Radio Interview: How to Resolve Conflicts-- From the Personal to the Global

From the Gaza War to dirty politics, from who is supposed to do the laundry at home to arguments in our heads, conflicts are rampant around the world, in our nation, and within ourselves. Is it possible to completely cease fighting at all those levels? Where do we begin? And how do we stop fighting for the time being and on an enduring basis? On August 16th’s Voices of Diversity, Reverend Cheen and guests Walter Edwards of Leading Change Company and Ilene Stark of Just Options Mediation talked about how to resolve conflicts, from the personal to the global. Listen to the audio here:
http://bellevuecollege.edu/kbcs/downloads/VOD/VOD_20090812.mp3

This is part one of a two part series on the issue of conflict.

Coming up September 16th. . . Listen live on http://kbcs.fm/site/PageServer or KBCS 91.3 FM Seattle/Bellevue! Reverend Cheen will interview Venerable Thubten Chodron, Eric Svaren of Smithgroup. Inc., and Dr. Joel Levey of InnerWork Technologies, Inc. on the topic of conflicts and conflict resolution.

Sounds of Silence: A Meditative Tool

Meditative stages of listening 1: Where is the true mind?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5cCUDdwK0I

The "sound of silence" is not an oxymoron; it is an actual high-pitched sound that can be heard relatively easily when we quiet down. In this extemporaneous response to a question about the stages of listening as a practice according to the Shurangama Sutra, Reverend Cheen elaborates on the stages of emptying the sounds of movement and stillness, emptying the sense faculty, emptying the awareness, and emptying emptiness.

Meditative stages of listening 2: Emotions and I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXv0-pLYBd0

In the face of sensations, feelings and thoughts, including that of love and empathy, we continue to listen. Awareness helps us understand the fleeting nature of these things. Furthermore, we ask ourselves, "Who is agitated?" "Who is restless?" etc. as a way to deconstruct the "I".

Meditative stages of listening 3: Emptying Emptiness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWjb1RVgKi8

From the objects of sound (including sounds of movement and sounds of stillness, or "sound of silence"), to listening and realizing the nature of emptiness with regard to hearing, the sense faculty, the awareness (that of the self), and emptiness itself. Finally, how does the final stage, empty out emptiness (extinction), work? According to the Buddhist text, the Shurangama Sutra, it's possible through diligent and focused practice.

Meditative stages of listening 4: An Analogy Using Numbers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IroSs-7T7cY

The latter stages of listening are more difficult to explain with words. Here is a partial and extemporaneous response using numbers. Paralleling: infinity to myriad objects of sound, feelings, sensations, 1 to the single object of meditation, 0 to the emptying of the sense faculty or the self, and the zero set of 0 to the emptying of the objects and the subject that is aware.

For a copy of a more comprehensive paper on this topic, please contact Reverend Cheen: thecompassionnetwork@gmail.com

Meditation & the Brain: Everlasting Happiness

Aren't we really voluntarily shutting off our left brain by meditating? There's the joy we can access anywhere and any time.

For a complete talk of Jill Bolte Taylor on at TED, watch this:
http://video.ted.com/talks/podcast/JillBolteTaylor_2008_480.mp4

There is more beyond being in a state of oblivion for oneself though. Here's more in a video:

The "sound of silence" is NOT an oxymoron; it is an actual high-pitched sound that can be heard relatively easily when we quiet down. In this extemporaneous response to a question about the stages of listening as a practice according to the Shurangama Sutra, Reverend Cheen elaborates on the stages of emptying the sounds of movement and stillness, emptying the sense faculty, emptying the awareness, and emptying emptiness.

In the meditation practice of listening to the sound of silence, several stages come after listening to the sound of silence, according to the Shurangama Sutra. Here the stage of emptiness is being explained with the parallel and metaphor of numbers, zero, and empty sets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF7wwRs1dAQ

Some Stories

http://www.helpothers.org/story.php?sid=14389
http://www.helpothers.org/story.php?sid=13555
http://www.helpothers.org/story.php?sid=6842

Disastrous Flood in Taiwan

Help if you can!



More clip from BBC news on washed away buildings. More news on this flood can be found by googling.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8194053.stm

What the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation is doing to provide relief, as they do internationally. You can also help by contributing to the foundation. Let me know if you have any questions.
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-312575

Meditation, Lotus Sutra Studies Every Evening

Every evening by the tranquil view of the Sound, learn the “sound of silence” and other forms of meditation to manage stress, restore wellness, and actualize potentials. An ordained Buddhist nun leads the guided meditation sessions.

Study, discuss and apply ancient wisdom of the Buddha in one of the key and most beautiful Buddhist texts, the Lotus Sutra. It is about every being’s inherent lotus. Learn how touching that gentleness, purity and delight within is possible anywhere, any time.Come for a portion or the entire evening.

A ceremony begins at 5 p.m.

The guided meditation begins at 6 p.m.

And the lecture goes from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The Buddhist Learning Center is located on 28621 Pacific Hwy., Federal Way. Make a U-turn if you are heading northbound. Ring the door bell to join us in the small shrine room.

Everyone is welcome. Donation is appreciated.

For more information, please contact Reverend Cheen at: thecompassionnetwork@gmail.com; 253.568.7473.

Parliament of World's Religions December 3 to 9, 2009

http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/

First held in Chicago in 1893, the Parliament of the World’s Religions brings together the world’s religious and spiritual communities, their leaders and their followers to a gathering where peace, diversity and sustainability are discussed and explored in the context of interreligious understanding and cooperation. As the world’s largest interreligious gathering, the Parliament will:

* Convene religious and civil leaders and people of faith, spirit and goodwill from at least or more than 80 countries
* Foster interreligious, civil and cross-cultural dialogue on important local, national, and global issues
* Invite over 10,000 participants to work together for a just, peaceful, and harmonious society
* Have global appeal, covering social concerns including understanding and respecting diversity, peace and Indigenous reconciliation
* Engage worldwide religious, spiritual, secular, environmental, business and educational leaders to seek commitment and practical solutions through dialogue.
* Promote and encourage social cohesion within societies locally and across the world.

Interfaith Leadership Summit

Open Space Sessions
http://my.compassionateactionnetwork.com/group/nicocan/forum/topics/1010-open-space-topics-and

Sound of Silence: A Meditative Tool
http://my.compassionateactionnetwork.com/photo/photo/listForContributor?screenName=33br9q21xgmpv

Did an interview with Rabbi Ted Falcon and Sheikh Jamal Rahman (http://www.interfaithamigos.com/Welcome.html) for One World Report of KBCS 91.3 FM.
Waiting for the airing of the clip. . . maybe.