Midwest Buddhist Meditation Center

Buddhism is the way of life that leads to perfect peace and real happiness. The founder of this tradition is Siddhatha Gotama, who was born 2627 years ago (625 BC) at Lumbini Park located in Southern Nepal near the Nepalese-Indian border. His father was a king Suddhothana, and his mother was the Queen Srimãyã (Sirimahãmãyã) of the Sakya clan. He married at the age of 16 years, became a Monk at the age of 29, and he attained enlightenment at the age of 35. He spent 45 years of his life teaching people the way to realize real peace and real happiness. He passed away at the age of 80, 543 years before Christ.

What the Buddha Taught

The Buddha taught the fact of life, the law of cause and effect known as the Four Noble Truths. Why do we call them “Noble Truths”? Because they are noble, nobody can deny these truths. They are Noble truth of Suffering; Noble Truth of the Causes of Suffering; the Noble Truth of the Extinction of Causes of Suffering; and the Path leading to the Extinction of Causes of Suffering. This way is known as the Middle Way because they are not extreme left, and not extreme right. It consists of eight constituents namely: Right Understanding; Right thought; Right Speech; Right Action; Right Livelihood; Right Effort; Right Mindfulness; and Right Concentration.

The way consisting of three levels of training namely;

(1) Moral training, training in speech, and training in action;

(2) Meditation training, training the mind in the proper way, making the mind clear, clean, bright, calm, peaceful, and pure to experience insight, the highest wisdom;

(3) Wisdom training; Training in morality and meditation. These trainings are foundations of wisdom.

Purpose of Life is Peaceful mind. T hen the question is what does peace mean? And how can we achieve peace? Peace can be interpreted in many ways to different people. Some people say peace is life without physical and economic problems. When people have food to eat, have clothes to wear, have medicine and housing facilities. Some might say that Peace is life without wars.

In Buddhist teaching, we find in many Suttras the Buddha, in all times of his life, proclaimed the problem or suffering and the way to solve this problem. He introduced the way of peace by starting with the very basic principle of living a happy life and finished with a realization of the highest wisdom, Nibbana (perfect peace). This way was known as the threefold training namely, Sila (moral training), Samãdhi (mind training) and Pañña (wisdom training).

The Buddha emphasized wisdom training to achieve real peace for people from all walks of lives. In this short time we will not discus all of these training methods. However, we can see even at the moral level alone, how it can bring peace to society. The Buddha frames universal moral training as follows;

To refrain from killing, harming, or torturing any living being, at the same time cultivate loving kindness and compassion as a way of life.

To refrain from taking what is not given; at the same time cultivate honesty and respect ownership and belonging.

To refrain from adultery and sexual misconduct, at the same time cultivate respect, sincerity and honesty as a way of life.

To refrain from lying and false speech, at the same time cultivate truthfulness as a way of life.

To refrain from taking intoxicating drinks and harmful drugs, at the same time cultivate mindfulness and awareness trough meditation as a way of life.

The Buddha proclaimed universal nonviolence and prohibited human and animal sacrifice on the Indian continent during those days. Then the Buddha proclaimed the Law of Karma, known as the Law of cause and effect to be Universal Moral Code, the source of prosperities, the source of happiness and the source of a Peaceful World.

Loving kindness, compassion, generosity, sincerity, truthfulness, and mindfulness are the means to achieve justice, peace, awakening world, and real happiness. These virtues do not belong to any private or particular organizations, but are the universal law. If we are kind, compassionate, truthful, and sincere enough we can achieve what we want without asking, that is peace. This is universalistic teaching from Buddhist standpoints.

Yes, it is true, we give the responsibility of moral training and practice to religious and spiritual leaders, but we all must take responsibility for this. We are not

separate, in Buddhist believe, we are one with the others. We are a part of all things. Everyone has a duty and a responsibility to develop and maintain a balance in our society for the young generation to care for this Mother Earth.

If our hearts are filled with loving kindness and compassion towards all living beings, we can expect prosperity, good health, justice, peace and happiness in our society. Loving kindness and compassion, the Buddha said, are the sources of happiness. These are the sources of prosperity and the sources of enlightenment, the perfect peace. This is the Dhamma, Universal Law, the Law of Cause and Effect, Universal Teaching of the Buddha. Unity in diversity

We need unity in diversity of religious practices to proclaim the way of helping to create a mutual understanding, to make known to those who may not understand what the Buddha taught for the benefit of many to help create balance during this critical time, the time of science and technological development. We should apply science and modern technology in the proper and wise way to help create peace and happiness in human society in this planet. That is peace within our own minds. Science and technology is an advance, but human minds have not developed as they should have. The minds of the people are still poor, because the minds lack loving kindness and universal compassion. We need to join hands and work together in harmonious ways to fulfill our duties and responsibilities for peace of the individual, for the peace of communities, and for the peace of whole world.

Spiritual handicap is important and needs to be healed by observing moral principles and training. Then we can expect physical mental health. Many people are spiritually and mentally deficient. Their minds are diluted by hatred, selfish desire and ignorance, which create a lot of criminal problems and suffering in our society. We talk much about physical or material poverty, but what I emphasize is a mental and spiritual poverty handicap. Without morality there is no peace, without a peaceful society there is no wisdom, without the proper training for wisdom there is no peace. Therefore, training in morality, training in meditation, and wisdom training are needed. This way is the natural way or universal way of practice introduced by the Buddha 2592 years ago.

Buddhism copes with science/scientific

Buddhism copes with science. If there are any religions that could cope with the modern scientific need, it would be Buddhism.

Buddhism is cosmic universal religion. The religion of the further would be cosmic religion. It should transcended a personal God and avoid dogma and theology.

Buddhism covers both the natural and spiritual, it is based on a religious sense and raising from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity. Buddhism answers this description. “Science without religions is lame, and Religion without science is blind.” (Albert Einstein references German born in 14 March, 1879- 18 April, 1955)

Today people ask for peace through violence caused by hatred and anger. Selfish desire, hatred, and ignorance cause such acts of destruction. These problems exist in all parts of the world.

“Religious and Political leaders must meet together and find ways to work for world peace. The Enlightened One shown the way of change, therefore, millennium-to-millennium, nothing can be improved until the human mind is change from negative to positive thinking that will cultivate only good things for human society” said His Holiness Dalai Lama. “Without touching the earth we can not find peace, we need to understand who we are, and how we are related to our Mother Earth. We all need to go back to ecology and anthropology”.

At the highest levels, the Buddha taught the way to freedom and independence in the modern world by helping people free their minds form hatred, selfish desire and ignorance by cultivating loving kindness and compassion in their hearts as a way of life.

The mind with morality is a sound mind; the body with a sound mind is a sound body. Therefore, morality is needed for the desperate world today, we need morality and self-discipline, and then we can have a sound mind in a sound body. Then finally a healthy, prosperous and peaceful society can be achieved.

Part II

Goal of Buddhism/Destination of Life

The Goal / Destination of BuddhismThe Goal of Buddhism is perfect peace, real happiness for all living beings, and to experience this goal we have to practice meditation or train our mind and purify our mind from impurities. Meditation plays significant role in this aspect. Here we should discus a little bit about meditation. When we observed moral principles as we discussed in the Part I, we expected to have a peaceful family and peaceful community, then we are ready to sit down and meditate to look within our own minds. To look at our minds we need to have more and more meditation practice.What is Meditation?

Meditation is the way to purify our mind, to get the mind to become calm and peaceful, to get the mind to become stable and balanced. Meditation is the way of brightening the mind to cultivate insight and enlightenment the mind.

In the Buddhism the word “Meditation” is translated from the Pali language. The Pali word is “Bhãvanã” which means to develop, to improve. To cultivate mindfulness and awareness, so the mind becomes healthy and strong. Meditation is the way to cultivate the mind so it becomes calm, clear, peaceful, stable, bright, light, and pure.

A concentrated mind can focus clearly on a particular object. Such a developed and purified mind, when defiling mental obstructions such as hatred, greed, craving, delusion unwholesome thoughts, ignorance, and so on are released from tension, worry and stress.

Meditation is the way to psychologically train the mind to develop the tool of insight, or Vipassanã enabling meditation practitioners to realize enlightenment, the highest wisdom for ordinary persons to become complete human beings so that all human beings can become “noble ones”.

Meditation is considered a spiritual training in all the world’s religions. Many people talk about peace and happiness in their daily gatherings and meetings. In other words, with a deluded mind we can not find the right way to experience real happiness and peace for ourselves and others except we cultivate a clear and pure mind. To experience this stage of mind development, each of us must train our own minds through meditation practice.

Technique of Meditation

Two techniques of meditationThere are two kinds of meditation namely: Tranquillity Meditation

(Samatha Bhãvanã) and Insight Meditation (Vipassanã Bhãvanã)

In general term we use the word “Citta Bhãvnã” or “Mind Training”

Tranquillity Meditation/Samatha BhãvanãConcentration Meditation, Samatha Bhãvanã, is the way to develop tranquility and serenity in mind. It is a synonym of Samatha (concentration). That is one-pointed-ness and non-distraction of mind. Tranquility meditation is the way of developing temporary serenity in the mind. Concentration meditation will help the mind become rested, relaxed and quiet so it may gradually ascend to higher states of concentration or mental bliss. Some meditation practitioner may also apply this technique as a base to insight meditation (Vipassanã Bhãvanã) to understand the real nature of phenomena and to see things as they really are.

A person may also develop concentration to reach a higher level of mental bliss enlightenment while another may apply this technique as the base for insight meditation.

Insight Meditation/Vipassanã BhãvanãInsight meditation or Vipassanã Bhãvavnã, as it is called in the Buddhist tradition, aims to free the mind from the distraction of self-centeredness, negativity, and confusion. Seeing life as a constantly changing process, one begins to accept pleasure and pain, fear and joy, and all aspects of life with increasing balance and equanimity. This balanced awareness, grounded in the present moment, leads to stillness and a growing understanding of the nature of life. Out of this seeing emerges wisdom and compassion. Insight meditation is a viable spiritual technique for those who are searching for peace of mind and self-understanding. It is a meditation technique introduced to the world by the Awakened One, Gautama Buddha. This Theravãda Buddhist meditation technique of insight meditation is becoming better known in the Western world. It is the way to develop mindfulness so we will be aware of who we are and what we are doing, from moment to moment. Only in the present moment can one’s awakening mind have insight to eliminate the causes of suffering and frustration in daily life.

The oldest form of Vipassanã (insight) meditation is taught in the Theravãda tradition of Southeast Asia. The development of mindfulness and awareness is the heart of Buddhist meditation. The four “Foundations of Mindfulness” The Satipatthãna Sutta, were emphasized by the historical Buddha, as follows. “There is one way, O monks, for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow, and lamentation, for the disappearance of suffering, grief and pain, for the winning the noble path, for realizing Enlightenment, Nibbãna, That is to say, the Four Foundations of mindfulness”

The more familiar our mind with virtues, the calmer and peaceful it becomes. When our mind is peaceful we are free from worries and mental discomfort, and we experience true happiness. If our mind is not peaceful, then even the most pleasant external conditions will not produce a happy mind. However, if we train our mind to become peaceful we shall be happy at any time, even under the most adverse conditions. There fore it is important to train our mind through meditation.”

Meditation can be practiced in many ways to develop the mind and to have the mind relax and become calm. We see in the West today many people who practice meditation by themselves through reading books, without supervision, teachers, guides or experienced friends to help them.

However, it is beneficial to have a trained meditation teacher to guide you in the correct way of practice. In short, meditation is the way to purify the mind from hatred (Dosa), greed, (lobha) and ignorance,(moha). So we can cultivate mindfulness and awareness to see things as they really are. The way things are impermanent (aniccam) hard to maintain from suffering (dukkha) and out of control, non-self or selflessness (anattã)

It is very useful and wonderful to learn, to study and practice meditation because living without meditation is very dangerous, it is like driving a car without a road map and with no direction. Living with meditation is just the opposite, providing all the tools you need to get to your destination.Why should we train our minds? The mind is of primary importance, the most important element in human life. All deeds, wholesome or unwholesome, are the result of mental processes. In the DHAMMAPÃDA the Buddha said, “Mind is the forerunner of all action, mind is chief; mind made are they. If one speaks or acts with an evil mind, suffering follows him/her, even as the wheel of the cart” “Mind is the forerunner of all actions, mind is chief, mind made are they. If one speaks or acts with a wholesome mind happiness follows him/her, even as his (her) own shadow.”

(Manopubbam gamã dhammã, manosetthã manomayã, manasã ce padtuthena bhãsati vã karoti vã. tato nam dukkhamanaveti, cakkam va vahato padam “…..manasa ce pasannena pãsati vã karoti vã tato nam sukkhamanveti chayava anupãyini.)

Why should we meditate?Mind is by nature originally pure. Great extensive spiritual power is all complete within the mind. You may ask yourself what you want to have in your life. The answer would likely be peace and real happiness because what the mind wants is peace and real happiness.

How can we reach that stage where we will have a peaceful mind and happiness. The answer is through the practice of meditation. This is the tool that helps us train our mind to become peaceful, calm, bright, and pure. With a peaceful and pure mind we will be able to experience real happiness and the highest wisdom in life.

Find a quiet, clean, and neat place then sit down in the evening may be after dinner. You may sit on the cushion or pillow or on a chair as you need. Sit straight, put your hands on your lap, close your eyes firmly, pay attention on your nostrils for a moment and aware of abdomen rising and falling aware of the moment you are breathing in and breathing out. Then direct your attention your mind down to abdomen focus your mind on the abdomen you will see it moving in and out. Keep your attention on that spot, one by one, step by step, for ten minutes, fifteen minutes or twenty minutes before going to bed everyday. By this way you may be able to see what you need in your life.

The benefits of meditation practice

Meditation helps training and refining the mind, it helps the person who engages in meditation practice to concentrate and to be mindful in daily activities. Everyone benefits from this training. For example, student needs concentration while doing homework assignments. Administrators need concentration, and a clear mind while running their offices. Parents need concentration, a clear mind while doing their work at home, to conduct family life in a calm and peaceful way.

Meditation helps everyone at all times to live and work effectively and successfully. Everyone wants to be happy in life. The way to lead oneself to real happiness and have a peaceful life may be different, but without a peaceful, calm and clear mind, real happiness cannot be realized. Meditation can help in this regard. The Exalted One, the Buddha said “The peaceful mind excels all other happiness.”(natthi santi param sukkham)

Meditation can be practiced correctly or incorrectly. When practicing meditation in the proper manner, it will be beneficial to meditation practitioners as follows.

Meditation gives us a clear mind and clear comprehension to carry out duties in daily life in a peaceful way, without conflict in the family, at school or in the work place. Meditation helps us to maintain physical health and mental clarity with equanimity.

Meditation enables us to face all kinds of problems and difficulties in our daily life.

Therefore, if we follow the way by avoiding bad deeds, perform only good deeds, and purify our minds from its impurities, we can reach the goal of life, the perfect peace, real happiness. This is the way to achieve world peace, peace for all living beings.

May kindness, universal compassion, righteousness, truthfulness, and sincerity be cultivated in the minds of human-kinds.

May right thought, right effort, right livelihood and right action be cultivated in the minds of human-beings.

Suggestion:

May I be free from enmities.

May I be free from ill treatment.

May I be free from troubles.

May I be free from suffering.

May I be happy.

May all living beings be free from enmity.

May all living beings be free from ill treatment.

May all living beings be free from troubles.

May all living beings be free from suffering.

May all living beings protect their own happiness.

May peace prevail on earth and may all living beings be happy.

Open for the questions from the floor and answers Ven. Chuen Phangcham, Ph.D.

–]—

About the Author

Venerable Dr. Chuen Phangcham was born in 1942, (2485 BE)

He was ordained as a Novice in 1961, and has been ordained as Buddhist Monk in 1963 with Achahn Kruang Subhaddo as Upajja, spiritual teacher, Wat Srakamphaengyai, Uthu,phornphisai, Srisaks Province, Thailand. Ven. Dr. Phangcham came to Wat Paknam Bhasricharoen, Bangkok, Thailand in late 1963; he was admitted to stay and study in Wat Paknam Bhasricharoen by the present Abbot, His Highness, the Somsej Phramaharajjamongkalajarn. While he studies at Mahachulalongkorn Buddhist University, in summer, he was sent to the Northern Province a leader of Buddhist Monks group to teach tribal people in “Tribal Training Center”, Mae Sai District, Chiangrai Province, Thailand, in 1974, under the sponsorship of Public Welfare Department of Ministry of Interior. Achahn Dr. Phangcham earned his “Teacher Certificate” from Ministry of Education, and B.A. in Education from Mahachulalongkorn Buddhist University, Wat Mahathat, and Bangkok, Thailand in 1976. He served as a teacher of Moral Education Training Project of the country for three years in Srisakes Province, Thailand.

Achahn Dr. Phangcham was sponsored a scholarship for his Master Degree by public contribution donated by those who listening to his talks from Radio program, Srisakes Province, to study in Delhi University. The His Highness, Somdej Phramaharajjamangkalajarn, sponsored him to continue his Master of Philosophy, and Ph.D. Degree, in the same University. Therefore, Ven. Dr. Phangcham earned his three Degrees from Delhi University, in 1980, 1982, and 1986, respectively.

Achahn Phangcham came to Chicago in 1986 (July 18, 1986) under the invitation of Vipassana Meditation Center of Chicago, the Thai Buddhist Temple, and served as a chair of External Affair Division of the Temple, he also served as Vipassana Meditation Teacher for ten years. He is volunteer worker teaching meditation instruction and practice in the prisons in the Midwest States areas.

Achahn Phangcham is a member of NCCJ and “Council for a Parliament of World Religions” CPWR. He joins hands and participates in interfaith activities in the Midwest Areas. He was a President of the Buddhist Council of the Midwest for four years (two terms). Achahn Phangcham participated in Parliament of the World Religions in 1993, in Chicago, 1999 in Cape Town, South Africa, and 2004 in Barcelona, Spain, as presenter and members of CPWR. He is now working with “In The Light” in Detroit. Achahn Phangcham regularly gives Dhamma talks in High Schools, Colleges, and University Campuses. Achahn Phangcham gives meditation instruction and practice at Windsor University Meditation Group, Amherst burg Meditation Group, Ontario, and every week.MBMC

The Midwest Buddhist Meditation Center, MBMC, Buddha Vihara provides meditation instruction and practices, Buddhist reading materials, religious ceremonies, eastern cultural studies. MBMC serves as Buddhist resources center, Achahn Phangcham serves as a Buddhist resources man power in the USA.

Meditation instruction is given by Achahn Phangcham on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 6:00 – 7:30 P.M. at the Center. MBMC is opened for the public seven days a week from 6:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.Daily schedule:

Morning chanting and meditation at 6:00 A.M. to 7:00 A.M.

Evening chanting and meditation at 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.

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Web. www.mbmcmichigan.org