Sheila Fling — Japanese Interests

Sheila Fling, Soshin, has studied Chado, The Way of Tea, since 1992, in Japan and the US. She has received 13 licenses & four teaching certificates in Chanoyu from the Urasenke Foundation in Kyoto, Junkyoju (first degree, Advanced Teacher, October 13, 2017). She has taught Chado lessons and given demonstrations and lectures for conferences, universities, art museums, churches, other organizations, & private gatherings. In addition, Sheila loves to travel and has “done tea” on six continents including Japan, India, Tanzania, US, Peru, Russia, and Australia. Sheila was also featured in a one-hour program on Austin Access TV, and was featured on the TV program “Texas Country Reporter.”

Additional Experiences

  • Four semesters of Japanese using Japanese the Spoken Language and The Written Language by E. H. Jordan.

  • Courses in Japanese history, art, dance, and cooking.

  • Active in Zen groups; research, practice, and teach meditation.

  • Three weeks in Japan, Summer 1991: attended two conferences; stayed in a Buddhist temple.

  • Six months in Japan, January—July, 1992. Stayed in Buddhist temples; studied meditation, Morita and Naikan psychotherapies; did library work; gave guest lectures; began research on Workaholism and Health; studied tea ceremony; had a few lessons in sumi-e, calligraphy, ikebana, archery and incense; attended many festivals, Noh, Kabuki, Bunraku, music and dance programs. Met with Japanese psychology professors and students.

  • Was Fellow, Japan Studies Institute, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, San Diego State University, Summer, l993.

  • Five weeks in Japan, Summer, l993; attended two conferences, climbed Mt. Fuji San; have now traveled on all four main islands; studied tea and meditation; stayed in Buddhist temples; attended festivals.

  • One month in Japan, July, l995. Fellowship to study tea at the Urasenke Foundation in Kyoto; presented workshop for Kansai International Association of Counselors and Psychotherapists; spent several days each at a Buddhist temple and a monastery. (This month was followed by another month in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, and Thailand to broaden my Asian horizons.)

  • Lived in Japan June, 1996–June, 1998. Receive a fellowship for half-time study of chado for two years in Midorikai & ICI at Urasenke Foundation, Kyoto. Half-time Director of International Studies at Aoibashi Family Clinic, Kyoto, one year. Half-time professor at Osaka Kokusai Joshi Daigaku, Osaka, one year.

  • Three weeks in Japan, June 1999. Attended conference on Zen & Jungian psychology. Received study grant at the Urasenke Foundation. Lived in Zen temple.

  • Three weeks in Japan, June 2003. Presented paper at conference, “Hiroshima & Nagasaki Reconsidered,” studied tea ceremony.

  • Three weeks in Tokyo, summer 2005. Studied Chado.

  • Developed and taught a course for Honors Students on “The Japanese Psyche.”

  • Arranged for visiting professor Yuji Sakano, sensei of Waseda University, to consult and lecture on campus, (Visiting International Scholars in Texas)

  • Arranged University Lecture and Workshop by visiting Soto Zen Buddhist monk-scholar Shohaku Okumura Sensee of the Minnesota Zen Center.

  • Arranged & promoted sell-out performance at SWT by Tetshin Daiko Drum Troupe from Oita, Japan.

  • Member, Asia Study Group (Faculty group for expanding Asian studies at SWT) 1994–1995.

  • Lectured on Japanese culture and psychology (Japanese Verbal & NonVerbal Communications; Japanese Women; Japanese Self, etc.) for universities and other organizations.

  • Entertained Japanese visiting professors, teachers, students, parents, and others.

Organization Memberships

  • Japan America Society of Austin, member 1990– , Board of Directors l993–95, 99– .

  • Japan America Society of Greater Austin, current member, presented programs in Chado & Japanese communication styles, and was awarded the Bridge of Friendship Award in 2019.

  • Japan America Society of San Antonio, member l990–1995, 99– .

  • Austin-Oita Sister City Committee Board of Directors, l993– .

  • Austin-Japan Connection, member l993–5.

  • Austin Japan Association, member 1994–5, 1999–present.

  • Houston Urasenke Friends of Tea, one of the chairpersons, l993–1996.