Relatively modest leads for the Coalition among Queenslanders, Christians and those 65-and-over, with Labor dominant everywhere else.

As it usually does on Boxing Day, The Australian has published quarterly aggregates of Newspoll with state and demographic breakdowns, on this occasion casting an unusually wide net from its polling all the way back to July to early this month, reflecting the relative infrequency of its results over this time. The result is a combined survey of 5771 respondents that finds Labor leading 55-45 in New South Wales (a swing of about 3.5% to Labor compared with the election), 57-43 in Victoria (about 2%), 55-45 in Western Australia (no change) and 57-43 in South Australia (a 4.0% swing), while trailing 51-49 in Queensland a 3% swing).

Gender breakdowns show only a slight gap, with Labor leading 54-46 among men and 56-44 among women, with the Greens as usual stronger among women among men. Age cohort results trend from 65-35 to Labor for 18-to-34 to 54-46 to the Coalition among 65-plus, with the Greens respectively on 24% and 3%. Little variation is recorded according to education or income, but Labor are strongest among part-time workers and weakest among the retired, stronger among non-English speakers but well ahead either way, and 62-38 ahead among those identifying as of no religion but 53-47 behind among Christians. You can find all the relevant data, at least for voting intention, in the poll data feature on BludgerTrack.

William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, has existed in one form or another since 2004, and is one of the most heavily trafficked websites on Australian politics.View all posts by William Bowe

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Newspoll quarterly aggregates: July to December (open thread ... - The Poll Bludger

At the end of October, Seven Days published the extraordinary obituary of Florence Miles, a Huntington dairy farmer who spent most of her 100 years toiling on the side of a hill across from Camel's Hump. Informed and intimate, the tribute chronicled the long, colorful life of a woman who labored like a workhorse, married a soldier right before he shipped off to World War II and "literally cheated death more than once." Florence saw plenty of suffering. For example: As a young girl, she helped her mother give birth to a younger sibling, and neither mom nor baby survived.

The writing style poetic, old-fashioned, rooted in nature perfectly matched the subject and a way of life, both awful and awesome, that is vanishing in Vermont.

"Whoa! Who wrote this amazing obit, I wonder?" one of our staffers emailed me soon after it appeared.

Others noticed, too. Hal Rosner of Philadelphia emailed to say reading our obituaries had become "a new spiritual practice" for him. "Some of them have read like a short story. But I can never find a byline. The example would be Florence Miles. Who wrote it? It was wonderful, and I shared with some very literary friends."

Unlike our semi-regular "Life Stories" series, in which Seven Days writers report on noteworthy Vermonters who have died, the paid obituaries in our weekly Life Lines section are submitted by funeral homes or family and friends of the deceased. A little digging uncovered the author of Florence's remarkable story.

Rosner's literary friends might be surprised to know he never finished college. But Dhyan Nirmegh, born Raymond Leggett, studied the Miles family for decades. He was 13 when his parents bought land adjacent to theirs, in 1965, on Huntington's Shaker Mountain Road. Although the Leggetts' primary residence was in South Burlington Ray's dad worked at the University of Vermont Ray quickly befriended John Miles, the son of Florence and her husband, Frank.

The boys were inseparable, according to Nirmegh, who discovered he loved farm life and the outdoors even when it required getting up long before dawn to milk cows or collect sap. He spent every weekend and summers with the Miles family, working alongside them in the dairy barn, forest and fields. It was certainly a very different education from the one he was getting at South Burlington High School.

Florence called Nirmegh her "second son," and she was a powerful mentor to him. Even as an adolescent, "I listened to her. I took notes. I wrote about her," Nirmegh explained in an email that reads not unlike the unorthodox obituary he wrote for Florence. "There were times when she cried reaching to be understood."

Seeking to better understand him, I visited Nirmegh, now 70, on his family's land in Huntington. He was tending a fire outside a barn that serves as his rustic crash pad. There are nicer homes on the 130 acres, but he's given those to his two adult children. A very short walk brought us to the property line he shares with the Miles family. John lives across the road. The two old friends still cross paths in the woods hunting and cutting timber. I later got a look at a video of Nirmegh splitting 16-inch pine logs easily cleaving one after the other with no more than two ax blows each.

It's a little hard to believe that this wiry lumberjack once followed the Indian mystic Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh to Oregon and India hence the name change and ran a meditation center for two years in Maui. But Nirmegh, whose name means "cloudless sky" in Sanskrit, exudes a rare peacefulness and appreciation for life. We went inside the warm barn to chat. Under mounted deer heads and a Stihl baseball cap, his piercing blue eyes twinkled.

John and his sister asked Nirmegh to write their mom's obituary when she died, three weeks after her 100th birthday party; he did the same for their father, Frank, in 2010. He writes and rewrites longhand. With the help of his kids and a transcription app on one of their computers, he dictated and digitized Florence's story. His daughter made the final edits.

The only thing more painful than the death of a loved one is the realization that you didn't observe them well enough or ask enough questions to honestly commit their life story to words. Florence Miles, and Seven Days readers, were lucky in that regard, thanks to the curiosity and expert storytelling of an enlightened outdoorsman.

As Nirmegh wrote of Florence: "She never bragged and never talked about herself unless asked. What she accomplished was without fanfare. She has disappeared like the morning mist hovering over the river."

For our final issue of 2022, we sought out Vermonters lost this year who merited additional memorializing. Find those reported tributes in our year-end "Life Stories" package.

On a cheerier note: Don't miss our annual "Backstories" feature, in which our writers reveal what they went through to report the news.

It's an honor. Happy New Year.

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From the Publisher: A Life Well Observed - Seven Days

Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) are both combat sports that use striking and grappling techniques to subdue a rival. The two sports were first introduced in the 1920s and 1930s, and they continue to thrive today. These fighting techniques can be broken down into different categories, including boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Ground-and-pound. The sport has exploded in popularity in the past few years, with the introduction of mixed martial arts tournaments and television shows. If you are looking for some great sportsbetkings boxing tips click on the link.

Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki fought at the Nippon Budokan Arena in Tokyo, Japan in 1976. Their bout marked the beginning of mixed martial arts, and their fight is considered a turning point in both their careers.

The first round of the match went about as expected. Inoki landed a number of kicks, including a jab. But there were no other noteworthy events in this round.

After the first round, Inoki switched to a flurry of kicks to the legs, including a jump side kick and a roundhouse kick. Throughout the remainder of the round, he continued to employ his ground kicking techniques.

During the second round, Ali made some progress. He was able to land two punches and avoid Inokis kicking game.

Bruce Lee and Wong Shun Leung have made a huge impact on the world of martial arts. They had a hand in creating the Wing Chun style and teaching it to countless other famous fighters.

While Lee was in school, he studied a variety of martial arts, including tai chi and kung fu. He even participated in a few fights. But it was his films that changed the face of martial arts in the US and around the world.

In the 1970s, Lees movies changed the way American audiences viewed Asians. His film, Enter the Dragon, grossed over $200 million in the US.

During his lifetime, Lee was a philosopher, actor, filmmaker, boxer, and a martial artist. He died in Hong Kong on July 20, 1973. He is regarded as one of the greatest martial artists of all time.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the martial art of grappling. It is considered one of the most effective methods of self-defense. It has been a very popular martial art in recent years and is largely associated with the Gracie family.

It was developed by Mitsuyo Maeda, a Japanese judo expert who emigrated to Brazil in 1914. Maeda taught a group of Brazilians, including Carlos Gracie, and his youngest son, Helio.

Although most fans of BJJ associate it with submissions from the back, the technique has a broader definition. Its main goal is to control an opponent without striking. It also protects against arm strikes and is largely centered on ground fighting.

Although a few myths have surfaced about the origin of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the truth is that its origins are not completely known. It may have evolved from jujutsu or ancient Greece.

Muay Thai is a fighting style that originated in Thailand. The name Muay Thai is a combination of the wordsmuay (meaning fight) and thai (meaning Thai). The sport is considered a national sport in Thailand.

The sport of Muay Thai is a striking-based martial art that combines the use of shins, elbows, knees, and feet. The fighting techniques are based on the principles of conditioning and strength building.

The fights are scored on a round basis. A fighter who wins the round is awarded 10 points. The loser is given 9, 8 or 7 points.

The Muay Thai fights take place in a ring between 6.1 meters x 6.1 meters and 7.3 meters x 7.3 meters. The winner is the one who is more powerful when they strike.

Ground-and-pound boxing was introduced to MMA by Mark Coleman, and it became a very important element of the sport. Many UFC fighters have excelled at this style, and it is now a staple of MMA.

There are a number of techniques used in this style. Some are more practical than others. For example, you can use a double leg takedown to gain an advantage over an opponent. Other ground and pound techniques include a sweep, which is when you wrap your opponents legs around your waist and swing them forward. You can also attempt a triangle-armbar submission.

The MMA rules allow for submissions and striking. The winner is usually awarded the decision by the judges. However, there are minor restrictions on the rules. For instance, a groin attack, head butting, and gouging are prohibited.

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We may receive commissions and other revenues from this article. We are a paid partner of organizations mentioned in this article.

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Boxing Introduced to MMA - My MMA News.com

After hosting and judging two seasons of Drag Race Thailand, Pangina Heals reached new heights in her career by appearing as a competitor on RuPauls Drag Race: UK vs the World. Since then, even fans who had never seen Heals in the Thailand series became familiar with her fabulous drag and charismatic personality.

As of 2022, Heals is now conquering Hollywood with a brand-new digital series from WOW Presents Plus, Tongue Thaid With Pangina Heals. Tthe show will feature guests such as Jujubee (Drag Race season two), Jimbo (Canadas Drag Race), Kim Chi (Drag Race season eight), Cheryl Hole (Drag Race UK), Ongina (Drag Race season one), Honey Davenport (Drag Race season 11), Maxi Shield (Drag Race Down Under), and Mark Kanemura (a dancer who has been featured on Drag Race).

During an interview with PRIDE, Heals spilled the tea about Tongue Thaid, discussed her friendships with other Asian queens from the Drag Race franchise, and even revealed whats the current status of Drag Race Thailand season three.

Scroll through to read the PRIDE interview with Pangina Heals and make sure to watch Tongue Thaid on WOW Presents Plus.

PRIDE: How would you describe Tongue Thaid to new viewers who might be interested in watching it?

Pangina Heals: Its basically a show where drag queens eat spicy-ass Thai food. You get culture, you get a lot of charisma, and you get a little bit of diarrhea.

And it seems like the episodes get spicier and spicier not only with the food that youre eating, but also with the questions that youre asking. Is that accurate?

It is very true. I feel like [the episode with] Jujubee She has a stable relationship, so shes quite vanilla, but I love her. But I think when the episodes with Honey Davenport or Kim Chi come, it just gets a lot spicier because we ask about the craziest things theyve ever done, and basically we talk about things that you dont usually talk about when youre having food. So theres a lot of things that you get to find out about each of the entertainers that come on.

The grand prize for Drag Race UK is getting a show on WOW Presents Plus. You didnt win UK vs the World, but youre now getting your own show on the streaming service anyway. Are you low-key feeling like a winner right now?

I definitely do! And going into UK vs the World, Ive always felt like until then, there was no other Thai girl, so I was literally the only Thai RuGirl, and I felt so lucky. I already feel like a winner. Im traveling the world doing tours everywhere, meeting people who feel inspired from what I do, people who feel represented by me, and I feel like I get to connect with people. Im just so thankful, and f*ck yeah, I feel like a winner.

Drag Race Thailand came out all the way back in 2018. So, to see this resurgence in your career in 2022, its really exciting for us who are fans of the Thailand franchise. How has this second wind of fans and mainstream audiences been for you?

Its been overwhelming, honestly, and its taught me so many life lessons. Ive never thought that my following would increase by that much. I expected it to be by a certain amount, but it just surpassed everything Ive ever thought it would be. Literally, my Instagram went up 300,000. I was just in awe. I would wake up one day and it just jumped up like 20k, and I was like, The f*ck... And I literally thought that people were going to receive me okay. But somehow going on the show, I just wanted to be myself because I had the conversation with myself, was going in, I was like, Should I be that funny queen? Should I be that fashion queen? And then I was like, You know what? Youre enough. You can be you without letting anyone put you in a box. And I felt that a lot of the fans resonated with that.

This is an interview show, but you also want to expose audiences to Thai food. What are some of your all-time favorite dishes?

My all-time favorite dishes in Thailand are spicy My favorite one translates to bitter snail curry. Oh, its so good. It fills your soul up. And I just had it just now, actually. But Thai food is all about the seafood sauce. We know that if the seafood sauce is green, its not as good as the red one.

Tongue Thaid is featuring queens like Jujubee, Kim Chi, and Ongina. How fun was it to get together with other Asian queens from the Drag Race universe?

Its great because all of us have our own cultures that are related to food. Like, Kim Chi is a foodie. Ongina said she is OK with spice, and then I really just had her coughing up a lot of the things. And Juju was fun too because its the first time that people get to see us converse in our native tongues. So its like having lunch with my sisters, but were tucked.

A lot of fans gave you a hard time for eliminating Jimbo on UK vs the World, whos also appearing as a guest on the show. What do you wish fans knew about your relationship with Jimbo outside of the competitive environment of Drag Race?

We definitely talk. Ill always be like, Hey, I miss you. How are you doing? One lesson that I took from this experience that I feel like [is relevant] if girls go onto the show is that there is reality and then there is a reality that people create around you. And what is important is your own reality and your own truth. Because people can sit there all day and say that Pangina needs to admit that she eliminated Jimbo because she was a threat or she hates Canada or whatever. I dont. But no matter what I say, they already created a narrative and I dont fulfill the narrative. So I dont give a f*ck. For me, the lesson that I want to perpetuate to anyone is to live your life, live your truth, and those who are around you that just lift you up, keep them close.

Youre probably tired of getting this question, but as a big fan of Drag Race Thailand, I have to ask if you have any updates at all on season three.

Yeah, its out tomorrow. [Laughs]

Fabulous! So is the Meet The Queens dropping today!?

Honestly, I believe that great things always happen, and manifestation is really real. And so Ive been praying to a lot of deities here in Thailand and I know its going to happen. Its just a matter of when. I will let you bitch-slap me if it doesnt happen, how about that?

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Pangina Heals Spills The Tea About Her Brand-New Show Tongue ... - Pride.com

Along with the thousands of Fijians who exercised their democratic right to vote on Wednesday were excited first-time voters.

The Fiji Times caught up with two in Sigatoka in Nadroga during the 2022 General Election. Salote Cagivou travelled all the way from Savusavu in Vanua Levu to vote at the Sigatoka Methodist School.

She said she did not update her information with the Fijian Elections Office but made a point to travel to Sigatoka so she could excercise her right to vote.

I used to work around here when I registered to vote, then I moved to Savusavu, the 22-year-old said.

I couldnt change my polling station nor apply for postal voting so I made sure to come here and vote.

Ms Cagivou said the voting process was smooth and relatively easy. Vutaele Videi, a first time voter from Malevu Village, Sigatoka, described her first time voting as exciting and efficient.

She was one of the 250 voters registered at the Malevu Community hall.

I am very happy I voted today (Wednesday), Ive been looking forward to this day for a long time, the 19-year-old said. Ms Videi said all the confusion she had before coming to vote was cleared by the helpful polling officials.

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2022 General Election: Journey across the sea to vote - The Fiji Times - Fiji Times

The Chronicle

Zimbabwe is likely to experience heavy rains starting this Saturday until Monday due to a cloud band which is drifting eastwards from Botswana.

In a joint statement with the Department of Civil Protection (DCP), the Meteorological Services department (MSD) said the cloud band was moving slowly into the country from Botswana through Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South provinces.

A cloud band is drifting into the country from Botswana through Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South provinces from Saturday 17 December 2022 and should slowly move eastward across much of the country, it said.

This is coupled with additional moisture from the south-east coast of Southern Africa on Sunday 18 December.

The MSD said the heavy rains were normal for this time of the year, especially in a season which was expected to have normal to above normal rains.

It said the heavy rains were expected to affect areas along the main watershed as well as the Eastern highlands.

Localised heavy rains (in excess of 50mm) and hail storms should be expected in some places, roof tops might be blown off while loose debris and fallen trees due to strong winds might also be encountered.

Meanwhile, the DCP urged the public to plan with the weather in mind as the rains might affect outdoor activities.

It also urged the public to look out for open drains and potholes that may be covered in water while motorists should excercise caution on the roads as visibilty might be reduced.

People should stay indoors during the thunderstorms unless in cases of emergency, the DCP said.

If travel is necessary, please take caution on the road as visibility may be reduced and there maybe hidden flood dangers. Do not attempt to cross flooded rivers on foot or in vehicles.

Zimbabwe loses many lives during the rainy season from drowning, flooding, lightning as well as accidents due to slippery roads and poor visibility. New Ziana.

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Heavy rains expected this weekend - Chronicle

In 2009, Rev. Hiroshi Abiko became rinban of Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, where he served until retiring to Sebastopol in 2012. (Courtesy Wheel of Dharma)

By JON KAWAMOTO, Wheel of Dharma Editor

BCA Minister Emeritus Rev. Hiroshi Abiko, the son of a Japanese Buddhist minister who himself served as a BCA kaikyoshi minister for 42 years, was fondly remembered for the example he set that embodied the Buddha-Dharma through his energy, positive outlook, leadership and mentorship.

Rev. Abiko, who was 81, passed away on Oct. 6 in San Francisco at his home with his family present. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer two years before and received treatment at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center.

At the Oct. 27 memorial service at the Buddhist Church of San Francisco, BCA Minister Emeritus Rev. Masao Kodani, the longtime minister at Senshin Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles, delivered a brief and touching eulogy via Zoom.

Rev. Hiroshi Jokai Abiko was born and raised in a Buddhist family infused by the experience called Buddhism, Rev. Kodani said. Buddhism is not about faith in a Western sense of religion. Ironically, this is especially true of our Jodo Shinshu form of Buddhism. It is to experience, to wake up to reality. Not our normal self-created reality, but to that which simply is, or more correctly, that which simply is-ing.

Rev. Kodani first met Rev. Abiko in Kyoto during the 1960s and said Rev. Abiko connected his Buddhist experiences without being ego-self conscious about it, and definitely did not wear it on his sleeve.

He was truly adventurous, not from trying to prove something, but because he was really curious about things, and wide open to them. And his experiences made him naturally want to share them. He knew what normal was, but also knew somehow what natural was. I dont know how else to explain this about him.

Rev. Hiroshi Abiko was born at the Japanese Hospital in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles on March 13, 1941, the second son of Rev. Yoshitaka Giko Abiko and Mrs. Hiroko (Shibata) Abiko. Rev. Abikos elder brother is Koki Abiko.

With the outbreak of World War II in December 1941, Rev. Yoshitaka Abiko, who was one of several ministers assigned to the Los Angeles Betsuin, was arrested by the FBI and sent to a U.S. Justice Department detention camp in Santa Fe, N.M., along with other Buddhist ministers and leaders of Japanese American communities.

Hiroko Abiko and her two sons were initially detained at the Santa Anita Park race track in Arcadia, before being sent to the Jerome, Ark., concentration camp. After approximately a year, they were transferred to the Tule Lake camp, where they were reunited with Rev. Yoshitaka Abiko.

After the war ended, the Abiko family was transferred to Japan. They returned to the Abiko family temple, Shokoji, in Shiga Prefecture.

Rev. Hiroshi Abikos interest in taiko began during his elementary school days in Japan, when he watched his cousins playing the temple taiko and making rhythmic sounds in the Hondo and in the courtyard in preparation for Bon Odori.

The family moved to Hiroshima, where Rev. Yoshitaka Abiko served as the first school principal of a Hiroshima music school, and then moved to Sapporo Betsuin.

In 1954, the family returned to California, where Rev. Yoshitaka Abiko became a BCA minister at the Buddhist Temple of Alameda. He was later assigned as rinban of the Buddhist Church of Sacramento and last served as minister of Enmanji Buddhist Temple in Sebastopol.

Rev. Hiroshi Abiko attended Porter Junior High and Alameda High School, where he became the schools hornet mascot. His college years at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, were cut short when his father became seriously ill while serving the Sacramento Betsuin, and his mother needed help in caring for his father.

He transferred to California State University, Sacramento, where he graduated with a degree in philosophy and a minor in art. Soon after his college graduation, he left for Kyoto to enter the masters program at Ryukoku University to further his studies in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. He received his masters degree, and received tokudo, kyoshi, and kaikyoshi from the Nishi Hongwanji. He also received certification in completing his training in the art of flower arrangement.

Before returning to California to visit his parents and to await assignment by the BCA, Rev. Abiko traveled around the world, visiting Buddhist and historical sites throughout China, Southeast Asia, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, as well as Europe.

Rev. Abiko served at San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, Palo Alto Buddhist Temple, Buddhist Church of San Francisco, and Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple (Nishi Hongwanji). He also served as chairman of the BCA Ministers Association.

His first temple assignment was the San Jose Betsuin in 1971. He married Misaye Kamigaki of Brentwood in 1974, having met her at a San Jose Betsuin choir concert. Rev. Abiko was a tenor in the San Jose Betsuin Choir led by Yumiko Hojo. He also became a member of the Palo Alto and San Francisco temple choirs in subsequent years.

Rev. Abiko was one of the three original founders of San Jose Taiko, whose premiere performance occurred in 1973.

In Mahayana Buddhism, the taiko is the symbolic voice of the Buddha or the Dharma, Rev. Abiko said. It is the far-reaching and eternally majestic sound, which calls all living beings to the Truth and the reality of the Dharma. The natural joy of being shown the Truth of what one is, no matter how uncomfortable the case may be, is the joy of awareness of being embraced in the Truth, or in Amida Buddha.

In 1983, Rev. Abiko was assigned to the Buddhist temple in Palo Alto, where his son, Ryo, was born. During his 18-year tenure in Palo Alto, he also became the first Buddhist chaplain for the Palo Alto Veterans Administration. He always looked forward to meeting veterans, hearing their stories and counseling them.

In 2001, Rev. Abiko was assigned to Buddhist Church of San Francisco (BCSF). During his tenure, he was able to help set up the BCSFs Ministers Assistant Program (MAP).

In 2009, he became rinban of the Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. He retired in 2013 to Sebastopol.

Rev. Abikos impact on BCA ministers was profound, and cited by both Rev. Harry Bridge of the Buddhist Church of Oakland and BCA Bishop Rev. Marvin Harada.

Rev. Abiko was a very significant figure in my life he gave the first Dharma talk I ever heard, Rev. Bridge said in a Facebook post after attending Rev. Abikos memorial service.

Rev. Bridge recalled visiting a friend in the Bay Area in 1990 and, at the urging of his friends mother, attending a memorial service for his friends grandfather. Rev. Abiko was the officiating minister for the service.

I wouldnt go up to do incense offering I had no idea what was going on! But something about the Dharma talk captured me. It was the proverbial lightbulb going off above my head. To this day, I have no memory of what he (Rev. Abiko) talked about, Rev. Bridge said. But later, Rev. Bridge told his friends mother that the Dharma talk was interesting.

So she gave me some books and journals, all over my head at the time. But, a few years later, I dug them out, discovered the existence of the Institute of Buddhist Studies, and the rest is history, Rev. Bridge said. So thank you, Abiko Sensei your impact on me was immeasurable, and Im sure that can be said for many others besides me.

Rev. Harada said: Over the many years that I have known Abiko Sensei, I never heard him complain about his workload or even show that he was tired or on the verge of being burned out.

He was always upbeat, positive, and energetic, even when he was serving at busy places like the Los Angeles Betsuin. Whenever I saw him, he always had an enthusiastic greeting, Hey Marv, how you doing? Or something of that nature. His energy was quite infectious, and even if I myself felt a bit tired or worn out from a busy work schedule, after seeing Abiko Sensei, I would feel energized or uplifted.

In his retirement, Rev. Abiko pursued projects with his hands at the Sebastopol country home. He built vegetable boxes for his wife and made them as gopher-proof as possible. He loved to garden, rake autumn leaves, clean gutters, and repair fences and gates.

His favorite thing to do was to drive his riding mower through the field to cut weeds and flatten down gopher mounds, according to his family. He also enjoyed golf games with his minister and Sangha friends, and he tried practicing his putting skills using gopher holes as targets, but with little success. He pruned the apple, plum and persimmon trees and hoped for a better harvest the following year, and even tried making apple pies.

As a retired minister, Rev. Abiko was grateful to be given the opportunity to help at the Enmanji Buddhist Temple by sharing Dharma talks, conducting services and providing guidance as needed.

Rev. Abikos survivors include: his wife, Misaye (Kamigaki) Abiko; daughter, Kaori Abiko, and her husband, Chris Le; son, Ryo Abiko; and older brother, Koki Abiko, and his family. He is predeceased by his parents and sister Nariye, who died at 17 months in 1946 in Japan.

He was proud of his children and grateful for their love and support together with his wifes loving care. He was elated to be a part of the wedding ceremony for Kaori and Chris in July.

Hiroshi Jokai His names mean, Broad and expansive like the purity of the ocean. Way to go, Hiroshi, and thanks for everything, Rev. Kodani said in his eulogy. May the Nembutsu say all of us, too. NamoAmidaButsu.

Rev. Abikos family said: Hiroshi now remains in the comfort of the other shore, giving care to earthly beings who have not yet reached the other shore.

-

The Abiko family, led by Misaye Abiko, and BCA Minister Emeritus Rev. Masao Kodani, Rev. Harry Bridge and Bishop Rev. Marvin Harada contributed to this article

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Rev. Abiko Fondly Recalled for His Buddhist Example - The Rafu Shimpo

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Participants gathered at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana on 1214 December to take part in the third and final workshop in a series of discussions of religion in the public sphere. The workshops, hosted by the Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion, featured trialogues or dialogues between three people, with faith leaders, scholars, and journalists taking part.

The workshops were hosted and coordinated by Prof. Mahan Mirza, who leads the Ansari Institute and is a professor of Islam and science at the University of Notre Dame, and Prof. Alexander Hsu, assistant teaching professor for the Ansari Institute. The series began with a virtual panel in June 2021, with the inaugural workshop following in December 2021. The second workshop was held in August 2022, and the third was held this month.

The purpose of the series was to bring these three, at times distant, professions together, and for the participants to share their experiences and perspectives in order to foster mutual understanding and better communication with the public about religion.

Each of the three workshops focused on a theme. The inaugural workshop was themed Hindsight is 2020 and focused on religion in the news in 2020. After delays due to COVID-19, the hosts and organizers decided to create an early virtual panel to begin the conversation.

The in-person workshop that followed drew together 16 participants to discuss elements of their work in greater depth over a course of three days. Each day focused on a major event in 2020: religious responses to the coronavirus, Black Lives Matter awareness and protests, and the 2020 US elections.

The second workshop was held on the theme of Never Forget, looking back at the 11 September attacks in the US and revelations of clerical sexual abuse, and the ensuing religious conversation and coverage. This time 17 participants gathered from around the world representing Catholicism, Protestant groups, Islam, and more.

The third workshop was on the theme of Religious Futures. This time, 18 attendees gathered at Notre Dame, plus one joining by Zoom, to tackle the heavy topic of the future of religion. This gathering featured two scholars of Buddhism: Dr. Ann Gleig, associate professor of religious studies at the University of Central Florida, and Dr. Natalie M. Avalos, assistant professor in the Ethnic Studies Department at the University of Colorado, Boulder, as well as Buddhist Globals Dr. Justin Whitaker representing Buddhist journalism.

Avalos, also a scholar of indigenous and Native American religious traditions, was paired with Shannon Rivers, a faith leader with the Akimel Ootham (River People) Nation in Arizona and Tyler M. Tully, a doctoral candidate in theology at the University of Oxford.

Also at the workshop were representatives of Catholicism, Islam, Judaism, and Protestant Christianity.

Joining Dr. Whitaker and Dr. Gleig was Nikhil Mandalaparthy, deputy executive director of Hindus for Human Rights, forming a session dedicated to the two largest Dharmic religions.

Dr. Gleig spoke about her work as a scholar of American Buddhism and, in particular, her most recent work on sexual abuse in American Buddhist communities. Mandalaparthy spoke about his work to counter growing Hindu nationalism, particularly in the US, by presenting an alternative, progressive voice for Hindus.

Dr. Whitakers talk discussed his 2019 feature article: Buddhist Journalism in an Age of Global Distrust,* which itself refers to coverage Buddhistdoor Globals Raymond Lam of a similar gathering, this one focusing exclusively on Asian Buddhism: Asian Buddhist Media Conclave Seeks Dharma-inspired Paradigms for Buddhist and Secular Journalism.**

Workshop attendees demonstrated an acute awareness of many of the benefits of insightful journalism, scholarship, and faith leadership. Most discussions, however, focused on the collective difficulties and shortcomings of these professions. As several participants noted, these opportunities to step out of our daily work in order to be self-reflective are rare and precious.

Sarah Ventre, an audio journalist who has been nominated for a Peabody Award for her podcast on a fundamentalist Mormon community, introduced the concept of the crossfade, drawing from the work of Prof. Josh Kun, which showed how aspects of one piece of music can flow into another piece of music in a temporary, liminal space to create something new and extraordinary. Through her talk and our conversations afterward, it became clear that the workshop brought our spiritual or religious aspirations into a crossfade with our ordinary professional lives in an incredibly impactful way.

Rather than trying to predict or forecast religious futures, as might have been sought of us, we instead came away invigorated in our roles as co-creators of those futures.

Summaries and video from the first two workshops are available at the Ansari Institutes webpage. A summary of the third workshop and video from the closing public conversation are forthcoming. Also planned is a further gathering featuring participants from all three workshops, which will take place some time in the summer of 2023.

* Buddhist Journalism in an Age of Global Distrust (BDG)

** Asian Buddhist Media Conclave Seeks Dharma-inspired Paradigms for Buddhist and Secular Journalism (BDG)

Faith in the Story (Ansari Institute)

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The University of Notre Dame Wraps Up Faith in the Story ... - Buddhistdoor Global

My daughter and I walked out of the theater at Barnsdall Art Park feeling as light as a balloon bouquet. For the past one-and-a-half hours, we had listened to a lecture titled Relationships that was taught by Buddhist monk Gen Kelsang Rigpa. We had just experienced a mood transfusion.

Barnsdall Art Park sits atop Olive Hill near the intersection of Hollywood and Vermont, with breathtaking views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood sign. The sidewalk that leads to the theater passes through a small, very peaceful pine forest.

There were about 80 people there, reflecting our Angeleno diversity but skewed toward middle age. Everyone was casually dressed and chatted quietly as they waited for the program to begin. When the host introduced the teacher, he asked that we not applaud when he came out, but simply stand up.

Its hard to describe what a difference that makes. The monk came out dressed in Buddhist garb, bowed slightly in greeting, signaled us to sit down, and told us we would begin with a short meditation.

Imagine a room full of adults with their phones off, sitting with their backs straight, heads slightly forward, and their eyes closed for 15 minutes. He told us to meditate about someone or some group of people with whom we would like to improve our relationship.

Gen Kelsang Rigpa is a resident teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center LA. Far from being inscrutable or ponderous, he is very plainspoken and relatable. He radiated warmth, and his humor was infectious. Best of all, I could understand what he was talking about. Love and attachment were the two main themes.

Most people have a vague idea of the Buddhist concept of attachment. The monk gave an example of attachment by having us consider why we choose certain people to be our friends. They like us, think we are great, and make us feel good about ourselves. Its basically about us. The same goes for our pets; they jump up and down when they see us. As long as we feed them, they are our best friends. Again, attachment.

Most of us were nodding in agreement. On an intuitive level, we already knew it. Then our smiling monk changed to love. What is love? He described it as seeing another human being and understanding that he wants the same thing we want to be happy, live life freely, avoid suffering. To focus on the other person is to show love.

He asked us to think about the person we had pondered during our initial meditation, the one with whom we wanted to improve our relationship. Maybe they dont think we are so great.

I thought of a boss I had had many years ago who did me wrong. We worked for a nonprofit organization, and when the national office initiated a nationwide re-organization, my boss was able to get rid of me. She planned to prevent me from filing a claim for unemployment insurance. I called in sick. She sent a messenger to my house saying I didnt work there anymore. I sued her. And then I wrote about it in this newspaper. There was bad blood.

That memory has been moldering for more than a decade. Perhaps it is because I always knew that she and I were devoted to the mission of our organization and wanted to see it succeed. The re-organization was imposed on us by the big bosses in New York and caused us to behave badly.

Although I cant say I felt a blossoming love for her at that moment, what I took away is that it is possible to imagine that my boss wanted what was best for the organization and the people who were at the heart of it. We did some good work together, and I have more happy memories than angry ones.

When Gen Kelsang Rigpa ended the class, there was a feeling of calm in the room. When he stood up to leave the stage, we all rose as one in silence. We steeled ourselves to go back to our noisy lives a little calmer, a little wiser.

Kathleen Vallee Stein is a Monrovia writer.

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A Buddhist moment here at the holidays - The Whittier Daily News

Bereaved families attend the 49th-day memorial service held at Jogye Temple in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, Friday. (Yonhap)

Heavy-hearted tears fell down the faces of some 150 bereaved families of the Itaewon tragedy Friday morning as a 49th-day memorial service was given for the souls of the deceased at Jogye Temple in Jongno-gu, central Seoul.

Under Buddhist belief, the deceased's spirit leaves the human world after lingering 49 days after death.

At the main Daeungjeon Hall within the compound of Jogye Temple, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, South Koreas largest Buddhism sect, expressed condolences to those who lost their friends and families in the tragedy.

The ritual was held in the form of Chundo, a traditional after-death ceremony praying for the dead spirits to find peace and rest in the afterlife, and guiding the souls to be reborn in a better place or direct them to goodness. A total of 65 portraits of the deceased and 77 tables of honors were displayed at the ceremony.

Ven. Jinwoo, the president of the Jogye Order, and Ven. Jihyun, head monk of Jogyesa Temple, were also present during the event, along with 100 other monks and Buddhists.

The members of the Korean Council of Religious Leaders, including the Jogye Order, the Christian Council of Korea and the Catholic Bishops Conference of Korea, also planned to hold a memorial ceremony for the victims Friday afternoon.

At 6 p.m., a civic memorial service will be held by the bereaved family council and the Itaewon Disaster Citizens Countermeasures Meeting on the street in front of Itaewon Station Line No. 6. The organizer of the event warned of possible congestion, asking those willing to participate to use Exit No. 3 of Noksapyeong Station Line No. 6.

Main opposition Democratic Party of Koreas leader Lee Jae-myung and Lee Jeong-mi, leader of the minor opposition Justice Party, will visit the civic memorial service to express their condolences.

Democratic Party leader Lee urged President Yoon Suk-yeol to personally visit the memorial altar and make an official apology in front of the portraits of the deceased and tables of honors.

Instead the presidential office sent Yoon's senior secretary on social affairs to the memorial service saying that their heart of consolation remains unwavering.

Finding out the truth and taking appropriate measures is the way to be there for victims and the bereaved families," the office said at a daily afternoon briefing.

Seouls Itaewon neighborhood became the location of a deadly disaster on the eve of Oct. 30, as people crammed into a narrow, sloping alley, which led to a crowd crushing effect killing 158 people.

On Wednesday, police reported a high school survivor of the tragedy had been found dead in an apparent suicide.

By Park Jun-hee (junheee@heraldcorp.com)

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Bereaved families bid farewell to Itaewon victims on 49th day after deaths - The Korea Herald