Spring Semester 2007!!!

Hello everyone, its been a while...sorry...

Ive been back to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas for over about 3 weeks now. I had a very interesting time home, i got to visit with a lot of family and see my new baby cousins that are growing up. Christmas time is always a joy with my family...mostly...i guess... all in all i learned a lot from my parents, family, and a lot from my friends. Going home is a great chance for me to see how i react to an entirely different environment... It was full of tests, most of which i probably didnt pass, but didnt fail either...hmm...yea that sounds right. But i learned and now its time to move forward!

The semester is in full swing and there is lots to report.
The classes im taking this semester are as follows;

1. Lotus Sutra-- Right now we are focusing on the importance of Bringing forth the Resolve for becoming a Buddha, as the entire foundation of cultivation for Buddhist practitioners.

2. Dhyana Paramita Treatise-- Laying the foundation for long-term gradual step-by-step Dhyana meditation. Wow...this is a very interesting class

3. Bodhisattva Precepts-- This summer they are transmitting the Bodhisattva Precepts for the Laity the last week in June---please apply if you are interested, this is a very wonderful event. goto DRBU.org

4. Classical Chinese-- We are memorizing the Di Zi Gui (Standards for Being a Good Student and Child) And building the foundation for understanding how to read older chinese texts.

5. Graduate Seminar Thesis Writing-- I will be writing an undergraduate thesis on the Relationship between Chinese Mahayana Buddhism and Chinese Martial Arts)
-- I need help on narrowing my topic though...

6. Chinese orchestra-- I am finally starting to be able to play the gu-zheng... i almost quit, but the teacher wouldnt let me. He said i just need concentration, and i will get it...Aint that the truth...

7. Fundamentals of Traditional Chinese Medicine-- Really good class, we are learning how to diagnose ourselves and treat our personal conditions, and also the basics of the entire field of chinese medicine. I will be entering the teachers program in order to fix my "excess water" and "no fire"... so i guess we will see...

8. Islam fro ma Buddhist Perspective-- REALLY helpful class on understanding Islam. A lot of my own pre-conceived ideas have already been wiped clean. I hope to understand more of this beautiful Religious Tradition.

9. Chinese level 2 writing/conversation-- Chinese is coming slowly but surely, i have to motivate myself more. I like to read texts and translate, but i have to pick up my speaking more... man man lai... in chinese means= slowly but surely it will come...thats my motto for pretty much everything.

Besides the main classes, i am also trying to organize the Translation committee for the 6th Patriarch Sutra... I really hope to be able to finish translating this by the end of the century.

There is also the Surangama Sutra Translation Committee which i have yet to attend, but i will. I love learning from all the old pros how to translate.

I am also continuing teaching with Mr. Antalek (my friend from Buffalo!) the weightlifting program at the Boys School. Its really fun, and i get to mix in a bit of kung-fu at the same time.

Wait...and theres more!! This weekend i am performing Lion Dance for Chinese New Year at Berkeley museum and at the Monastery! Its a lot of hard work (and horse stance) because im the rear-end... It should be really fun, i can throw the kid like 10 feet in the air, so we should put on quite the show. Side note-- I just got back from Berekely Monastery and the pictures are of Dharma Master Sure and the United Religions Initiative group, they all shared some very wonderful stories with us and i felt like this was a place where people are really trying to settle down and find out what is SIMILAR with each others religions, INTSTEAD of dwelling on the DIFFERENCES. I think this is the path towards world peace. What do you think?


Besides all of that its still just the daily grind, morning ceremony at 4:00AM until lights out at 10:30... Good times here at CTTB, its amazing just how much you can do in a day. Well thats all for now, enjoy the pics!

Peace.
Kenny