Awakening Mind Zen House

A visit to American Bodhi Center

2010-11-24T21:27:00.013-06:00

Blue skies with bit overcast so there was no sun; absolutely, beautiful weather with some cool breezes to walk on the trail for a Sunday afternoon. Dozen of us decide to take a stroll to the Gwan Shr Yin’ lake with Venerable Jian Dan – we were receiving ample of information regarding the history of the Temple, story of the lake with few fishes (not for fishing purpose) in front of the

Relax the Night Away

2009-09-28T23:01:00.003-05:00

With a variety of tasks to complete, college students live a busy and stressful life. Relaxation of mind and body is an efficient way to lessen the burden. But how can we achieve to have a relaxed and peaceful mind? Research has shown that meditation, if practiced appropriately, can serve to reduce stress, adjust mood and increase focus. In the evening of September 28, we’re honored to have

New path ahead – YiLan State penitentiary visit

2009-08-22T02:01:00.004-05:00

Over two hundred female prisoners listened to Ven Jian Dan’s talk tentativelyInvited by Taiwan’s YiLan State penitentiary, Ven Jian Dan visited the prisoners on August 21 to provide guidance and support. Before his talk, the warden met with Ven Jian Dan to thank him for his visit. The Warden mentioned that the spread of illegal drugs has caused many social issues. Especially, once addicted to

Study Abroad China - Summer 2009

2009-07-29T01:29:00.003-05:00

During the month of July, Ven Jian Dan visited China with the study abroad program with the University of Houston. During this study trip, he had the chance to visit several well-known temples in Shanghai and Beijing. He also had the privilege to meet with several authorities and discussed Buddhism’s development and local differences between the east and the west. Ven Jian Dan also spent time

Conclusion of Sutra of the Forty-Two Chapters

2009-05-12T14:29:00.003-05:00

Sutra of the Forty-Two Chapters class came to a conclusion on May 3rd. Several impressive records were set during this nine-class semester. For example, class location had to be changed to accommodate the large number of attendees. On average, the number of weekly attendees exceeded 36. At the end of the term, 28 people received a certificate of completion while 18 students attended all

Meditation to Reduce Academic Stress

2009-04-04T14:18:00.005-05:00

Location: Social Work Building #328, University of HoustonDate: Tuesday (3/31) & Thursday (4/2)Time: 4:00pm – 5:00pmSponsor: Learning Support Services (http://www.las.uh.edu/lss/)Due to popular demand, Master Jian Dan was invited back by University of Houston’s Learning Support Services to give two seminars on mediation and academic stress. Learning Support Services offers tutoring, learning

Integrating Chan into Your Life

2009-03-28T22:29:00.005-05:00

Date: March 27, 2009 (Friday)Time: 7:00-8:30pmLocation: University of Texas, AustinVenue: Texas Union Asian Culture Room 4.224Venerable introduced the difference between Chinese Chan and other Buddhist practices. He emphasized the application of Chan into day to day activities. Venerable borrowed stories from Chan koans to illustrate the skillful integration of Chan in daily life.

AMZH @ Aloha - Beach Picnic with Chan Talk

2009-03-21T01:48:00.002-05:00

Master’s Wednesday talk at the Chinese Pure Land Buddhist Association, Hawaii Chapter was so well received. As a result, members voluntarily organized a beach picnic Friday. The picnic was held at Honolulu’s famous Ala Moana beach park and over 50 to 60 people gathered. With delicious home-cooked food and beautiful Hawaii weather as companies, everyone sat under the shade to take the last chance

AMZH @ Aloha - Spiritual Conversation with a Buddhist Monk

2009-03-20T01:36:00.000-05:00

Spiritual Conversation is a student group initiated and organized by University of Hawaii students to have a safe place to discuss various religions. They often invite teachers from different faith traditions to share their perspectives and answer questions from people who do not share the same religion. Venerable Jian Dan was invited to offer his take on the unique teachings of Chinese Chan

AMZH @ Aloha - Chan & Pure Land

2009-03-19T13:41:00.001-05:00

More pictures hereDate: March 18 (Wednesday)Time: 7:00 - 9:00 pmLocation: Chinatown, N Hotel St & Kekaulike St, Honolulu, HI 96817Sponsor: Chinese Pure Land Buddhist Association, Hawaii ChapterChinese Chan Buddhism highlights how an enlightened mind sees the nature（明心見性）。On the other hand, Chinese Pure Land Buddhism emphasizes when the inner flower blossoms, one sees the Buddha (花開見佛) 。In

AMZH @ Aloha - Meditation & Inner Peace

2009-03-18T22:34:00.002-05:00

More pictures hereDate: March 18Time: 1:30 – 2:30 pmLocation: University of Hawaii at Manoa, REL 475 Seminar on Buddhism classVenerable Dr. Mun is a Korean monk and a visiting scholar to University of Hawaii at Manon. He offers classes about Buddhism at the department of philosophy and religion. When he received the news about Venerable Jian Dan’s visit, he eagerly invited Venerable Jian Dan to

AMZH @ Aloha - Dharma Talk at Fo Guang Shan

2009-03-17T21:28:00.005-05:00

More pictures hereDate: March 17, 2007Time: 10am – noonLocation: Fo Guang Shan Hawaii Center@ Chinese Culture PlazaThe Abbot of Fo Guang Shan Hawaii Center, Venerable Yi Hong, was generous enough to give their regularly scheduled book club meeting time to Venerable Jian Dan for a dharma talk. Venerable Jian Dan used some frequently used Chinese idioms to illustrate some Buddhist concepts.

AMZH @ Aloha - Temple Visits

2009-03-16T13:02:00.000-05:00

While in Hawaii, Venerable Jian Dan took the time to visit a couple of local temples.Venerable Yi Hong, Abbot of Fo Guang Shan Hawaii Center, and members welcomed Venerable Jian Dan for his visit to the centerVenerable Jian Dan visited Guan Yin Temple, a traditional Chinese temple of over 100 years old. Abbot of Guan Yin Temple, Venerable Hong En, encouraged Venerable Jian Dan to visit Hawaii

AMZH @ Aloha - From Chinese Idioms to Learning about Buddhism

2009-03-15T13:23:00.010-05:00

More pictures hereDate: March 13 (Friday)Time: 3:30 - 5:30 pmLocation: Wist 115 (University of Hawaii @ Manoa - College of Education)Sponsors: Center for Chinese StudiesBuddhism came into China as a foreign religion, yet it not only flourished in China, Buddhism also deeply integrated into the Chinese culture. For example, Buddhism impacted significantly on Chinese literary styles by introducing

AMZH @ Aloha - Meditation on Encounter Dialogues: At the Core of the Chan Tradition

2009-03-14T13:16:00.003-05:00

more pictures hereLocation: Sakamaki Hall A302 (University of Hawaii @ Manoa - Department of Religion)Date: March 13 (Friday)Time: 1:00 - 2:00 pmSponsors: Department of Religion & Center for Chinese StudiesAbstract: Encounter dialogues refer to the questions and responses that take place between Chan masters and their students. These spontaneous everyday conversations showcase Chan’s core

From Chan Koans to Practicing Buddhism

2009-03-01T01:31:00.002-06:00

More pictures hereInvited by the active English Dharma Group of Jade Buddha Temple, Master Jian Dan talked about the practice of Buddhism using koans. From the conversations between Chan masters and their students, Master explained the uniqueness of Chan Buddhism. Chan emphasizes the function of our mind as well as correct views. With the right view, a Buddhist practitioner can practice in the

New Class - Sutra of the Forty-Two Chapters

2009-02-15T15:49:00.003-06:00

More pictures hereThe Sutra of Forty-two Chapters (四十二章經) is the very first Buddhist sutra to be translated into Chinese. During emperor Ming of Han, Kasyapa-Matanga (迦葉摩騰) and Dharmaraksha (竺法蘭), two Buddhist monks from India, brought to China many sutras, Buddha relics, and Buddha paintings, reportedly on the back of a white horse. When they reached the Chinese capital of Luoyang, the emperor

Welcome OX; Goodbye Rat: 2008 Dharma Activities Recap

2009-01-14T00:11:00.009-06:00

As we are welcoming the year of 2009, we also reflect on the journey of 2008. With his unyielding determination to propagate Buddhism and his untraditional approach to teaching, Master Jian Dan, a dedicated dharma worker, has turned in yet another productive report card.Continuing his Dharma Lecturer post with Jade Buddha Temple, Master offered four structured dharma lecture series in 2008. It is

Conclusion of Fall Semester –Boddhisattva’s Practices

2008-12-16T00:21:00.004-06:00

More pictures hereFall semester’s class on Boddhisattva’s Practices ended on December 14th. It was a time to congratulate all dharma brothers and sisters for the completion of yet another semester of assiduous studying of Buddhism. It was also a time of renewing our vows and following the Boddhisattva’s path to benefit self and all sentinel beings.This semester, Master spent a great deal in

Growing a good mind: an experiment

2008-12-10T13:20:00.004-06:00

From late November to early December, Master held a series of special “experiment” with Bodhi Chinese School children about “growing a good mind.” The purpose of this experiment is to demonstrate the power of words. Using green beans as the experiment subjects, we test saying good words and bad words to them while growing them.As always, to make any activity meaningful and successful, before

Meditation and Stress

2008-11-02T00:25:00.002-05:00

Master Jian Dan recently finished his third and last public teaching at the University of Houston this semester. This time, the invitation was extended by Learning Support Services (LSS), an office under the division of Student Services at the campus-wide level. LSS is one of many hidden treasures on the University of Houston campus. They offer tutoring, learning strategies workshops, learning

Reduce Academic Stress through Meditation

2008-10-27T01:10:00.006-05:00

Location: Social Work Building #328, University of HoustonDate: Tuesday (10/28) & Thursday (10/30) (repeated sessions, choose one to attend)Time: 4:00pm sharp (50 minutes)Sponsor: Learning Support Services (http://www.las.uh.edu/lss/workshops_fall_2008.pdf)Registration: Prior registration is REQUIRED – sign up online https://www.las.uh.edu/lssonlineworkshop/(S(5rbhn5vu5o5r5pmn3ia4g4yz))/

Wisdom and Compassion: Twin virtues of Mahayana Buddhism

2008-09-28T01:05:00.008-05:00

Located near the center point of the 275-mile Texas Gulf Coast, the city of Port Lavaca is home to one of Taiwan’s Formosa Plastics Corp’s plants in the US. Since its operation in early 1980s, the plant has brought many Taiwan immigrants, many of whom are Buddhist. In late September, Master Jian Dan was invited to give a talk to this Buddhist community. Among the attendees were managers,

Meditation for a healthier you

2008-09-10T21:28:00.006-05:00

more pictures hereWorkshop Title: Meditation for a healthier youLocation: University of Houston Wellness centerSponsor: UH Wellness CenterTime: Wednesday, September 10, from 1:30 – 2:30 pmMaster Jian Dan was invited by the University of Houston Wellness Center to be a speaker at their wellness program and address the topic of meditation for a healthier you. We all strive for a healthier body.

New Class: Bodhisattva’s Practices (in Chinese)

2008-08-15T19:03:00.000-05:00

Boddhisattva is a compassionate being who seeks enlightenment not only for him/herself but also for all sentient beings. Bodhisattvas practice six paramitas (giving, virtue, tolerance, diligence, concentration and insight) to cross the Sea of Suffering, enter Nirvana and attain enlightenment. In particular in Mahayana Buddhism, there are four Boddhisattvas who are widely honored and recognized:

Connectedness in Life

2008-07-06T18:22:00.005-05:00

There was a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learnedsomething interesting about how he grew it.The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbours. "How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbours when they are entering

Conclusion of Summer Classes

2008-06-29T20:10:00.003-05:00

Five weeks went by as quickly as a summer afternoon thunderstorm. Friday night’s Dharma Assembly on Universal Door Chapter and Sunday afternoon’s lectures on The Eight Great Awakenings Sutra l (both conducted in Chinese) came to a conclusion today.Through weekly chanting, prostration, meditation and short dharma talks, participants gained insight into Universal Door Chapter and the spiritual

English Dharma Group speech - Freedom in Buddhism

2008-06-01T18:48:00.004-05:00

Master Jian Dan was invited to give a talk at the English Dharma Group, Jade Buddha Temple, exploring what freedom means in Buddhism. Master introduced the three levels of freedom – personal, relationship, and environment. In order to achieve personal freedom, we need to be awakened from our wondering thoughts and attachments. When our mind is like a mirror that reflects indiscriminately of the

New Class - The Eight Great Awakenings Sutra (in Chinese)

2008-05-27T11:42:00.003-05:00

As one of the earlier translation of Chinese sutras, the Eight Great Awakenings Sutra has only 372 words and is one of the shortest and most concise Buddhist sutras. This sutra has been dedicated to lay followers before Buddha’s attainment of Nirvana. Many regard this Sutra to encompass Buddha’s fundamental teachings preached during his lifetime. It has similar characters as the Sutra of

Dharma Assembly: Universal Door Chapter (in Chinese)

2008-05-26T08:24:00.008-05:00

At that time the Bodhisattva Guardian of the Earth rose from his seat and said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, if there are those who hear this chapter of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva, who learn about the self-mastery of his deeds and the power of his spiritual penetrations as shown in this Universal Door, you should know that the merit and virtue of such people will not be small."The above excerpt

Meditation for Children: Skillful Kong Fu for the Mind

2008-05-24T20:04:00.009-05:00

A room full of children paying attention to Master's animated talkAs part of the invitation from Gulf Coast Mensa, Master also conducted a meditation session for children this afternoon. In this one-hour interactive talk, Master Jian Dan interwoven stories with live demonstrations to show how children can practice and enjoy meditation. Many children are involved in some forms of physical exercise

Nothingness Explored

2008-05-24T16:24:00.007-05:00

Mensa is an international organization whose only membership requirement is a score in the top two percent of the general population on a standardized intelligence test. Such an interesting group has a Gulf Coast chapter in Houston. Each year, the Gulf Coast Mensa holds a memorial weekend convention where “forward-thinking Mensans” get together to enjoy a weekend “filled with interesting speakers

Bodhi Chinese School Commencement

2008-05-10T18:50:00.001-05:00

Master was invited to attend Bodhi Chinese School’s commencement this morning. Master has always been interested in involving children in his dharma work. He believes that one of the best gifts a parent can give to his or her children is to let the children get in touch with meditation early on. For him, mediation can help children develop discipline and learn how to balance their emotions. An

Jade Buddha Temple Member gathering

2008-04-28T16:37:00.001-05:00

Master Jian Dan held a member gathering yesterday evening. The main purpose was threefold. First, Master used this opportunity to award certificate to students who completed the volunteer training class offered several weeks ago. About 35 people received their certificate of completion. In addition, Master used this opportunity to communicate his vision and future plans for Membership Group at

Graduation Ceremony for Intermediate Dharma Class @ Jade Buddha Temple

2008-04-27T19:48:00.007-05:00

The ten-week intermediate dharma discussion class has come to its fruition. Nine students attended all class and received a special perfect-attendance gift from the Master. It is worth noting that eleven students had missed only one class. This impressive record speaks not only to the dedication of the students but also how well received the class has been.This semester, Master Jian Dan went

Introduction to Buddhism & Meditation (University of Houston)

2008-04-16T20:55:00.013-05:00

Master Jian Dan delivered an interactive talk at University of Houston to a group of undergraduate students about Buddhism and meditation. Master explained that Buddhism is more of a way of living than a religion and that Buddha is a person who has reached a pure state of mind, a state that we all can achieve. Buddhism believes that we all have this original, pure Buddha nature. Unfortunately,

Buddha's Relics Resting Ceremony

2008-04-06T20:19:00.003-05:00

Master Jian Dan coordinated a two-day Buddha Relics resting ceremony at Jade Buddha Temple (public viewing) on Saturday (4/5) and at American Bodhi Center (permanent resting) on Sunday (4/6).When the Buddha lived in India in approximately 2,500 years ago, the people of that time had the opportunity to actually see and hear him, to be blessed by him in his human form. When Buddha left the earth by

American Buddhism: Challenges and Possibilities

2008-03-10T20:52:00.010-05:00

“Very awesome. Honestly, I was not expecting somebody so young and modern. Again, very awesome.” One student shared his/her reflection on Master Jian Dan’s talk today.Humorous Monk“I visited Los Angeles last summer. My disciple asked if I like to go to Disney Land. I immediately rejected this idea. I was afraid that if I go, tourists would think I am one of the new cartoon characters, probably

Volunteer training class at Jade Buddha Temple (in Chinese)

2008-03-04T20:52:00.003-06:00

Class A: Friday 3/7, 3/14 & 3/21 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm Class B: Saturday 3/8 & 3/15 from 1:00 – 4:00 pmHands-on sessions: Saturday 3/22 1:00 – 3:00 pm & Sunday 3/23 10:00 am – 12:00 Total training hours: 10During the month of March, Master Jian Dan will offer a series of training especially for volunteers. This highly anticipated course will provide much-needed trainings for volunteers so they can

Nontraditional way of viewing the world: An American's feedback

2008-02-27T20:43:00.005-06:00

More than a week after Master’s talk at University of Houston, an interesting email showed up in my inbox today. While this person preferred to remain anonymous, she did approach me immediately after the talk and expressed her gratitude toward an interesting talk by the Master. She was very impressed by the way Master addressed freedom and awakening, especially how he was able to give a talk so

The Awakening Mind: Path to true freedom

2008-02-20T10:47:00.005-06:00

From Doctoral Semi...Yesterday, Master Jian Dan gave a talk at a social study seminar at University of Houston. This semester, this group of about 15 doctoral students has been discussing ‘wide-awakeness’, morality and the concept of individual freedom, as based upon the writing of educational philosopher Maxine Greene. Students were interested in knowing how other culture or philosophy

Bodhi Chinese School: New Year Carnival

2008-02-18T10:42:00.002-06:00

On February 17th, Master Jian Dan was invited to attend Bodhi Chinese School’s annual New Year carnival. Bodhi Chinese School, established 18 years ago, is an affliction of Texas Buddhist Association. The school offers Chinese language and culture classes from pre-k to 12th grade, in addition to English, math, calligraphy, painting, kung fu, and violin classes. Every year, the school holds a

Happy Chinese New Year: Rats bring fortune

2008-02-11T10:50:00.010-06:00

Chinese New Year is one of the most celebrated holidays in the Chinese community. On February 10th, Jade Buddha Temple held its annual Chinese New Year ceremony. With over 1,400 people attending, Master Jian Dan had the chance to publicly wish everyone a peaceful year.According to Chinese zodiac, 2008 is the year of rats. Chinese believe that rats symbolize good wealth and will bring fortune to

Intermediate Dharma class at Jade Buddha Temple

2008-01-15T16:52:00.000-06:00

I will be teaching one weekly class about basic concepts of Buddhism at Jade Buddha Temple starting January. The class is offered on Sunday afternoons from 1:00 to 2:30. We use the book “The way to Buddhahood” by Venerable Yin-Shun as the framework to discuss various basic Buddhism concepts. This is a combined class with students from last semester's Friday night

2007 Recap

2007-12-30T22:01:00.003-06:00

Activities at the Jade Buddha Temple2007/10/21 Speech at Jade Buddha Temple2007/10/13 Introduction to Buddhism (quarterly three-hour class)2007/09/16 Speech at Jade Buddha Temple English Dharma Group 2007/06/16 Bodhi Family Night2007/06/09 Introduction to Buddhism (quarterly three-hour class)2007/05/20 Bathing Buddha ceremony 2007/03/25_One-day Zen Retreat2007/03/24 Bodhi Family Night2007/02/17

Mission Impossible: Recap UH ABS, Fall 2007

2007-12-15T22:01:00.009-06:00

One of the most daunting tasks Master Jian Dan took on in 2007 had to be his involvement with a brand new student organization on University of Houston campus, the Association of Buddhist Students. He took on the role as the dharma teacher, as well as the President, while attending UH for the first semester. Looking back, we have to applaud him for his bravery (and may I say, a little craziness

UH Meditation Class 12 – A Day of Appreciation

2007-11-15T01:33:00.006-06:00

This is our last class; the semester went by very fast. I like to take this opportunity to thank many people.I first like to thank Josten and Grace who initiated the idea of establishing this association. After the initial idea, we found two disciples’ kids as the inaugural President and Vice President. They attended the required orientation in creating a campus student organization and

UH Meditation Class 11‏ - Wants & Needs

2007-11-09T00:38:00.000-06:00

Today we discussed a seemingly easy concept – the differences between our wants and our needs. However, the line between the two is not always so clear cut. Most people think of wants and needs as opposites. This thinking results in the belief that wants are bad, not desirable. We should eliminate all wants and reduce all non-essential needs. Many people then become pessimistic and reclusive,

UH Meditation Class 10 - Understanding Death

2007-11-01T00:36:00.000-05:00

Ryan was the first member of this association that I added to my Facebook account. He used to poke me whenever he found me online. When I received this shocking news last week, I realized I will never receive a poke from Ryan anymore. I am sad just like everyone else. Then I remember a story about a grieving mother.Life is impermanentDuring Buddha’s time, a mother was grieving for her son’s death

When East meets West: from a Buddhist monk’s perspective

2007-10-31T12:00:00.001-05:00

“What if monks fall in love? They just stop being monks?” wrote one student on the exit survey after attending a talk by Master Jian Dan.This afternoon, Master Jian Dan was invited by Ms. Sabrina Marsh to give a talk to her undergraduate “Community Education” class at University of Houston. The class is offered by College of Education, with the goal to expose pre-service teachers to different

UH Meditation Class 9 – Cultivating Compassion

2007-10-26T00:33:00.000-05:00

Nowadays, compassion has almost become a buzz word that everyone talks about. As one of the fundamental concepts in Buddhism, compassion is such a big topic that it can take several classes to discuss. Today I just wanted to focus on two things: the differences between love and compassion, and some simple ways we can cultivate compassion in day-to-day life.In Chinese, compassion is 慈悲. The first

UH Meditation Class 8 -- Dealing with Anger

2007-10-18T00:31:00.000-05:00

We experience many different emotions daily. We are happy one moment and sad the next. Our mood swings. Have you ever really asked yourself why you are experiencing these emotions? Where do they come from? Where do they go?Let’s take anger for example. Where does anger come from? What are the causes of anger? Have you thought about it? Your first response might be: so-and-so said bad words to me,

What is a monk's life like?

2007-10-15T12:00:00.001-05:00

This afternoon, Master Jian Dan made a guest appearance at a class titled “Introduction to Buddhism” (RELS 14766) at University of Houston. The Master was invited by the instructor Ms. Ann Gleig to share his personal experience as a monk. Students were looking forward to seeing a real monk after studying about Buddhism this semester.Master Jian Dan shared with everyone his aspiration of becoming

UH Meditation Class 7‏ - Inner Beauty

2007-10-11T00:00:00.001-05:00

What is beauty? Is it our physical character or is it something resides in our inner quality?Two monks went to the market to buy some fruits. The older monk picked up a big peach and said to the younger monk "See how beautiful this one is!" The younger monk turned around and picked up another one. "This one is prettier." "Why?" the older monk questioned. "Your peach has spots on the skin. Look at

UH Meditation Class 6 - Duality

2007-10-06T17:58:00.003-05:00

This was our sixth week of this semester, an important milestone for ABS and for you! Like a lot of you, I was also dealing with midterms and papers in the past two weeks. Like a lot of you who have full-time or part-time jobs, I was also feeling the pressure of balancing school work and other responsibilities. Again, like a lot of you, sometimes I wish I were “free” from all the

UH Meditation Class 5 - Looking inwards

2007-09-27T01:56:00.002-05:00

Last week I shared with you one well-known story between the famous Chinese scholar Su Dongpo and his good friend Zen Buddhist Master Foyin. This week, I told you another humorous yet illuminating story between the two.One day, Su Dongpo and Zen Master foyin was meditating in the monastery. When they finished, Su asked Foyin, "what do you see in front of you?""An enlightened Buddha!" Fo Yin

UH Meditation class 4‏ - Cultivating the mind

2007-09-19T09:54:00.001-05:00

Su Dongpo (1036-1101) is one of the few figures in Chinese history who were masters of multiple artistic and literary disciplines. He was a great writer, artist and calligrapher. In addition, he was also a cultivator of Zen Buddhism. There were many interesting stories about him and his good friend Zen Buddhist Master Foyin. I shared with you this one today.One day, Su Dongpo felt inspired and

Monk teaches patience, concepts – News

2007-09-17T12:00:00.000-05:00

This Fall semester (2007), Master Jian Dan started a brand new Buddhist student organization on University of Houston campus – the Association of Buddhist Students. At the beginning, we tried various avenues to spread the words on campus about our free weekly meditation classes. We posted flyers, hung up banners and placed ads on campus newspaper. Our actions were noticed by the Daily Cougar, the

UH Meditation Class 3‏ - Living the present moment

2007-09-12T08:51:00.001-05:00

When practicing meditation, we train our mind to focus on the present moment, not on what happened yesterday or on what is about to happen tomorrow. Today someone asked a very good question: When I drove to school today, I had to think– oh I need to go to meditation at noon. If I don't think about it, how will I come?So I shared with you a well-known Zen story about two monks and a beautiful

UH Meditation Class 2 - Be the master of your mind

2007-09-05T09:49:00.002-05:00

Where is Heaven? Where is Hell? If they exist, can you show it to me?Today I shared with you a Zen story, a conversation between a Zen Master and a Zen disciple.The Master slapped the discipleThe disciple became very angry and drew his sword, ready to kill the Master"This is Hell." said the MasterThe disciple was suddenly enlightened and felt gratitude and ashamed"This is Heaven," said the

UH Meditation Class 1 - Introduction to meditation

2007-08-29T13:41:00.003-05:00

We had a great time today; thanks to those of you who came out today. Even though lots of commotions were going on at UC, we learned the first step in meditation - breath counting. Set up a home practice and try to maintain a regular schedule, even if it is only five minutes. Group sittings are very important too. The energy of a group can help sustain our home practice.

UH meditation class kicked off today

2007-08-29T12:30:00.001-05:00

After a whole summer of planning, UH Association of Buddhist Students finally kicked off our weekly mediation today. A total of sixteen (16) people showed up for meditation. I was pleasantly surprised. Among the sixteen people, many were recruited during our table sessions (see July 1, July 19, August 18, and August 24) while more saw our ads on the Daily Cougar and came out of curiosity. Our

Two new Dharma classes at Jade Buddha Temple

2007-08-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

Since my last weekly Dharma classes at Jade Buddha Temple were well received, I was asked to lead two new Dharma courses this Fall. One intermediate course will be the continuation from last class. In the previous class, we finished chapter 1 to 3 of “The way to Buddhahood.” In this term, we will continue to discuss chapter 4. In addition to this intermediate class, I was also asked to offer the

Invitation to guide a new student organization @ UH

2007-06-27T12:00:00.000-05:00

PicturesA group of students, faculty and staff at the University of Houston invited me to attend their first “unofficial” business meeting today. They wanted to establish a Buddhist student organization on campus to offer meditation classes. I was invited to be the guiding teacher for this organization. Even before this meeting, I had

Interfaith Gathering

2007-03-06T00:23:00.000-06:00

Dharma Discussion Class at Jade Buddha Temple

2007-02-25T12:00:00.000-06:00

Starting in February 25, I have been teaching one weekly class about basic concepts of Buddhism at Jade Buddha Temple. The class is offered on Sunday afternoons from 1:00 to 2:30. We use the book “The way to Buddhahood” by Venerable Yin-Shun as the framework to discuss various basic Buddhism concepts. Initially I was told to design this class for younger members. However, among 30 members who

Guanyin Bodhisattva blessing Ceremony

2006-07-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

The Schedule in July

2006-06-30T12:00:00.000-05:00

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

2006-06-28T20:00:00.000-05:00

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

The Schedule in June

2006-05-31T12:00:00.000-05:00

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

2006-05-22T12:00:00.000-05:00

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,

Mr. Chen's Memorial Ceremony

2006-05-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

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

Move and Term begins

2006-05-20T12:01:00.000-05:00

The view of the HCCS Stafford campusBecause 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

Chanting Appreciation: Dedication

2006-05-15T12:00:00.000-05:00

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 dàoMay the Three Obstructions and all the afflictions be

Bathing Buddha Ceremony

2006-05-07T21:23:00.000-05:00

Saturday: decorating the Zen Hall for the ceremony on Sunday Chanting and Blessing Bathing the Buddha and Dharma Talk

Buddha Bathing Gatha

2006-05-06T10:46:00.000-05:00

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 shenI now bathe the BuddhasWith pure wisdom and virtueMay sentient beings be cleansed of the five

Echo: Exhausted but Meaningful Day

2006-05-05T12:00:00.000-05:00

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, 2006Early in the morning, I took Rev. Jian Dan to view the neighborhood where a few houses

Bathing Buddha Ceremony Notice

2006-04-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

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

The Schedule in May

2006-04-27T23:03:00.000-05:00

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:

Donation Account

2006-04-22T14:00:00.005-05:00

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

Meditation Practice

2006-04-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

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

2006-04-11T12:00:00.000-05:00

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，

The View of the Zen House

2006-04-10T02:00:00.000-05:00

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

Applying for nonprofit status

2006-03-31T14:00:00.002-06:00

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

2006-03-03T00:00:00.000-06:00

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

Temporary Dwelling Place

2006-03-01T14:00:00.000-06:00

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 mein finishing my education in America.I appreciate them and all of my discipleswho give me support in finance and moral.