Weekend of June 23, 2023 recognizing:
Special Friday evening kickoff event![]() Sanshin is pleased to include a Concert Conversation with practitioner and world-renowned concert pianist Yael Weiss in its anniversary lineup. She'll be discussing and demonstrating her international commissioning and performance project, 32 Bright Clouds: Beethoven Conversations Around the World.” This groundbreaking endeavor brings together composers from 32 countries of conflict and unrest throughout the world, joined together in sending a message of oneness and peace. Each new composition is inspired by one of Beethoven’s 32 Piano Sonatas, and the entire cycle of new works is unified by a single “peace motif” from Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis.
![]() The title of the project comes from Dogen's Kyojukaimon, his comments on teaching and conferring the precepts. He writes about the ninth precept, not being angry, "Neither withdrawing nor setting forth, neither being real nor being void, [therein] you will see the ocean of bright clouds and the ocean of magnificent clouds. Yael received lay precepts from Okumura Roshi at Sanshin in 2007 and continues her practice in New York. She's brought 32 Bright Clouds recitals to Korea, Cuba, Austria, Canada and venues throughout the US. Her 2020 recital for the Smithsonian Institution was featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and was attended by audiences internationally via YouTube Premiere.
Yael is a former faculty member of Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and an advocate for the power of music in the service of peace. Her presentation will kick off our weekend celebration with a meaningful opportunity to reconnect with each other and with our aspiration to live by the bodhisattva vow. |
We appreciate your patience as we continue to plan for our 20th anniversary, recognizing leadership transitions and the availability of a new Sanshin Network book. While the details are still being finalized, there will be several larger social events that recognize these milestones and also give us all the chance to connect, greet old and new friends, and offers our community time to reflect on twenty years of practice and to look ahead to Sanshin's future.
If you decide to attend in person, click here to fill out and submit our RSVP form by May 1st. We'll make sure you get more information as it becomes available. No registration will be required for virtual attendance; stay tuned for more information on that as it becomes available. The event schedule as it stands today and other information is available below. An early and important way that you can help to make these activities successful is to make a gift of financial support in any amount that feels comfortable to you. Celebration expenses are coming on top of both our regular operating costs and several major projects that will be necessary to ensure our long term sustainability. Thank you for your interest, involvement and support! FAQs about the event What is the celebration program schedule?
(All times are provided in US Eastern Standard Time.) Friday - June 23, 2023 5 PM Platinum Celebration Welcome Reception 7 PM Concert Conversation with Yael Weiss Saturday - June 24, 2023 6 AM Morning Practice 7 AM Breakfast Break (light snacks) 9 AM Platinum Anniversary Celebration -Sanshin History & Open Discussion 11 AM Break 12 PM Lunch 1 PM Dogen Institute Presentation/Book Launch/Panel Discussion 3 PM Break 5 PM Platinum Celebration Reception - in honor of Shōhaku Okumura Roshi Sunday - June 25, 2023 6 AM Morning Practice 7 AM Breakfast Break (light snacks) 9 AM Platinum Anniversary Celebration -in honor of Yuko Okumura 11 AM Sanshin Community Celebration How do I register? If you decide to attend in person, click here to fill out and submit our RSVP form by May 1st. We'll make sure you get more information as it becomes available. No registration will be required for virtual attendance; stay tuned for more information on that as it becomes available. How many people can attend? We'll be focusing on events that are open to all and there will also be virtual components to the celebration. We ask for an RSVP for in-person participation simply so we'll know the quantity of chairs, food, etc. we'll need to have on hand. Can I stay in the zendo or camp on the grounds? Attendees will need to find their own accommodations off campus. It's unlikely we could house everyone who wanted to attend.. Do you have any recommendations on accommodations that are available off campus? Hotels In Bloomington within 2 miles of Sanshin Courtyard Marriot Bloomington Hyatt Place Bloomington Graduate Hotel Airbnb options near Sanshin One Bedroom Apartment: $28/night Private Room: $32/Night Private Room: $48/Night Full House (3 room / 5 Beds) : $178/Night Entire Home (2 Room / 3 Beds) $179/night Is there a cost to register? There's no charge for participation, but of course gifts of financial support are most welcome. Please go to this page anytime to make your contribution. FAQs about the leadership transitionWill the Okumuras be moving back to Japan?
No. It's likely they'll move to their own house relatively close to Sanshin, but the exact location, timeline and other details have not been determined. What will Okumura Roshi be doing after he steps back? He has several books he'd like to finish and will continue to give occasional dharma talks at Sanshin and elsewhere within the Sanshin Network. What about genzo-e? The final genzo-e will be held in May 2023 (register here). It's likely that in future, genzo-e will be replaced by a work-study retreat at which Okumura Roshi will give only one talk per day. Attending the lectures virtually will probably remain possible. |