Buddhism has brought answers, awareness to Sokuzan Bob Brown

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Battle Creek, Michigan (USA) -- Bob Brown is convinced, all these years later, that he needed to be lost before he could ultimately be found.

<< Standing in front of an altar is Buddhist Leader Sokuzan Bob Brown in the meditation room of Sokukoji Buddhist Community in Battle Creek.

And today, at age 71, Sokuzan Bob Brown, one-time Battle Creek Central grad and a former Marine who spent his nights in the service reading about Buddhism and its teachings that spoke so directly to him, is where he always wanted to be.

Is he content?

He smiles.

“I have no more questions,” he said simply. “But the answers aren’t what I thought they would be.”

And that’s OK, too, because as the spiritual head of Battle Creek’s SokukoJi (meaning “Temple of Immediate Light”) Buddhist Temple, it is always a new day and, therefore, always a chance to learn something wonderful.

It has been a steady journey of discovery for Brown, who can be found at the temple on 33 Anderson Court, not too far from the high school he graduated from so long ago.

But back then, he had no clue about where he had been or where he was a going.

“I had confusion, suffering and difficulty in my life,” he said.

Hoping to find a direction, he enlisted in the Marines and while there, he found himself drawn to the simple message of Buddhism through the book, “Zen Flesh, Zen Bones” by Paul Reps, a book first published in 1957.

Intrigued, but still confused about what Buddhism really was, when Brown left the Marines he went to study in 1973 with Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche (the last name meaning “Precious One”), a Tibetan meditation master.

Two years later, he established the Dharma Study Group in Battle Creek and it eventually became the Sokukoji Temple, a three-story brick building tucked inconspicuously in a lot and which used to be a VFW hall.

This is where Battle Creek’s small, but dedicated, group of Buddhists come to visit, to listen to Brown and to meditate. And Brown has become one of the region’s authorities on Buddhism, speaking frequently at local colleges about this journey he has spent a lifetime on.

He is careful to say that Buddhism isn’t as much a religion as it is a “spiritual path.”

“It doesn’t posit or deny a creator,” he said. “In fact, when Buddha was asked ‘Who created all this?’ he was silent on it. People come and meditate who are Christians. We respect other peoples’ religious path. Buddhism is not at war with anything.”

Buddhism has its origins about 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gotama, known as Buddha (from the word budhi, which means “to awaken”) had his enlightenment at age 35. He then spread his philosophy of heightened awareness for the next 40 years and now Buddhism is practiced by some 300 million people around the world.

In Battle Creek, Brown estimates there are 50 to 100 practicing Buddhists and most find their way to the temple at one time or another to meditate or to take in one of Brown’s classes.

On this day, there were two people meditating in the prayer room, both kneeling, staring at the wall and practicing what in Japanese is known as “shikantaza” or “just sitting.” Brown said, with occasional, breaks, they will meditate for eight hours a day.

“They’re practicing what I teach,” Brown said. “They’re sharpening their awareness for everyday life.”

Brown also said that anyone interested in meditation, the main tool of Buddhism, are welcome to attend, even if they aren’t Buddhists.

“We’re totally dedicated to awareness practice,” he said.

A major part of Brown’s duties is his work in local prisons in his role on the Chaplaincy Advisory Council of the Michigan Department of Corrections. He will go to prisons around the state and offer Buddhism as a chance for them to find the answers they need. He said prisoners can change their religion choice every six months and, often, many look at Buddhism for its simplicity and message.

“It’s awareness rather than trying to fix someone,” he said. “In Buddhism, no one is broken.”

Brown has run the current temple for more than 30 years and, as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, operates exclusively off donations. And while the temple pays no taxes, the mundane, and sometimes expensive, issues of daily life also creep in.

For example, the Sokuzan interrupts an interview to check on the arrival not of someone seeking spiritual advice, but someone to provide an estimate for replacing the temple roof.

Brown, who admits the practice if Buddhism is not for everyone, has been aided by his wife, Priscilla, also a practicing Buddhist who is a social worker full time in Detroit. They have five children, four boys and daughter, and two of whom are practicing Buddhists.

And even after spending so many years in Buddhism, Brown admits he still has much to learn and much to teach. Indeed, it was in 1990 when he met his Zen Buddhist teacher, Kobun Chino Roshi, and became his student and it wasn’t until 2007 when he was ordained as a priest by the Rev. Shoho Michael Newhall. Now he is a Buddhist monk.

He has traveled the world and met the Dalai Lama (“Before he was famous,” he joked) and is planning a retreat to Japan with some of his students in December.

“I’m content in my life but extremely motivated to help people,” he said.

He is perplexed, but not surprised, at how so many religions pit people against each other.

“People are confused,” he said. “They want to be happy but instead of acknowledging that confusion they blame others. Everything is basically good, just confusion. And confusion looks like evil.”

He shakes his head.

“Buddism is not at war with anything,” he said.

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Breathe easy to combat anxiety

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The mind tricks that can alleviate symptoms
 
London, UK -- More than 870,000 Britons suffer from anxiety, a condition that triggers unnecessary feelings of uneasiness  and worry.

Increasingly, mindfulness – a psychological therapy with roots in Buddhist meditation – is being used by the NHS to help alleviate the symptoms.

Here, in the final extract from his book The Mindful Manifesto, DR JONTY HEAVERSEDGE explains how it can help.

Increasingly, mindfulness - a psychological therapy with roots in Buddhist meditation - is being used by the NHS to help alleviate the symptoms of anxiety

Before directing your mind towards the anxiety you are experiencing, focus on your breathing – the sensation of air slowly flowing into your nostrils, streaming down the back of your throat and into your lungs. Feel the beating of your heart and imagine how it pumps oxygenated blood around your body. Continue until you’re ready to meditate.
Now, shift your attention to your anxious thoughts. What thoughts are present in your mind right now? Are there many moving quickly or does each one remain for a while? Consider the thoughts objectively rather than reacting to them emotionally.
There’s a myth that when you meditate, you should have a blank mind. But thoughts are  not the enemy and trying to stop them will only lead to more struggle. Treat the thoughts during meditation like having a radio on in the background – you can hear it, but your main focus is elsewhere. In mindfulness, you’re paying attention to the fact that you have a thought but you are not buying into what it is saying. Try not to judge the thought  as ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Cultivate an attitude of equanimity to whatever goes through your mind. Watch your thoughts with curiosity and kindness and they will become easier to bear.
Whenever you notice  your mind is wandering, acknowledge that it has meandered and gently bring your attention back to observing your thoughts.
Continue working with your worries in this way for the period of time you have chosen. Working mindfully can be challenging, so it’s good to practise for short periods at first.
You may feel dizzy when you start but that’s because you’ve suddenly stopped spinning around in circles. In the stillness of meditation, it can also seem as if you have more thoughts than usual but this is not so: it is just that you are becoming more aware of them. The more you practise, the more your mind can deal with worries in a less panicked way.

The Mindful Manifesto, by Dr Jonty Heaversedge and Ed Halliwell, Hay House, £10.99

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Tour operators target india boom

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Tourism sector leaders say the birthplace of Buddhism could attract many Thai pilgrims and tourists, but New Delhi needs to clean up its act first

Bangkok, Thailand -- Thai tour operators view Buddhist tourism in India as a potential boom market if the country's Ministry of Tourism improves tourist facilities in destinations that are of interest to Thai-Buddhist tourists.

<< RITE OF PASSAGE: Novice monks line up for prayers.

At the second International Buddhist Conclave held in Varanasi at the end of last month, Thai tourist operators highlighted problems that needed to be addressed. Among these were the relatively tight immigration laws, shortcomings in public infrastructure and the quality of food and hotels.

The conclave was held to showcase India's Buddhist heritage in order to attract Buddhist pilgrims and tourists around the world.

Sarnath, a deer park northeast of the holy city of Varanasi, is where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment, more than 2,500 years ago.

Kushinagar, a principal centre of the Buddhist pilgrimage, is where Lord Buddha left his corporeal self and attained Mahaparinirvana.

Supriya Boonyagate, a tour operator with Two by Four Travel Ltd, has promoted Thai-Buddhist pilgrimages to India for more than a decade. She said she has has submitted a three-point proposal to the Ministry of Tourism of India. First, she said the Indian government should abolish its immigration policy, which is too tight and undermines opportunities for Thai tour operators to bring tourists to visit Buddhist destinations in India.

Ms Supriya was referring to an Indian immigration regulation which prevents foreigners from returning to the country within two months of a previous trip.

"This immigration regulation has become a growing headache for all Thai tour operators who can't send their experienced Thai tourist guides to lead new groups of Thai-Buddhist pilgrims and tourists if those guides have made a previous trip to India within the past two months," she said.

Second, the Indian government should improve its highways in areas housing major Buddhist tourist attractions to ease the currently time-consuming travel experience.

For example, Ms Supriya said, the 300km highway linking Varanasi with Kushinagar should be extended and paved with asphalt.

"It takes us about seven to eight hours [to make the trip] which is really incredible," she said. "And many more public toilets need to be built along a Buddhist tourist trail."

Finally, Ms Supriya said she wanted India to improve the quality of food and hotels in Buddhist destinations.

There needs to be a variety of international food on offer, she said, because most Thais will not be able to eat Indian food every day.

Nuanchan Pientam, chairwoman of NC Tour and Enterprise Co Ltd, said she also submitted a letter addressing problems faced by Thai tourists to Shri Subodh Kant Sahai, India's tourism minister.

Ms Nuanchan, who has operated Thai-Buddhist pilgrimage tours to India for more than three decades, said she wanted Indian authorities to take action to promote the sector, especially in relation to Buddhist attractions in the subcontinent.

She said India needed to improve the condition of its national highways in Buddhist destinations and also needed to install public toilets that adhere to international standards.

She said there are also few trains and limited seats available during the peak tourism season between October to March, so she wanted India to provide more trains with more seats for Thai-Buddhist pilgrims and tourists.

"We believe many more Thai-Buddhist pilgrims and tourists will visit India if the country acts on our proposals," she said.

Mr Sahai, the tourism chief, said the origins of Buddhism are in India and the country is the main attraction for Buddhist tourists from around the world.

Mr Sahai said his ministry is drawing up plans to attract more tourists from Buddhist countries by providing them with special facilities.

He said India has tried to improve its public infrastructure by building roads and airports that can better promote the travel of Buddhist tourists from around the world.

"Buddhism is a world religion now, so its sites hold a great attraction for tourists from the world over. The Ministry of Tourism is continuing with its efforts to identify more Buddhist tourist circuits and develop them in holistic and integrated manner," he said.

To promote Buddhist tourism in India, tourists from countries which have a large Buddhist population, such as Thailand and Malaysia, will soon be provided with the option of getting a visa on arrival, he said.

He said the Ministry of Tourism plans to develop a ghat [set of stairs descending into a river] on the bank of the Ganges River in the holy city of Varanasi in the name of Lord Buddha, and he pledged to keep Varanasi and the river clean.

The International Buddhist Conclave in India is being held after two years. The last conclave was held in 2010.

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Battle-weary British troops find comfort in Buddhism

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London, UK -- Buddhism is experiencing an extraordinary upswing in popularity in the armed forces. Since 2005, the number of servicemen and women practising the religion has risen from 200 to 3,800. Around 2,800 are Gurkhas, whose home nation Nepal has pockets of Buddhism.

But the other 1,000 are British, with many converting since they joined the military. According to spiritual leaders, the reason behind the phenomenon is that Buddhism allows service personnel to escape the stresses and strains of military life.

Sunil Kariyakarawana, the Buddhist chaplain for the armed forces, said: ‘Buddhism has a different perspective about things.
‘The military is a very stressful place. People go to war, that is one factor, and have to fight.

‘Personnel see a lot of suffering in theatre. People are finding that Buddhism can help with these mental agonies.

‘It is laid back and they can practise their own way.’

Dr Sunil said Buddha, who lived 2,500 years ago, never ruled out force: ‘Sometimes you have to choose war as the least bad option.’

Lieutenant Colonel Peter Straddings, who heads up cultural diversity for the Army, said the society was ‘hugely important’.

He said: ‘British society today is hugely different from the Army I joined 25 years ago. Approximately 25 per cent of young people are no longer white Anglo-Saxon Protestants.

‘They are the future. They are the people who represented the country at the Olympics, at football and they are the people we need for the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force of the future.’

In 2005, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh chaplains were appointed by the armed forces for the first time.

The appointments reflect the increase in ethnic minority recruitment to the Army, Navy and RAF in recent years.

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Humor, Humility and Sincerity: The Dalai Lama Speaks at WestConn

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Thousands came to see the Dalai Lama speak at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury

Dansbury, CT (USA) -- People from all walks of life and from all parts of the country attended the Dalai Lama’s visit to Western Connecticut State University Thursday afternoon. 

Roger Poling and his friend, Rick Drumwright, travelled 650 miles from Morehead, North Carolina, to see the Dalai Lama speak.

While it was Poling's first time seeing the Dalai Lama speak, Drumwright participated in two weeks of teaching by His Holiness in Washington, D.C., some years ago. Drumwright had obtained tickets via lottery, but Poling had to buy them. When tickets became available, he called the ticketbooth, hitting ‘redial’ for an hour and 20 minutes until he was able to get through for a purchase.

Drumwright, whose green prayer beads were wrapped around his left wrist, spoke of the virtues of meditation and how difficult yet rewarding it is.

"Meditation is one of the hardest thing to do," he said. "But it's important. You'll never quiet the mind completely, but you'll be able to give your subconscious time to come to the surface."

The Dalai Lama's visit was a surreal experience for Poling.

“I’m an old man and I never expected to get to see him in my lifetime,” said Poling, who described himself as a practicing Buddhist. “In any generation, we’re lucky if we can have one holy man on the planet. For this generation, I think the Dalai Lama is it.”

When the O’Neil Center’s 4,500 seats filled up and the time turned to 1:30, a group of red-robed monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery began a Tibetan chant encouraging kindness and selfless benevolence. 

The press lined up with cameras ready for a 60-second window to snap photos up close when the Dalai Lama would approach the podium.

A security guard whispered to an aide, “He’s here.”

Long minutes passed as the crowd waited in an anxious quietness, ruffling pamphlets and speaking in whispers. But before His Holiness would arrive on stage, Western Connecticut State University President James Schmotter began an introduction. He thanked the Do Ngak Kuphen Ling Tibetan Buddhist Center (DNKL) located in Redding, for its vital role in bringing the 14th Dalai Lama to WestConn.

It was “an historic occasion,” said Schmotter.

Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Jampa, the Spiritual Director at Do Ngak Kuphen Ling, spoke next.

“The university has undertaken extraordinary efforts to make today a wonderful and historic event for our community. Our work together has developed a warm and lasting friendship between DNKL and our friends at WCSU. We pray for their continued success in educating thoughtful, ethical and happy students,” he said.

The crowd applauded, and then applauded even more when Richard Gere came on stage to introduce the Dalai Lama. Click here for the video of Gere's introduction.

Finally, the Dalai Lama himself spoke with his trademark mix of humility, humor and sincerity.

Wisdom from the Dalai Lama

Inner peace, a necessary goal in Buddhist philosophy, was one of the topics His Holiness discussed. After asking, "How do we develop inner peace?" he offered up prayer as one possible avenue but cautioned people against putting all their stock in prayer.

"I believe more in action rather than prayer," the Dalai Lama said with an infectious laugh that inevitably caused the audience to chuckle as well. "I believe action is more important. These prayers should translate into action."

Education and emotion were another two topics the Dalai Lama broached. He spoke about where emphasis should be placed in order for one to be happier and more compassionate. Click here to watch a clip of the Dalai Lama's talk.

A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity

While not all travelled from afar, those in attendance knew they were witnessing something unique, if not extraordinary.

Several people in the audience had ties to Bethel. Two Bethel High School teachers, Jennifer Scott and Katie Kellog, said they came to listen to His Holiness’ words and share them with their students.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Kellog. “He stands for peace, compassion and kindness—we wanted to see that and relate those feelings back to our students in our classes,” she said.

Both her and Scott teach modern world history at Bethel High School. She pointed to one of the huge televisions bordering the main stage.

“Our seniors did that video," she said.

The video being broadcast (see the whole YouTube video attached to this article) was done by Bethel High School students from the school’s Amnesty International chapter. It played on a loop before the beginning of the event.

Another Bethel resident, Tia Murphy, said she was eight years old when she told her sister that she would see the Dalai Lama someday.

"I read about him in National Geographic," she said. This would be the second time she saw His Holiness.

"I saw him many, many, many years ago," she said, when he came to Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Murphy said the first time she saw the Dalai Lama, he wasn't announced and never spoke; it was only after the monks left the area she was in that she was told one of them was the Dalai Lama.

"So I did see him but I didn't know it at the time," she said with a smile.

Southbury residents Carol and Tanya Brenton felt the positive energy around the day, even before the Dalai Lama walked through the curtains.

"I’ve been smiling like an idiot all day," said Carol with a laugh.

The Dali Lama will speak again today at 10 a.m. His theme will be “Advice for Daily Life.”

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Toronto Area Buddhist Monks protest Bangladesh's violence

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Monks protest to cruelty of Anti-Buddhist Moslem Extremists by invoking blessings for enemies’ well being

Toronto, Canada -- History was created in Canada last Saturday - 12th October 2012 - as Buddhist Monks from temples across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) came out of the seclusion of their monasteries and gathered at the Downtown Speakers Corner of the Nathan Philips Square to add their voices to the ongoing demonstrations around the world protesting last week’s spate of targeted barbaric and violent attacks on Buddhists by Moslem extremists in the Chittagong Region of Bangladesh.

Amid fears and a disturbing tendency among the Bangladeshi majority Moslems throughout the Nation to feel threatened by the ‘handful’ of innocent Buddhists who have heroically and steadfastly preserved their ancient and hallowed Buddhist Tradition without much help from their own government or surrounding / neighbor Buddhist Nations in Asia. While nearly 3 million Hindus fled to India over the brutal suppression by Pakistani soldiers in the wake of the 1970-1971 crises, Buddhists remained stay put, with intent to preserve their religion and Bengali cultural heritage.

Last few weeks saw nearly 45 Buddhist Temples incinerated in different parts of the Chittagong Region of Bangladesh. Hundreds in violent gangs had set on the Temples attacking the venerable monks and causing them bodily harm and had gone on rampage leaving homes of Buddhists in the area looted and gutted as law enforcement officers watched and waited doing nothing to stop the violence until the Government decided to call the Army to contain the violence against innocent Buddhists and protect their homes.

Many Buddhist temples, some centuries old, have been sacked, torched and desecrated, Buddha statues disfigured, sacred relics venerated by devotees completely destroyed and many libraries with rare, valuable and manuscripts and books burnt. This tell-tale episode of religious persecution and atrocities against Buddhists with no parallel in modern times has hurt Buddhist Communities the world over and particularly among the devotees of West End Buddhist Temple and the Toronto Mahavihara where the Bangladeshi Buddhist s and Indian Buddhists in the GTA respectively worship.

Last Weekend, Saturday, October 13th, Buddhist Monks in the Greater Toronto Area, gathered in large numbers in a peaceful procession at the Speakers Corner to express their solidarity and oneness with fellow Buddhists of Bangladesh.

The peaceful protests were initiated by Ven. Bhikkhu Bhante Saranapala, a Bangladeshi Buddhist Monk, attached to the West End Buddhist Temple & Cultural Centre, its Abbot Incumbent, Most Ven. Kulugammana Dhammawasa Nayaka Thera, Most Ven. Ven. Ahangama Rathanasiri Nayaka Thera, Abbot Incumbent of Toronto Mahavihara and Most Ven. Ashin Kawwida Maha Thera, Abbot Incumbent, of the Maha Dhammika Burmese Buddhist Temple in Toronto along with a few leading Buddhists in the GTA belonging to Bangladesh and Sri Lankan Buddhist Faith Communities.

They had formed themselves into an ad hoc Sangha Council which called upon the monasteries and Temples in the GTA to gather to perform ‘Satyakriya’  or Affirmation of the Truth” ritual, a typically Buddhist version of a peaceful demonstration sans loud and raucous slogan shouting.

As Buddhist monks from diverse Buddhist traditions from Bangladesh, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Japan, Cambodia, Laos and India stood on parade in near silence  at the Speakers Corner along with their respective Buddhist communities, many sympathizers and Saturday afternoon shoppers in the busy Toronto Downtown were seen to take part in the public peaceful protest display.

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Odisha to open advanced centre for Buddhist studies at Langudi

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Bhubaneswar, India -- Odisha government has decided to open an advanced centre for Buddhist Studies scheduled from January 1 next year to attract students from India and other parts of Asia.

"An advanced centre for Buddhist studies will be opened at Langudi in Jajpur District," Tourism and Culture Minister Maheswar Mohanty said today.

Certificate courses, diploma courses, post-graduate and research courses will be available in phases, which would be self-financing at the initial stage, he said.

"The objective of opening such a centre is to attract students from inside and outside the country," Tourism and Culture Secretary A K Tripathy said.
The minister also said a three-day 'International Symposium of Buddhist heritage of Odisha: situating Odisha in global prospective' will be organised at Udaygiri from February 1 to 3.

Many foreign and Indian scholars were expected to participate in the symposium.

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