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