I Give A Presentation At The Interfaith Conference

November, 2015.

I am invited by Mr. James Coffin, the executive of the Interfaith in Florida, to give a presentation at the Interfaith Conference in The Hindu Society in Florida in November, 2015.
The Topic of this conference is How To Achieve Global Peace Through Your Own Faith. There are about 30 speakers who come from many religions. They invite 2 people on behalf of Buddhism, a lay-woman and me, a monk. Cheryl, a White American, has a Ph.D degree.
The Hindu Temple is huge, and sacred.
Time is stricly. Every speaker has only 5 minutes for their speech. The moderator, James Coffin, will wave a yellow card when 4 minutes passes. It means this speaker has to summarize their topic. Right after 5 minutes, Mr. Coffin raises a red card: the speaker must stop his performance.
 There are just 2 speakers using PowerPoint; both are Buddhist. My topic is The Four Kinds of Nutriments.  With Laptop, projector and screen, I perform my presentation successfully.
After the conference, the speakers and the audience are invited to enjoy traditional Indian food. Then we are guided to make a tour a round and inside of the sacred Temple.

                                               The Hindu Temple is so huge

                                                  Preparing before the conference

                                   Mrs. Thuong Cuc, a lay-Buddhist, attended the conference

                                                     Cheryl and I are on behalf of Buddhism

                                                                    The audience

Guiding Meditation at a Chapel

     

                                 Phap Can

I am invited to lead a section of meditation in a chapel for students and professors at Rollins College, Winter Park city, Florida state on April 22, 2016. It is a lovely event that occurs when the spring is ripe.

                                                                   Rollins College

Many of the practitioners are students, and a few of them are professors at Rollins College. I see all my three professors who are teaching me in this Spring semester attend. Professor Niemi teaches the class Organization Development. Professor Goldstein teaches the class Statistics and Decision Making, and she comes with her boy friend. Professor Mario D'Amato teaches the class Zen Buddhism, and he is also the organizer. I am so happy to see professor Maroon, who taught me the class Happiness and Culture last year, attends. I also see a few other professors.

           The Chapel at Rollins College where we have a nice time of meditation

       This is the third time professor Mario, the Philosophy and Religion Department Chair, organizes for my teachings. He received his Ph.D in Buddhist Studies at The University of Chicago years ago. He invites his students in the class Zen Buddhism which I am studying also to attend. Many other students also participate.

                                                       Two models for zazen technique

I invite professor Mario introduces the life of Zen master Dogen, the founder of Soto Japanese Zen tradition. After that, I teach “non-thinking” as the method of this tradition. I also invite two girls to be models for zazen (sitting meditation). After guidance, I invite questions. After that, I invite them to practice zazen. Then we continue with total relaxation. Walking meditation continues after total relaxation. During the time of walking meditation, I invite them to enjoy standing meditation under the huge tree outside of the lovely chapel. Finally, we walk mindfully to the main chapel and say goodbye. It lasts about two-three hours.

                                                  Sitting meditation

                                                      Total relaxation

                                                              Walking meditation

                                                             Standing meditation

I recognize Fatima, my kind Islamic friend, practices in this event. She comes quite lately. I met her at the Multi-Faith Conference in Orlando in 2015, and we became sincere friends. I am happy to have a good relationship with friends from other religions. They are so kind and polite.

                                         
                                                                  Inside chapel                             

                                         Rollins College and the chapel

Please watch this short clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Am-cX7xveQ

In the West, Buddhism Needs to Adopt and Adapt

An Interview With The Venerable Thich Dong Thanh

Please give some advice to the young Western people, especially the young Canadians and Americans.

“They should continue their way to study, to work, to compete, to be creative, to be rich, and to be successful. In parallel, they should go back to explore their treasure from their religion. Do not ignore it. At least religion offers ethics and compassion to the life,” said Thich Dong Thanh.

                  The Buddhist meditation retreat in Vancouver, Canada held September 24-27, 2015 is an opportunity for people in Canada and America to study and practice meditation in order to enhance well-being and to transform suffering. Six international experts of meditation are invited to teach, including the Venerable Vien Giac (Vancouver), Phap Hung (Vancouver), Thong Ly (California), Dong Thanh (Binh Dinh, Vietnam), Quang Le (Florida), and the main organizer of the event, the abbess of the Phap Hoa Temple in Vancouver, Minh An. Three hundred practitioners participate in two languages, Vietnamese and English throughout the retreat. They only eat vegetarian food.

                  The Venerable Vien Giac, the oldest monk in the retreat, opens the retreat with his teaching on the first day. He reminds the audience that noble silence supports other retreatants to meditate better. “If you are lazy, you do not have to try to meditate, yet do not disturb others,” says Vien Giac. “Do not pollute the universal Dharma.” The Venerable Vien Giac is also a poet and the abbot of Chan Nguyen Monastery, Vancouver.

                  Next, the Venerable Thong Ly teaches the conditions to be born in the Pure Land. In Buddhism, Pure Land is equal to Heaven in Christianity. “We need to have enough faith, vow, and action,” he teaches. “Otherwise, your efforts are nonsense.” Ly studied Buddhism in Taiwan.  He now lives alone in a small and beautiful hut in California. He has annually come to Vancouver to teach for the past six years.

                  The Venerable Phap Hung guides Tai Chi which is the Chinese martial art, a kind of exercise. Hung had studied meditation in France for nine years since 1999. His meditation master is Thich Nhat Hanh, the fourth on the list of the most influential one hundred spiritual leaders in the world, 2015 (1). Hung now lives alone in Vancouver. “Health is the foundation of practicing meditation,” advises Hung. “If you are unhealthy, you cannot meditate effectively.”

                  Quang Le, the youngest teacher, invites the audience to sing mindful songs. Then he guides sitting meditation and invite participants to practice for thirty minutes. He repeats a famous quote of Albert Camus, “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” Quang reminds, “With colorful Maple’s leaves, the fall here is miraculous. However, whether we can enjoy the fall, this is a challenge.”  He continues, “we need to meditate to live in the present moment; we need to enjoy the wonderful moments that are available in the here and now.” Quang Le has studied meditation in Vietnam, Thailand, and America for twelve years under the teaching of Thich Nhat Hanh, too. He now teaches meditation worldwide, especially in America. He then leads walking meditation across a few roads in the city of Vancouver. They make one line and walk mindfully and peacefully.

                  Abbess Minh An does not teach. She runs the retreat. She announces and reminds the audience of the schedule of activities. She has organized the retreats yearly. In this retreat, she is happy to invite the Venerable Thich Dong Thanh, who received a doctorate in Buddhism at the University of Delhi, India. Thanh is the president of a Buddhist school in Binh Dinh, Vietnam.

Thanh presents three speeches. The audience silently and attentively listens to him. Some practitioners agree that he is the most impressive teacher in this retreat.

“America and Canada are rich, fresh, and free. Do you want to live here? What is the place that you would like to live the best?” asks an interviewer.

“I admire America and Canada. However, I have many interesting things to do in Vietnam. Just staying for a few weeks is enough,” answers Thanh. “Myanmar is the country I like the best. It is the Buddhist country. They still preserve the ancient culture. There are many respected Buddhist masters there, also.”

 “The Buddha taught about the Middle Way. In life, both being so rich or so poor are hard to practice meditation. The paradox is that Buddhist monastics do not have a salary. Pastors receive a salary, Rabbis receive a salary, communists receive a salary, everyone receives a salary. There are two kinds of people who do not receive a salary: Buddhist monastics and prisoners! In America and Canada, they are so poor compared to the American income per capita. What do you think about this?” asks the interviewer.

He answers, “Well, in a typical pagoda, the monastics do not have a salary. The money from donation is distributed to every member based on their needs for something…”

“Like socialism?” Asks the interviewer.

“Something like that,” replies Thanh.

“But it is difficult for the monastics who live alone in America. They have to spend so much for at least healthcare and education,” says the interviewer.

“The Buddhist monastics in Japan receive a salary,” he explains. “I think in developed countries such as Canada or America, Buddhism needs to adapt and adopt their culture.”

When the retreat ends, many people cry because of happiness. Many people hug each other. However, the opposing views are also diverse. A number of practitioners who follow Pure Land method do not like singing; in their tradition, they are not allowed to sing. In contrast, some young and Canadian retreat attendants do not like chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name; they prefer to meditate. “I hate vegetarian food; why do I have to quit meat?” complains a young girl.

References

(1): http://www.watkinsmagazine.com/watkins-spiritual-100-list-for-2015

                   

People Should Not Compete and Smile, then Reveal Their Beauty While Others Are in Despair?

(An Interview with Norah Shapiro, Director of Miss Tibet Film)

“Things are terrible in Tibet,” says Shapiro. Over one hundred Tibetans have self-immolated in desparate warning for the world to pay attention. “However,” the director continues in sadness, “the world does not.”

“It took seven years for me to make this film,” she says.

The Global Peace Film Festival takes place annually in the city of Orlando and Winter Park. It is a good chance for people to be entertained and gain knowledge, especially to promote peace. There were a few dozen films presented during the festival. This event takes place for one week from the end of September to the beginning of October, 2015. One film in this festival was Miss Tibet—Beauty in Exile; Norah Shapiro is the director. After the film, director Shapiro remained on stage to lead the question and answer section. Then a student privately interviews her for half an hour.

Miss Tibet presents there was a 2011 beauty pageant in Dharamsala, India where a community of Tibetan refugees live. Six beautiful Tibetan girls came to compete against each other from different parts of the world such as Switzerland, Australia, India, and America. They competed about the beauty of the face and body, of course. Furthermore, other parts of the pageant required the performance of modernity in candidates (such as speaking English) while intergrating Tibetan culture. They stressed modernization, not Westernization. After the committee announced the third and the second prize, they crowned Tenzin Yangkyi, from Zurich, Switzerland, Miss Tibet 2011.

Through the film, Mrs. Shapiro shows how a normal family of Tibetan refugees live in America. Like refugees from other nations, the first Tibetan generation has to work hard to survive in America. Having no degree, they have to find a low-skilled job to pay for food, housing, a car, and their children’s education. As a result, most of them cannot study, so they only speak limited English. Nonetheless, they can maintain, appreciate, and transmit Tibetan culture and religion to at least their second generation.

The second generation, the main character in the film Tenzin Khecheo, 20, for example, has the chance to study in the American educational system. Mrs. Shapiro’s opinion is that it is hard for the second generation to both embrace American culture (including the language and education) and maintain Tibetan culture (including the language and religion). It seems that the American melting pot is assimilating them. The Tibetan refugees seem happy and safe outside of Tibet. On the contrary, what about Tibetan citizens in the territory?

“There is no religious freedom,” Shapiro cried, almost in tears. “[The Tibetans] are not even allowed to say His holiness’s name! Their culture has been destroyed...They are being treated as second class citizens...They are not allowed to practice their culture and religion,” the director of the film continued with great emotion.

Over one hundred Tibetans have self-immolated in desparation begging the world to pay attention. Not only the monastics but also average citizens, such as young men, mothers with young children, have burned themselves. That is very, very painful for Tibetans. It tells how extremly serious they are.

Mrs. Shapiro explains that she did not go to Tibet, for she did not know whether or not she could receive the visa. “The Dalai Lama cannot be in Tibet also.”

However, the world does not, the director sadly shared.

Referring to the Dalai Lama, Mrs. Shapiro states, “I think he’s remarkable and I think he’s a wonderful person that the world does not get very often.”  “And he is a treasure not for only Tibet but for the humanity,” she concluded happily.

The director also uses the film to show opinions from both sides of the pageant were controversial. The pro-Miss Tibet people explain they need to keep Tibetan culture. Tibetan culture confronts the risk of Westernization for young Tibetans who live around the world. This is a contest to encourage them to embrace their culture. Also, the duty of the Tibetan ladies who win this contest and become famous is to continue non-violent protest for Tibetan freedom. In addition, they would offer parts of their winnings to help Tibetan refugees. Moreover, in an interview, a Tibetan Buddhist monk agreed with the pageant that this contest does not harm anyone. Therefore, it is ethical to continue.

The opposing views are strong. The Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile Samdong Rinpoche disagreed. The reason is first, it does not Tibetan culture. Second, "We are firm believers in the fact that the body is the home of the conscience. Beauty is skin deep and there can be no such contest of individuals wherein inner virtues could be put to test," he said. The Minister for Religion and Education of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile Mr. Thupten Lungrig, also disagreed, “the cultures and traditions of India and Tibet were somewhat alike and exposure by girls was not considered acceptable” (1). Furthermore, the arguments about the justice, equality, and transparency of the pageant happened right after the contest. A group of people went to meet Mr. Lobsang Wangyal, director of the Miss Tibet, to double check the votes which formed the Miss Tibet. He answered that the box disappeared.

 “These could be the views of the Prime Minister and the government, but not of the Tibetan people in general,” said Mr. Wangyal. “‘Moreover, the pageant is not a part of the governmental programme.’"

“When one reads the words 'Miss Tibet', Tibet is thought of as a separate entity and not a part of China,” explained the director.

Anyway, in the website Miss Tibet (2), there are pictures of Miss Tibets from many years, from 2015, 2014, 2013…back to 2004, 2003, and 2002.

     Mrs. Shapiro and the interviewer at Rollins college in October, 2015

References:

(1): http://www.misstibet.com/static/history/2004/media/2004.10.06-tribune-tibet_govt_opposes.html

(2): http://www.misstibet.com/history

A Short Interview with a Nobel Peace Winner

                                    Quang Le

Having a chance to listen to a Nobel prize winner’s speech is an enlightenment. Leymah Gbowee, 2011 Nobel Peace Laureate, is an author and a great human rights activist. After listening to the speech, many people admire her great dedication. For most of the audience, her greatest achievement is to unite Christian and Islamic women to peacefully protest for women’s rights. After the talk, many people waited in a long queue to take a picture and interview her, but the writer was the unique student who had a chance to interview her!

            Leymah Gbowee was born on January, 1^st 1972 in Liberia. She has a master degree in Conflict Transformation from Eastern Mennonite University, Virginia. She is the president of Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa. Living in Ghana, Mrs. Gbowee tries to bring peace to this continent. “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” is the film about her hard work in Africa that qualifies her for the 2011 Nobel Peace. Now she tries to solve conflicts in other parts of the planet including (North and South) Korea, Asia. Humorously, one of the most common questions she is having asked is about her insights to inspire Liberian wives to stop sex with their husbands until they stop the family’s violence.

            On September 16, 2015 people went to Rollins College at 7 p.m. to enjoy her presentation. There are about six hundred people there including a few classmates. Mrs. Maroon, the professor of Happiness and Culture class and Mr. Carpenter, the English-300 professor were there also. At 7:45, after a respectful introduction from the president of Rollins College, 2011 Nobel Peace Laureate Lymah Gbowee appeared and was met with the joyful and continuous applause. Her topic was Leading Change Through Activism. It lasted for an hour.

            First, she told about her story: young, smart (top ten in the high school), ambitious. She wanted to become the first doctor in her family. However, the war erupted and changed everything. Sometimes, she had to live on only water. Before the war, the Christian and Muslim people lived in harmony. The kids were cared for by the community without religious discrimination. That changed; people killed each other based on ethnicity and religion. She prayed for God to stop the war, but the war continued. She started to consider learning how to help people and to tried to find a good way to stop the war.

            The violent conflict happened in many places resulting in injured and dead people, so she gathered women to pray for them. It was the first successful time that she united women. Then she encouraged women to unite for peace, “It’s the time for you to do something, it’s the time for you to do something,” she said. She went to the mosques, the markets, and the churches to deliver the peace message. The number of women involved quickly raised from twenty to over three hundred people in under one year. Then, she wanted to arrange for a mass action campaign, “Money never brings ideas; ideas bring money. Money never brings change; ideas bring change.” The movement increased; it spread to other countries.

In 2005, she encouraged women in her country, “It’s the time to fight for democracy.” Learning democracy and women’s rights from America, she worked toward women’s participation in elections in her nation. As the result, in 2005, Mrs. Sirleaf  became the first female president of Liberia. “Activism is not something that lasts for one day,” she said. Nelson Mandela spent twenty five years in prison for trying to free his country. She also tells about Mahatma Gandhi as a hero of freeing India. Martin Luther King was described as the great hero of American democracy and of the world, too. At the end of the speech, she repeats many times, “Activism for change...” Then she stops to a big round of applause.

“What make you happy?” asked the M.C.  Children with their hopes and actions, she answers. After a a few answers, Ms. Gbowee officially finished her lecture. The writer joined a long queue to take a picture and interview her.

“What do you attribute your success to? ask the writer.

“Work.” She answers. Perhaps she is tired.

 “What do you think about religion?”

Interestingly, she answers so long that many people often think their religion is the best while ignore the values of other religions. They even blame those beliefs. This is the main reason for religious conflicts. Tolerance is always the solution. One needs to know that other people also have suffering and happiness like he/she has. Also, we need to accept weaknesses from other religions because our religion is not perfect. Instead of blaming, we need to unify religions in order to make a change in community, in nation and beyond.

“How can people invite you to Vietnam, a developing country?” 

So tired, she says thank you in whisper and writes down in the writer's notebook her special email address.

2011 Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee and the writer

                                         

Introductory Essay

Still Playing Guitar

            I received a guitar from a retreatant, Linh,  who studied and practiced meditation under my guidance. She offered this guitar to me on my birthday, January 1^st, 2013. I like this guitar much. This guitar is also one of just very few things I brought from Vietnam to America. I often sing and compose songs with this guitar. Unfortunately, it is broken. I am sad about it. I still try to keep playing music with this musical instrument.

            I still remember that I use this guitar to compose the first song in America “Arkansas, Four Seasons in spring.” After visiting Arkansas, spring 2013, I was inspired by the beautiful scenes in that state. Coming back to Florida, I played guitar and composed music in the garden. Music with guitar makes me happy. Then, I sent this song in m.p.3 format to my disciple to upload to my blog.

            When I am isolated, I rely on my guitar. American society is interesting, moving, crowded, modern, rich, luxurious, yet stressful, and lonely. Sometimes, after a busy semester, when friends enjoy the vacation, I experience the loneliness. Guitar becomes my close friend. I like to bring him to the hill next to my monastery in Sorrento. Playing, singing, and meditating help me alleviate this feeling and restore happiness. I feel balanced again. Gradually, loneliness disappears without effort.

            Guitar is the unique musical instrument I bring my religious work. In the retreats, people come to meditate for one day or more than, I use guitar to play, sing and teach them to sing. I experience it is the friendly way to make friend with new people. Also, in the Meditation Club at Seminole State College, as the president, I sometimes invite participants to lie down relaxingly to practice total relaxation while I guide them. I also use guitar to play and sing for them. By doing this, retreatants can release stress and let go anger, anxiety, and despair better. It makes enhance their peace, happiness, and inner joy. Many people like this method and I love my job also.

            I often bring my lovely guitar when I go out in some occasion. I sometimes go to Thuy’s house. She is a Buddhist and a local singer. After dinner, she sings while I play guitar for her. Then a few friends joyfully sing in harmony. We have happy dinners. Also, other monks and I usually enjoy walking on the trails. We bring hammocks, cookies, tea, and do not forget to bring guitar and songbooks. Lying and tenderly swinging on a hammock between the two trees or drinking a tea in mindfulness, we enjoy ourselves and nature. We may open the meditative songbooks to sing. Only me know how to play guitar. We are nourished by the good lyrics and melodies. It is a good way to cultivate our minds as well as to solidify brotherhood.

            One day, I see a crack on my guitar. We go to enjoy the romantic fall in many states: from Virginia to New York, from Washington D.C. to Vermont. The yellow and red leaves of maple trees make the cities bloom: every leaf is a flower. Moreover, the hills turn all yellow or red! I have never seen that. It is so marvelous! We enjoy the fall joyfully and deeply. We also visit the White House, the Time Square, and many other famous places. We take many pictures and post on facebooks. I also use guitar to compose a song “Wishing You Were Here.” I miss my disciples who cried when I left Vietnam. Then I wish they were here, with me, to enjoy the wonders of the fall in Northeast America. It is a really nice trip. Unfortunately, my guitar which is put on the back of the car cannot stand for the long trip. It is broken.

            I am so sad. I try to fix, but I cannot. I ask a Buddhist to fix, and he cannot also. Therefore, I have to bring this guitar to an office in Deland hoping that they can help. They can help fix; nevertheless, the cost is expensive. With $200, it it nearly the same of buying the new one. We have no choice but to come back unhappily. I try to fix it as much as possible, anyway.

            I still keep this guitar. With effort, I receive the Green Card so that I can stay here for a long time. I now have a plan to become an American citizen after six years. Also, I try to study to go to Seminole State College, then to the best college in Florida: Rollins. These two efforts waste my time to enjoy music. I rarely have a chance to play guitar and I nearly forget it. Sometimes, I feel regret about it. I inform to Linh about the situation of the guitar saying that I do not want to buy the new one because I cherish her souvenir. This makes her happy. In my soul, the guitar is the representation of Vietnamese people’s love. Next month, we will have the Rose Ceremony. I will use this guitar to play for other people to sing.