............................UT Buddhist Association

Back to School

2012-01-22T15:09:00.000-08:00

The first meeting for Spring 2012 will be this Thursday, January 26th, from 7-9 pm in Garrison 0.128. All meetings this semester will be in this room.
Hope to see you there!

Regular Meeting this Thursday!

2011-09-28T17:07:00.000-07:00

Come join us this week on Thursday Sept. 29 in the Texas Union's African American Culture Room (4.110) from 7-9 pm for some meditation and discussion.

Regular Meeting this Thursday!

2011-09-14T18:50:00.000-07:00

This is just a reminder that we will have our third meeting this week on Thursday Sept. 15 in the Texas Union's African American Culture Room (4.110) from 7-9 pm. Come join us for some meditation and discussion :)

Hope to see you there,
UTBA

2nd Meeting

2011-09-07T08:54:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

This is just a reminder that we will have our second meeting this week on Thursday Sept. 8 in the Texas Union's African American Culture Room (4.110) from 7-9 pm. Come join us for some meditation and discussion :)

Hope to see you there,
UTBA

First Meeting of the Semester

2011-08-26T17:02:00.000-07:00

Please come join us for the first meeting of the semester Thursday, September 1st, from 7-9 in the African American Culture Room 4.110 of the Texas Union.

There will be a introduction to Buddhism as well as a short meditation.

Hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
Buddhist Association

Regular meeting this Thursday

2010-10-20T12:11:00.001-07:00

Hello all,
Just a reminder that we do have our regular meeting this Thursday from 7-9pm in The Texas Union Room 4.224 in the Asian American Culture Rooml. We will have some snacks and drinks, and we will reading and discussing The Pairs and maybe even Attention from the Dhammapadda ( here is a link: http://dharma.ncf.ca/introduction/sutras/dhammapada.html) so if you want to print out a copy, that would be super. We will also jump into some meditation. So come out and stay as long as you want.

Hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
Buddhist Association
http://utbuddhist.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40055677818

Regular Meeting This Thursday

2010-10-12T19:58:00.001-07:00

Hello all,
Just a reminder that we do have our regular meeting this Thursday from 7-9pm in The Texas Union Room 2.404 Pearce Hall. We will have some snacks and drinks, and we will discuss Buddhism. This week we will be going through Buddha's first sermon, and will give instructions on meditation if needed. Come out and stay as long as you want.

Hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
Buddhist Association
http://utbuddhist.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40055677818

Regular Meeting This Friday

2010-09-22T11:08:00.001-07:00

Hello all,
Just a reminder that we do have our regular meeting this Friday from 7-9pm in WMB 4.118. We will have some snacks and drinks, and we will discuss Buddhism, and plans for the future.And we will have a guest lecturer.

Hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
Buddhist Association
http://utbuddhist.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40055677818

Regular Meeting This Friday

2010-09-16T10:48:00.001-07:00

Hello all,
Just a reminder that we do have our regular meeting this Friday from 7-9pm in WMB 4.118. We will have some snacks and drinks, and we will discuss Buddhism, and plans for the future.

Hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
Buddhist Association
http://utbuddhist.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=40055677818

Regular Meeting This Friday

2010-09-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

Hello all,
Just a reminder that we do have our regular meeting this Friday from 7-9pm in WMB 4.118. We will have some snacks and drinks, and we will discuss Buddhism, and plans for the future.

Hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
Buddhist Association
http://utbuddhist.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=40055677818

UTBA Meeting in room 2.404 this Friday, February 26!

2010-02-25T06:07:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends,

Thank you all who participated in the guest lecture this weekend! Hope you found it informative and useful.

This weeks meeting (Friday, February 26), will be in room 2.404 Pearce Hall in the Texas Union. Please join us for meditation, discussion and snacks!

Sincerely,

Buddhist Association
http://utbuddhist.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=40055677818

Guest Lecture this Saturday!

2010-02-16T15:59:00.000-08:00

Hi Friends,

Please join us this Saturday, February 20th for a special lecture and Tai Chi session with guests from the Chung Tai Zen Center in Houston. Information is below:

Where: Asian Culture Room, 4.224 in the Texas Union

Schedule:
2-3pm Meditation session led by Master Jian Zong from the Chung Tai Zen Center in Houston
3-4pm Lecture- Green, healthy, & perfect life: the Buddhist perspective by Master Jian Zong
4-5:30pm Tai Chi session led by Masters Jian Tsan and Jian Hsin*

We will also provide some refreshments!

Because of this lecture there will be no Friday meeting.

Hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Buddhist Association
http://utbuddhist.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=40055677818

Welcome Back Dinner!

2010-01-21T23:35:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

Welcome back to another semester! As in the past, we are kicking off the semester with a vegetarian dinner this Friday, Jan 22nd. It will be held in the West Mall Office Building (http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/wmb.html), room WMB 4.118 starting at 7pm. We may also show a movie...

Come and enjoy tasty vegetarian dishes and meet new friends! It's free! But in order to estimate how much food we should order, please reply us by email utbuddhism@gmail.com asap.

We thank Angela & Jason Wey for sponsoring this dinner gathering and look forward to seeing you there.

FYI, our regular weekly meetings will be on Fridays from 7-9pm. We are looking forward to a great semester with guest speakers, volunteering, and possibly a camping retreat!

Sincerely,
Buddhist Association

Guest Lecture by Kosho McCall this Friday (10/30)

2009-10-29T11:38:00.001-07:00

Dear friends,

This Friday (10/30) we are honored to have Kosho McCall from Austin Zen Center to give us a lecture entitled "Zen: the path of Wisdom and Compassion". He is currently the Head Teacher of Austin Zen Center since May 2009. He is originally from Maine and practiced at San Francisco Zen Center for 20 years. He trained for 12 of those years at Tassajara Zen Mountain monastery where he became Head of Monastic Practice. He received Dharma Transmission from Zenkei Hartman Roshi in 2003. Please join us to immerse in the joy of Dharma. For more information about Kosho McCall and Austin Zen Center, click here http://www.austinzencenter.org/.

In addition, we are proud to support the Harvest Mandala Food Drive organized by the instructors and students of Living Colors signature course. The food drive will be held at South Mall on Nov 4 (Wed) from 10am-6pm. You are encouraged to donate cans or non-perishable food by bringing them directly to the site on Nov 4 or pass them to us at this Friday's meeting. All the can and non-perishable food will be donated to the Capital Area Food Bank. If you are interested in learning more, click here http://harvestmandala.org/.

Important Annoucement:
Our election is coming on November 6. We encourage those who are interested in serving the community to consider becoming UTBA officers. We all have received other people's generosity in learning meditation and the Dharma in the past and it is our responsibility to continue to share this with other beginners. Compassionate sharing is one of the virtues in Buddhism and practice this Bodhisattva path, as we say in Mahayana Buddhism, will enhance our own practice. If you are interested, please contact Sky (skysoon@gmail.com).

Half-Day Meditation with Ven. Jian Zong this Sunday (10/11) & Friday's Meeting Cancelled

2009-10-07T11:02:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

We are honored to have Venerable Master Jian Zong from the Chung-Tai Zen Center of Houston to lead the half-day meditation on October 11 (Sunday) from 9am-12pm at West Mall Building (WMB) 4.118 (opposite of FAC, see map here http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/wmb.html). The theme of this half-day meditation is "Managing Stress the Zen Way." Ven. Jian Zong will give instructions on how to do meditation and answer your questions regarding meditation. After the event, we will dine with Ven. Jian Zong at Veggie Heaven restaurant (http://veggieheavenaustin.com/default.aspx) and you are welcome to join us as well. If you are interested in attending, reply us asap so that we can get a head count. Please join us for this blissful event to immerse in the joy of Dharma. (FYI: We attach the flyer of the half-day meditation with this email, and you can help us to distribute it)

In order to encourage attendance for the half-day meditation, the regular meeting on this Friday (10/9) is cancelled. Please take note of this change.

Biography of Ven. Master Jian Zong

Venerable Master Jian Zong is the abbot of Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston since February 2008. He was vice-abbot at the center from 2004 to 2005 and was the Dharma professor at Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale, California in 2006. Seeking a deeper understanding of the true meaning of life, Master Jian Zong started to frequent a local Chung Tai Zen Center in his native Taiwan. Under the compassionate guidance of its masters, he experienced the subtle and profound wisdom of the Dharma. When at Chung Tai Chan Monastery, Master Jian Zong was deeply moved by Grand Master Wei Chueh's great compassion and conduct, witnessing the Grand Master's tireless devotion to propagating Buddhism for the liberation of all sentient beings. With unwavering determination, Master Jian Zong joined the monastic order under the Grand Master to fulfill the great vows of "attaining the Buddha Way and liberating all sentient beings." Soon after Master Jian Zong joined the monastic order, he immersed himself in the study of the Dharma at the Graduate Division of the Chung Tai Buddhist Institute. Since then, he has served as vice-abbot for Chung Tai Chan Monastery, abbot of Great Enlightenment Monastery of Keelong, and director of student counseling and instructor of Buddhist Studies at the Chung Tai Buddhist Institute.

Dharma Lecture this Friday (9/25): Buddhism in America

2009-09-22T20:57:00.001-07:00

Dear friends,

This Friday (9/25) we will have our group meeting from 7-9pm at Texas Union Chicano Culture Room 4.206. We are honored to have Venerable Hui Yong from Jade Buddha Temple of Houston to give us a Dharma Lecture entitled "Buddhism in America: History, Future Development, and Its Integration in American Life." Ven. Hui Yong received full ordination as a Buddhist Monk in Feb 1998 in Bodhgaya, India. Before that he was trained at two different Chinese Temples in the USA before moving to Taiwan where he continued his Buddhist studies. In lay life he held various mid to upper management positions before starting to know and study Buddhism. At one time before he started these studies he ran and operated his own company. As a native Texan, he was previously married and has 2 children as well as other family of whom all live in TX. He is currently a Dharma teacher at the Jade Buddha Temple. Please join us the for the lecture and immerse in the joy of Dharma.

In addition, we want to invite you to join our field trip to Hsiang Yun Temple on October 3 (Saturday) from 9am-2pm. In this field trip, members who go to Hsiang Yun Temple for the first time will be introduced to the temple and the organization (BLIA). We are also going to have a vegetarian barbecue there and you can enjoy delicious dishes and good conversation with UTBA/BLIA members and the Venerables at the temple. Advanced registration with a fee of $5 is required since we need to estimate the amount of food we need to prepare. Please reply us asap through this email utbuddhism@gmail.com.

The address of Hsiang Yun Temple is:
6720 N Capital of Texas Highway Austin, TX 78731
Website: http://www.ibps-austin.org/

Upcoming Lectures and Events: Update

2009-09-18T12:13:00.001-07:00

Upcoming Guest Lectures:
9/25 - Lecture on Buddhism in America - Ven. Hui Yong
10/2 - Vipassana meditation - Discussion led by Suresh Venkumahanti
10/11 (Sunday) - Half-day meditation led by Ven. Jian-Zong
10/16 - Conversation with Dr. Gary Borich

Upcoming Events:
9/19 - Branch gathering at Bouldin Creek Coffeehouse
(1501 South First, Austin, Texas 78704)
10/3 - Field trip to Hsiang Yun Temple (barbecue with BLIA) - Registration required, please email us utbuddhistm@gmail.com to confirm your attendance.
(6720 N Capital of Texas Highway Austin, TX 78731)

Group meditation & discussion this Friday (9/11): Mahayana Buddhism by Peg Syverson

2009-09-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

This Friday (9/11) we will have our group meeting from 7-9pm at Texas Union Chicano Culture Room 4.206. We will start off with group meditation and Dr. Peg Syverson will lead the discussion on the history and tradition of Mahayana Buddhism. Dr. Peg Syverson is the residential teacher of Appamada (formerly Ordinary Mind). She is also a professor at UT-Austin. She leads the Zazen daily at Appamada. For more details about our invited speaker and Appamada, please refer to the following link http://www.appamada.org/.

Upcoming events and activities:
9/25 (Friday) Guest lecture by Ven. Hui Yong: Buddhism in America
10/3 (Saturday) Field Trip to and Barbecue at Hsiang Yun temple
TBA Guest speaker on Vipassana Meditation

In addition, we have set up a group on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=40055677818. Join us to share any Buddhist-related information, have conversation at the discussion board, and receive updates about our activities and events.

Group Meeting this Friday (9/4): Conversation with Dr. Borich

2009-09-03T15:50:00.001-07:00

Dear friends,

This Friday (9/4) we will have our group meeting from 7-9pm at Texas Union Sinclair Room 3.128. We will start off with group meditation and Dr. Gary Borich will lead the discussion talking about some basics of meditation and its practice. Dr. Borich, an experienced practitioner and a faculty here at UT, has planned to teach a Plan II (Honors) course about Buddhism and answered many questions from beginners about Buddhism. We encourage you to bring your own cushion and/or blanket for the meditation. Simple techniques of meditation will be shared with beginners.

Welcome (back)! Dinner Gathering this Friday (8/28)

2009-08-24T12:08:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Welcome (back) to UT! To start off this semester, we are going to have a dinner gathering this Friday (8/28) at PAR 103 (see the map here http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/par.html) starting 7pm. Come and enjoy tasty vegetarian dishes and meet new friends! It's free but in order to estimate how much food we should order, please reply us by email utbuddhism@gmail.com asap. We look forward to see you there.

Summer meeting: Every Wednesday at 6:30pm at WMB 4.118

2009-06-08T12:51:00.001-07:00

Dear friends,

After collecting your responses through our survey earlier, most of you chose to meet on campus for our weekly meeting. Starting this week, we are going to meet on every Wednesday at 6:30pm at WMB 4.118 (see the map here http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/wmb.html). We are going to do group meditation first and discussion later. No meditation experience is required to attend. We are going to dine together as well after the meeting, but if you need to leave early please do so. Hope to see you there.

Please take our survey...let us serve you better in the summer and fall!

2009-05-28T15:46:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

If you had attended our meetings and/or events in the Spring semester, we would like to express our gratitude for your support. To better serve you in the future, we have developed a survey to collect your opinion about our meeting and events. Regardless whether you have attended our meetings and/or events in the past, we would like to hear your opinion. Your responses will help us better plan future meetings and activities so that everyone can benefit more. It will only take you about 10 minutes to complete the survey. Click Here to take survey. We appreciate your responses in advance. Have a great summer!

Potluck Dinner this Sunday (5/17)

2009-05-16T07:08:00.001-07:00

Dear friends,

We have arrived at the end of Spring semester and it's time to celebrate what we have accomplished for the past semester. We are going to have a dinner gathering at Willie's residence this coming Sunday (5/17) starting from 6:30pm. Please bring a dish or two (vegetarian) or drink (non-alcoholic) to show off your cooking skills and share food with us! Willie's home address is 12224 Timber Heights Dr., Austin, TX 78754. You are welcome to bring your family and friends to join us.

Buddha Bathing Ceremony this Coming Sunday (5/3)

2009-04-28T12:50:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

This coming Sunday (5/3) we will observe the Buddha Bathing Ceremony at Hsiang Yun Temple. Buddha Bathing Ceremony, also known as Vesak Day in Theravada tradition, is a day to remember the Buddha's birthday. This is one of the biggest celebrations among Buddhist practitioners. Its origin can be traced back to the time of King Asoka, who was responsible for spreading Buddhism all over India and the neighboring countries around 3 B.C.E.

Buddha was born in Lumbini Garden of Nepal. After the Buddha was born, he walked seven steps right away and a lotus emerged from each step. He used his index finger with one hand pointed up to the sky and the other index finger with another hand pointed down to the ground. Then, he said: “From the heaven above and beneath, I am the sole honored one in the universe.” The highlight of the Bathing ceremony is using the scented water to shower the Baby Buddha statue.

Bathing Buddha carries its meaning of purifying one’s body, mouth, and intention. This ceremony is not only one of the most important parts of the rite of life to all Buddhists, but also it embodies profound significance, which is particularly initiating to the modern people. The process of bathing Buddha represents the growth of one’s mind, the very basic of mental health and a guide to spiritual life for the contemporary people. In short, it urges us to wipe out ambition, greed, and paranoia in our minds before we could live in tranquility, fully exploit our potentials and lead a healthy life both mentally and physically.

Event Schedule (see attachment for further information)
Starting 10:30am - Food & Music Offerings, Chanting, Praying, Buddha-Bathing, Vegetarian Food, Free Chinese Medicine Clinic, Books, Souvenirs and Auction.
1:30pm – 3:30pm Free Haircut
1:30pm – 4:20pm Half-day Meditation Retreat
7:30pm – 9:00pm Buddha's Birthday Musical Performance (tickets required)

Address of Hsiang Yun Temple: 6720 N Capital of Texas Highway, Austin, TX 78731.
Website: http://www.ibps-austin.org/

If you want to attend the event but need transport arrangement, contact Marty (512) 669 8742.

Dharma Lecture this Friday (4/17)

2009-04-11T20:58:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

We are honored to have Venerable Man Kuang from BLIA - Boston to give us a lecture entitled "Meditation - A Way to Inner Peace." The venerable will demonstrate and explain the meditation techniques in Chan (Zen) tradition. Please join us to immerse in the joy of Dharma. Ven. Man Kuang graduated from Queens College in Queens, New York and ordained in 1988 at Hsi Lai Temple in Los Angeles, USA. Under the guidance of Master Hsin Yun, the founder of Fo Guang Shan in Taiwan, the Ven. had been served in International Dept, Editorial Dept. and Buddhist College at Fo Guang Shan. Today she is the abbess of Boston Buddhist Cultural Center.

Friday Dharma Lecture
Date: April 17, 2009 (Friday)
Time: 7:00-8:30pm
Venue: Texas Union Asian Culture Room 4.224

South Asian Inter-Religious Panel (4/7)

2009-04-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

Our association will join Hindu Students Council and other student organizations to host the South Asian Inter-Religious Panel on April 7, 2009 (Tuesday). It will be at FAC 21 (the building next to Texas Union; it is at the basement level) from 7-8:30pm. In this panel, representatives from each organization will briefly introduce their religions and answer the questions about their religion from the audience. This event is open to the public. You are welcome to bring your family and friends to attend the panel.

Field Day this Saturday (3/28): Potluck, BBQ, and more!

2009-03-25T07:50:00.000-07:00

We are going to have a potluck and BBQ at the Bull Creek District Park together with BLIA group this Saturday (3/28). It is very close to Hsiang Yun Temple on 360. For potluck, we encourage you to bring a vegetarian dish that is enough to feed 20 people. In addition, we are going to have a vegetarian BBQ on the side. We will have games after the lunch as well. A suggested $5 donation is welcomed. Please RSVP to us as we need to estimate the size of the crowd so that we can prepare enough food.

Saturday Field Day
Date: March 28, 2009 (Saturday)
Time: 11am-3pm
Venue: Bull Creek District Park (6701 Lakewood Drive, Austin, TX 78758)

Dharma Lecture this Friday (3/27): Meditation on Encounter Dialogues: At the Core of the Chan Tradition

2009-03-25T07:49:00.000-07:00

This Friday we are honored to have Venerable Jian Dan from Jade Buddha Temple to give a Dharma Lecture entitled "Meditation on Encounter Dialogues: At the Core of the Chan Tradition." Encounter dialogues refer to the questions and answers exchanged between Chan masters and their students. These spontaneous everyday conversations showcase Chan’s core tradition, which consists in the practice of “living” rather than just “sitting.” In this down-to-earth talk, Venerable Jian Dan will use well-known Chan stories to illustrate the two pillars of Chan meditation: the silent absorption in seated meditation (stillness) , which is put into practice in daily life (movement). He will also share some of his personal encounters with his teacher, and use these anecdotes to help bring Chan practice from ancient China to 21st century America. Please notice that we have change the starting time of lecture from 7:30pm to 7pm.

Friday Dharma Lecture
Date: March 27, 2009 (Friday)
Time: 7:00-8:30pm
Venue: Texas Union Asian Culture Room 4.224

Group Meditation this Wednesday (3/25)

2009-03-25T07:48:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

Welcome back from Spring break! This Wednesday (3/25) we will have our regular group meditation. Please notice that our meeting room is at PAR 105 this Wednesday, next to PAR 103. We encourage you to bring your own cushion and/or blanket for the meditation. Simple and different techniques of meditation will be shared with beginners.

Dharma Lecture This Friday (2/27): Inner Peace for a Chaotic World

2009-02-25T15:35:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

This Friday (2/27) we will have Dr. Peg Syverson to give a lecture on"Inner Peace for a Chaotic World." Dr. Peg Syverson is the co-founder of Ordinary Zen Mind Austin. She is also a professor at UT-Austin. She leads the Zazen almost daily at the
OZM. For more details about our invited speaker, please refer to the following URLs. We are looking forward to seeing you.

Date: Friday, February 27, 2009
Time:7:30pm - 9:00pm
Location: Texas Union Asian Culture Room 4.224

http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~Syverson/cv.html
http://ordinarymindaustin.blogspot.com/
http://www.utexas.edu/txunion/about/maps/index.php?section=about

Group Meditation and Discussion This Wednesday (2/11)

2009-02-10T10:48:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

This Wednesday (2/11) we will have our regular group meditation and discussion from 6:30pm-7:30pm at PAR 103. We encourage you to bring your own cushion and/or blanket for the meditation. Simple and different techniques of meditation will be shared with beginners. For the discussion, Gary Borich, an experienced practitioner and a faculty here at UT, will lead the discussion about our life experiences that lead us to the study of Buddhism. Please come and join us to share your own experience.

Dharma Lecture This Friday (2/6): Buddhism in the Movies: How to Overcome Adversities and Achieve Success in the New Year

2009-02-02T07:28:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

The Buddhist Association is honored to host Venerable Master Jian-Zong from the Chung-Tai Zen Center of Houston to give a lecture entitled "Buddhism in the Movies: How to Overcome Adversities and Achieve Success in the New Year" this Friday at 7:30-9:30pm at PAR 103. We will have a short meditation session at the beginning. Please join us to immerse in the joy of Dharma.

Biography of Ven. Master Jian Zong

Venerable Master Jian Zong was named abbot of Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston in February 2008. He was vice-abbot at the center from 2004 to 2005 and returned to Sunnyvale, California where he was Dharma professor at Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale since 2006.

Seeking a deeper understanding of the true meaning of life, Master Jian Zong started to frequent a local Chung Tai Zen Center in his native Taiwan. Under the compassionate guidance of its masters, he experienced the subtle and profound wisdom of the Dharma. When at Chung Tai Chan Monastery, Master Jian Zong was deeply moved by Grand Master Wei Chueh's great compassion and conduct, witnessing the Grand Master's tireless devotion to propagating Buddhism for the liberation of all sentient beings. With unwavering determination, Master Jian Zong joined the monastic order under the Grand Master to fulfill the great vows of "attaining the Buddha Way and liberating all sentient beings."

Soon after Master Jian Zong joined the monastic order, he immersed himself in the study of the Dharma at the Graduate Division of the Chung Tai Buddhist Institute. Since then, he has served as vice-abbot for Chung Tai Chan Monastery, abbot of Great Enlightenment Monastery of Keelong, and director of student counseling and instructor of Buddhist Studies at the Chung Tai Buddhist Institute.

Group Meditation and Discussion This Wednesday (2/4)

2009-02-02T07:27:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

This Wednesday (2/4) we will have our regular group meditation and discussion from 6:30pm-7:30pm at PAR 103. The topic of discussion this week is "Is Buddhist Teaching All About Suffering?" We encourage you to bring your own cushion and/or blanket for the meditation. Simple and different techniques of meditation will be shared with beginners.

Movie Night this Friday (1/30)

2009-01-27T09:45:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

We will have the movie night this Friday (1/30) from 7pm to 9pm at PAR 103. We are going to watch "The Little Buddha" starring Keanu Reeves. Pizzas, popcorn, chips, and juice will be served. Come and join us to watch a meaningful movie and enjoy the food!

Group Meditation & Discussion this Wednesday (1/28)

2009-01-27T09:42:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

This Wednesday (1/28) we will have our regular group meditation and discussion from 6:30pm-7:30pm at PAR 103. The topic of discussion this week is "The methods and benefits of meditation." We encourage you to bring your own cushion and/or blanket for the meditation. Simple and different techniques of meditation will be shared with beginners.

Social Gathering this Wednesday (1/21)

2009-01-20T09:54:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

Welcome back! To start off this semester, we are going to have a social gathering on Wednesday (1/21) at 6:30-7:30pm at the Parlin Hall Building(PAR) Room 103. To know where PAR is located, check here (http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/par.html) Pizza, chips, and drinks will be provided. Come and join us and meet people with similar interests in Buddhism!

Weekly meditation and discussion will start from next Wednesday (1/28) at PAR Room 103 at 6:30-7:30pm and be held on every Wednesday.

We are planning to have Guest Lectures and Social Events on Fridays. On next Friday (1/30), we are going to watch the movie “The Little Buddha” at 7:00-9:00pm. Dinner will be provided. You are welcomed to bring your friends, and if you are interested in attending, please reply us with the number of participants.

Look forward to seeing you soon.

Sincerely,
Buddhist Association
http://utbuddhist.blogspot.com/

Group meditation and discussion

2009-01-16T11:29:00.001-08:00

Dear friends,

This Wednesday (1/21) we will have our regular group meditation and discussion from 6:30pm-7:30pm at GEA 127. We will continue to read the Chapter 22 & 23 of "the Feeling Buddha" for the discussion. You may go to http://groups.google.com/group/ut-buddhist-association to download the pdf file to read the chapters online. This will be our last meeting for this semester. We hope to see you there.

Sincerely,
Buddhist Association
http://utbuddhist.blogspot.com/

Check out our new Facebook group

2008-12-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

If you have a Facebook account, you can now join our group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40055677818 or search for 'University of Texas Buddhist Association'. We will send you announcements about our activities periodically through the group. We wish you Happy Holidays and hope to see you again next semester.

Group Meditation & Discussion this Wednesday (12/3)

2008-12-02T09:06:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

This Wednesday (12/3) we will have our regular group meditation and discussion from 6:30pm-7:30pm at GEA 127. We will continue to read the Chapter 22 & 23 of "the Feeling Buddha" for the discussion. You may go to http://groups.google.com/group/ut-buddhist-association to download the pdf file to read the chapters online. This will be our last meeting for this semester. We hope to see you there.

Dharma discussion this Friday (11/21)

2008-11-19T13:27:00.001-08:00

Dear friends,

This Friday (11/21) we are honored to have Zen Teacher Peg Syverson from Ordinary Mind Zen Austin to lead a discussion on Zen practice and meditation. This will be the last meeting for our lecture series this semester. We hope to see you there.

Friday Dharma Discussion
Date: November 21, 2008 (Friday)
Time: 7:30-9:00pm
Venue: Texas Union Asian Culture Room 4.224

Group meditation this Wednesday (11/19)

2008-11-19T13:25:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

This Wednesday (11/19) we will have our regular group meditation and discussion from 6:30pm-7:30pm at GEA 127 (http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/gea.html). As usual, we encourage you to bring your cushion and/or blanket for the meditation. Also, we will continue to read the Chapter 20 & 21 of "the Feeling Buddha" for the discussion. You may go to http://groups.google.com/group/ut-buddhist-association to download the pdf file to read the chapters online.

Dharma Lecture This Friday (11/7): The Meaning of Enlightenment: From the Sutra on the Eight Realizations

2008-11-03T09:38:00.000-08:00

We are honored to invite Venerable Jue-Ji from the International Buddhist Progress Society to give a Dharma Lecture entitled "The Meaning of Enlightenment: From the Sutra on the Eight Realizations." Ven. Jue-Ji will explain the text in the Sutra on the Eight Realizations, which elucidates how the Enlightened Beings, including the Buddha, achieve full realizations and outlines a realistic and effective approach to cultivate such realizations. Ven. Jue-Ji is currently the director of the Institute for the Research and Study of Chinese Buddhism at the University of the West in Los Angeles, CA.

Date: November 7, 2008 (Friday)
Time: 7:30-9:00pm
Venue: Texas Union Board of Directors Room 4.118

Below is the text of the Sutra on the Eight Realizations of Great Beings

Day and night, at all times,
Buddha’s disciples should
Mindfully recite and contemplate
The eight realizations of Great Beings.

The First Realization:
All the world is impermanent.
The earth is fragile and perilous.
The four great elements inhere in suffering and emptiness.
In the five skandhas there is no self.
All that arise, change, and perish,
Are illusive, unreal, and without a master.
Mind is the root of evil;
Body a reservoir of sin.
Thus observing and contemplating,
One gradually breaks free from birth and death.

The Second Realization:
Excessive desire is suffering.
Birth, death, and weariness in life
All originate from greed and desires.
Desiring less, being wu-wei,
Body and mind are at ease and free.

The Third Realization:
The mind is insatiable,
Always seeking, thirsty for more,
Thus increasing our sins.
Bodhisattvas renounce such conduct.
Always remember to follow the way,
Be content and at peace with poverty,
With wisdom as the sole vocation.

The Fourth Realization:
Indolence leads to degradation.
Always practice with diligence,
Vanquish all vexations,
Subdue the four maras,
And escape the prison of the skandhas.

The Fifth Realization:
Ignorance leads to birth and death.
Bodhisattvas are always mindful
To study and learn extensively,
To increase their wisdom
And perfect their eloquence,
So they can teach and enlighten all beings,
And impart great joy to all.

The Sixth Realization:
Poverty and hardship breed resentment,
Creating harm and discord.
Bodhisattvas practice dana,
Beholding the friendly and hostile equally;
They neither harbor grudges
Nor despise malicious people.

The Seventh Realization:
The five desires are perilous.
Even as laity, be not sullied by worldly pleasures;
Think frequently of the three robes,
The tiled bowl, and instruments of Dharma;
Aspire to the monastic life
And cultivate the Way with purity;
Let your actions be noble and sublime,
Showering compassion on all.

The Eighth Realization:
Birth and death are like a blazing fire
Plagued with endless afflictions and suffering.
Vow to cultivate the Mahayana mind,
To bring relief to all;
To take on infinite sufferings for sentient beings,
And lead all to supreme joy.

These are the eight realizations of Great Beings,
Buddhas and bodhisattvas.
They practice the Way with diligence,
Develop compassion, and cultivate wisdom.
They sail the ship of dharmakaya
To the shore of nirvana,
Returning again to samsara to liberate sentient beings.
With these eight principles,
They point out the Way,
So that all beings may awaken
To the sufferings of life and death,
Relinquish the five desires, and
Cultivate the mind on the noble path.
If Buddha’s disciples recite these eight realizations,
In thought after thought,
They will eradicate countless sins,
Advance on the bodhi path,
Promptly attain enlightenment,
Be forever freed from birth and death,
And always abide in joy.

(Translated from Chinese by the Chung Tai Translation Committee)

Group Meditation & Discussion this Wednesday (11/5)

2008-10-28T09:49:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

This Wednesday (11/5) we will have our regular group meditation and discussion from 6:30pm-7:30pm at GEA 127 (http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/gea.html). As usual, we encourage you to bring your cushion and/or blanket for the meditation. Also, we will continue to read the Chapter 16 & 17 of "the Feeling Buddha" for the discussion. You may go to http://groups.google.com/group/ut-buddhist-association to download the pdf file or use Google Book Search to read the chapters online. We hope to see you there.

Zen centers

2008-10-22T19:31:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, it's August. I just wanted to recommend two Zen centers here in Austin if you all wanted to get in contact with and learn from real live Zen teachers.

1. Ordinary Mind Zen Austin
Here the teacher's name is Peg, she's really cool and nice. She is a great teacher, all the questions we talk about Wednesday nights you should go and ask her. We're going to invite her to come speak on campus soon. And actually she's also a professor at UT. Here's the website: http://ordinarymindaustin.blogspot.com/

2. Austin Zen Center
The Austin Zen Center has a more formal, Japanese-style Zen feel. I wouldn't say it's monastic, but they follow some monastic practices I think. I haven't been there for a while but there's a lot of nice people there. The teacher's name is Barbara, and she's also great. Website: http://www.austinzencenter.org/

The book we're reading in discussion is great for learning about foundational teachings in Buddhism, and I think an awesome book to read if you're interested in Zen is Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, by Shunryu Suzuki-roshi. He was a Japanese Zen master who came to America to teach. The chapters are short, simple, beautiful and quite encouraging for the practice of Zen Buddhism, or just in the practice of life. Don't forget to come to the lecture on Friday!

Dharma Lecture this Friday (10/24): Myanmar after Nargis

2008-10-22T13:26:00.000-07:00

We are honored to invite Venerable Ashin Ariyadhamma this Friday (10/24) at 7:30-9:00pm to explain to us the current situation in Myanmar after it was hit by Cyclone Nargis in the early summer. Please notice that our room will be at GEA 127, the same place for our group meditation. Ven. Ariyadhamma is an ordained monk from Myanmar and the organization that he is affiliated with, Sitagu Buddhist Vihara, has been active in their relief effort in Myanmar. We encourage you attend and spread the word to help out with the Nargis relief effort. You can donate through Sitagu Buddhist Vihara here http://sitagu.org/cyclone_relief/.

Group Meditation this Wednesday (10/22)

2008-10-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday (10/22) we will have our regular group meditation and discussion from 6:30pm-7:30pm at GEA 127 (http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/gea.html). As usual, we encourage you to bring your cushion and/or blanket for the meditation. Also, we will continue to read the Chapter 12 & 13 of "the Feeling Buddha" for the discussion. You may go to http://groups.google.com/group/ut-buddhist-association to download the pdf file or use Google Book Search to read the chapters online. We hope to see you there.

Group Meditation & Discussion this Wednesday (10/15)

2008-10-14T08:34:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

This Wednesday (10/15) we will have our regular group meditation and discussion from 6:30pm-7:30pm at GEA 127 (http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/gea.html). As usual, we encourage you to bring your cushion and/or blanket for the meditation. Also, we will continue to read the Chapter 10 & 11 of "the Feeling Buddha" for the discussion. You may go to http://groups.google.com/group/ut-buddhist-association to download the pdf file or use Google Book Search to read the chapters online. We hope to see you there.

Tibetan Filmaker in Austin This Week

2008-10-07T11:15:00.000-07:00

Forwarded from AZC:

A contact at the Asia Studies Institute at UT asked me to forward this poster to Buddhist group, concerning a reception, film showing and lecture Wednesday and Thursday with Tibetan filmmaker, writer and environmentalist Jangbu (Chenaktsang Dorje Tsering). Please post this at your center if you are able.

Thanks,

Kojin

For more information, check here http://groups.google.com/group/ut-buddhist-association to download the poster.

Group meditation & discussion this Wednesday (10/8)

2008-10-07T11:07:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

This Wednesday (10/8) we will have our regular group meditation and discussion from 6:30pm-7:30pm at GEA 127 (http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/gea.html). As usual, we encourage you to bring your cushion and/or blanket for the meditation. Also, we will continue to read the Chapter 8 & 9 of "the Feeling Buddha" for the discussion. You may go to http://groups.google.com/group/ut-buddhist-association to download the pdf file or use Google Book Search to read the chapters online. We hope to see you there.

Dharma Lecture this Friday (10/3): Zen Wisdom for a Joyful Life

2008-10-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

We are honored to have Ven. Master Jian-Zong from Chung-Tai Zen Center of Houston to give a Dharma lecture entitled "Zen Wisdom for a Joyful Life" this Friday (10/3) from 7:30-9:00pm at Texas Union Board of Directors Room 4.118. You are welcomed to join us and immerse in the joy of Dharma.

Biography of Ven. Master Jian Zong

Venerable Master Jian Zong was named abbot of Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston in February 2008. He was vice-abbot at the center from 2004 to 2005 and returned to Sunnyvale, California where he was Dharma professor at Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale since 2006.

Seeking a deeper understanding of the true meaning of life, Master Jian Zong started to frequent a local Chung Tai Zen Center in his native Taiwan. Under the compassionate guidance of its masters, he experienced the subtle and profound wisdom of the Dharma. When at Chung Tai Chan Monastery, Master Jian Zong was deeply moved by Grand Master Wei Chueh's great compassion and conduct, witnessing the Grand Master's tireless devotion to propagating Buddhism for the liberation of all sentient beings. With unwavering determination, Master Jian Zong joined the monastic order under the Grand Master to fulfill the great vows of "attaining the Buddha Way and liberating all sentient beings."

Soon after Master Jian Zong joined the monastic order, he immersed himself in the study of the Dharma at the Graduate Division of the Chung Tai Buddhist Institute. Since then, he has served as vice-abbot for Chung Tai Chan Monastery, abbot of Great Enlightenment Monastery of Keelong, and director of student counseling and instructor of Buddhist Studies at the Chung Tai Buddhist Institute.

Group Meditation & Discussion this Wednesday (10/1)

2008-10-01T10:15:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday (10/1) we are going to have our group meditation and discussion starting at 6:30pm at GEA 127. As usual, we encourage you to bring your cushion and/or blanket for the meditation. Also, we will continue to read the Chapter 6 & 7 of "the Feeling Buddha" for the discussion. You may go to http://groups.google.com/group/ut-buddhist-association to download the pdf file or use Google Book Search to read the chapters online.

Dharma Lecture by Ven. Hui Yong thi Friday (9/26)

2008-09-25T14:55:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

This Friday, we are honored to have Venerable Hui Yong from Jade Buddha Temple of Houston to give us a Dharma Lecture from 7:30-9:00pm at Texas Union Asian Culture Room 4.224. The title of the lecture is "Humanistic Buddhism and Meditation in Our Daily Life." Ven. Hui Yong received full ordination as a Buddhist Monk in Feb 1998 in Bodhgaya, India. Before that he was trained at two different Chinese Temples in the USA before moving to Taiwan where he continued his Buddhist studies. In lay life he held various mid to upper management positions before starting to know and study Buddhism. At one time before he started these studies he ran and operated his own company. As a native Texan, he was previously married and has 2 children as well as other family of whom all live in TX. Please join us the for first lecture of this semester and immerse in the joy of Dharma.

2008-09-23T09:25:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

This Wednesday (9/24) we will have our group meditation and discussion from 6:30pm-7:30pm at GEA 127 (check the map here http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/gea.html). We encourage you to bring your own cushion and/or blanket for the meditation. Simple and different techniques of meditation will be shared with beginners. Also, we will continue to read the Chapter 4 & 5 of "the Feeling Buddha" for the discussion. You may go to http://groups.google.com/group/ut-buddhist-association to download the pdf file or use Google Book Search to read the chapters online. We will see you there.

Group Meditation & Discussion this Wednesday (9/17)

2008-09-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday (9/17) we will have our group meditation and discussion from 6:30pm-7:30pm at GEA 127 (check the map here http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/gea.html). We encourage you to bring your own cushion and/or blanket for the meditation. Simple and different techniques of meditation will be shared with beginners. Also, we will continue to read the Chapter 2 & 3 of "the Feeling Buddha" for the discussion. You may use Google Book Search to read the chapters online. We hope to see you there.

Sincerely,
Buddhist Association
http://utbuddhist.blogspot.com/

Dharma Lecture this Friday (9/12) Cancelled

2008-09-12T09:16:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

The projected path of Hurricane Ike puts the greater Houston area under imminent threat, and since our guess speaker for this Friday lecture Ven. Master Jian Zong is from Houston, we have decided to cancel the Dharma lecture this Friday for his safety purpose. The lecture will be rescheduled on October 3 (Friday). We apologize for any incovenience caused by this decision. However, we invite you to attend our weekly group meditation and discussion on next Wednesday 6:30-7:30pm at GEA 127. Thank you.

Guest Lecture by Ven. Master Jian Zong This Friday (9/12)

2008-09-07T19:55:00.000-07:00

This Friday from 7:30-9:00pm Ven. Master Jian Zong from Chung-Tai Zen Center of Houston will give a lecture entitled "Zen Wisdom for a Joyful Life" at Texas Union Asian Culture Room 4.224. You are welcomed to join us and immerse in the joy of Dharma.

Biography of Ven. Master Jian Zong

Seeking a deeper understanding of the true meaning of life, Master Jian Zong started to frequent a local Chung Tai Zen Center in his native Taiwan. Under the compassionate guidance of its masters, he experienced the subtle and profound wisdom of the Dharma. When at Chung Tai Chan Monastery, Master Jian Zong was deeply moved by Grand Master Wei Chueh’s great compassion and conduct, witnessing the Grand Master’s tireless devotion to propagating Buddhism for the liberation of all sentient beings. With unwavering determination, Master Jian Zong joined the monastic order under the Grand Master to fulfill the great vows of “attaining the Buddha Way and liberating all sentient beings.”

Group Meditation & Discussion This Week (9/10)

2008-09-07T19:42:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday (9/10) we are going to have our group meditation and discussion starting at 6:30pm at GEA 127 (to see where GEA is located, check here http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/gea.html). This will be our permanent meeting place for this semester. Although it is not required, we encourage you to bring your cushion and/or blanket for the meditation. Simple and different techniques of meditation will be shared with beginners. We will see you there.

Group meditation this week

2008-09-02T21:04:00.001-07:00

Dear friends,

This Wednesday (9/3) we are going to have the group meditation and introduction starting at 6:30pm at PCL 5.120A. This will be a temporary meeting place for this week. Although it is not required, we encourage you to bring your cushion and/or blanket for the meditation. Simple and different techniques of meditation will be shared with beginners. We will see you there.

Fall Luncheon

2008-08-26T11:12:00.000-07:00

We are going to have a welcome back luncheon on next Saturday (9/6) from 12-2pm. It will be at Jason Wey's residence (9904 Brightling Lane, Austin, TX 78703). If you are interested in attending, please reply us with the number of people you intend to bring asap. If you need transportation, please reply us as well and we will try to arrange transportation for you. We hope to see you there.

Fall Social Gathering

2008-08-26T11:11:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

Welcome back! To start off this semester, we are going to have a social gathering on Wednesday (8/27) from 6:30-7:30pm at the Student Service Building (SSB) Room 3.406. To know where SSB is located, check here (http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/ssb.html). Snacks and refreshments will be provided. Come and join us and meet people with similar interests in Buddhism!

Dharma Talk by Ven. Man Jue: How We Practice Buddhism

2008-04-14T08:37:00.000-07:00

Do you understand Dharma (wisdom and compassion)? Do you know how to apply Dharma in your everyday life? How do you eliminate ignorance and affliction so your body and mind are at ease and liberated? This Friday we are honored to have Ven. Man Jue to give a Dharma Lecture entitled "How We Practice Buddhism." Ven. Man Jue has given many Dharma lectures and led meditation workshops in many IBPS-related centers over the years. This will be our last lecture for this semester. Please seize the chance to learn more about Buddhist teaching before the spring is gone!

Date: Friday, April 18th
Time: 7:30pm - 9:00 pm
Place: Texas Union Asian Culture Room 4.224
Topic: How We Practice Buddhism

Weekly Group Meditation

2008-03-27T12:21:00.000-07:00

We would like to invite you to join our group meditation this Friday. Please come and join us to experience the peace of mind. You are encouraged to wear comfortable outfit and bring your sitting cushion and/or blanket if you have them. Also please notice that we have changed the meeting room to Board of Directors Room 4.118. We hope to see you there.

This Week Group Meditation
Date: Friday, March 28th
Time: 7:30pm - 8:30pm
Place: Texas Union Board of Directors Room 4.118

Dharma Lecture by Ven. Ashin Ariyadhamma

2008-03-17T20:21:00.001-07:00

This Friday, we are honored to have Ven. Ashin Ariyadhamma from Sitagu Buddhist Vihara coming to UT to give us a Dhamma lecture. Currently Ven. Ariyadhamma is the Abbot of Sitagu Buddhist Vihara in Austin. Please seize this great chance to learn about Theravada Buddhism.

Date: Friday, March, 21st
Time: 7:30pm - 9:00 pm
Place: Texas Union Asian Culture Room 4.224
Topic: The Methods of Buddhist Practice in Daily Life

Dharma Lecture by Ven. Shiou-Huey from Jade Buddha Temple of Houston

2008-02-07T09:16:00.000-08:00

You are welcomed to join us for the Dharma lecture by Ven. Shiou-Huey. Here are the details:

Date: Friday, February 15th
Time: 7:30pm - 9:00pm
Place: Texas Union Board of Directors Rm 4.118
Topic: Living Buddhism

Updates on Ven. Jian Liao's Dharma Lecture

2008-01-28T10:30:00.000-08:00

Dharma Lecture

Date: Friday, February 1, 2008
Time: 7:30pm - 9:00pm
Place: Texas Union Asian Culture Room 4.224
Topic: "Practicing Zen in Everyday Life"

Meditation Workshop

Date: Saturday, February 2, 2008
Time: 10:00 - 12:00 pm
Place: Gateway Apartments Community Center (1654 W 6th Street, Austin, TX 78703) (When you enter the Apartments, take the left route. The Community Center is located on top of a hill on your right).
Note: Please register if you are interested in attending the workshop (it's free). Transportation can be arranged.

Master Jian Liao's Dharma talk

2008-01-21T19:39:00.000-08:00

Master Jian Liao's Dharma talk
Date: February 1, 2008 (Friday)
Time: 7:30-9:00pm
Venue: Texas Union Asian Culture Room 4.224
Additional Note: Possible half-day meditation workshop on February 2, 2008 (Saturday)

Rescources

2007-12-07T10:16:00.000-08:00

Resources

Temples and Meditation Centers
Zen Center of Houston
Chung-Tai Chan Monastery USA
International Buddhist Progress Society at Austin
Texas Buddhist Association Inc.
Jade Buddha Temple
American Bodhi Center
Sitagu Vihara
Southwest Vipassana Meditation Center

佛教網頁 Buddhism Websites
漢文電子大藏經系列
 佛教經典系列
 中華電子佛典
 般若文海
 中国佛教信息网
 印順道師佛學著作集

Publishers and Online Bookstores
Pariyati.com
Wisdom Publications
Snow Lion Publications
Shambhala Publications
World Buddhist Directory -North America - Texas

Welcome to the UT Buddhist Association

2007-12-07T10:10:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the UT Buddhist Association. This is where you will find Buddhism related resources and event reports.