Inside the Classroom

Because I know you are all dying to know, I thought I'd give you a sneak peak into the classroom of my Buddhist studies course. It's actually fascinating! Please enjoy this picture.

Traditional Monastic Studies:

Let me first describe the classroom. It is a rectangular shaped room on one of the upper levels of the monastery. Windows line the 2 longer sides. We occasionally have a nice, cool breeze and sometimes the fan runs when electricity is available. The room is headed by a small throne (don't think of a European throne but instead think of an elevated seat covered in tapestry). Behind the throne is a large thangka, which is a painting of the Buddha and various other Buddhist entities and nature scenes. Rather than chairs and desks, we sit on rows of cushions behind small bench-like tables. These tables come to about mid-calf when standing. Trust me - the novelty of sitting on cushions is quickly fading as my bum and lower back scream rejection!

Beginning at 0800, we receive Buddhist instruction in the style of any monk. The students are expected to arrive to class before the teacher (a Buddhist monk accompanied by an English translator). Arriving late is disrespectful. When the monk enters the class room, all stand. He immediately prostrates himself in devotion to the teaching, I am assuming. As he passes, the students bow their heads in respect. Before he takes his seat, students practicing Buddhism also do the prostrations. Once the monk sits, all have permission to sit. He then leads the class in a chant.

Our monk looks very young, but he is probably much older. We've been told he is of high intelligence, which I do not doubt. He is soft-spoken and unobtrusive in every way. Yet, in the 2 days that we've had class, we've seen him crack a smile once or twice! The instruction he gives is of great importance simply because he is passing knowledge. Teachers and the teaching are given the highest respect not only in Buddhist tradition, but Asian.

The monastic style of teaching is completely foreign to me. It is very slow and repetitive to the point of redundancy. It is also quite basic. The assumption is always made that nothing is known or understood. Questions may not be asked during periods of instruction until the end. What I do appreciate and find quite valuable is the use of analogies. After each teaching or sharing of knowledge, the monk offers an analogy. Not all of the analogies make sense to a western mind, but most do. I find them interesting and a rather effective means of teaching.

This period of instruction lasts for 90 minutes and ends with a final chant to dedicate the merit of the teaching.

Meditation Hour:

After a 15 minute break, we begin a session of meditation. This class also begins and ends with a chant. Right now, we're learning posture. I can honestly say that it's not the most comfortable experience, but I certainly expect to gain better posture from this class! There are 7 points to our posture:

1. Lotus posture - legs loosely crossed with feet resting on top of the thighs. I haven't graduated to the feet on top, so I just sit Indian-style.
2. Hands rest palms down on knees or rest right over left with palms up in the lap
3. Back straight
4. Shoulders straight and pulled back
5. Chin slightly tucked
6. Tongue touching the roof of the mouth
7. Eyes gazing downward (direction of the nose)

At this early stage of learning, we sit in this posture for 15 minutes, then stretch. Then, after brief commentary, we do it again for 15+ minutes. It is perhaps the longest 15 minutes EVER! However, today was much better than yesterday as I learned a trick with my cushion that eases the (mild) pain in my hips and lower back.

Anyway, the point of this meditation is to still the body in order to still the mind. We'll learn different meditation techniques over the next few weeks. I spend the time praying over each of the students in the class and singing praise to God (in my head, of course!). The instructor teaches the need to "give up" conceptual thought in order to attain enlightenment. However, this doesn't match my theology of keeping my mind focused and fixed on the things of God. I'm committed to do just that and to pray for every student and each professor during our meditation hour.

Philosophy Class:

The final 90 minutes of our course are spent with a western professor discussing the historicity of Buddhism from its origin to the various traditions that have evolved over the millennia. This is a much more informal class taught in the western form that I am most familiar (and comfortable) with. Discussion has been fabulous in this class!

Then, it's lunch - which has been excellent every day so far! My co-worker and I have been relying on public transportation this week. It's an adventure every day. We catch a bus to the half-way point and then taxi the remainder of the way. The public transportation system in Nepal is an experience that is little concerned with time or efficiency. It takes about an hour each way. It's not as frustrating as rush hour in Northern Virginia but it's certainly not a good choice if time is important!

So far, all is well. I've had wonderful interactions with the 11-12 other students in the class. I'm interested in each of their stories and why they've come. Perhaps they will unfold in the coming weeks!