Christmas Eve with Happy Tao

Padma and Matthew Strater welcomed the Happy Tao family to their home on Christmas Eve, and with the help of Philip and Hyo Jong, Ray/Jin Kwon, Hye Jong, and many others, created a warm, spiritually uplifting night of fellowship, learning, and celebration.

In one or two shots, Padma and I receive birthday greetings for her birthday on December 22, and mine on December 23.

Here are a few pictures. And don't forget, it is easy to download and keep pictures from any of the slide shows on this site. Click on the slide show to go automatically to the picture page where you can download pictures you'd like to keep).

God bless you all, Happy holidays

55th Birthday

This birthday was a treat, My kids cooked a gourmet meal, and together with Hiroko made me a guest of honor in my own home. A special time.

Here are a couple of pictures:

President David S.C. Kim's 93rd Birthday, December 18, 2007

On December 18, 2007 approximately 25 friends and family gathered to celebrate the 93rd birthday of Unification Theological Seminary, President Emeritus, David Sang Cheol Kim.

This day, December 18 is the Lunar calendar reckoning of President Kim's birthday. Interestingly it is also the anniversary of Father's (Reverend Moon's) 1971 arrival in America (at Washington National airport), as well as the founding in Seoul of PWPA, and the maiden presentation of the Encyclopedia publication World and I.

To tie us to, and reverence the commemoration of Father's first time in America, Seiko Lee led all gathered in a chorus of God Bless America

We began the celebration with Family Pledge and prayer, followed by a brief discourse and guidance from President Kim. Together with an abundant meal, sharing, festivities, fun and a cake, there was much in the way of respect and spiritual awakening and encouragement. Robert Brooks (with the quiet aid of Philip McCracken) served as master of ceremonies. Prepared testimonies were offered by Robert Brooks, Dorothy Hill, and John Lowen.

President Kim was on hand together with his wife and 3rd son Young. He led the group gathered in a number of spiritual ceremonies, brief times of teaching throughout the afternoon, a round of "fortunes" with all gathered, and a time to give each one present his own gift to us.

David Kim continues to invest vigorously and enthusiastically with clear vision in the present dispensation for God's Kingdom under the leadership of Father and Mother (Reverend and Mrs. Moon) and their family.

Here are a small few pictures from this enjoyable time:

Holiday at Sobul's

Philip and Hyo Jong hosted Happy Tao friends at their home last night. I was a little weak on taking pictures this time, but Ray (Jin Kwon) got a hold of my camera, so there's a bigger dose of my own silliness to be seen this time.

A lovely night of food, drink, reflection and conversation, a call with Sabonim toward the end of the night, and of course the Karaoke machine did its usual tour of duty.

Here are a few pictures:

Tanja's birthday

I had a delightful experience Friday night. Tanja, my eldest was born to my Japanese wife and I on December 7, Pearl Harbor day. On Friday the young lass turned 20.

We have religious ceremonies for birthdays very early in the morning, but then the kids always have a couple of parties in addition to that.

The special part for me about the gathering in our home honoring Tanja Friday night was the phenomenal diversity of those on hand. Three or 4 generations gathered from 8 or 10 countries in all, and managed somehow to rock together for a few hours.

Much fun and a blessing indeed.

As always pictures could be better. Still here are a couple of pictures just to get an idea of our time together:

My Day's around the Thanksgiving Holiday

I was much blessed this week with a number of pleasing activities surrounding the Thanksgiving holidays.

On Tuesday night I stayed over with friends in New Jersey and went together with one to Mother's New Jersey speech. Mr. Oh drove me back to the city, where I attended Mother's New York speech.

On Thanksgiving morning, I attended Thanksgiving and the speech tour celebration at East Garden, and later that day traveled with my family to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Inman's and the Lee's, at the kind invitation of the Inmans.

Here are a few pictures from these several occasions:

Halloween night in Union Square

The soldiers in the photographs below are real.
They are not in Halloween costumes.

The others, so far as I can tell are in Halloween costumes.

This is New York City though. One never really knows.

Celebrating the Congressional Medal

My weekend of October 20 was blessed. Opportunities included time at a Tibet and friends of Tibet celebration, and visit a with the family members of Happy Tao the same evening.

Tibet at Union Square

On Saturday, October 20, the Tibetan community of New York gathered in Union Square to celebrate the Congressional Medal of Honor conferred upon His Holiness, the Dalai Lama by President GW Bush earlier in the week.

The MC and the speaker of the house, of the government of Tibet in exile explained to those gathered that the event was organized to allow a time of rejoicing and celebration for any New Yorkers who did not have the chance to make to to Washington D.C.

The weather was perfect, and the celebration full of joy.

I am devoted to the work of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and I am devoted to a bright and just future for the people of Tibet. In addition to this however, a big reason for going today was to hear Yungchen sing.

Here is a small slide show of my time at this wonderful event.



Here are 4 (simple home) videos from the celebration:

Lamas Chanting




Tibetan Dance




Tibetan Guitar Dance



Yunchen Lhamo singing

Master Khan Bada

In the evening, I traveled by train to spend an evening in the home of Yoga instructor, Padma Strater for an abundant dinner, time with friends, and to receive the spiritual teaching of Sabunim Master Khan Bada.

Here is Padma (playing around in her new hat), and Master Khan

The beauty of eternity and its traditions

A precious soul and new friend recently lost her saintly mom. This friend is closely associated has been blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to communicate Tibetan spirituality through sacred song

Please familiarize yourself with Yungchen's art and music here.

I learned some of the Tibetan tradition of transition from life to life, and was blessed to offer prayers Sunday by Sunday for the 49 days that is traditionally prescribed for such times. Tibetan Lamas from throughout the region offered puja during these 49 days. On the final Sunday, I was joined by my daughter Marissa, and my work assistant Kanae San. Here is a small slide show of our visit:



Here also is a small video of the prayers:

Family trip to Newport, Rhode Island

We 5 took off for a little over 24 hours and spent an overnight in Newport, Rhode Island (August 28 and 29). It is about a 3.5 hour drive from our home in Queens, in a way a perfect distance. We were clearly "away," but didn't have to torture ourselves to get there.

I was lucky that my internet hunt resulted in delightful accommodations. We stayed at a bed and breakfast known as The Wynstone (I recommend it, by the way). Click on this picture to learn more about it.

The town is perfectly charming and welcoming. For what little we did it seemed affordable. It is roaringly historcial, but also has plenty of lively activity. You can rent anything from bikes to those little sea-top motorcycles (whatever they're called). Plenty of sea food around. Lot's is in walking distance. We managed quaint dining in the marina on one side of town, all the way to laying out on a sandy beach on the other, and never touched our car from the moment we first set it to rest and unloaded our bags.

The family hung together at times and hung in pieces and parts at others, so it's good family town for all versions and phases of family. I guess I could go on, but hopefully this gives some idea. Here's a slide show of a little of the trip.

Rocks in the ocean, fish in the sea

Last night I went with Steve Jares to see Hot Tuna in Peekskill, NY (thanks to the largess of the Brooks' who ditched to fly to Chicago for a Ratdog gig).


Nice night. Train hugs a lazy Hudson at day's end.

Peekskill is its own mystery.

Alice: But I don't want to go among mad people.
Cheshire Cat: Oh, you can't help that. Most everyone's mad here.

(Ask Steve about his cab driver.)

The Paramount is a fine cozy hall. Perfect to see a show

The opening act was Oteil Burbridge, who was stunning. Brilliant. Look this man up!

(Long time bass player for the Allman Brothers)











The Tuna gig was electric, which suited Steve and less than fully delighted me. Tuna acoustic is a big love of mine.

Three videos

On the evening of July 17 several students and disciples of Happy Tao gathered at the home of HyeMyung and Hee Un to spend an evening with Master Khan. Here are three videos taken during that time. Unfortunately they are not of excellent quality, but still it is good to see and hear Master Khan explain some parts of Happy Tao.


With guitar, speaking


With guitar, speaking and then singing


Explaining happiness

Evening before departure

Tonight on July 17, Happy Tao disciples and students gathered at the home of Hye Myung and Hee Un for an abundant meal and a time of teaching, sharing, and learning.

In the morning Master Khan Bada will leave for Korea.

Click the picture here to see a few images from our time together this evening.

Visit to the Sobul Now Wellness and Happy Tao Center

On July 16, I went along with Phil Sobul and his wife Hyo Jong to bring some necessities to the new wellness and yoga center located in North Salem, NY, at the Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden. There they were joined by Master Khan Bada, and Happy Tao yoga instructor Padma Strater. Click this picture to see some scenes there.

Picture for Phil