Aloha All!

Aloha!

My name is Rocco Blais and I was a prospected Buddhist Chaplain for the Military. I was in the U.S. Army as an Expert Infantryman (11 Bravo) with the 25th Infantry Division Schofield Barracks Hawaii in 1996. Shortly after getting Honorably Discharged, I found myself searching for higher meaning because being an "Expert Killer" would not work outside of the Army. So I attending regular meditation classes at the Providence Zen Center http://www.kwanumzen.com/pzc/ in Cumberland, R.I. I found myself working a few jobs but none requiring the combat skills I achieved in the Army. So I joined the U.S. Navy in 2001 as a Cryptologic Technician (CTO) and found myself back in Hawaii at the KRSOC in Kunia Hawaii.

As I did more searching, I found myself at the Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Center http://www.ktlhonolulu.org/ in Honolulu. Continuing in the Navy, I worked at JICPAC Pearl Harbor as an Information Technician (IT) sharping my mind as a full time student at Hawaii Pacific University. Earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a 3.4 GPA I wanted to pursue further mental development within Buddhism, education, and the Military. So I prepared to submit my packet for the Buddhist Chaplain Program. I conversed with representatives from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, and U.S. Air Force. I wanted to find which Military branch would find more use for the first Buddhist Chaplain. I was able to contact Jeanette Shin who is the first Buddhist Chaplain in the U.S. Navy Reserve. I was also put in touch with Somya Malasri, who attended the Honolulu Dharma Center, and is a prospected candidate for the U.S. Army Buddhist program (I have lost contact with him but I hope he makes it).

As I searched deeper into the program, I felt that it did not work in my favor. To attend a Theological/Seminary school for a Master of Divinity in Buddhist Studies, there were only two possible colleges. University of the West and University of California at Berkeley were the only choices. Naropa University was my first choice and now they offer an MDiv towards Chaplaincy (after I chanted to them repeadly). With the tuition assistance received from the Military, I felt it would not cover my lifestyle within the program. So I decided I would leave the Military in 2006 to pursue a Master's degree in Education and upon completion of that, I will venture into a doctorate in Tibetan Buddhist Pyschology.

Although my plans did change due to personal reasons, I will continue to support Buddhism in the Military. I must admit it would have seemed contradicting to have a former "Grunt" with an Expert Infantry Badge as a Buddhist Chaplain. However, my view remains the same; this previous experience has lead me to the Noble Eightfold path. To know mindfulness, it was feasible for me to know suffering. I am a proud veteran and I still carry the seed as a Buddhist soldier. Following Buddhist philosophy in the military is long over due. I hope that Buddhist doctorine will create a compassionate atmosphere and resolve issues without the use of force.

Om Mani Padme Hum,
~ Rocco Blais
IronMind7@yahoo.com

A Quick Intro

Hello Everyone! My name is Ed Crites and I’m an active duty Technical Sergeant in the USAF. Currently I’m stationed at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom. I wanted to introduce myself as well (you know the Air Force, we always let the Marines go first. Thanks Mark!).

I’ve been in the learning faze of my practice for 5-7 years now. Most of what I’ve learned has come from self-teaching (books, Podcasts, internet articles, etc..). I think it’s great that we finally have a place where we can go to build our practice and our community. I’d like to join in and say “Thank you!” to Lt Shin for reaching out and doing what she to bring the military Buddhist community together.

Thanks again,

Ed

San Diego Area Sangha Meeting

For Buddhists stationed in the San Diego/Miramar/Camp Pendleton region, I am planning another get-together and discussion group on Sunday, October 21st at 1000. We will meet at the Murphy Canyon Chapel. I will offer a lecture on the origins of Buddhism. Also I will be passing on lessons learned from the Buddhist Chaplains Symposium that is scheduled to be held on Oct. 20 in Redwood City (this is an annual meeting of Buddhist chaplains working in various fields of chaplaincy).

The Murphy Canyon Chapel is located at 3200 Santo Road, San Diego, 92124. (619) 556-0603.

Congratulations!

Dear all,

First of all many thanks for the letting me contribute to your Blog.

As the first ever Buddhist Chaplain in the UK Armed Forces, I wanted to congratulate you on your new Buddhist Military Sangha Blog. It is great to see the dhamma services are slowly being made available to the Military community in the US.

I have now been in the post for 2 years and contrary to what some thought past 2 years I have been able to share the Dhamma and spread nothing but peace amongst the Military Community in the UK. I am the only Buddhist Chaplain to the whole of the three forces here at the moment and the number of Buddhists are increasing as ever. Though Buddhism is not a religion interested in converting others into it, it is our duty to help anyone who become interested in the Buddha Dhamma.

I would like to wish Chaplain Shin and Chaplain Somasri and all your group every sucess in your efforts in discovering dhamma. personnally there is absolutely nothing more enticing than discovering dhamma for me. Therefore it is a great merit to help and support those who are interested in the dhamma through the understanding of Buddha and dhamma.

Best wishes!

Sunil

Dr. Sunil Kariyakarawana
Buddhist Chaplain to HM Forces
Wellington Barracks
London SW1E 6HQ
UK
Tel. 020 7414 3411
email. sunilkari59@gamil.com

My first post here!

Greetings everyone! My name is Mark Vanslooten. I am a Marine Staff Sergeant stationed in Camp Pendleton, CA. Usually. Currently I'm at Camp Al Taqaddum in Iraq until November.

I'm new to the Buddhist practice. Only very recently have I been able to say that I'm a Buddhist. I've read books off and on for a few years and was never able to grasp the wealth of Sutras and philosophy I encountered. At Powell's Books in Portland Oregon (shameless plug) I picked up The Idiot's Guide To Understanding Buddhism. It laid out the history, Eightfold Path, Meditation and precepts very clearly. It's a great start for beginners like me.

I came in contact with Chaplain Shin by chance. There's a listing online for Buddhist groups in San Diego County and I e-mailed for info on a military group study. This came at the perfect time for me. The more I studied the more I became confused and conflicted with the military and the Buddhist practice. Chaplain Shin cleared a lot up for me. It really is possible to integrate the two. The discipline that is inherent in the military helps one follow the Eightfold Path. I'd like to share more of my thoughts on this sometime in the future.

When I return to the "world" I'll be looking forward to meeting others on the same path. Peace be with you!

Chaps' Dharma Talk: Henry Steel Olcott - Civil War Veteran & Buddhist Patriot

Today's hoji is about a sadly neglected figure in our American history: Colonel Henry Steel Olcott (1832-1907). He was the first known American citizen to formally convert to the Buddhist faith. Today, Olcott’s name today is more often linked to the Theosophy movement of the late 19th-century, rather than Buddhism, as he was a founding member of that organization (a kind of forerunner of New Age thought); although there was a kind of “vogue” for Buddhism at the turn of the century, it gradually faded away as a popular trend, until “re-discovered” by Westerners in the 1950s and 60s (of course Buddhism was continued to be practiced in America by Japanese-Americans and other Asian immigrants). I will give reasons why I want to discuss Col. Olcott.

It is hard to summarize his life: Henry Steel Olcott was born into a Christian Presbyterian family in New Jersey. He trained as a lawyer, and served in the Union Army during the US Civil War, and may have experienced combat action. Following active service, he also served as a commissioner for the Department of the Navy, acquiring the rank of Colonel, and investigated corruption among contractors (we could use more Olcotts today)! He also took part in the investigations after Abraham Lincoln's assassination. As a young man he developed an interest in spiritualism; spiritualism, or belief in spirit communication, was extremely popular in America prior to the Civil War, an outgrowth of the Second "Great Awakening" of religious devotion. Col. Olcott was a founding figure of Theosophy but also developed a strong interest in Buddhism, particularly in the Theravada tradition. His search for Buddhism led him to Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon and under British colonial rule). There, in 1880, he adopted Buddhism as his religion by taking the precepts in Pali. He campaigned against the aggressive Christian missionaries there who were trying to stamp out Buddhism, and he fought for the civil rights of the Buddhists. He gave lectures throughout the country, and founded Buddhist schools and associations for young people. In order to promote Buddhist identity he helped design the multi-colored Buddhist flag (the colors of the Buddhist flag are the colors said to have been radiated by the Buddha from his Enlightenment), which was later adopted by Buddhists worldwide. (These flags can also be seen at our Jodo Shinshu temples here in America!) He also wrote a “Buddhist Catechism” in 1881, one of the first books in English to promote Buddhism. He also visited Japan, Burma, and India. At his funeral, his coffin was draped with two flags: "Old Glory," and the Buddhist flag. His ashes were scattered in the Ganges River.

It is difficult to judge Col. Olcott's legacy today; he is perhaps more known in Sri Lanka than in his own country, and even now he is mostly thought of in connection with the Theosophy movement, today considered very controversial and strange for some. Col. Olcott also interpreted Buddhism according to his own understanding, which was strongly influenced by Protestant Christianity. Like many new converts to Buddhism, he aggressively sought to understand what was "true" Buddhism as opposed to cultural "superstitions" and believed he could benefit Buddhism by applying Western critical thinking; he even hoped to re-unify Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism, all of which was not accepted by Asian Buddhists.

Yet Col. Olcott was undoubtedly a pioneer of American Buddhism, although most of his work was in Sri Lanka. Especially I believe he also should be considered a pioneer, and even a role model, for Buddhists like ourselves who are in, or have had, military service. His experience during the Civil War must have influenced his later actions: when he heard of the attack on Buddhism by the missionaries, he rushed to the defense of the Buddhists, and also went on the offensive, not by physical force (although Buddhists were physically attacked by mobs of Christians), but by seeking to empower and strengthen Buddhists through education, community, and instilling pride in Buddhist heritage. He certainly was not passive. Col. Olcott was very active for the cause of Buddha-dharma in many countries, but he still respected many other religious traditions, including Islam and Christianity.

Personally, although his Buddhism and mine are different, I see Col. Olcott as a leadership example to follow. To honor his 100th-year centennial, every year on February 17th (his memorial day) I will conduct a memorial service for Col. Olcott. I hope you will also take time to lean about this Buddhist pioneer!

Unfortunately, there are not many resources out there about Col. Olcott.
There are two biographies on his life:
Yankee Beacon of Buddhist Light: Life of Col. Henry S. Olcott by Howard Murphet. This is a a very readable biography of published by The Theosophical Society (which is still around). I found my copy on Ebay.
The White Buddhist: The Asian Odyssey of Henry Steel Olcott by Stephen Prothero. This is an academic biography of Olcott published by an Indian press, and hard to find.
The Web site for the Olcott Centennial can be found here: http://www.theosophical.org/resources/library/olcott-centenary/olcott.htm

Howa - The Tradition of Dharma Talks

Hello all!
One of the things I will begin adding more often (I hope!) will be a series of Dharma talks that hopefully you may find interesting, informative, or at least, to provide a tool with which to uncover the path of Buddha-dharma, which is something we all do, whether we are ordained or laypersons. In the Jodo Shinshu tradition, this is called "howa," literally a Dharma message, and is essentially the equivalent of the Christian-style sermon in our tradition. The howa, in its most orthodox form, is meant to elucidate a point in Jodo Shinshu or Pure Land doctrine, but it is not considered a requirement to have for practice, (or an "empowerment") as in other Buddhist traditions. In America, the howa typically follows after sutra recitation in our temples. Usually, they are quite short, sometimes around 10-20 minutes, which is an accomodation of our American attention span (I've been to Dharma talks in Japan which lasted for over 2 hours)!!! I promise that the howas on this blog will not take 2 hours to read! The Dharma talks I will post personally will not be limited to the Jodo Shinshu tradition, but I will try to make them as accessible as I can. Please read them with an open mind, and with a grain of salt.