Why is important to get non-Chinese students

People

I need to write a news article on the importance of translation and the importance of getting non-Chinese students...

I need some ideas...

I know that buddhism is all about compassion and wisdom....but I want some convicing points....

Mimosa

i tend to think that all discrimination and exclusion are the follies of humankind.

if anyone makes any discrimination, it is because they are human. Universal ccompassion knows no boundary and it is the nature of such compassion that walls of discimination can be dismantled.

my humble opinion

Just some rough pointers:

GM's vow is to liberate ALL sentient beings, not to leave out anyone. Consider then:

1) the ratio of English speaking to Chinese speaking residents of the world population. (Unfortunately I do not have the exact data.)

2) who is to say that we will not be reborn into an English speaking family in our future incarnations? Would you want to be robbed of the chance to practise Buddhism then?

3) the moral corrosion of the Western society. Westerners are becoming looser in their moral values due to lack of strict moral guidelines. (just my opinion)

4) to provide more choice and option to a Westerner seeking out religion. More often than not, the only option really opened to them is Christianity but when it fails to answer certain questions in life, they seek out other religions only to be faced with language barriers.

5) in the spiritual realm, language is never a barrier for spiritual beings can still communicated with each other even if their hearts speak different languages. Then why should language be a barrier in this physical world? It is merely a matter of establishing precedents and encouraging widespread usage of different languages to propagate Buddhism.

6) Wisdom and the truth as expounded in Buddhism can and should be told in all languages. Each and every language possesses the ability to convey wisdom and truth, as wisdom and truth is universal.

7) Buddhism should be promoted as a universal religion. Without propagation in other languages, Buddhism will always be restricted by language, culture and region. Religion, especially one as profound as Buddhism, has got nothing to do with language, culture or region.

8) Buddhism originated from India where Shakyamuni Buddha spoke in his native tongue of Pali and Sanskrit, yet his teachings have been successfully translated into Chinese. This means that the Buddhadharma can and should be translated into English or any other language successfully, with the effort and cooperation from all sectors responsible.

Amitofo

#Buddhism originated from India where Shakyamuni Buddha #spoke in his native tongue of Pali and Sanskrit, yet his #teachings have been successfully translated into

you have listed some convincing points, no wonder you were a lawyer.

good...you all gave me a good idea....now I need to gather all the thoughts..

Mimosa

# Many individuals may reject Lamahood because they are #required to learn Chinese.  How will that help newcomers #who are English/other if things are still taught this way.

I guess that it is better that you understand Chinese so you dont need to relay on translators.

However, to master a language is not an easy task. When I say "master" I meant the  newspaper level  proficiency.
You need to know not just religion, but politics, nature, society, entertainment ...like any highly educated English speakers. That will take couple of years of hardwork. Meanwhile, it is still good to learn another language. It will be fun and help you to understand another culture :-) But, it should not be mandatory. Not everyone is interested in language.

I know some non-Japanese masters in the Japanese esoteric schools, it is not required for them to learn Japanese. Language is good to acquire, but not mandatory.

If necessary, everyone should learn English :-) That is the uiniversal language :-) speaking of which, anyone knows that  Tibetan lamas start to learn English since little? I heard about it...

I need to collect some facts too to show TBS is far behind.


Mimosa

Now, I have similar question

how do I rebuke question like "we are not ready yet, it is next generation's job"

I heard that a lot..I hate it...

Mimosa

"Now, I have similar question

how do I rebuke question like "we are not ready yet, it is next generation's job"

I heard that a lot..I hate it."
______________________________________________

Personally, I believe that the reason why we need more English speaking students is because the True Buddha Foundation needs to broaden it's ethnic horizons.

If the buddhist beliefs are confined to souly a few languages, and not offered in others, how else are we supposed to preach the Buddha Dharma? Wasn't it GM himself that preaches to spread the Buddha Dharma? Would we not be going against these principles  by witholding such knowledge and truths to other ethnic, ages, different speaking people. Those of whom we are supposed to consider our own dharma brothers, and sisters?

Could the youngsters of today such like myself make the same mistake?

One thing I'd like to ask, is ; Will history repeat itself? Will myself or my children one day just turn a cheek and say 'let them handle it?'. The sooner the Dharma spreads to a multi-lingual structure, the sooner it will be that people can grasp these teachings,  apply them to their daily lives. Even though these teachings may not pursuade them in their ways, we do know that they are aware of it.

We can only show them the door, yet they must walk through it.

"The fear of loss, is greater than the want to gain"

At this moment, picture yourself without the guidance of True Buddha School and GM. Where would you be? What would you be doing? How would you deal with a great loss?
I speak to those whom have been through great ordeals and happenings during their lifetime, there are those (in great numbers) whom have turned to their shrine, their beliefs, something to hold on to, a belief that will guide them, almost much like stepping stones over the turbulous river. For those who read this currently, would understand from which standpoint I reside upon.

Why not give a chance to those who do not yet know of the True Buddha Dharma, to go through life applying  these teachings, purhaps, as we hope  , the most gratifying part teach and inform others, through ways of the Buddha Dharma.

I believe that it is extremely important to get non-chinese students, because, how else is the buddha dharma supposed to spread? How are we supposed to learn? How am I supposed to learn?

-Raffinée

"If u never mix, you never get a better solution ~Jeff Bourgeois"

Re rebuttal for the argument:

#how do I rebuke question like "we are not ready yet, it is next generation's job"#

1) It may or may not be true to state that propagation of Buddhism to the Western society lies in the next generation. By saying so, one is procrastinating the duty in order to pass the pie to the next one in line. Who is to say that the next one in line won't do the same thing and pass it down further? Unless there is a concrete prophecy (like the one by Padmasambhava when he said that Tantrayana will one day flourish in the West when the metal bird takes to the sky) or decree by GM himself, it is foolish to assume that the next generation will gladly take up the duty to spread Buddhism in English and for that matter any other languages.

2) Speaking about the prophecy by Padmasambhava, isn't it then the right time to spread Buddhism to the West, considering that the metal bird has taken to the sky (since 1911 by the Wright Brothers) and even further beyond into space and other planets?

3) Even if the assumption is true, important groundwork must be laid in the current generation, when GM is still in his flesh so that direct guidance can be had if and when needed. Progress can only be made when there is a solid foundation upon which to work on. Tantrayana did not flourish in Tibet nor in any other parts of the world overnight. If we look into the history of Tibet, while Padmasambhava can be singled out as the guru that contributed much to the propagation of Buddhism in Tibet, had it not been for the invitation of the Tibetan King (I do not know how to spell his name in English. The more reason for translation!! ::)) and the recommendation by the monk (again, the Chinese name I know, but not English) propagating Buddhism in Tibet at that time to lay the groundwork for the great guru to arrive, Tibet would probably still have the Bon religion as its national religion.  

The bottom of the fact is, solid groundwork must be laid at the present moment for future generations to work on, if it ever happens. And such responsibility is in our hands, under the direct guidance of GM and the first generation TBF masters. If we miss out on this opportunity or pass the bucket, it will not be farfetched to predict that the so-called future generations will definitely have a more difficult time to spread the dharma to non-Chinese societies, and we, as the first generation disciples, will have to face the karma of hindrance of dharma!

Just my personal ramblings.

Amitofo

#People may not be "ready" now, but it won't be easier later #if people are ready but the source (and people who knew #the source) is gone.

yes, ready? who is there to say? this is the best time. GM is here, many masters are around. Next generation? what if GM has already entered nirvana? what would the translators do if they have questions?


Mimosa

PS: is the forum getting slow? I may need to move it to the new server..

#and we, as the first generation disciples, will have to face #the karma of hindrance of dharma!

I like this comment the most!

Maybe Wilhall can write the paper.... you are so good. Is your brain on sale?  :o

Mimosa

Non-Chinese disciples can be the future doorway to
enlightenment for non-Chinese community.

Non-Chinese disciples may also be Bodhisattvas who
have returned to the Samsara World to lead more
Sentient Beings to Buddhahood.

It is very important to help the non-Chinese disciples
to find their way along the path of Cultivation.