Do What Makes You YOU

“Can I stay here?” “You have to finish what you have to do.” It is about time to say goodbye to my audience. This is the last blog I will post for my experiences in the Temple. There is a lot more I want to say and explain to the dear audience, but there is … [Read more…]

Out of Love and For Protection

“Wait, do you not eat meat?” “Yes, I do.”   Stereotypes always arise as people learn that I am a Buddhist. Questions and curiosities sometimes sound silly but need to be clarified. Just like what I mentioned in the previous blog, controversies even existed among different branches of Buddhism. In this blog, I am going … [Read more…]

Follow My Step 2

“Follow my steps.”   Now, let’s get back to my stories. It was the second summer that I spent my vacation in the temple. Get up at five thirty, I quickly brushed my teeth and washed my face with the freezing spring water. Run to the morning ceremony and find a seat in the corner … [Read more…]

Follow My Step

“Follow my steps” It is interesting that I was taking an Asian philosophy course last semester and we are supposed to talk about Tibetan Buddhism, which is the branch of Buddhism I belong. However, when I talked to the professor and found out it was little known by the Western world compared to the other … [Read more…]

Choices

“I don’t want to go to college anymore, mom.” “Well, you have to make the choice.” This is probably the most common conversation between my mom and I the summer before my freshmen year at Penn State. The question reoccurred to me every single day and propelled me to make a final decision. Here rises … [Read more…]

The Nectar Pill

Passion blog 5 “Now, I am holding the most precious nectar pill that had been blessed by my Guru. Who should I give it to?” In Tibetan Buddhism, there are many distinct traditions and practices which are mysterious and interesting. For example, many of the famous Gurus make nectar pills, and they are meant to … [Read more…]

Reassurance

“I know what is going on, and you will be fine.” It was the first year I came to America. I arrived at Newark airport in New Jersey, and the little 15-year-old Chinese girl started her journey in a foreign country. I remember it was a late summer night, and the heat added more anxiety … [Read more…]

The History

“Guru, why are you still working so hard”, I asked. “Because of love”, he whispered. The Xilai Temple was built in the Northern Wei dynasty around 460 to 495. It was one of the first few royal monastery temples built on the Wutai Mountain. It is founded around a natural spring. The water source is … [Read more…]

The Korean Monk

“Do people have a path in their life?” “I think so.” Do you feel that things happen to you, the world you see, or people you encounter seem to be destined? There is always a driving power behind your motivation. You don’t really have a choice to choose what happens to you. Good or bad, … [Read more…]

Journey to the West

“Mom, why do I need a belief?” “Dear, this is not a belief. It is to become who you are.” Have you ever pondered some “stupid” question like “why am I a girl”, or “why oranges taste like oranges”? Well, probably not as silly as mine. However, these questions could lead to a further discovery … [Read more…]