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