The Zen Center teaches in three ways:
1. TEACHING BY TEACHING
This is the most obvious way. It includes all of the classes, workshops, presentations, etc.
2. TEACHING BY DOING
This method requires a little digging / excavating on the behalf of the participant. One must ask oneself: What else is this teaching? What else lies below the surface of the obvious teaching? What else is there to learn from this? This method trains the mind to Moon Sa Su, to probe deeper into the teaching. To unpack them. Do dig deeper.
We had a community farm. What did it teach besides the obvious..gardening..how to grow some delicious…nutritious homegrown food?
- The farm teaches us about the certainty of cause and effect. You plant arugula you harvest arugula. You cannot plant cucumbers and hope to harvest tomatoes. So it teaches us of the certainty of karma, of cause and effect.
- The farm teaches balance. There needs to be a right balance at the farm as well as in our lives. The right balance of sun and shade, of the right amount of water depending on the produce you're growing.
- The farm teaches us to prune. Prune the unhealthy connections in our life, prune the unhealthy habits, prune the unnecessary worry and stress or they will sap the life out of the whole plant.
- The farm teaches us to tend to the soil from which everything grows. Even though we don’t eat the soil itself, even though we cannot see underground. And so it teaches to not focus only on the final product but to understand that we must put effort and energy, that we must invest in the thing even though the harvest is not here yet.
- The farm teaches us to live according to season. That means it teaches us that everything has appropriate timing. We cannot expect to get what you want just because you want it, just because you feel like it… ask yourself…is it in season? We call this ShiJeol InYeaon.
- By just working on the farm we can learn all these things. Why? Because the Zen Center teaches by doing.
What about our other programs…what are they teaching by doing? The archery club, Touching Earth trips, apiary, Lotus Scouts / Buds…the Summer and Winter camps, the tea ceremony, Holy Bread baked by the abbot…what do they each teach?
3. TEACHING BY BEING/ BY SIMPLY EXISTING
Let’s say you walk in here. And there is no one here, No class. No people. Nothing being done. Still, the Zen Center teaches by just being. This third method requires a little more digging still. This method is wonderfully subtle. It takes a refined eye to perceive and a refined mind to understand.
We have 3 altars here. SangDahn- The main altar with the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. ShinJung Dahn- The side altar of the ShinJung. And YeongDahn- The memorial altar. These 3 altars just by being here are teaching. Would you like to know what they are teaching by just simply existing?
SahngDahn- Main Altar
- Teaches IlShim…teaches YeoRae.
- It is a place where those who have accomplished the great goal of enlightenment are enshrined (Buddhas and Bodhisattvas).
- It reminds us of our own potential for enlightenment. They all sit there saying look at me! I did it. There is no fundamental difference between you and me. That is why if I did, you can do it too.
ShinJung Dahn- (Right side altar)
- Teaches GongSaSang. The spiritual realm.
- It is a place where we honor those who are pursuing the path towards enlightenment but have not yet accomplished the great goal. They are not yet Buddhas or Bodhisattvas.
- It reminds us to study continuously. Because as the Main Altar teaches us we too can accomplish the great goal of enlightenment.
YeongDahn- (Left side) Memorial Altar
- Teaches impermanence
- It is a place where we study the path to favorable rebirth in heavenly realms. It is also a place where we receive guidance and support from our ancestors.
- It reminds us to pile up our good karma.
Did you learn to accept the impermanence of all things? Have you learned these things? Are you a good student?
Pop quiz!
Speaking of impermanence, speaking of seasons, speaking of timing. The Zen Center has come to another season in its life. The other day I heard our Buddha coughing. When I asked what was wrong I couldn’t hear the answer because of all the noise. You see they started demolition and redevelopment of the big warehouse across the parking lot. Which results in dust, noise, and vibration…and the escaping rodents finding their new home here at the Zen Center. Even our air purifier is coughing. Now, KwanseumBosal told me almost a year ago that a time is coming. We have just been waiting on the confirmation. So, this year’s Buddha’s Birthday Wish is for a new home. Please help. Let’s not leave him homeless.
But, today is Buddha’s Birthday party. And in a typical Buddhist fashion, he finds any a situation a good situation to teach something. So what does he teach by just standing there like he is? What is the meaning of this declaration…” Heaven and above and heaven and below I am only one”. What does that mean? What does he teach by just being? What this means is don’t push off the responsibility on anyone else. What is in front of me is my task. What is in front of me is the result of my own doing. Don’t blame others for your hardship. But also it means to be honest with yourself and to celebrate you doing good. So this is his message. You, not only me, you, you, “heaven and above and heaven and below, YOU are only one” You are that special. YeaoRae that special