Buddha’s birth celebration to feature “Buddhism and Food,” Apr. 12-13

 

Cultural News, March 2008

 

 

(Cultural News Photo)

 

   People living today have problems physically and spiritually, and it is said that the imbalance of nutrition and bad eating habits are major causes. Therefore, many people are concerned about consuming healthy foods such as the macrobiotic food here in the U.S.  So, Japanese food is spotlighted for this reason.

 

    “Shojin Ryori,” the Japanese monastic vegetarian food has influenced traditional Japanese cuisine because its concept is based upon the Buddhist teaching that body and mind are one.

 

   This year’s Hanamatsuri Buddha’s Birth Celebration theme will be “Buddhism and Food,” according to the Los Angeles Buddhist Church Federation.

 

   A special event will be the “Vegetarian Dinner with Japanese Court Music” which will be held on Saturday, April 12 at 6:00 p.m. at Koyasan Buddhist Temple, 342 E. 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

 

   Seating is limited to 50 people and these guests will observe a traditional tea ceremony and enjoy a very special vegetarian cuisine as they are entertained by Gagaku music, the 1,000 year-old Japanese court music. Tickets for the vegetarian dinner and Gagaku music are $50 per person, presale only. For music only, a $10 donation is suggested.

 

   The Hanamatsuri commemorative service will be held on Sunday, April 13 at 11:00 a.m. at Koyasan Temple, and the award ceremony of the photo and drawing contests will be held immediately after the service.

 

   At 1:00 p.m. at the Koyasan Temple, there will be a special lecture on “Buddhism and Food” given by Mr. Noritoshi Kanai of the Mutual Trading Company and Rev. Masao Kodani of Senshin Buddhist Church. Admission is free and open to the public.

 

   Event attendees will receive the special recipes of Shojin Ryori from Bishop Seicho Asahi who was trained on Mt. Koya in Wakayama prefecture, Japan, in not only Buddhist teachings but also traditional vegetarian cooking. He cooked everyday for visitors to the Koyasan Temple, sometimes up to 200 people a day. His cooking sense and skill are extraordinary. He is planning to cook and serve something very special on the night of the Hanamatsuri Celebration vegetarian dinner.

 

   For those who are interested in these events, contact the Koyasan Buddhist Temple at (213) 624-1267 or email lakoyasan@sbcglobal.net.