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Field Trip - Hsi Lai Buddhist Temple in Hacienda Heights (Posted 9/16/06 3:51pm)

1). Give some brief background on the religion

2). Give a "detailed" (thick) description of where you went and of the service you attended (where you went, when you went, what you saw, etc)

3). Offer a reflection of the experience

Buddhism is a religion which focuses on the teachings of Buddha, who lived on the continent of Indian around the fifth century BCE. Buddhism spread throughout the subcontinent in the five centuries following Buddha's passing, and propagated into Central, Southeast, and East Asia.

Buddhism is a study in which a person works on discovering the true nature of reality, mainly accomplished through years of spiritual discipline, and investigation. For the Buddhist, Nirvana (a state in which most of our private desires have been exhausted) is life’s goal and can be achieved via awareness of the Buddha's Four Noble Truths. The first truth being that one's existence is full of suffering. The second truth is that this suffering originated from desire within ourselves, it is our own desire for personal fulfillment. The third truth is that one can release one self by overcoming our desires. The fourth truth is that through strict discipline one can follow a methodical or "Eightfold Path", to overcome suffering and desire. Prefacing the "Eightfold Path" is need for right association, to be influenced by examples of others around us who have previously followed this path. The "Eightfold Path" is a means of overcoming suffering by right knowledge (to know the four truths), right aspiration (decide what we really want), right speech (notice what our speech reveals about ourselves and begin to participate in non hurtful, not exaggerated, truthful way of speaking), right behavior (Five Precepts: do not kill, do not steal, do not lie, and do not be unchaste), right livelihood (only engage in occupations that promote life instead of destroying it), right effort (moral exertion), right mindfulness (self awareness, see things as they really are), and right absorption (techniques used to clear our vision/view.)

Anyone can follow Buddha's example and become enlightened through the study of his words and putting them into practice, by leading a virtuous, moral life, and purifying his mind. The aim of Buddhist practice is to put an end to the suffering and stress of existence. Buddhist teaching encourages one to practice and verify the Buddha's teachings based on their own personal experience. This allows one to question whether they are valid or not, and if so, to apply them in a practical form into their daily life if they so wish. The transformational discovery one can obtain is called "Awakening" or "Enlightenment".

On Sunday morning Sept 10th, I visited the Hsi Lai Buddhist Temple in Hacienda Heights and attended a Fundamental Buddhist Concepts Class/Lecture for my first field trip.

The temple campus itself was rather large with a steep set of stairs. First thing I noticed is that nothing was really boldly labeled (easy to read from a distance) that told a new visitor where to find certain buildings/rooms. In addition, there was no one to greet me, I was pretty much left on my own to find my way. Upon entering, I did see people walk up the steps to the temple front and then first walk to right of the temple and then to the left side to some type of station for either incense lighting or some type of reflection. Once at the top, it was not clear which direction to go, as there was a hallway on the left and one on the right. Both lead to an inner courtyard with another temple in the back that was accessible via another flight of stairs. Not knowing where to go, I followed the path of several others who went up the steps and stopped within another temple and either reflected or paid some type of homage. I continued to explore my way around and found a set of stairs that lead back down to the mid-level and finally found a clear sign in English that specified where the Assembly Hall was in which the class was being held.

Once I was able to find my way to the assembly hall I entered into a classroom type setting. A Buddhist Nun was presenting announcements and conversing interactively with several pupils in the class. When I entered, she was conversing with the class about the events from 9/11/2001 and mentioned that there would be a special chanting session the next day (anniversary of 9/11 event.) She also notified the class that there was an upcoming 1 day retreat for the Eightfold Path that lay people could attend. She asked questions of the class as to what they thought the 1 day retreat would be. Several in the class shared their experiences with doing this same 1 day retreat the prior year. The retreat is designed to allow laypeople the opportunity to be monastic for a day. It is about just letting go of your common everyday thoughts/worries. You just do what the leaders of the retreat ask you to do. One individual said that it was great as he didn't have to think at all that day, which was very relaxing for him. Also mentioned were the beds they were given to sleep on. While being normal in appearance this person said they were very hard with only a 1/4" type of cushion. The Nun explained that was one of the rules of the Eightfold Path regarding resting. The Nun also asked questions of the class about what they thought the Monastic (Monks and Nuns) did since they are busy all day. She said some have asked when and how do they meditate. Her answer went into her training at the Buddhist college and how they learned routine. Part of which was to learn to do multiple things simultaneously, like we do in driving a car and sipping on coffee or talking on a cell phone at the same time. While having regular set times for meditation, the Monastic's as meditate as they are doing routine activities.

The Nun then began the lesson about how we know that something is what it really is. For instance, she asked what makes a notepad a notepad? Several from the class offered up various explanations. She then proceeded to talk about the movie, "The Matrix" and how it included some simple Buddhist thoughts. She showed the scene where Neo meets Morpheus for the first time, and takes a pill which will release him from the matrix. Neo looks at the mirror, it's cracked, then it repairs itself, however the mirror then displays something unusual, it turns to liquid. While this is happening, Morpheus asks “Have you ever had a dream, Neo, that you were so sure was real? What if you were unable to wake from that dream” (Matrix)? As he touches the mirror the liquid starts to cover his body. Morpheus then adds, “How would you know the difference between the dream world and the real world” (Matrix)? Morpheus is alluding to humans being hooked up to the matrix; everything they experience is only dreams about their lives, in reality they are laying in pods. Everything they believe that is happening to them is only in their minds. It is difficult for the humans connected to the Matrix to also know what they know for real. The Nun then explained that the same goes for us now, as it may be hard to tell with any certainty what is a dream and what is reality. Because all things are thus conditioned and transient they have no real identity and so do not truly don't exist. To our untrained minds they do appear to exist.

She then began to explain the 12 linked chain of causation. This 12-linked chain of causation shows how ignorance in a previous life creates a tendency for a combination of aggregates to develop. These in turn cause the mind and senses to operate. Sensations then occur, which lead one to a craving and a clinging to existence. This condition triggers the process of becoming again, producing a renewed cycle of birth, old age, and death (reincarnation.) Through this a connection is made between one life and the next. What is firmly set into place is a stream of renewed existences, rather than one that moves from life to life, in effect a rebirth without transformation.

Initially, I did not know exactly what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised to find the classroom setting to be non-threatening and interactive (not just a lecture, but a question and answer session.) Those who made up the class were from various backgrounds, both young and old, which also helped to alleviate my initial apprehension. It was interesting listening to the various explanations the Nun and class members offered.