BRIEFS
Buddha Day event April 7 at Blaisdell

For the first time, the Hawaii Buddhist Council is pairing with the Hawaii Association of International Buddhists to celebrate Buddha Day at 9 a.m. April 7 at the Blaisdell Center's Pikake Room.

The council, a group of traditional Buddhist temples, will join with the association, made up of Buddhists of Laotian, Chinese, Korean and other backgrounds, for a 9 a.m. service, followed by a 10 a.m. ethnic program, said Irene Matsumoto of the Hawaii Buddhist Council.

Keynote speaker Jan Nattier teaches Buddhist studies at Indiana University. As the Numata distinguished scholar for 2002, she is in Hawai'i to teach a graduate course at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa on "The Perfection of Wisdom."

The free event is expected to end at about 11 a.m. after performances of ethnic music and dances.

For information: 737-5177.

Free lecture on Shin Buddhism

Shin Buddhist scholar Taitetsu Unno, professor emeritus of Smith College in Massachusetts, and a Buddhist minister, will hold a free lecture at 7 p.m. Monday at Mililani Hongwanji as part of the temple's 25th anniversary.

Unno will discuss "Shin Buddhism: Bits of Rubble Turn Into Gold." Unno has written several books, including "Shin Buddhism," "River of Fire" and "River of Water." Information: 625-0925.

Organists offer scholarships

The Hawaii Chapter of the American Guild of Organists is offering scholarships for potential church organists. If you wish to learn and are willing to play for church services, weddings and funerals, the scholarship pays half the cost of a year's lessons for a Hawai'i resident.

For an application form, call Ruth Urben, 623-5140.