NWDA Business & Service Directory is Launched

When you go to the NWDA website homepage (www.northwestdharma.org, click "Home") you will find a new feature: the Business & Service Directory.

Under the categories of Professional Services; Counseling Services; Well-Being & Natural Lifestyle; Retreat Centers; Dharma Supplies, Crafts, and Gifts; and Dining, entrepreneurs and service providers can reach the Northwest Buddhist community and individuals can find the businesses and services they need.

You can help by getting the word out to your favorite Thai restaurant or yoga studio or to your friends who are psychotherapists or zafu makers, accupuncturists or attorneys, real estate agents, and so on. It’s a great way to support the Northwest Dharma Association and the Northwest Buddhist community.

Instructions for using the Directory as well as information on placing a listing are on the site. Just click on the Business & Service Directory button on the left-hand side of the homepage and the site will do the rest.

NWDA's 'Online Teacher Forum' in Test Phase

The concept of an online forum for Northwest Dharma teachers arose last October at the annual NWDA-sponsored Teachers Meeting. Ideas for an interactive web space where Dharma teachers could share resources, concerns, suggestions, etc. received additional attention this February at NWDA's Annual Meeting in Seattle.

Over the past several months, George Draffan and David Forsythe have researched various software options and solicited feedback from the NWDA “techie” team that is testing the products. Having narrowed the search, the team is now moving on to create a “user’s guide” for the system.

The working prototype will be launched at the 2008 Teachers Meeting, October 4 at Blue Heron Zen Center, Seattle.

For more information and to register for the 2008 Teachers Meeting, go to: www.northwestdharma.org/welcome.php.

5th Annual Vashon Seminar on Buddhism

In keeping with its mission to support multi-tradition activities in the Northwest Buddhist community, this year the Northwest Dharma Association will co-sponsor the 5th Annual Vashon Seminar on Buddhism at the request of the Puget Sound Zen Center.

This year’s Seminar is titled: “Living Zen: Gratitude, Empowerment, and Healing.” Keynote speaker will be Paula Arai, Professor of Religious Studies at Louisiana State University. Prof. Arai is the author of Women Living Zen: Japanese Soto Buddhist Nuns (1999.) Based on years of anthropological fieldwork in Japan, her work focuses mainly on Japanese Buddhist rituals and practices, women in Buddhism, and healing.

The Vashon Seminar will take place on Sunday, September 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Puget Sound Zen Center is located on Vashon Island, WA. For more information, visit www.pszen.org.

Welcome to New Member Groups

In the first half of 2008, the Northwest Dharma Association has been happy to welcome ten new member groups. They are:
Bellevue Zen Sitting Group, Seattle Soto Zen, Thurston Insight Meditation Group, Walla Walla Dhamma Sangha, Philip Moffitt Sangha, Tipitaka Study Center, Dharma Ocean Seattle, Dzogchen Shri Singha of Portland, Natural Awareness, and Rime Shedrub Ling-Seattle.

For more information about our new members, consult the “Group Directory” on our website.