This blog is a result of a coming together of local Buddhists and those interested in studying Buddhism.
Not only that but also those who wish to honor the history of Buddhism in the USA and highlight the oldest form of Buddhism here in the USA. I bet it is not whom you guess it to be?
Chinese Buddhism is 161 years old in the USA this year with very old temples built in 1852 and 1853 in San Francisco subsequently destroyed in the great quakes and rebuilt but... by the following years there were 400 up and down California's coast... and by 1900 1,000s with the entrance into the USA via Hawaii of Korean Buddhism in 1901 and Japanese Buddhism in 1902.
Thanks to devotees of all countries we have over 10,000 temples and hermitages in California alone! Every single state has temples, viharas, monasteries, and wats! Alot has changed to allow this to happen, more needs to change to embrace the needs of all Americans who want to study Buddhism but lack the language of the temple they visit. We hope to help change that with one day establishing a temple here in Iowa from formally trained Vinaya masters upholding their vows and the Triple Jewel while conversing and teaching in only English.
It's astounding that hardly any news coverage occurs by the media of our oldest form of Buddhism in the USA. But wait, that has something to do with politics unfortunately, it was due to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 that media stopped covering the Chinese and it's culture as worthy of positive attention.
This turn embraced by media encouraged and freed the greedy, those politikers, the cruel and intolerant to murder, destroy, steal home, money and lands and what is worse the courts sided with anyone not of Chinese origin. So many were harmed so many Chinese US citizens in spite of their patriotism, devotion to our US and all it's cultures that it caused generations to hunker down and hide in plain sight due to the successful campaign that to this day has people in the USA spitting hatred of the Chinese people even those born and raised here for generations.
How many times did people mock them in restaurants around here? I've been embarrassed by my table neighbors more than once when dining out hearing them pretend to mock their waitress who is speaking Chinese or a foreign language behind her back or even in front of her. So think about it for minute what the press started in 1882 out of fear of losing local jobs is still going on mindlessly here in Ames.
Well back to our gathering happenings, sorry about that, I got a little off topic! My many friends and supporters of Buddha dharma and practice have been gathering with me since last month, due to an astounding set of circumstances we have the good fortune to have an English speaking gathering and started in this Month a Chinese speaking gathering!
We are a fun diverse group, coming together from diverse Buddhist interests and traditions to practice together. I started with the Heart Sutra it's short and easy to learn. We listened to various youtube renditions and found a wonderful array of styles and translations in various languages. We talked and laughed so much we nearly ran over 2 hours!!!
After that successful first one, sorry I stopped bringing goodies, nobody ate anything just had water or tea. Conversations were just that good! We had been attracted to the Japanese Heart Sutra we found on youtube and added that to our practice this time. We nearly ran over again due to enthusiasm over Buddha Name recitation and practicing the Heart Sutra in English was so much fun we kept at it and at it.
Our third gathering just happened, it was as fun with unexpected guests who showed up a little early, and CAME BACK at the end! How fun was that???! We enjoyed learning together the Enmei Jokku Kannon Gyo.
This is a longevity prayer.
Here is our version from Rev. Rhyumon:
Enmei Jokku Kanno Gyo
Kanzeon
namu butsu
yo butsu u in
yo butsu u en
buppo so en
jo raku ga jo
cho nen kanzeon
bo nen kanzeon
nen nen ju shin ki
nen nen fu ri shin.
We had lots of fun learning it and doing it, oral recitation of sutras and verses is the very traditional Buddhist practice since Buddha's time. Joining together to recite is chanting and carrying on this ancient tradition to this day. In fact, temples and monasteries are open to anyone to join as long as they are respectful, actually joining in, dressed very and want to be responsible for their own mind training while participating. No need to be Buddhist officially (a Buddhist is someone who has taken 3 refuges and 5 precepts but only a householder), a Sangha member is a Bhikshu (male fully ordained) and separately but equal to Bhikshuni (female fully ordained). Buddhist disciples are ordained Sangha only with laypeople a part of the 4-fold assembly with haven taken refuge and 5 precepts). Only adults are ordained fully.
Here is a photo of the last one, this was the first group to show up and more soon followed. We added several new languages and will be learning instrumentation next time... a lot of joyful noise and fun! If you like to come contact Dharma Master Hong Yang directly first.