Guanyin Bodhisattva blessing Ceremony

The Schedule in July

Special Event: Guanyin Bodhisattva blessing Ceremony (7/16 Sunday 1:30-3:00 pm)
Regular Class: Meditation Class (Every Friday 7:30-9:00 pm)

We are located in Missouri City and Sugar Land area. If you are interested in Zen Meditation, let us practice together. Feel free to contact Master Jian Dan if you have any questions.

The Bitter American Dream

These days I am busy in school. It's the reason I did not update the blog for a long time. I really feel guilty. There is an essay I wrote for my composition class. It seems too long for posting upon blog. However, I would like to share with you.
There is some of my experience of missioning in America. Yep, it is a little bitter, you can taste it....

The Bitter American Dream

Last week Charli’s mom, who is the member of my pervious meditation class, told me, “I, finally, understand she is American; not Chinese anymore”. I saw her eyes sparkled with profound distress. Nothing I can do, only gaze into her eyes try to seek something l have lost. I smiled bitterly. “Me too,” I murmur to myself. I know, no more, I can never go back. I recall once chatting with my high school ex-girlfriend on line. I told her, “I am an American now,” her replied was, “I am ashamed of you, why do you want to be an American? Your blood, your color, your thought, your behavior, everything about you represents a Chinese. Why do you want to lose who you are?” There was a moment of silence. I could not say anything. I blocked her account and shut down the computer. My eyes were moist, “Yes, I know, nevertheless, but I have to.” In my missionary path, I am honored to have a lot of chances to contact different families, most of them are immigrants. I feel their suffering in competing against this new society, and feel the struggle they fight and the pain they experience to convert themselves.
Since we were born in this world, we sought identification. Who am I? Who am I in the eyes of others? What should my attitude be like? There are two kinds of strength that force us to fit into this world. In the internal strength, we would seek the same as us, such as color, figure, and style. A disciple told me she saved a wounded bird before. After it recovered and grew up, it got along as well as family. Once it met another bird, it just left with it. I always play with a friend’s baby and he also likes to accompany with me. One time, there were another baby coming—I was ignored. There is a natural inner force leading us to go along with who looks and feels the same as ourselves.
In contrast, by the external strength we shape ourselves to correspond to a different specific group. If not, we would feel ashamed, uncomfortable or guilty to stay in that position. The movie In America, describes an Irish family who immigrates to America seeking for their America Dream. Their two girls attend the church’s Halloween party, they feel frustrated because of the clothes they are wearing are not as well as the others. “Everyone else bought their costumes.” “We don’t want to be different. We want to be the same as everybody else.”
The same as others, we try to adjust ourselves to fit the institution, culture and custom for identity. We wear and dress the same as others: jeans, T-shirt, suit, tie, polo shirt…etc. We take action the same as others. We think the same concept—just as me installing the Windows system in my computer. Sometimes we don’t have choice, because we need to be able to communicate in this community. You have to satisfy with what this society expects. I still remember when I was young; my mom forced me to use my right hand to write, because everybody is right-handed. If you are not the same, you are odd, strange, freakish, weird, and eccentric; you are queer. You are over.
As playing a game, you have to know the rules, this society as well. You must either get in this game or out into a different group. Public Enemy writes in their poem,
People people, we are the same
No we’re not the same
‘Cause we don’t
know the game
Most immigrants don’t know the rules of the game. They lose and get behind the society and only can combine with the same culture and become minority of America public. They lack the ability to communicate with main stream and chances to find a fair job. Some of them condescend to inappropriate works, a doctor to be a server in restaurant, an engineer to be an inventory stock worker in the factory. Such as Johnny, who is the leading role of In America, was an impersonator, but become a Taxi driver; his wife could not teach, thus, got a job in an ice parlor in their dream land, American and stuck in the lower middle-class of the society. They dread to people who live in hometown worry about them, they always hide the real condition and struggle. Every time my relatives, who live in America, visited my family in Taiwan, they always brought plenty of money and gifts for us. Until I visiting them when I move to the U.S, I realize what kind’s situation they faced. Even myself, eventually, did the same thing when I went back to visit my family. As a pioneer, you have to go alone, challenge the struggle by yourself.
All of immigrations’ memory of his hometown or culture was frozen at the moment he left his land. The culture he thought is never the same with the real living culture. Four years ago was my first time in Chinatown, It didn’t looks or feels like the place I come from. It seems like a place which emerges out of history, my grandma’s age. The original culture is died. As the movie In America, the whole family was suffering about their brother, Frankie, who died in an accident. The memory of Frankie lingers on as their live and the memory of their cultures surrounds with me. However, the original culture never came back, but I would create a new culture of myself, a culture mix my root and the experience of where I live. It is not his original culture anymore. Eric Liu, who is President Bill Clinton’s youngest speechwriter at his age twenty-five, mentioned, “For while it may be possible to transcend race, it is not always necessary to try. And while racial identity is sometimes a shackle, it is not only a shackle. I could nave spared my self a great deal of heartache had I understood this earlier, that the choice of race is not simply ‘embrace or efface.’” No matter how much times Michael Jackson have face-lifted, he is still identified a Black, but an Afro-American—a black was born in America. It is impossible to change our race, but when we immigrated, the blood of culture or race is mixed. You can not embrace the original culture anymore, nor efface it.
Once I accompanied a couple children, they asked me how old I am. “Four years old,” I answered. “You are kidding,” they said. “You lie, how you could only four years old.” They asked chattily. I really am four years old, I murmur to myself, “Yes, four years old American with Chinese blood.” I would create my own culture and create a new style Buddhism. Just as the ancestors spread the Buddhism from India into China and blend Chinese culture with the Buddhism teaching and become the Chinese style Buddhism.
Future would be better, for this reason people are willing to sacrifice for this dream. The first generation, especially Chinese, put their future on their children and wait for them to accomplish their American Dream. The parents always try their best to provide children with a good environment and force their kids to take on a higher education. They know it is the only chance for them to move from the class they are to a higher one. Eric who was accused of being a banana when he struggled to combat the stereotypes of Asian-American said, “I made my way onto what Calvin Trillin once described as the ‘magic escalator’ of a Yale education……Gradually, very gradually, I found that I was not so much of an outsider anymore. I found that by almost any standard, but particularly by the standards of my younger self, I was actually beginning to ‘make it.’” Most Asian parents know the education is one way to come off their stratum. Chinese children are always being forced to study while the others kids play outside after school. They are also being compelled to have tutor when others have fun on the weekends. They attends summer school when others go to summer camp. They bear more reasonability to accomplishing the preceding generation’s American Dream. After them integrate with the American culture, unfortunately, they become a traitor to his prime culture—they become an American in their parents’ perspective. Ten years ago, I renounced myself from mundane life to become an ordained Buddhist monk. Most lay friends renounced me too, because I was different with them. When I decided to leave my prime monastery and came to America finishing my education, I could not obtain any support and blessing. When you become different with them, you are a traitor of them.
At movie In America when the little girl, Ariel, first time said, “Cool” her sister can not accept and responded, “You’re American already. It’s disgusting.” Eric wrote, “…because class is the only thing Americans have more trouble talking about than race, a minority’s climb up the social ladder is often willfully misnamed and wrongly portrayed. There is usually, in the portrayal, a strong whiff of betrayal: the assimilist is a traitor to his kind, to his class, to his own family.” It is very contradiction emotion, such as Chirli’s parents immigrated to America and then argued with their daughter when she became an American. Actually, Chirli does never change her mind, she just alters herself to fit what her group requires. Every body is an immigrate in his life, when we were born in this world what we learned is acquired, not inherent. We sought a position assuming that we are. After we occupied this position, we refuse to do any adjustment and accept others change.
Change is difficult, that you have to fight to both of inside of yourself and outside’s pressure, but no one can help and only you can do so. In contrast, we can not ask others to change their mind so they match up with ours. However, we can open our mind to various people and accept their thoughts. Buddha taught us, “Enlightening, purifying your mind as a mirror.” The mirror can only truly reflect whatever thing that is in front of it, without preconceived, previous concept, and discrimination. If there is no attachment, it is easy to fit into different situation. Because of no preconception, we can make a just decision. Mateo, a black artist who looks unfriendly, violent, and HIV sufferer, is a conflicting person in the movie In America. In the Halloween night, the two girls, Ariel and Christy, go to trick or treat in Mateo’s apartment. Even Mateo’s front door marked “Keep Away”. Children are innocent, however, they don’t discriminate a lot, and their innocent mind melted Mateo’s sealed mind. On the other hand, their father, Johnny who was worried about them and accompanying with them to trick or treating, He did not trust him, in fact, he despised him. Even both Johnny and Mateo lie in the same lower class, however, the discrimination still exists between different color. It is hard to accept people who are different from us, especially the race or culture. Once I went to Galveston Bay with other two Masters (Buddhist monks), one of them saw a group dress as Punk—black leather, tattoo, piercing and wearing rings in their body… He looked at them amazed, “How weird they are,” he said. I smile bitterly, murmured, “Yep, me too. No one weirder than us now—three monks wear black robe walking in the Galveston.” As most immigrates, because of the misunderstand digging a huge gap between each other. Sometimes they are difficult to open their mind, most of time people are unwilling to know one another.
I use the black ink printed on pure paper with my words, Paper is white, ink is black; both of them help us communicating. Through the different colors ink, knowledge was imparted from generation to generation. Look out of window, the spotless blue splash and few lumps of white clouds float in the sky. Bright green drops on the ground and propagates the tree. After raining rainbow draw through the sky gaily and proudly. The variety of colors compose the nature view for the Earth. Different cultures interweave this varied society. Langston Hughes wrote,
I guess being colored doesn’t make me not like
the same things other folks
like who are other races.
So will my page be colored that I write?
Being
me, it will not be white.
But it will be
a part of you,
instructor.
You are white---
yet a part of me, as I am a part of you.
That’s
American.
Sometimes perhaps you don’t want to be a part of
me.
Nor do I
often want to be a part of you.
But we are, that’s
true!
“This world is a unit,” Buddha taught us. We can not discriminate which part we are, which they are. All of us are a part of this world.
In the end of In America the new-born baby was coming—giving a hope of future. Mateo passed away, but paid all of charge for the baby—the person who Johnny was scornful of gives him the most favor. Christy switched off the record of Frankie from her camcorder. “Bye Mateo.” “Bye Frankie.” “Bye Taiwan” I murmured to myself. Step out, life just begins.

The Schedule in June

Regular Class:
Meditation Class (6/2, 6/9, 6/16, 6/23, 6/30 Every Friday 7:30-9:00 pm)

We are located in Missouri City and Sugar Land area. If you are interested in Zen Meditation, let us practice together. Feel free to contact Master Jian Dan if you have any questions.

Đai Giác Temple Visiting

I took picture with Rev. Thích Giác Hai, Rev. Seido, and their disciple, Nancy.

Three days ago, I received an email from one of my disciples, Frank. He asked me to help him in translating a letter. It was a collection circular from a Buddhist temple. I was curious about this temple, so I asked Shan to make an appointment with them.

It is a Vietnamese temple locates at downtown. When I was there, I went to the Buddha in the Grand Hall and gave a prostrate to the Buddha. After I bowed to the Buddha, I saw a monk walked towards me with excitement. He is the Abbot of the Dai Giác Temple. The Abbot, Rev. Thích Giác Hai, was a monk that I have met six years ago when he visited Taiwan. I have guided him to visit my temple and showed him how to beat a drum in the Buddhism way. I am surprised he still remembers after six years. He told me that I give him a very nice impression in that time.

Buddhist aphorism said, "Deal good relationship with all beings before you enlighten to be Buddha." Master always practices this aphorism. I treat everyone as my own family and respect them. Every time I meet with others I always give them my best attitude and the selfless compassion. I never ask for any return, however, I get unexpected surprises almost every time. You never know when you will meet a friend who has only met you once before, and six year later you see him again.

I also know an American monk Rev. Seido there. He is a friendly and witty monk. We discussed about spreading Buddhism in America and some of Buddhism concept. Before I left there, Rev. Seido prostrate to me with modesty (It is one of the Buddhist way to show your respect), I also return him with a prostration. After we bow to each other, he gave me a hug. I am used to American manners, so I hug him too. But I don't know how the disciples will feel like when they see two monks hug each other....

Mr. Chen's Memorial Ceremony

Appearance of auspicious --- Dharma-wheel

The altar decorates plain, but dignified.

The Chen's family offered incense and chanted stutra for the deceased

Today is one year since Shan's father passed away. I held a memorial ceremony for the family. I knew Chen's family in my meditation class. When his father was ill, Shan asked me for some help. When his father passed away, I was the director of the funeral ceremony. After that time, their family help Master out a lot, such as attending the Meditation class, volunteer in the temple or money donation.
I will move out of this house next week. This ceremony should be the last one I hold at their house. There is one Chinese saying, "All good things have to come to an end." I do not know if I will still have chance to teach meditation. However, I will never give up on following my vow. I devote myself to Buddhism, this society, and all of sentient beings.
After the ceremony, we took a picture together to let everybody knows that Master have had work hard these past days.

Move and Term begins

The view of the HCCS Stafford campus

Because Chen’s family plans to sell their house, I am able to move out their place next week. They help me find an apartment, so I am ready to move in as soon as the tenet finishes cleaning the apartment. Furthermore, my summer class had begun last week, so my schedule becomes extremely busy now. Fortunately, I only take Mathematics this term. Thus, It is easy to manage, especially in a three weeks' term. The school gains money easily, and I can get my credit hours faster. It is a win-win business.

Yes, business. I still remembered when I just entered college, the counselor advised me to take a guide studies course. "This is business”, these are the first few words I learn in America. The professor came in and told us in the beginning of the class, "This is business, you pay and I teach." It is a totally different culture between West and East. In America the relationship between teaching and learning is not only like business, but it is really more detached than Chinese culture.

When I came back to Houston, I request Elliot, one of my disciples, to practice English with me every week, in return I would teach him Chinese. It is a wonderful opportunity to understand each other. Once I taught Elliot the word Master in Chinese is “師父 Shi-Fu”. “師 Shi” means “Teacher”, and “父 Fu” means “Father.” He gazed at me with a puzzled face. In Chinese Culture, it is very important to respect your teacher. An old Chinese adage said, “Being a teacher for one day, its regard as being a father for the whole life.” Usually, the teacher treats his students as his children. I think I will need to spend more with this American kid, and maybe someday he will understand the true meaning of “師父 Shi Fu”.

In Buddhism, we not only treasure the relationship between teacher and student, but extend to all being. Buddha told us before him nirvana, “I regard all of sentient being as my own son.” In Mahayana’s discipline (Bodhisattva Vinaya) asked Bodhisattva way practicer to “regard all men as father, all women as mother.” As a Buddhism monk, I don’t have my own children; however, I treat all of my small disciples as my own children. I respect all elders as my parents. Even though, I left my family and ordained to be a monk. It seems like I don’t have a family anymore. But to tell you the truth, I have a lot of families.

Since I came back to America, I have two more families, Chen’s and Elliot’s’ family. They give me a lot of helps when I got back. I sincerely appreciate Chen’s family for caring for my daily life and support me when I first came back to Houston. I am also grateful to Amanda and Elliot for giving me an opportunity to understand the American society.They are not the only ones; I know I will have more and more family in my missionary path in America.

Chanting Appreciation: Dedication

Dedication is very common used chant in Buddhist ceremony. It is always used in the end of ceremony to bestow all merit upon all Sentient being.


Recorded by Jian Dan

願 消 三 障 諸 煩 惱
yuàn xiao san zhàng zhu fán năo

願 得 智 慧 真 明 了
yuàn dé zhì huì zhèn míng liăo

普 願 罪 障 悉 消 除
pŏ yuàn zui zhàng xi xiao chú

世 世 常 行 菩 薩 道
shì shì cháng xíng pú sà dào

May the Three Obstructions and all the afflictions be eradicated.
May I obtain true wisdom with clear understanding.
May all the obstacles from all my offenses be eliminated.
I vow to practice the Bodhisattva Way constantly, life after life.

PS. This trace is recorded two years ago for my Chanting Class.

Bathing Buddha Ceremony

Saturday: decorating the Zen Hall for the ceremony on Sunday

Chanting and Blessing

Bathing the Buddha and Dharma Talk

Buddha Bathing Gatha

In the Buddha Bathing Ceremony, we would shower Buddha with pure water and chant this Gatha. There are the audio, words and meaning.

我 今 灌 沐 諸 如 來
wo jin guan mu zhu ru lai

淨 智 莊 嚴 功 德 聚
jing zhi zhuang yan gong de ju

五 濁 眾 生 令 離 垢
wu zhuo zhong sheng ling li gou

同 證 如 來 淨 法 身
tong zheng ru lai jing fa shen

I now bathe the Buddhas
With pure wisdom and virtue
May sentient beings be cleansed of the five impurities
All attaining the pure dharma body of the Tathagata

Annotation
five impurities: The "five defilements" of the
world: (1) the defilement of the trends of the present age; (2) the defilement
of mistaken views; (3) the defilement of afflictions; (4) the defilement of
being a sentient being; (5) the defilement of having a lifetime.
Tathagata: A title of the Buddha meaning "Thus Come One."

Echo: Exhausted but Meaningful Day

Shan Chen is a sponsor of the Zen House. Since last month, we have been looking for a place for the Zen House. Last week, we went out together to discuss with a broker and looked at some houses. She wrote down her experience and asked me to post her journal on my blog.
Here is her sharing.

Sunday, April 30, 2006

Early in the morning, I took Rev. Jian Dan to view the neighborhood where a few houses were listed for sale. After the trip, we debated pros and cons and selected three houses for further consideration. We want a place that is (1) convenient for people to visit him and he can conduct his mission, (2) quiet and safe that he con concentrate on his study, (3) not too old to maintain.

We selected three houses. I made an appointment with a real estate broker to see the inside of these houses around noon. Afterwards, we met the broker’s husband at one of their rent properties.

The broker and her husband had a long conversation with Rev. Jian Dan on Buddhism and how to deal with difficult issues based on Buddha’s teaching. To my surprise, so many Buddhists do not know the true meaning of Buddha that is an awakening being that we all can achieve.

After the meeting, I drove Rev. Jian Dan home around 6:30pm. He told me that he was hungry since he had not eaten lunch yet. While we were eating, I told him to take care of his health. Since his mission is a lonely journey, to be healthy physically is one of the most important factors to achieve his goal. I asked him why he did not shorten that conversation with them. He looked at me and told me that he had to grasp and fully utilize the opportunity since it was not easy to meet someone who was not only willingly to listen but also responded with feedback spontaneously. He said once the opportunity was gone, it probably would take another hundreds of years for him to see them again.

I have finally realized why those who know Rev. Jian Dan always feel close to him. He touches people through his heart no matter who and what they are. Though I am not a religions person, I am learning and try to learn from him. Hopefully, one of these days, I also can accept people through my heart.

Well, day is over. Though we have not found the house we really want, Rev. Jian Dan spread his mission and planted Buddha’s teaching in their minds. I do believe these seeds will grow and every contact Rev. Jian Dan made will have positive influence. What else can a human being ask for in such a short life term!

By Shan Chen

Bathing Buddha Ceremony Notice

Three thousand years ago, a prince name Siddhartha* was born in India. When he was born, there were nine nagas(dragon) poured down pure, fragrant streams of water to shower his body.Today we shower the Buddha with fragrant water to celebrate Buddha's birthday. Furthermore, like the Buddha, we learn to keep our body and mind in purity, away from improper actions from the outside and impure intentions from the inside. This is then the true meaning of bathing the Buddha.I want to invite you to celebrate Shakvamuni Buddha’s 3033th birthday.

The Schedule of the Ceremony
Date: May 7, 2006 (Sunday)
10:30 am Bathing Baby Buddha Ceremony

11:30 am Making the Offering to the Buddha

12:00 pm Lunch (Vegetarian buffet)

*Annotation: The name of Shakyamuni was given when he was born as the Prince of Suddhodana. It means "wish fulfilled".

The Schedule in May

Special Event:
Bathing Buddha Ceremony (5/7 Sunday)
Regular Class:
Meditation Class (5/5, 5/12, 5/19, 5/26 Every Friday 7:30-9:00 pm)
Meditation Practice (Mon. to Thur. 9:20-10:00 pm)

We are located in Missouri City and Sugar Land area. If you are interested in Zen Meditation, let us practice together. Feel free to contact Master Jian Dan if you have any questions.

特別活動
沐佛法會 5/7 (週日)
固定課程
禪修研習 (每週五 晚上 7:30-9:00)
靜坐共修 (週一至週四 晚上 9:20-10:00)

我們共修的地點位於德州 Missouri City 和 Sugar Land 地區；如果您對禪修靜坐有興趣，歡迎您一同加入我們，如果您有任何疑問，請與見石法師連絡。

Donation Account

Awakening Mind Chan Center (aka Awakening Mind Zen House) (EIN # 20-4656528) is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All donations to Awakening Mind Chan Center are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

Awakening Mind Chan Center depends on donor contributions to support our program. Help us provide more meditation trainings so we can understand ourselves better, live a more joyful life, and bring peace and harmony to people and environment around us. Please contact us directly or place a secure online donation.

Donate ONLINE through Network For Good:
One-time or recurrent monthly/quarterly/annual donation by check, credit card or Paypal can be made through Network for Good.

• Make a donation online: Donating online is fast and easy. Through Network for Good, we are able to receive donations with minimal (4.75%) third-party charges.
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• Donations from outside of the United States: Please contact us about making wire transfers.
  

Contact us:
Awakening Mind Chan Center
P.O. Box 1452, Stafford, TX 77497
Email: info.amzh@gmail.com or donation.amzh@gmail.com

Meditation Practice

Chen's Family asked Master to give them the teaching of Buddhism, so I have decided to practice meditation every Friday night. Today is the first time we practice together. I had also invited my classmate, Cissy and Christine, to join us.

The Schedule in April

Meditation Class (4/14, 4/21, 4/28, Every Friday 7:30-9:00 pm)
Meditation Practice (Mon. to Thur. 9:20-10:00 pm)

We are located in Missouri City and Sugar Land area. If you are interested in Zen Meditation, let us practice together. Feel free to contact Master Jian Dan if you have any questions.

禪修研習 (每週五 晚上 7:30-9:00)
靜坐共修 (週一至週四 晚上 9:20-10:00)

我們共修的地點位於德州 Missouri City 和 Sugar Land 地區；如果您對禪修靜坐有興趣，歡迎您一同加入我們，如果您有任何疑問，請與見石法師連絡。

The View of the Zen House

Chen's family offered their house to be a temporary place for the Zen House. We began to rearrange the environment such as emptying the living room to be a Zen hall, redesigning the garden, cleaning out the garage... etc.

This is the back yard of our Temporary Zen House. The garden design and the fountain is made in a Japanese style by the Master

The living room becomes our Zen Hall.

The backyard becomes my tea room, I like to stay there in the evening.

Applying for nonprofit status

On 03/28/06, we applied for a certificate in formation the nonprofit organization.

It was certified by the State of Texas on March 31, 2006.

The purposes of our organization are based on charity, religious, and education under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Our Buddha Statue

This Buddha Statue is carved by a famous stone carving artist, Yong-Xian Wei, in Taiwan. It is a modern style statue, but it still give us a peaceful feeling. I was looking for a Buddha statue such as this one when I was in Taiwan. At that time, a disciple donated it to me. I was happy when I received it. After I got this statue, I feel brave and confident. I believe if I just follow my vow and wishes, the Dharma guardian will never forgo me.
No matter which styles of creation, the Buddha statue always give us a peaceful feeling and also calm down our minds. Like spreading the teachings of Buddhism, the important things is not the method or the traditional style that is use to spread Buddhism, but is the way that we can be able to adjust the method to suit the situation and time of the event.
I really appreciate Mr. Pan’s donation of this Buddha statue.

Temporary Dwelling Place

This is Chens’ house. They offered me to live in this house for the time been.
They were members of my previous Meditation Class.
When I decided to leave Chung Tai,
their family made a vow to support me
in finishing my education in America.
I appreciate them and all of my disciples
who give me support in finance and moral.