Celebration of Buddha’s Birthday to Start on Sunday

A weeklong celebration of Buddha’s birthday begins Sunday at the largest Buddhist temple in the West, Hsi Lai Buddhist Temple in Hacienda Heights.

Often translated as “the enlightened one,” Buddha means literally “one who has awakened” from the sleep of an unenlightened mind.

Tradition holds that Gautama Siddhartha was the founder of Buddhism and that he was one in a long line of similar Buddhas extending indefinitely back in time.

On Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the public is invited to join in creating an artistic rendering in colored chalk of the “Buddha Universe” on the temple’s courtyard. A donation of $30 is suggested.

The rendering represents what Buddhists believe is the always-present ultimate and sacred reality in everyday life. Buddhist practice is directed toward leading the practitioner to an awareness or mindfulness of that reality.

Creating such artwork is said to help transform one’s perceptions and the thoughts of the artist and the observer to an awareness of peace, tolerance, love and compassion.

Participants will be provided the chalk with which they can create images or prayers for world peace, love, tolerance and kindness for all sentient beings.

The temple is at 3456 S. Glenmark Drive, Hacienda Heights. Call (626) 961-9697.

EVENTS

Passover observances will be held April 9 and 16 at 12:45 p.m. by Rabbi Michael Beals at B’nai Tikvah Congregation, 5820 W. Manchester Ave., Westchester. (310) 645-6262.

* A series of lectures to help prepare for Passover are planned by the University of Judaism. Lectures will focus on the stories of Joseph and the Exodus. Also planned are sessions on preparing for the Passover Seder, the meaning of Passover and its symbols, and the structure and flow of the Haggada. Prices and times vary. Call (310) 476-9777, Ext. 246, for details and registration. The campus is at 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel-Air, just off the San Diego Freeway.

* Scott Hahn, author and professor of theology and scripture at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, will speak at 3 p.m. today on two subjects, “A Father Who Keeps His Promises” and “The Lamb’s Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth,” in Hilton Lecture Hall 100 at Loyola Marymount University, 7900 Loyola Blvd., Los Angeles. Free. (310) 258-6395.

* Robin Griffith-Jones, author of “The Four Witnesses,” a book about the four Gospel writers’ distinctive visions of Jesus, and Los Angeles Episcopal Bishop Frederick H. Borsch, a New Testament scholar, will hold a conversation about the Gospels at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Cathedral Center of St. Paul, 840 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles. Free. (213) 482-2020, Ext. 220.

* “Free Yourself From Clutter and Lighten Up,” a workshop on living a clutter-free life, will be given by the Rev. Bonnie Rowsell at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Glendale Church of Religious Science, 2146 E. Chevy Chase Drive, Glendale. Participants are urged to bring photos of all their rooms. Voluntary offering. (818) 244-8171.

* The Fellowship of Isis, an international organization dedicated to goddess spirituality, is sponsoring a workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. April 8 at the Cal State Long Beach student union, 1250 N. Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach. Speakers include Arch-Priestess Caroline Wise on “Experiencing Isis Through the Elements,” Wendy Griffin, Cal State Long Beach professor of women’s studies, who will speak on eco-feminism, and M. Macha NightMare, coauthor of “The Pagan Book of Living and Dying.” She will speak on “Meeting Death, Grieving Loss.” Donations range from $50 to $100. For information call the Rev. Laura Janesdaughter at (310) 473-3818.

* A Scandinavian festival will be held today and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. Music, theatrical performances, art exhibits, films and lectures are planned. Admission $6. (805) 493-3151.

* A seminar on “Repairing the World One Person at a Time” will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Kehillat Israel, 16019 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades. It is sponsored by the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation. Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis, senior rabbi at Valley Beth Shalom, will speak during the morning session on “The Two Faces of God: Confronting Suffering and Evil.” $50. Includes lunch. (323) 933-7491.

* “Re-imagining Illness/Re-imagining Health,” a conference on Judaism and health, will be held Sunday through Tuesday at three locations. It is sponsored by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. $250. For details call Debbie Pine, (213) 749-3424, Ext. 4247, or e-mail dpine@huc.edu.

MUSIC

A benefit flute recital by Martine Glicklich will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, 20121 Devonshire St., Chatsworth. $5. (818) 360-7460.

* Pianist Michael Sellers performs at noon Wednesday as part of the Pasadena Presbyterian Church’s Music at Noon concert series. Free. The church is located at 585 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 793-2191.

* Music for choir, organ and English horn will be performed Sunday at 5 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church, 504 N. Camden Drive (at Santa Monica Boulevard), Beverly Hills. (310) 275-2910.

*

Notices may be mailed for consideration to Southern California File, c/o Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, faxed to Southern California File at (213) 237-4712, or e-mailed to religion@latimes.com. Items should arrive two to three weeks before the event and should include pertinent details about the people and organizations with address, phone number, date and time. Because of the volume of submissions, we cannot guarantee publication.