Search Buddhist Channel
Buddhism's role in peace discussed at ECU event
By Josh Humphries, The Daily Reflector, November 30, 2007
Greenville, NC (USA) -- Buddhism can be a vehicle for social change, said Buddhist monk Peter Mugan Schellin during a talk at East Carolina University Thursday night.
<< Schellin spoke about Engaged Buddhism, a practice that involves participating in political and social discourse for change.
Josh Humphries/The Daily Reflector
Buddhist monk Peter Mugan Schellin speaks Thursday evening at East Carolina University on being engaged socially as a Buddhist. Reflectors on his seeing eye dog's harness were illuminated by a camera flash.
Schellin described marching on Washington in protest of the Iraq war with other like-minded Buddhists earlier this year to a crowd of about 40 in Speight Auditorium in the school's art building.
Buddhist practices do not get wrapped up in outcomes, Schellin explained. Buddhists are more concerned with recognizing faults and problems and accepting the world as it is.
Schellin appeared at ECU as part of the Countdown to Peace collaborative art project recently displayed in the Mendenhall Gallery. He is a professor emeritus at California State University, Los Angeles, where he taught art theory and education.
Schellin is legally blind and was accompanied on stage by a seeing-eye dog, Nemo.
"I have eye disease and it is progressive," he said.
"My experience, inside of myself, is that I am content anyway," he said, explaining how his Buddhist beliefs have helped him through rough spots.
Schellin described the different schools and practices of Buddhism as it has evolved in various places like China, Japan and Vietnam. He encouraged the audience to research the practice further.
He lead the audience in about five minutes of meditation, telling them to concentrate on their breath and repeatedly count to 10.
One audience member asked afterwards if thinking about his lungs filling with air was acceptable when he was suppose to be concentrating on his breath.
"That is it," Schellin said. "I bet you have never thought about your lungs filling with air before, unless you are a long-distance runner."
Schellin said many realizations are possible through meditation and even small ones can be important.
Schellin describe Buddhism as being the "Middle Way" between two extremes of reaction and repression.
"The middle way is observation — we have a joke — don't just do something, sit there," he said.
Buddhist AI Chat Bot NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)
For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:
Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB
The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118
Note: Please indicate your name in the payment slip. Thank you.
Dear Friends in the Dharma,
We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.
Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:
One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.
How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.
For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:
Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB
The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118
Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.
Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.
Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.
Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.
Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.
Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!
May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,
With deepest gratitude,
Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team
Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau
We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.
If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv