A Little of This, A Little of That

It's Sunday afternoon and I've got laundry doin' in Dorm B.  I had to run out and get quarters to do it after a lunch with some friends at a vegetarian Chinese restaraunt earlier today.  Yesterday, my buddy Shakya and another friend Feng went to Hsi Lai temple to take the eight precepts.  In the Chinese tradition, at least, you take them for 24 hours and fast for that same period, so they were mighty hungry.  Feng looked a little woosey, in fact.  I was surprised that they didn't ravenously pounce on the first thing to hit the table (a delicious tofu-based chicken and cashews dish). 

Last night, I stopped by Shakya and Danny's room for tea as my phone wasn't working to call ahead, but Shakya wasn't home from the temple yet.  Danny invited me in, we heated up some water, and started to chat.  After I'd poured my tea, Shakya walked in.  I'd forgotten that fasting was part of the vows he had taken, or I'd have stayed away.  I didn't want to torture the poor guy by making him watch me drink some yummy, sweet milk tea, but he insisted I say and also take a Snicker's bar off his hands he had sitting around so he wouldn't be tempted.  Of course, out of great compassion for this suffering sentient being, I scarfed down the candy bar right away. :)  I know, I know...I said I'd stay away from the vending machine, but I couldn't help myself.  He needed me to eat that candy bar.  Besides, for some reason, I'm still loosing weight, I think.  I need to weigh myself to be sure.

Anyway, one of the things Danny and I discussed was our future plans.  I'm actually considering going to Korea to study when I finish here at U. West.  Dongguk University, which has a sister school relationship with U. West, is a Buddhist university in Seoul run by the Jogye Order (Korean Zen).  They have a very inexpensive Korean language program.  I would also have the opportunity to study at a Korean temple after doing some intensive language study.  One of the reasons why I'm thinking of doing this is that Korean Buddhism is little studied in the West, academically speaking, so my job prospects would be better when I finish my Ph.D.  In fact, there's one temple that has a number of foreign students (not the International Zen Center) that my friend Seon Joon Sunim, and American nun there tells me has a fair number of Tibetan monks in residence at any given time. 

I'm interested in Korean Buddhism in part because they have an organized monastic system revolving around strong study and practice, something the Tibetan tradition lacks in the West.  Unlike Japanese Buddhism in which priests marry, have kids and work regular jobs, Korean Buddhism still has the old Vinaya vows, too.  So, strong practice, a good support system, and the Vinaya.  Pluse the advantage of Korean Buddhism being new to Western academia.  Sounds like a good mix to me.

So, I'm starting to look for a place to go for spring break.  I found one temple a couple of hours from here up in the mountains in the Korean tradition that looks interesting.  I hope that works out.  I'll keep y'all posted.

By the way, I've removed the post titled Bad Karma as I've still gotten some rather rude messages about that.  For the record, I never said I had a problem with mantras and holy images on t-shirts.  I think that could be a great way to introduce the Dharma to people.  My issue was with them being put on the backside of someone's pants.  I'm actually thinking about starting a small t-shirt business to fund my education.  Anyway, enough of this!

Comments

[Danny Fisher]

I think Shakya ate too much coming off his fast. I tell ya: all the dukkha in this room...