By Qalvy Grainzvolt The sound of an anvil strike is not normally heard during any interfaith services that I have ever attended thus far in my 20 years of service as a Shinnyo-en Buddhist priest in the United States. However, on February 6, 2022, I heard its sound loud and clear. It was inspiring. On …
The U.N. Interfaith Harmony Week 2022: “Striking the Anvil” Read More »
Contributed by Jennifer Kimiko Uchikawa, Chicago Youth Association On February 27, 2021, thanks to the support of local community members together with Shinnyo- en Foundation, we were able to host a Virtual One Heart Family Service Event. Since 2012 in collaboration with local organization members, we had gathered annually at Shinnyo-en Chicago Temple to make …
By Qalvy Grainzvolt This year’s observance of the U.N. Interfaith Harmony Week on February 7, 2021 was the first-time in 17 years that we, the Westchester County, NY cohort, gathered in a virtual space. Normally, every year, a different sacred space or house of worship is selected to host this interreligious prayer service in-person. In …
As sweeping measures to halt the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic were undertaken across the United States, schools were closed, activities and events were cancelled, and distance learning and virtual programming were presented as new alternatives. Challenges with these sudden new ways of life affected everyone, but especially the lives of working families and their …
By Qalvy Grainzvolt With the backdrop of a world pandemic, the International Day of Peace and Day of Disarmament observances held at the U.N. chapel on September 21 took the form of pixels and digital presence this year. Due to the need for social distancing, my annual representation of Shinnyo-en at this event, which is …
The U.N. International Day of Peace 2020 – a “Zoomed-in” view of peace Read More »
Contributed by Qalvy Grainzvolt For the last several years, I have had the privilege of representing Shinnyo-en at two distinct observances of the United Nations’ World Interfaith Harmony week, held annually in February. These two iterations of the intention behind interfaith harmony week have traditionally taken form as an inter-religious prayer service and a dialogue. …
The U.N. observances of the World Interfaith Harmony week Read More »
Contributed by Qalvy Grainzvolt The 21st of September is a bustling time at the United Nations. There are various observances and ceremonies that commemorate the International Day of Peace (IDP) which was established in 1981 as a day of non-violence and cease-fire by the U.N. General Assembly. From that grand scale of vision and hope …
Celebrating the U.N. International Day of Peace 2018 at Tillman Chapel Read More »
Contributed by Joseph Bush and his Leadership Through Service program students, Elk Grove High School On October 28, 2018 Elk Grove High School’s Leadership Through Service (LTS) program, in partnership with the Shinnyo-en Chicago Temple and Shinnyo-en Foundation, hosted a family service event at Elk Grove High School. This was the first time that the …
Intergenerational Collaboration at the Family Service Event! Read More »
Contributed by Marianne Okubo, Shinnyo-en Chicago Temple On May 6, 2018, the Shinnyo-en Chicago Temple celebrated its sixth year of holding Family Service Events, which started in 2012 and became a regular community event at the temple. Before the volunteers rolled up their sleeves to start working on projects, two of the longer-term partner organizations …
Contributed by Rev. Qalvy Grainzvolt, Shinnyo-en New York Temple The Shinnyo Center for Meditation and Well-being (“the Shinnyo Center”) in New York City has been widening its circle of participation in United Nations’ events and observances, being only a stone’s throw from its front steps. The Shinnyo Center provides guided meditations, cultural events, community service, …
The Art of Peace: a U.N. World Interfaith Harmony Week Gathering Read More »
