Sangha Walks: Advice to Americans in Buddhist Robes (USA Sangha Commentary) - Softcover

Bhikshuni, Ven Hong Yang

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1490469354 ISBN 13: 9781490469355

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013

Synopsis

Western Buddhists in robes are facing some of the most challenging choices and some of the most ancient of choices. The most ancient of choices is to know our Buddhist history regarding Vinaya and why each one came about and the blending of them into our daily life. 

• The most challenging choices are those presented to us as a result of our modern developments in life and communications in social media and internet.The biggest problem created by temples who have policies banning the Sangha from access to or the knowledge of Buddha dharma. It is now available in all traditions and in many languages. 

The ability to study materials is now made available globally because of the internet and because of interested Buddhists around the world are funding that effort. Having a closed mind regarding this may lead to closed doors later when the younger generations and those with open minds regarding technology use refuse to reside in backward Sanghas.

• Sangha in the USA in various robes are made of diverse adults from all countries with hopefully years of life experiences to contribute to the stability of the Sangha in the USA, and enrich their local Buddhist communities. 

Virtual Sanghas have sprung up but they need qualified and interested elders input. They lack information or understanding of how important it is to keep an online presence to appeal to the present generations that use it heavily. It's not impossible to get the 60+ crowd online. I strongly encourage elderly in the Sangha to do it, it can save people and save time.

• Sangha Walks is meant to open the doors to the possibilities of finding support around you or from afar and to encourage you to engage other Sangha in conversation regarding your living situation. You should be doing so as per Vinaya instructions, it makes your life as a Bhikshu or a Bhikshuni much easier and you may feel supported at least from a distance and that other people care to be involved in your life even in solitary living. 

I am suggesting centers, temples, and monasteries start adding positive not restrictive guidelines regarding social media use while in robes and when visiting Sangha online. After all we are not children needing to be forbidden access because of irresponsible behavior all of us are adults and should be treated as such. 

• I also strongly encourage you to make the effort to reach out to various traditions resident Sangha within the USA. The majority of temples are small often with numbers of less than 4 Sangha residents. They deserve full support for Pratimoksa recitations. This would be good project for those with larger Bhikshuni communities to reach out to solitary and smaller communities. 

I've not heard it done much or spoken about by Western people in robes.The parajikas are discussed according to the Bhikshuni Pratimoksa specifically the Dharmagupta lineage. 

• Real examples in Facebook, blogs, websites, and chat sessions are shared. Sangha from various traditions have added comments and teachings for Sangha who are interested. 

This text is written for Sangha but the public will gain a better understanding of Buddhist culture and all it's complexities when we communicate among ourselves. The public may gain a better sense of history, improve their behavior towards online Sangha and develop and interest that would lead them to study and exploration of Buddha dharma.

• Please only Sangha are asked to comment, be respectful of the dharma text and in your words about it.Remember, there is no code of silence taught in Buddhism regarding Sangha and the local and national laws, we do not dummy up nor do we conceal.

About this title

About the Author:

Ven. Hong Yang, MA  She is a Western Bhikshuni trained in the Mahayana Chinese Buddhist tradition in a Chinese temple in NYC after responding to the request for volunteers to counsel the victims of the 9/11 attack along with the temple.  Ordained in a Triple Platform Ordination at Yuan Heng Monastery in 2004 as a Bhikshuni.  She is translator of the Taisho Edition of the Mahayana Chinese Tripitaka. Abbess of Calm Clarity and the founder of Bhikshuni and Buddhafolk both with the mission of promoting awareness of the proper 2-part Sangha in the USA, largely being the Chinese Sangha as the founders and defining Buddhist America in the USA for 164 years in 2016.

About this edition

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1490469354
• ISBN 13: 9781490469355
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 280