being unable to attend school Jumping off a 3rd floor balcony in college to escape a fire His life at Princeton University, and how it pointed him towards his career How he keeps himself centered, and his involvement in Soka Gakkai International where he met both his wife and Duncan Sheik Where the idea for Spring Awakening came from Connect with Seven IG: @StevenSater Twitter: @StevenSater Buy the book Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Thank you to our friends Jukebox The Ghost for our intro and outro music. You can find them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @jukeboxtheghost or via the web via jukeboxtheghost.com. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible! Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David Seales If you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support!

Suatu bangsa yang mempunyai keterbatasan SDA dan kondisi SDM yang belum baik, namun karena mempunyai jiwa dan karakter tertentu akan mampu menjadi bangsa yang unggul. Terkait ini, kita bisa belajar dari Jepang terkait membangun sistem nilai. Bangsa Jepang telah membuktikannya secara nyata. Landasan karakter yang baik bagi manusia dan masyarakat adalah bekal penting dalam membangun peradaban. Salah satu faktor yang menyebabkan bangsa Jepang menjadi bangsa yang maju karena mereka mempunyai keunggulan karakter yang tidak dimiliki oleh bangsa-bangsa lainnya di dunia. Kerja keras, disiplin, sederhana, cinta tanah air, merupakan beberapa karakter unggul yang dimiliki bangsa Jepang. Menurut Guru Besar Fakultas Ilmu Pengetahuan Budaya UI-Bambang Wibawarta menilai, pengaruh konfusianisme dan agama Buddha membentuk nilai-nilai hidup tersebut di Jepang. Nilai-nilai itu begitu menyatu dalam praktik keseharian sehingga ketika ditanyakan, orang Jepang kesulitan menerangkannya. Praktik pendidikan di Jepang misalnya, bisa dilihat dari filosofi pendidikan di Soka University—sebagai bagian dari Soka Gakkai International. Ini merupakan institusi pendidikan dengan cabang di lebih dari 190 negara. Filosofisnya secara umum bersumber dari ajaran Buddha. Pada 1930, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, seorang pendidik jepang, menerbitkan buku filosofi pendidikan Soka, Soka Kyoikugaku Taikei atau system pendidikan berbasis penciptaan nilai-nilai. “Soka” dalam bahasa Indonesia berarti penciptaai nilai (virtue). Penciptaan nilai itu bertujuan meningkatkan kualitas kehidupan seperti memperjuangkan kebaikan menuju perdamaian dan kebahagiaan manusia; seta mempertahankan diri dari tantangan untuk meningkatkan dan menjaga martabat kemanusiaan. Di Jepang, aktualisasi nilai-nilai itu mudah ditemui dari hal-hal kecil. Misalnya, etika menghormati orang lain, orang yang lebih tua, tidak mencuri atau korupsi, menjalankan tugas dengan baik, menjaga kehormatan institusi, sampai hal-hal praktis seperti membawa sampah ke rumah, atau membersihkan sisa makanan sendiri setelah makan di restoran. Lantas, belajar nilai-nilai “Samurai” dari Soka Jepang, bagaimana membangun penciptaan nilai bagi generasi muda Indonesia? Apa yang bisa kita tiru dari keberhasilan Jepang terkait pendidikan karakter? Dalam dunia pendidikan, peta jalan seperti apa yang mesti disiapkan untuk mengimplementasikannya? Guna mendiskusikan ini, Radio Idola Semarang berdiskusi dengan beberapa narasumber, yakni: Andy Bangkit Setiawan, Ph.D (pernah menjadi Associate Professor for Cultural Studies di Nagoya University Jepang) dan Bambang Wibawarta (Guru Besar Fakultas Ilmu Pengetahuan Budaya UI). (Heri CS)

Juana Castanheira, our survivor of SGI contacted me after her episode to ask to further articulate what processing out of a cult looks like. In this episode, we discuss: The shame and guilt of leaving What happened when she tried to resign from her leadership position at SGI Why she later worked again for SGI Her experiences with MLMs Her experiences with Transcendental Meditation and her sister being in the group And much more... Special Guest: Juana Castanheira.

Do nuclear weapons make us safe, and should we care about them? We hear from Anna Ikeda from the Office for UN Affairs of Soka Gakkai International, a lay Buddhist organization dedicated to peace, culture and education. Anna's work focuses on disarmament, peace and security, and she is a campaigner for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. 

It's nuclear disarmament week, so we ask: Do nuclear weapons make us safe, and should we care about them? We hear from Anna Ikeda from the Office for UN Affairs of Soka Gakkai International. The post Do Nuclear Weapons Make Us Safe? appeared first on Metta Center.

This week, former member of Soka Gakkai International, Juana Castanheira, joins me to talk about her time in the group. We discuss: How she and her brother were recruited How she knew she was all in What is the significance of the 'scroll?' What demands were put on her as she rose through the ranks Why she never once complained When she decided to leave And more... Special Guest: Juana Castanheira.

The 28th of October a solid majority in the UN decided to mark 2017 the year to start negotiations of nuclear disarmament. 123 votes where for the decision, 16 blank and 38 votes were against. Norway, clinging to the image as a peace-nation, voted against the initiative. This has sparked criticism from politicians and civil society actors both within Norway, but also from international actors. Soka Gakkai International, a Japanese lay Buddhist movement with a special emphasis on peace activism, organized in September an international exhibition in Bergen to rekindle Norway’s earlier position to lead the way towards a world free of nuclear arms. Michael Hertzberg is associate professor at the University of Bergen. He defended his PhD-thesis in 2016 on political Buddhism in Sri Lanka, where Buddhist monks went into politics to abort the Norwegian peace facilitation in the country. In the autumn 2016 he worked as a consultant for Soka Gakkai International to host the exhibition Everything You Treasure in Bergen.

Subject: Buddhism Speaker or Performer: Solli Frank Date of Delivery: May 4, 2014 Solli Frank, a born and raised Buddhist,talks about growing up Buddhist and her growing faith.