JIABU Vol. VIII, 2016 Buddhism and Mindfulness
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i Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Universities JIABU Vol. VIII, 2016 Buddhism and Mindfulness Edited by Dr. Dion Peoples i The Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Universities (JIABU) Volume VIII, 2016 Buddhism and Mindfulness (Digital Edition) i Table of Contents: Editorial Message iii Meditation in Action Venerable Phra Paisal Visalo 1 How to Practice Mindfulness in the Era of Digital Economy? Petcharat Lovichakorntikul, Virachai Vongbunsin, Ratana Palasak 4 Buddhist Mindfulness Meditation: Spiritual Sustenance and Psychological Well-being Neekee Chaturvedi 12 Mindfulness as a teaching of Buddhism that transcends cultural barriers Maria Kellis 20 I vow with all beings: From McMindfulness to Bodhisattva Mindfulness Ricardo Toledo 26 Karma, Rebirth and Heartfulness: The Buddha as Psychologist and Therapist (Buddhism 4.0) G.T. Maurits Kwee 38 Obstacles and Pathways in a Meditator’s Journey of Self-Awakening: Dammanupassana as a pathway for managing the five hindrances with a special focus on Sloth-and-torpor and Boredom as an Attentional Crisis. Padmasiri de Silva 48 Mindfulness Meditation: A Narrative Study of Training in Buddhist Meditation, Mindfulness and Ethics in B-Yard, California State Prison, Sacramento Phe Bach, Gus Koehler, Jaana Elina 55 “Counting the Breath” in Kumārajīva’s Meditation Texts Fa Qing 70 A Water Buffalo on Mindfulness: Chan Master Guishan Yuande Shih 84 A Case Study and the Manifestation of Thich Nhat Hanh’s Vision of the Five Mindfulness Trainings Phe Bach, Simon Brinkmann-Robinson, W. Edward Bureau 92 ii Critical Theory and the Contemporary Discourse on Mindfulness Zachary David Walsh 106 ASEAN Integration: Human Dignity and Responsibility to Humanity from a Buddhist Perspective Lim Kooi Fong 113 The Quest for Mindfulness Dion Peoples 117 Book Reviews: People Power, Civil Resistance, and Social Transformation: An Introduction to Nonviolent Conflict – by Dr. Robert A. Kezer, Mama Tungurahua Publishing, 2015, ISBN: 978-0-9963580-2-6, 82 pages, reviewed by Dr. Dion Peoples 158 An Essence of Mindful Leadership – Learning Through Mindfulness and Compassion, by Dr. Phe Bach (Saarbrucken: Lambert Academic Publishing, 2015), 163 pages, ISBN: 978-3-659-78412-5, reviewed by Dr. Dion Peoples 160 iii Editorial Message: At the International Association of Buddhist Universities, we have several principles that we take as our guidelines in moving forward in our engagements. Here is a reminder of how we progress: IABU Vision: Motivate future generations to gain and apply profound understanding of the Buddhadhamma in every aspect of life Raise the quality of scholarly work within Buddhist Studies and across other academic endeavors Contribute to meeting the challenges that face human society worldwide IABU Mission: Support and collaborate with members to ensure humanity can benefit from the richness and variety of the multi-dimensional Buddhist traditions Provide a framework towards better understanding diverse policies and activities Collaborate in administration, teaching, research and outreach Recognize each other’s qualifications IABU Goals: Propagate the Buddhadhamma through collaborative academic channels Eliminate Buddhist sectarian, national, and institutional barriers Raise the academic standards throughout the Buddhist world Maximize academic potentials and abilities This journal-edition is on the general theme of mindfulness. There was no specific aspect that we wanted to recognize, whether it was textual mindfulness versus practical mindfulness, or clinical mindfulness versus therapeutic mindfulness, or any other variance. Due to some themes overlapping, and in an effort to reduce duplicity, a few articles were pulled out of the publication, when everything was considered collectively. This edition of the JIABU, Vol. VIII, on Mindfulness, begins with an article by one of Thailand’s most respected Buddhist monks. He often writes long articles that are published in the newspapers, and he does great social work around Thailand. He is a true inspiration, and is genuinely revered for his efforts, rather than just possessing some monastic- administrative title. I’ve asked him for many years to contribute something, so we are truly blessed to have this message from Venerable Paisal Visalo. The next paper is collectively written by three scholars from Shinawatra University, and they offer advice from their perspective towards having mindfulness in our contemporary world. The paper features different sectarian perspectives on the five Buddhist precepts. The article by Prof. Chaturvedi stresses spiritual and secular aspects of mindfulness, and brings in textual material and alternative benefits from meditation. Ms. Kellis suggests mindfulness is useful for Westerners unfamiliar with Buddhism, since the sectarian nature of examining the mind can be done by anyone, regardless of one’s religion. She covers the various counseling and other alternative-procedures for curing patients. The zen-master Mr. Toledo discusses briefly how Buddhism is a new phenomenon in the western-world, so Buddhism must find its place amongst rapidly developing materialism – so vows towards greater mindfulness is urged, so that people can continue to mindfully pursue development, under this form of therapy. Prof. Kwee adds a fourth variation of Buddhism, a Buddhism that comprehends kamma, rebirth and heartfulness as therapy – treatment without medication, and illustrates how the Buddha was deeply engaged with therapy. Prof. de iv Silva addresses sloth-and-torpor, sometimes considered to be known as boredom - conditions that afflict all of us, but is rarely discussed – so his paper is a significant. The next paper is by three authors collaborating on a project that engages with prisoners: teaching them mindfulness meditation and ethics, and mentions the improvements in the lives of those who have been institutionalized. The next paper, a literature review, by Dr. Fa Qing, represents the breathing techniques found in the Buddhist-writings of the ancient great scholar Kumarajiva, who was employed in China for many years. The next paper, by a venerable Chinese monk-scholar, Yuande Shih investigates the legitimacy of a famous monk’s rebirth as a water-buffalo – is that really Guishan? The next paper by a trio of scholars looks at the five mindfulness training writings of the famous Vietnamese Buddhist master, Thich Nhat Hanh; and looks at contemporary writings and a UNESCO manifesto to justify the employment of mindfulness as therapy. If there was an editor’s choice award for the best or the most inspirational article, Zachary Walsh’s article on critical-theory and the contemporary discourse on mindfulness, would win the selection. Walsh, here in his article, discusses Buddhism and its benefits, as it should be done, in our modern-lives, and makes sense of the tradition and its place in within current affairs. I’d ask every student of Buddhist studies, and every professor, to read this article – it’s very important. Many of us know the website, www.buddhistchannel.tv – it is one of the leading information services on matters pertaining to Buddhism – and the founder of the website, Lim Kooi Fong, contributes a piece on mindful integration into the new regional alignment – teaching us that we need to work together and be complimentary towards each other. The final article is my own, and I would suggest that mindfulness is a quest for many people, despite what I wrote. The premise is that there are critical thinking tools or analytical tools that are not being used in academics, certainly within Buddhist studies – so I needed to demonstrate real Buddhist critical thinking/analytical thinking skills, to scrutinize the theme of this journal: mindfulness – so that we or I can be more mindful about mindfulness. It is our hope that you have gained a better or profound understanding of mindfulness, and how it can be utilized in your daily life; and that you can better perceive how to use mindfulness when meeting the challenges that face human society worldwide. Several of the articles are from diverse Buddhist traditions, so humanity can benefit from the richness and variety of these multi-dimensional Buddhist traditions; and counseling and other therapeutic methods were used so that we can perceive how to better understanding mindfulness and associated activities. I’m honored again to have worked with these scholars, and I know that if real Buddhists are interested in improving our traditions, then they would pay greater attention towards the work and ideas that the International Association of Buddhist Universities is issuing, for our students and humanity. We appreciate your time for reading this journal of articles from various scholars. It is our deepest wish that these offerings on Buddhism and Mindfulness have contributed to the dialogue for improving yourself and society. Although the content might be difficult, the end-result should be the achieving a greater level of personal and social mindfulness. If any of our offerings here, or in previous editions are polemic in any way, we encourage the academic-dialogue. Please send any full-length academic-responses to the JIABU, and they shall be published in the next, upcoming volume. Our next journal will be on the theme of Buddhism and ASEAN’s Political Security and Economic Communities. The deadline for submissions on this theme is on 26 August 2016. -Dr. Dion Peoples IABU Manager & General Editor E-mail: [email protected] 1 Meditation in