Visiting Teachers, Jizo Peace Center for Children, Ruth Ratna Handy

Sarah-Jane SunJay Owen

Sarah-Jane SunJay Owen, a lovely art professor, musician, yoga teacher, and sound healer has given teachings generously at the International Peace Day in 9/07 and also the Universal Love Workshop in 2/08 held at the Jizo Peace Center. She brought her large ceremonial drum “River Song” on both occasions to include as many as 8 beaters keeping rhythm and singing at the Peace Pole. Due to the sacredness of the process, no photos were taken of the drumming.

Also at both of the above events, SunJay led chakra balancing sessions in the Jizo Meditation Room where we all lay with our heads to the center. SunJay played a combination of rattles, drums, and gongs that relaxed and centered us for a nice energization and healing.

Ms. Owen helped out with the Pine Mountain Roots and Shoots’ entry at the Chalk Festival in Frazier Park in the fall of 2007. She outlined the tree on the pavement and showed the children how to use chalk to create the desired affects for bark and fruit.

SunJay’s current schedule is listed at www.powwowlodge.com.

We look forward to Sarah-Jane Owen sharing interesting and enlightening activities with us again.

Michael Attie

Michael Attie, a long-time meditator, founder, and teacher of the Don't Worry Zendo, presented his Squeezebox Swami Show on April 13, 2007 at the Jizo Peace Center. He has been a student of Zen, Vipassana and Advaita Vedanta for over forty years. Mike has written several original songs with inspirational themes to the accompaniment of accordion.

In India, in 1973, the revered Guru Neem Karoli Baba told him to teach Dharma in the West and gave him the name of Vivekananda. Mike also spent time meditating at a Zen monastery on the slopes of Mt. Fuji in Japan. After a trip to Nepal, he became the founder of Dharma Banners, a company that designs and manufactures prayer flags of all the worlds’ religions. He is a poet and performance artist who has authored three books, Many Ways, Middle Way, No Way—a Guide to Meditation, Spiritual Awakening and Fun, This Smiling Heart—Collected Poems, and The Love Beggars, poems 1995-2005. He continues to lead informal, friendly, non-sectarian meditation groups twice a week in Los Angeles and Santa Monica as well as an all day sitting once a month at his home at 444 Flores, Los Angeles, CA. For further information see www.dontworryzendo.com.

Mike led a privileged childhood and for a time inherited his father's lingerie store on Hollywood Boulevard where he became known as “The Lingerie Monk”. After learning the trade of converting gas refrigerators to propane, he was called “The Blue Flame” by his neighbors in a remote area of Northern California.

Beginning April 20, 2007, Mike led a four day meditation retreat at the Jizo Peace Center. Meditation started at 5:30 am. In addition, he led our small group on vigorous mountain hikes with an occasional break for yoga and then potatoes at nearby village restaurants. He also initiated an evening meditation. Mike’s two white dogs Homer and Rufus meditated with us. The Center became most enriched after this retreat experience.

Mike plans to return to the Jizo Peace Center to lead future meditation retreats.