Search Buddhist Channel

Buddhists focus on peaceful path

By STEPHEN TAIT, The Times Herald, September 18, 2010

Group seeks to gain understanding through meditation

Marysville, California (USA) -- Sam Ewalt has a joke he likes to share. "Meditation," he said, "is a whole lot better than sitting around doing nothing."

<< RELAXING: Linda Slaughter of Clyde Township, Mary Kelly of St. Clair, Larry Lada of Marysville, Mary Evans of Fair Haven, John Eitzen of Marine City and meditation leader Sam Ewalt of Marysville, from left, sit during a meditation meeting at Alternative Connections in Marysville. (Times Herald photos by MELISSA WAWZYSKO)

To a newcomer, it might look as if members of the Blue Water Community of Mindful Living are doing just that -- nothing. But, participants in the Buddhist group said there's a whole lot more happening.

Ewalt, the group's meditation leader, said the goal is to concentrate on the "here and now." That means focusing on each breath during seated meditation and feeling how the body moves and connects "with the Earth" during walking meditation.

At a recent meeting, people sat on cushions placed on the floor and others sat in chars. Starting with the ringing of a kesu, or meditation gong, the group meditated for about 20 minutes. Then, everyone stood for a 10-minute walking meditation followed by 15 minutes of seated meditation.

In many ways, the community's activities are like those of a Christian church. For instance, many meetings are followed by potluck dinners, and members participate in regular retreats built around meditation.

The Blue Water Community of Mindful Living also has a jail outreach program, and participants go to the Macomb Correctional Facility in New Haven every Saturday to lead a meditation group.

"It is a very interesting experience," Ewalt said.

"They are highly motivated people who are very interested in change and looking for individual change," he said about people who meditate at the prison. "I think what is most interesting is how much they are like everyone else."

The group follows the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist teacher and author. In particular, the group practices "mindfulness" or "to be aware of what is happening in us and around us in the present moment," Ewalt said.

Ewalt described Buddhism as the practice of "learning how to be more peaceful" and is "more concerned about practice than believing or intellectual understanding."

The Blue Water Community of Mindful Living has been meeting regularly since 1996 and has about 15 core members. About 75 people are on its mailing list.

It meets on the second and fourth Sunday of each month at Studio 1219 in Port Huron and every Tuesday at Alternative Connections in Marysville.

Mary Basrai, 64, of Port Huron said anyone from any religion is welcome to participate. The group's ideals, she said, are "a philosophy of life, really."

"It is based on the principle that, if you sit still and look carefully, you develop understanding. That is part of our meditation," she said. "You meditate and you sit and you look at yourself and what rises in yourself. What you see is impermanent."

We Need Your Help to Train the
Buddhist AI Chat Bot NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)

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

TOP