DHARMA GOES WEST

An interview with Master Tongzhi,abbot of Dongchan Temple in, York

對話紐約東禪寺主持通智法師

HOW DID YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THE US?

I studied Mahayana Buddhism at The Buddhist Academy of China, and when I graduated in 1994 I had the chance to be officially sent abroad by the government to further my studies. But, the only obstacle was the funding, which I had to raise myself. As a young and inexperienced monk with limited resources, I wrote to Master Sheng Yen for help （Master Sheng Yen first joined the Nationalist Army in 1949 and retreated to Taiwan, where he was re-ordained later and became the founder of the Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education）. Immediately, he agreed to support me. So, in 1995, I attended the University of Kelaniya in Sri Lanka to explore Theravada Buddhism. I was faced with many choices after I completed my studies five years later. But I was soon introduced to Master Hao Lin, Vice-President of World Buddhist Association in the US who hoped to pass the Dharma to me. That’s how I ended up in the US.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR TEMPLE.

Dongchan Temple, or the Eastern Buddhist Association, was founded in 1972 and is currently located at 83 Division Street in Manhattan’s Chinatown. We practice both Chan and Pure Land Buddhism, following the teachings of Bodhisattva Maitreya. I teach the scripture every Sunday here and at Dharma World every Saturday, which is our newly opened monastery in Flushing, New York. We hold events throughout the year.

WHO ARE YOUR FOLLOWERS?

Most of them are from the local Chinese community, but there are also American followers. They are all kinds of people—from accountants to police detectives. For a year, we even housed an ordained monk who is a native New Jersey resident. We also teach student groups and summer camps.

WHAT IS THEIR FAVORITE SUBJECT?

Many followers enjoy Chan, specifically,“seated meditation” quite a lot. I think it’sbecause of the stress many of them experience in life. I saw people lose jobs during the economic crisis who still had to pay for heavy mortgages; some ended up losing their houses altogether. Many have a hard time accepting the reality. I even came across people who go out every morning with their suitcases and laptops as if they still have a job, only to spend the day sitting on a park bench. The pressure has seriously affected their mental state. Practicing seated meditation, on the other hand, has the effect of clearing one’s mind and relieves stress to a certain degree.

DO YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF YOUR TEACHING?

After the painful tragedy of 9/11, many of those affected had an extremely difficult time reconciling what had happened to their family and friends. They were obsessed with the question of why. When they turned to me for answers, I would tell them the concept of rebirth and karma. I would explain that there is the past life, the present life, and the future life, just like what we all experience with yesterday, today and tomorrow—only with the concept of time stretched. Individual experience is an ever extending process. All religions encourage people to do good and avoid evil. Buddhism emphasizes the importance of “purifying your mind”. There’s no ulterior higher power that can save you if you don’t take the matter in hand. Ultimately, it comes down to your mind and intentions when carrying out affairs. Treat the world with good intentions and the world will reciprocate. Furthermore, people need to always take responsibility for their deeds. We may be blinded as to what we have done in a previous life, but what happens to us in this life is a clue. When bad things happen, we have to face them, but not obsess over them or be constrained by them. Rather, we should treat them as a warning and a test for us to thrive in the future. In this sense, never struggle with your past; thinking about which path to take in the future is the only thing that matters.

IS THE CULTURAL DIFFERENCE IMPORTANT FOR WESTERN FOLLOWERS?

God is certainly an important cultural and religious concept here. People are used to understanding the world in terms of its being created and decided by God. I guess with Buddhism, we are trying to help people discover the importance of their own will. They have to improve themselves internally to initiate change, to be more tolerant and kind to people around them. As to Chan, our teaching begins with its basic concepts, which is a status of freedom, of being unrestrained. All trouble rises from restraint, which can only be changed through a new view of the world. As the Diamond Sutra states: “All composite things are like a dream, a phantasm, a bubble, and a shadow, like a dew-drop and a flash of lightning; they are thus to be regarded.” One shouldn’t be bound by questions such as who they are, because they themselves are ever-changing. In terms of the pursuit of happiness, the happiness of nirvana is the true, eternal happiness, while other worldly enjoyments will inevitably end.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT TIBETAN BUDDHISM BEING MORE POPULAR THAN MAHAYANA BUDDHISM?

More Tibetan monks speaking English is certainly a contributing factor, and Esoteric Buddhism or the “Secret Mantra” attracts many because of its mysterious quality. But all branches of Buddhism were passed down by the Buddha based on the different nature and disposition of all living creatures. Following any given specific branch is not important, as long as them carrying us to the land of the Buddha. However, I have witnessed from time to time that following Tibetan Buddhism has become a fad. There are many who don’t speak a word of Tibetan, let alone able to pronounce the name of their masters, yet still call themselves“followers of the Secret Mantra”. If they cannot communicate with their masters, the relationship between the teacher and the disciple does not exist, which, strictly speaking, is a violation of Buddhist discipline. It’s all down to a clear understanding of the concept of master and student.

WHAT’S YOUR VIEW ON BUDDHISM ON THE CHINESE MAINLAND?

I regretfully believe that the function of many religious venues has been seriously distorted. What should be a holy ground for practicing and purifying minds has been corrupted by commercial activities. Many temples are contracted to realestate bosses as tools for making money. Many cases also call into question the qualifications of certain monks. Some local governments tend to appoint obedient individuals as abbots instead of truly accomplished masters. It eventually minimizes the positive influence Buddhism can have on society as a whole. On the other hand, the media, who live on the strange and the negative, is already spreading bad news about temples and monks in China. What they have done is plant very serious karma for the future. I do hope the government can take responsibility to restore the temples to their original purpose, and the Buddhists should self-regulate to build a better community. – LIU JUE （劉玨）