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Karida Sangha
Currently, in the United States, Karida Sangha has members in Tucson, Oro Valley, St. John's, and Oracle, Arizona; Cortez, Colorado; Las Vegas, Nevada; Ramah, Pinehill, El Morro, Grants, Rio Rancho, and Crown Point, New Mexico; Wichita, Kansas; and Pekin, Illinois. Other members are in France and Thailand.
Joining Karida is as simple as establishing one’s name on the membership
list. Conversely, removing one’s name ends the membership. Our membership lists are
not shared with others.
Although Karida is a Buddhist organization, our membership
has always fully included non-Buddhists who wish to share our practice. We encourage
people to apply whatever insights they may find in the Buddha Dharma to whatever
spiritual path suits them best. Karida does not proselytize. However, we recognize
that some may wish to make the Buddhist Path their own. We provide an
opportunity for them to do so by recitation of the Vandana Ti-Sarana with the intent to follow the Dharma.
The interconnected "Jewel Net" of Indra manifests itself in many ways. In the twentieth century one of the most significant manifestations was the development of the World Wide Web. In embracing the Web, Karida seeks to encourage Buddhists who are isolated from other practicing Buddhists by providing them with the resources of a Sangha affiliation. We see the World Wide Web as a tool for our realization of interconnection. For more detailed information about our, history, our embracing of the "short lineage," and other details of our practice see "Questions and Answers."
You are welcome to become a member of Karida Buddhist Sangha. We do not solicite contributions. No one will call on you, and we do not share our membership information with anyone.
Dharma Teachers
Dr.
Roger Irwin, Dharma Teacher
Roger holds a Bachelor of Arts
degree in philosophy, Master of Sciences degree in Social Sciences, and Doctor
of Education degree. In 1968 Roger began his formal study of the Dharma with Rev.
Gyoto Saito of Higashi Hongwangi Sect (Pure Land). Since 1970 over two thousand
students enrolled in Roger's meditation classes. From 1975 to 1990 he was Adjunct
Faculty in Religious Studies for the College of St. Francis, Joliet, Illinois.
He has been a Dharma Teacher and senior minister of Karida Buddhist Sangha since
1991 and is committed to the development of Buddhist teachings in the West. (Res.
New Mexico)
Rev.
Michael Elia, Dharma Teacher
Jesuit trained, Michael received
an Honors Ars Baccalaureate undergraduate degree in classical languages and philosophy,
summa cum laude, from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1978. In
1981 he completed his Juris Doctor from St. Louis University School of
Law in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to studying and practicing law, Michael
has studied and practiced on the Path of the Inner Way for many years, and with
many teachers, in both the Christian and Buddhist religious traditions. Michael
is deeply committed to nurturing an authentic Western Buddhist Dharma. (Res. Nevada)
Rev.
Jerry Harney, Dharma Teacher
Jerry holds a Bachelor of
Business Administration degree in Finance. He continued his graduate studies in
Management Information Systems and later in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Jerry has been an avid student of the Buddha Dharma since the age of sixteen.
Jerry studied with Reverend Gyoto Saito of Higashi Hongwangi. Reverend Saito continued
to be a significant influence in Jerry's life. Jerry has worked with the rehabilitation
of high school dropouts who have been addicted to drugs. He also worked for the
Rehabilitation Engineering Center at Wichita State University in conjunction with
the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas. There he designed, fabricated
and implemented test equipment and adaptive devices for handicapped individuals.
Jerry has played several leadership roles in the University Congregational Church
of Wichita, Kansas, including that of Moderator or Lay Head of that Church. In
1993 Jerry received direct teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Jerry is
currently serving on the Board of Directors of Home of Hope, a nonprofit organization
in Vinita, Oklahoma providing service and support for individuals with developmental
disabilities. Jerry is also an active volunteer for the nonprofit Harry Hynes
Memorial Hospice in Wichita Kansas. Jerry has been a member of Karida Buddhist
Sangha since 1991 and is committed to the development of the Dharma in the West.
Jerry's principle focus as a Karida Dharma Teacher is in hospice service. (Res.
Kansas)
Rev.
Faz'l Mai de Tierra, Dharma Teacher
In 1981, Faz'l Mai
was initiated into the Sufi Order by Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, then leader of the
Sufi Order of the West. While following the Sufi Path she also became a member
of Karida Sangha in 1991. Through Karida she has integrated Dharma Practice with
her Sufi background. Faz'l Mai is actively involved in service to others. She
introduces parents to the resources and classes that are available to assist them
in becoming loving, thoughtful parents. Also she works with Children's Hospice,
as well as the Food Bank, and several shelters for abused women and children.
Through these experiences she hopes to incur merit in whatever way possible for
the betterment of all beings. She intends to continue to use these teachings in
her daily work and relationships, especially remembering to see "through
the numberless eyes of the Bodhisattva Kuan Yin" into the heart of every
person, in a loving, supportive way. (Res. Arizona)
Rev.
Kore Salvato, Dharma Teacher
A graduate of Cornell University,
and long-time practitioner of the Sufi Path, Kore has, along with three other
women, developed a program called "Earth Rising" in which certain practices
help us discover our beloved world in us and as us. She credits Joanna Macy with
helping her see that "dependent co-arising" is a great clue to our future
well-being. Kore, a member of Karida since 1991, expresses a deep connection to
Faz'l Mai's wish to see through the eyes of Quan Yin and into the heart of every
person, in a loving, supportive way. For many years Kore has been a spiritual
guide in the Sufi tradition. (Res. France)
Joe
Swaffar, Sangha President (Res.Arizona) 
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