(Late) Required Field Response: Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights

Give some brief background on the religion.
Buddhism started when Siddartha Gautama uttered the words, "I am awake." The moment he uttered those three words he became Buddha. Buddha’s story begins where Siddartha’s story ends, at the Bo tree. When Buddha awoke, he was enlightened and arrived at The Middle Way.

Buddha taught that the way to enlightenment first starts with knowing The Four Noble Truths. First there is dukkha. Dukkha is the belief that suffering is the cause of all life’s troubles. The cause of suffering is our need for attachment. Attachment to life, health, youth, love, and material possessions. Next, there is tanha. Tanha is the seeking of pleasure for one’s own self. Simply stated, selfishness. Tanha is, therefore, responsible for dukkha because it is our selfishness that causes our suffering. The third Noble Truth posits that once we understand our role in our suffering, i.e. selfishness, we will be relieved of the suffering our selfishness creates. Finally, the Fourth Noble Truth is The Eightfold Path.

Buddha prescribes The Eightfold Path as Noble Truth four as a guide to end suffering. The Four Noble Truths is meant to identify why we are in a spiritual funk and The Eightfold Path is the guide to get us out of that malaise. Although there are eight steps Buddha intended us to follow, Smith points out that there is an inferred ninth step and it is in fact the unspoken first step, right association. Right association simply means to be sure you are following someone who has all ready traveled down the path; be sure you have an excellent example to follow when starting out. With that said, The Eightfold Path begins with right knowledge. This step begins where The Four Noble Truths end. Right knowledge is the fourth noble truth. Next is right aspiration. Right aspiration is simply what we truly want from this life. It’s a decision that needs to be made by the one seeking enlightenment as to whether or not they want to pursue this for all the right reasons. Then there is right speech. Simply, be mindful of your words. Be careful of the things you say because they may come true. Once conscious of our words, then concentrate on speaking truthfully. Next is right behavior. Right behavior is also known as the Five Precepts of Buddhism. The Five Precepts are do not kill, do not steal, do not lie, and do not be unchaste. In Buddhism, the aforementioned are the equivalent to the Ten Commandments. Then is right livelihood. Right livelihood is either being a monk or finding work that contributes to all of society. Next is right effort. Right effort is exactly what is implies, doing what is morally right. Then there is right mindfulness. Right mindfulness is to be aware of one’s thoughts and one’s actions. To understand that our emotions and moods are not real and have no real baring on our reality. Right mindfulness implies that one is in tune with all there is, starting with one’s own self and how that self interacts with its reality. Finally, there is right absorption. Right absorption is how one contemplates on the aforementioned on a daily basis. It is the reminder as to why one has chosen to travel down this path.

After Buddha realized The Four Noble Truths and embraced The Eightfold Path, Buddha arrived at the basic concepts which drive Buddhism. The basic concepts are the Three Marks of Existence. The first mark is that the world consists of suffering (dukkha), the second mark is that we have no real identity (anatta), and the third mark is that nothing is permanent (annica). We must accept these if we are to achieve nirvana. Nirvana is the goal of all Buddhists.

There are three "differing schools of thought" within Buddhism, they are the Mahayana which is also known as the Big Raft, the Hinayana, or Theravada, which is also known as the Little Raft, and the Vajrayana which is also known as the Diamond Raft. The Mahayana and Theravada came to be after the Buddha’s death in an attempt to answer questions that have always divided mankind. First, the Mahayana. The Mahayana is the people’s religion. In it, the Buddha is deified. Salvation comes by way of the Buddha or by the efforts of the monk’s. Compassion is not an inherent quality, it is a quality that must be nurtured through hard work. Prayer is a part of worship. Mahayana’s are liberal. Next, the Theravada. The Theravada believe salvation rests within the individual, there is not God that will save you. Wisdom is the key to enlightenment and compassion is an inherent quality. Monastic life is the way to tap into your inner Buddha. Buddha is not a God, he was a teacher and a sage. Monks meditate rather than pray. Theravada’s are conservative. Finally, the is the Vajrayana. Vajrayana came to be in response to Mahayana deifying the Buddha. The Vajrayana believe that nirvana can be attained in this lifetime if one has the resolve to "realize Buddha’s wisdom and compassion." One has to maximize to their fullest all the energies they possess. Vajrayana practices Tantra as way to tap into the energies we are trying to release. This is done so by way of mantras, mudras, and mandalas

Give a detailed description of where you went and of the service you attended.
On Sunday, 5 October, 2008, I attended the Dharma Service held at Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights. Service began at 10:30am and ended at 12pm.

When driving into the Hsi Lai Temple, one is greeted with a sign that reads, " The best thing in the world is happiness. The noblest deed in the world is forming affinities." When entering the temple, one passes through a shrine that is guarded by 2 warriors, the Chien Lan Bodhi (statue on left of shrine) and the Skanda Bodhi (statue on right of shrine). Inside the shrine are 5 bodhisattvas, from left to right they are the bodhisattva of practice, vow, benevolence, compassion, and wisdom. The bodhisattva of practice represents the application of teachings. The bodhisattva of vow job represents the liberation of others. The bodhisattva of benevolence represents bringing joy and hope to the world. The bodhisattva of compassion represents mindfulness. Finally, the bodhisattva of wisdom represents the right path. When one passes through the shrine one enters the courtyard. Walking across the courtyard, one walks up a flight of stairs and is at the entrance of the Great Shrine or The Precious Hall of the Great Hero. Inside the shrine are 3 large statues of 3 Bodhisattvas, the bodhisattva Amitabha, the bodhisattva Sakyamuni, and the bodhisattva Medicine. Amitabha is the Teacher of the Western Pure Land, Sakyamuni is Buddha, and Medicine is the Teacher of Eastern Pure Land of Azure Radiance. The shrine had 2 columns of 8 velvet pews, one column on the left and one on the right. It had chandeliers hanging overhead, one large one in the center with 6 more springing out from it and an additional 16 more. The walls were lined with some 6150+ small statues of various bodhisattvas. Also, there were an additional 154 larger statues of various bodhisattvas. The service started off with incense burning and drums beating. The crowd was mostly Asian but did have some Caucasian practitioners. The service consisted of various chants such as the offering to Medicine, offering to the deceased, and the 88 precepts. During chants, monks will walk around and guide you to the exact place in the book so that you can follow along and chant with all the practitioners. When chanting ceased the service ended with a sermon given by a monk. At the end of services, practitioners and visitors are given a ticket to a vegetarian buffet.

Offer a reflection of the experience.
I was impressed with the architecture of the temple. When I walked into the courtyard I felt as if I were at the Forbidden City in China. Once services started, I found myself in tears. The chanting really touched my core. It was beautiful. I stood there with my eyes closed, taking it all in. When I realized I was crying I decided to try my best to follow along with the chants. Although it was difficult, I enjoyed the experience immensely. What I really appreciated was how during the service, the monk’s message emphasized "we." That moved me. It reminded me that it is our responsibility as to what happens in the world. That I am a part of the "we" and that the "we" is greater than I.