Working toward nirvana
By Daily Bruin Staff
April 10, 1997 9:00 p.m.
Friday, 4/11/97
Working toward nirvana
Buddhist group an outlet for those in search of spirituality
By Judy Cha
Daily Bruin Contributor
At a downtown Santa Monica gathering, both young and old rub
instruments of faith in their hands to transform their desires into
something greater – happiness.
Their left hands represent delusion. Their right hands stand for
enlightenment. Rubbing rosaries between the two closes the gap,
bringing the separate worlds together to reach wisdom.
They chant in unison the title of the lotus sutra, the most
popular title of Buddhist teaching. An occasional gong sounds. The
rapid, monotone humming reverberates, bouncing off the walls.
The congregation of Buddhists at the Soka Gakkai
International-USA temple meets for a Saturday morning service.
Temple-hopping during the first weekend of Spring Quarter begins
an eventful nine weeks for the Buddhist Student Association (BSA)
at UCLA. This group tries to convey the basics of Buddhism by
bringing in speakers and planning activities for students seeking
spirituality, or those merely curious.
According to co-chairs Daisy Wang and Sam Lu, BSA is a
nonsectarian club open to all adherents of Buddhism.
"We’re here to have fun, to answer questions about Buddhism and
to provide an environment in which Buddhist studies and ideals may
flourish and grow," explained Lu, a second-year psychology
student.
A night spent playing mahjong, a Chinese game using tiles like
dominoes, creates a friendly setting that invites members to share
Buddhist philosophies, Lu said.
Lu’s friend Jeremy Afuso, a second-year anthropology student
interested in Buddhism, participates in BSA activities just to show
moral support. He wants to become a more active member in order to
learn more about Buddhism.
In contrast, BSA is a place to hang out for Edward Chen, a
fourth-year biology student.
BSA has helped Wang, a third-year economics student, strengthen
her belief in Buddhism.
Although Wang explained that Buddhism is an open-ended religion
that effects different people in different ways, its believers
strive to achieve two main things: wisdom and compassion.
Buddhism is not only a thought in the back of your head that
reminds you to do 10 good things a day, Lu said. It is a way of
living that reveals the true significance of things. Buddhism’s
belief in the interdependence of people, plants and animals creates
a connection that elicits compassion and contentment.
"Sometimes I’ll be walking across campus and when the wind blows
through the trees, you get to know what life really is – a feeling
of serenity and peace," Lu said.
For Lu and Wang, belief in Buddhism has shaped them in different
ways, and BSA provides another channel to further their growth.
"The club is an outlet for me, an opportunity to learn things
about myself in a spiritual sense," Lu said.
"Meeting people gives me insight to see the way people think
about life."
Wang explained that thought-provoking lectures and activities
aid in deepening her cultivation.
As a result of becoming a Buddhist, Wang feels calmer, lives a
more fulfilled life, and has become a vegetarian.
"If I have a really bad day, I’ll think that nothing is
permanent. It’ll get worse or it’ll get better," Wang said,
explaining her new philosophy of life.
Lu found that Buddhism ameliorated some of the problems in his
life.
"I used to have the shortest temper, I used to be very angry,"
said Lu, "Buddhism preaches a compassion that teaches us not to be
so attached to things."
Lu recalls what a reverend said. "’One time my car got stolen,
and instead of getting angry, I think that perhaps he needed it
more than I do.’"
This statement encouraged Lu to view reality in a fresh way. The
world became a less oppressive place to live because there were
more ways to be happy.
Buddhism preaches that perfect peace and happiness, called
nirvana, sits atop an icy mountain. Buddhists believe that
suffering is part of living. Only by detaching oneself from worldly
things can nirvana be attained.
Wang believes that Buddhists try to break away from the
universal cycle of life and death in order to reach nirvana.
The supreme example and founder of this way of life was the
historical figure Buddha. He taught that life is a continuing cycle
of death and rebirth. How well a person behaved in past lives
determines his or her well-being in present life.
"You try to see your dark side, to cultivate it, and deal with
it better," Wang explained.
Scholars still debate about classifying Buddhism as a
philosophy, a way of life, or a religion, Wang said. "The goal is
not to become a Buddha but to lead a good, secular life."
With about 15 to 20 active members, BSA is the only campus group
that focuses on Buddhism.
Although not many students know about BSA, its membership has
slowly increased since it was founded seven years ago, according to
Lu.
"I think the club is a beginning. It’s really important to the
campus, and I’d hate to see what would happen if we lost it," Lu
said.Photos by INGA DOROSZ
(top) BSA members visit the national headquarters of Soka Gakkai
International-USA on Wilshire Boulevard.
(above) Daisy Wang (r), a third-year economics student, and Huei
Hsuen, (l) a UC Berkeley theology graduate student, pray at the
Westside chapter of Soka Gakkai International-USA.
INGA DOROSZ
Daisy Wang (r), a third year economics major and Buddhist
Student Association co-chair, and Huei Hsuen (l), a UC Berkeley
theology graduate, pray at the Westside chapter of Soka Gakkai
International.
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