My Last Semester

Happy Chinese New Year! This is the Year of the Earth OX. I am actually a Wood Ox in Chinese astrology. This is my first year as an adult in traditional Chinese eyes (24th year).

That seems fitting seeing as how I am graduating from DRBU this semester. It also fits because I am living in my own place and am completely on my own (which I love).

This semester I am taking some very interesting courses. I am memorizing part of a Chapter from the Lotus Sutra in Chinese for school credit. I am taking a course in California History and the Role of Immigrants from Asia. I have an AP English course that is dealing with Ethics and Literature. I am taking MATH! I thought I could escape college math, but I was wrong.

My most anticipated course is a guest lecture series "Seminar on the Majjhima Nikaya (Middle Length Discourses) By Bikkhu Bodhi"--- This is going to be incredible. He is the foremost Scholar Practitioner of Theravada Buddhism.

Besides that...I mostly enjoy my free time out in Mariposa where I live. My daily life is very fun in my eyes. I wake up with fresh air and sunshine all around.

I am often quite cold because I ran out of firewood and the wood outside is all wet now. I sleep in my sleeping bag on my couch in the living room with 3 blankets. I know I am from Buffalo, but this dank dark cabin is consistently around 40-50 degrees. Sometimes colder.

Right now we are working on putting up the solar panels higher so as to get sunlight 2 more months per year. I love these kind of projects. I have to admit that my friend Henry does all of the work. Not to mention all the planning. So he basically teaches me how to live out in the wilderness with as much luxury as possible! Very fun. I never thought I would be able to watch HD Movies out in the middle of nowhere with solar power.

May the new year of the OX bring you the stability and power of the OX.

Apprenticeship in Phoenix...back to DRBU to finish

Greetings!

I have spent the past 5 months as an apprentice in Phoenix Arizona under Author/Translator Stuart Alve Olson. That is now over.

I will be returning to Dharma Realm Buddhist University this next semester to finish my final semester (or two).

Right now I am currently in Port Townsend Washington with my teacher in all things Chinese Mr. Alan Polson. He is building a hermitage up here in the mountains so he needed a young strong guy to help with some labor. He notes "Kenny, you have strength, but lack skill." And i say "you should have seen me 5 years ago, bull in a china shop does not even begin to describe my incredible lack of sensitivity...I am improving!"

Anyway...

I had the honor of serving tea to a Mr. Bill Porter some may know him as Red Pine. He is an author and translator of Chinese Buddhist texts. I am actually in his converted garage right now. He gave me a copy of his new book called "Zen Baggage". Very good read so far. I love talking Chinese stuff with these old American translators! So much fun.

I also had the honor of visiting with Mr. Mike O'Connor. He is a poet and translator of Chinese Poetry. His book "When I find you again, it wil be in the mountains" was the first book i ever bought on Chinese poetry when I was 18 or so. I was enthused to read some of my translations of another Daoist/Buddhist poet named Chang Chun (Long-Spring), and he actually liked them. He gave me some very good advice, "If you want to translate Chinese poetry, then you have to be a poet yourself!" Makes sense...and I have internally considered myself a poet as long as I can remember, just not a very good one. Maybe if i can recapture the essence of these Chinese poems I can improve my own skill. I think so.

Thats all for now. I am going back into my little cabin on the mountain come friday. Then back to Buffalo for Christmas with my big wonderful family.

Much love.

Summer Time

Well it has been a while again since I have posted. Lots of new things happening in my life I can barely keep my head on straight. I just moved out of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and into a mountain hermitage about 10 minutes away. It is an amazing little place in the woods, such cheap rent too, well I guess with no electricity and little running water they cant charge much. But that is exactly what I want. No frills. Well a couple frills, but not too many :-) I also have a new car, 1999 Honda CRV. Its really nice being able to go where I need to. But gas is ridiculous.

Its funny too because this summer i wont even be able to live in the cabin. I moved in but I am off to Phoenix for a summer apprenticeship with a translator and Tai Ji Quan master. Really amazing opportunity, I am very excited about. Then I start school in late august here in Mendocino Community College, and next semester is also my last at Dharma Realm Buddhist University. Lots of things are changing for me, I am moving into a whole new phase of my life. Hopefully it will be as interesting as my last 3 years in the temple have been.

Take care. In everything you do.

Peace.

~Happenings~

So I just returned from the conference...Really sick. Everyone at CTTB was getting this really bad viral infection and I managed to fight it off for a long time until now. Good reminder for me that this body is impermanent and even though I may be young and strong...I am still susceptible to sickness (that was tough for me to admit).

Onto the Conference-

I can start by saying even though I was getting more and more sick as time went on, I was also becoming more and more happy. All the people around me had come to this conference to help themselves answer some of the difficult questions in life...Who am I, what is life's purpose? How can I be happy?...etc. Lots of good open hearts are contagious and uplifting. I dont get to partake in too many activities like this so it was a real blessing for me to volunteer and take part.

Doug powers spoke on "The Dharma of Relating to People".

Amazing. Why? To paraphrase.

When was the last time you really listened to someone else? How do you relate to other people? These were the questions he posed to us. He said that most of the time we are not genuinely listening to anyone else. We just project out our own wants and desires on the people we are close to (and everyone else), and when they dont meet our expectations and desires there is conflict. The problem is also in that we cant see them for unique individual universes in of themselves, completely different with their own background and understanding, their own wants and desires. If we can first genuinely stop projecting, and start genuinely listening to people, right there is where genuine communication is.

He then continued by making a very important statement. That listening, is practice, is genuine cultivation from the very start, to very advanced levels. Dont think that sitting quietly is when you are practicing (even though it can also be). But cultivation first starts with how we deal with our relationships. The marker, or the meter of how much actual skill we have is directly related to how we react and deal with our relationships, not how long we can sit still (although, dont doubt that it helps!). Interesting huh...

Another key point. We need to accept the fact that who we are is exactly what we have chosen to one degree or another. There are no victims. This can be tough to take. But the idea is that we dont make good decisions. Those dysfunctional decisions lead to our suffering. What we think will make us happy ends up being the opposite because we just follow our desires instead of stopping and contemplating, thinking everything over. This teaching really spoke to me in a big way.

--I also went to Dr. Epstein's talk on "Perfecting the Wisdom Within", and to Dharma Master Jin He's talk about "The 10 signs of a mature spiritual life".

Onto the panel I was invited to speak on--

I greatly enjoyed this experience (test). Even though I was really sick, the sight of all the bright smiling faces in front of me filled me with joy, and nervousness which increased blood circulation which allowed me to actually speak.

Here are the Questions I and three others on the panel were asked-
1. Whats your personal story in regards to coming into Buddhism?
--I spoke about the Kungfu school I came from and the temple I volunteered at in Niagara Falls.

2. What is your personal practice?
--I spoke a little about my personal practice being sitting meditation and mantra recitation. But then brought it back to really my practice is in trying to become a more filial person and responsible in my daily life.

3. What do you think the role of community is relationship to spiritual practice?
--I reiterated a quote from the Buddha mentioned earlier in the panel saying "It is mentioned in Samyutta Nikaya that once Ven. Ananda approached the Buddha and remarked that "half of the spiritual life is based on friendship, companionship and association with the good." to which the Buddha replied " Ven. Ananda, do not say so. Not half, but man's entire spiritual life is established on friendship, companionship and association with the good."
--I thought this was a very important quote so I talked about how, from my own experience this is 100% truth. I then talked a little about how conversely if you disassociated yourself with your good friends and spiritual community through doubt and immaturity then you can really cause harm to yourself and others. As I have come to realize that, based on what I have personally done in the past.

I have matured.

The whole conference was taped. I dont know if it will be made available online but if it is i will post a link. Goto www.dharmaradio.org for lectures.

Also there is a new forum up for Dharma Talk-- goto http://www.berkeleymonastery.org/phpbb3/

please ask any questions you might have. I am on there. My name is Kenny.

Alot of other things are happening...I will post later on my new school pursuits and future endeavors. So many possibilities...life is what you make it. Make it wise and kind. :-)

-Take care-
kenny

I am Speaking at this conference!

DRBY Spring Conference 2008

Insight and Happiness on the Buddhist Path

Saturday
Time	Venue 1	Venue 2
8:00 – 8:30am	Registration
8:30 – 9:00	Orientation
9:00 – 9:45	Keynote Talk by Rev. Sure on "Wisdom & Blessings"
9:45 – 10:30	Meditation (with instruction) led by Sramanera Chin He in the Main Hall
10:30 – 11:00	Meal Offering Ceremony in the Main Hall
11:00 – 12:30pm	Lunch
12:30 – 1:00	Break
1:00 – 2:30	WORKSHOP A: Introduction to the Sutras with Dr. Verhoeven in the Main Hall	WORKSHOP B: Shining the Light: The Dharma of Relating to People with Doug Powers in the Dining Hall
2:30 – 3:00	Break
3:00 – 4:30	WORKSHOP A: When Were You Last Happy? with Rev. Sure in the Main Hall	WORKSHOP B: Perfecting the Wisdom Within with Dr. Epstein in the Dining Hall
4:45 – 5:15	Meditation Instruction & Yoga with Sramanera Chin He in the Main Hall
5:15 – 5:45	Meditation
6:00 – 6:30	Tea Time (served by me) & Introduction to DRBY (Optional) in the Dining Hall
6:45 – 7:45	Dinner
7:45 – 9:30	Evening Program with Rev. Sure: Talk on "Emerging Buddhist Culture in the West" followed by storytelling & music
Sunday
Time	Venue 1	Venue 2
8:00 – 9:00am	Registration
9:00 – 10:30	WORKSHOP A: Cultivating Freedom: Buddhism as More Than Just Meditation with Sramanera Chin He in the Main Hall	WORKSHOP B: Dedicated to the Dharma: Why I Became a Nun with Dharma Master Yin and Priscilla Yeh in the Dining Hall
10:30 – 11:00	Meal Offering Ceremony
11:00 – 12:30pm	Lunch
12:30 – 1:00	Break
1:00 – 2:30	CLOSING PANEL: Spiritual Friendship in the Main Hall
2:30 – 3:00	Break
3:00 – 4:30	Tea Time (served by me) & DRBY Opportunities (optional) in the Dining Hall

DRBY Conference Workshops

Shining the Light: The Dharma of Relating to People
(Doug Powers)

How do we better relate with people? Why can’t people just get along? In what ways can Buddhism contribute to healthier and more harmonious communities? In this workshop, we will explore teachings that promote peace and happiness within families, friendships, communities, and beyond.

A Treasury of Wisdom: An Introduction to the Sutras
(Dr. Martin Verhoeven)

For someone new to Buddhism, approaching the Buddhist canon can be as daunting as hacking through an impenetrable jungle. Yet learning and understanding the Sutras can deeply benefit one’s practice. So how does one begin to approach them? This workshop will offer guidance and tips for navigating through the vast and rich treasury of wisdom contained in the canonical texts of Buddhism.

When Were You Last Happy?
(Rev. Heng Sure)

Happiness – everyone is talking about it. For many people, the pursuit of happiness is the ultimate goal in life. We’re all seeking it and striving for it. What is happiness? How do we “get it” and keep it?” Why does it seem as though we constantly chased after it only to end up with its exact opposite: unhappiness. Rev. Heng Sure will shed light on our understanding of happiness and offer practices to help us realize it.

Cultivating Freedom: Buddhism as More Than Just Meditation
(Sramanera Chin He)

Buddhism may be synonymous to meditation and mental training in the eyes of many Westerners, but developing a strong practice that requires more than just sitting in meditation. In this workshop, we will take a broader and more comprehensive look at practice and will highlight the important roles that ethics, mindfulness, lifestyle, diet, and fitness play in helping us to live fuller and more meaningful lives.

Perfecting the Wisdom Within
(Dr. Ron Epstein)

Buddhists often speak of the importance of developing “wisdom.” But what exactly does wisdom, or prajna, mean in the context of the Buddhist teachings? What do Buddhists mean when they say that someone is “wise?” We will hear from Dr. Ron Epstein on the vital role that wisdom plays in treading a spiritual path and the tools we can use to become wiser.

Dedicated to the Dharma: Why I Became a Nun
(Dharma Master Yin & Priscilla Yeh)

For those of us who want to dedicate our lives to the spiritual path, monastic life is one option. So why become a Buddhist monastic? In this workshop, a Buddhist nun and her mother will share with us their experiences, challenges, and joys of treading the Buddhist path.

Kalyanamitra: The Benefits & Blessings of Spiritual Friendship
(Closing Panel: Various DRBY speakers)----I am on this panel.

In contrast to the enduring image of a solitary monk meditating in a cave, spiritual friendship and community have always been a respected and central part of the Buddhist tradition. Having good honest friends who are able to lend support, give timely advice, and gently guide each other when the need arises is extremely important to lead a balanced spiritual life. In this panel, young adults will speak from their own experiences about the benefits and blessings of practicing Buddhism with a community of friends, guides, and teachers.

Happy Chinese New Year!

XIN NIAN KUAI LE

I wish all of you a new year full of happiness.

For all of those who would like to know, here is my class schedule for this spring 08' semester.

Intermediate Classical Chinese- This is my second year of classical Chinese. Its kind of funny I am actually better at classical Chinese than I am at regular spoken Chinese. I can recognize a lot of characters and have gotten better at deciphering the meaning from very terse texts. Right now we are going through the Meng Zi. Pretty tough.

Public Speaking 2- I am taking this class for Developing Inherent Wisdom credit. So it will be more challenging because i will have to speak regularly to new audiences. I might be speaking at this year's DRBY conference in Berkeley, and when Humboldt State University comes to CTTB.

Dhyana Paramita- This is my third year in this amazing class on what Dhyana meditation is, and how it is practiced. Continues to amaze me...

Bodhsattva Precepts- I took this class for a year, and it turns out I need more credits in the Vinaya category (Buddhist regulations). Interesting, there are precepts in which you have to act, instead of abstaining from action.

Chinese Music Appreciation- This is the second semester of the class. We are concentrating now on various types of Chinese music, and musical instruments. Lots of listening.

Buddhist Ethics- Professor Martin Verhoeven is teaching this class on Buddhist ethics. Very interesting, I expect to post on what we will cover in this class. Some of the topics we will cover will be how Buddhists approach genetic engineering, abortion, homosexuality, monasticism, and lots more.

Intermediate Chinese- I am taking this class in the Boys high school. I have spoken Chinese now 5 times a week which is really helpful. Fridays are calligraphy day! So much fun.

Enjoy some of the pictures of my new class teaching the little kids who live at CTTB kung fu.

Back at School Spring Semester 08'

So sorry, kinda forgot about my blog...

After a very interesting break back home in Buffalo for a month and a half, I have returned to CTTB.

The first pic is CTTB with some snow!

The second pic is of my home temple, I will post more of this wonderful place.

The third pic was taken in the memorial hall of the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua inside CTTB's Buddha hall. Look at the bird.

This was my first week back and I have been busy sorting out my new schedule for this semester. I am very excited about the classes I am taking and the subjects I will be studying. The people I meet here continue to amaze me, and help me grow.

The opportunities I have to study and practice so many different methods and ideas are countless. I feel very fortunate to be able to study and practice here.

I'll post my schedule and more pictures soon.

-Kenny