Q: Do I need to be a Buddhist in order to join any
activities held by Zen Buddhist Association at USC?
A:
No. Zen practitioners respect and accept all religious believes. We do not shave our head,
light incenses, or recite sutras. Practices such as reciting sutras could be helpful in
concentration but are not a necessity. Besides, the techniques taught in class such as
stress-relieving technique and Zen exercises are good for everybody regardless of their
religious background. So please join us.
Q: Where do the teachings come from?
A:
The teachings would not have "power" if they were not taught by an enlightened Zen master. All of our teachings
were taught by Zen Master Wu Jue Miao Tian,
the 85th Patriarch of Zen School. See Who are we for
more detail.
Q: How is Zen meditation taught here different from
other forms of meditation taught by many other organizations?
A:
The teachings of most organizations emphasize breathing and calming the body. Then enter
into a thoughtless state in order to relax the pressure and relieve some of the pain.
However, Zen meditation in reality is more than just a physical practice. The spiritual
states Zen reaches are far more difficult to comprehend. Thus, the currently popular
exercises of meditation in the western world can be regarded as just warm ups comparing to
the original teachings of Zen meditation. The deep parts of teachings will gradually be
covered in our class at USC.
Q: Besides the well-known health
improvement, what other benefits can I expect?
A:
You will find that Zen practice can provide benefits such as relieving your pressure,
keeping you more focused on your study, turning you from a short-temper person into a
cool-temper person, giving you a physically and mentally balanced life, among many others.
You should come and experiment by yourself.
Q: I have none of the above problems (pressure,
short-temper, etc). Should I still come?
A:
Yes, besides physical and mental benefits described above, there are spiritual benefits
which are much more difficult to perceive. The ultimate goal of Zen meditation is to enter
into our inner self and let our inner being recover its
original life force, electricity and light, and to discover the everlasting real spirit of
ours. |
