MAYFLOWER II: On the Buddhist Voyage to Liberation
MAYFLOWER II: On the Buddhist Voyage to Liberation
Author: C.T. Shen
Edition/Format: Document: English
Description: PDF: 805 KB
Summery: A collection of Dr. C. T. Shen’s lectures on Buddhism
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Some Knowledge About Buddhism
Delivered as Christ Church Parish
Ridgewood, New Jersey
November 1, 1978
Dear friends:
You probably all know that China is a nation in Asia. How many of you know the Chinese character for the word China? It is Chung Kuo (中 國). Literally, chung means middle or center, and kuo means country or kingdom. Chung Kuo is, therefore, the Central Kingdom. For thousands of years, the Chinese believed their country to be the center of the world and their emperor, whom they usually referred to as the Son of Heaven to be the highest authority on earth. So it was that the Chinese believed that all people inhabiting areas other than the central kingdom were inferior and that their rulers were subordinate to the emperor of China. If, during that period, someone had proclaimed that there were many emperors on earth, some even more powerful than the Son of Heaven, his head very likely would have been chopped off.
A Glimpse Of Buddhism
Delivered in a joint assembly of two Catholic high schools
New York, New York
April 10, 1970
Dear friends:
According to Webster’s dictionary, religion is “the service and adoration of God as expressed in forms of worship, in obedience to divine commands, and in the pursuit of a way of life.” There can be quite a few definitions of religion, but if the above definition is applied, then Buddhism cannot be classified as a religion because Buddhism does not teach that there is an almighty God who gives commands and whom man should obey.
The May Flower
Delivered at the Cathedral of the Pines
West Rindge, New Hampshire
July 4, 1976
Dear friends,
On May 14th, the National Day of Prayer this year, I was invited to offer a prayer in New York City. The presentation consisted of three parts: an introduction and background to the prayer; the prayer itself; and the conclusion in which I introduced a verse taught by the Buddha. After the meeting, a young woman asked me why I had chosen that particular verse by Buddha as my conclusion. I responded briefly, but I did not have time to offer her a full explanation. Today I wish to do so.
BIODL-L1: The Concept Of Birth And Death
BUDDHISM IN OUR DAILY LIFE
A series of lectures delivered at The China Institute in America
New York, New York
1976
Lecture 1:
THE CONCEPT OF BIRTH AND DEATH
Dear friends:
In the Christian Bible, in the Book of John, chapter XVI, verse 12, Jesus Christ tells his disciples, “I have yet many things to say unto ye but ye cannot bear them now.” It seems that what Christ did teach his disciples was only a part of what he knew, perhaps because of the level of understanding of his disciples at that time. Unfortunately, Jesus died at the age of thirty-three. Time did not allow him to give his disciples a complete course of teaching. What Christ knew but did not say remains and unanswerable question.
What We Can Learn From Buddhism
Delivered at Cathedral of the Pines
West Rindge, New Hampshire
August 29, 1971
Dear friends:
What can we learn from Buddhism? The answer to this question could be nothing or many things; both answers, according to Buddhism, are correct.
It is easy to understand that there are many things one can learn from Buddhism. It is difficult, however, to comprehend that there is nothing one can learn. The very reason you came here today is to find out for yourselves what you can learn from Buddhism. How, then, can the answer be nothing?