Buddhism Cajun style
| Reception of abbot results in Lafayette center By BRIAN HUDGINS LAFAYETTE — Bringing the principles of Buddhism to an eager audience has involved a cross-country journey that united people coast to coast. When Opelousas natives Fenyx and CeCe Sloan met Khentrul Lodro Thaye Rinpoche in Medford, Ore., in 2003, they invited the Tibetan monastery abbot to come meet their families in Acadiana. Once Rinpoche accepted that invitation and word spread about his visit roughly four years ago, more than 100 people showed up during a couple of days at the Sloans’ house to meet him. The warm reception resulted in a return visit by Rinpoche and the eventual establishment of the Katog Choling Tibetan Cultural Center in 2004. The group meditations at the facility are called practice groups. “The practice groups in Oregon have been on the West Coast 20 to 25 years,” Fenyx Sloan said. “There are a lot more advanced students of Buddhism there. All the people here were brand new. The biggest difference is there is an excitement here because it is new.” Paloma Landry, 27, born and raised in southern Oregon, is a translator for Rinpoche. She had never heard of Cajun culture before her initial visit to the state with him. “The great interest and enthusiasm of people drew him here (to Acadiana),” Landry said by telephone from California. “They had such a genuine heart. He thought it would be beneficial.” Landry travels throughout the country and abroad with Rinpoche, who frequently visits groups at prisons, schools and other various locations to introduce people to Buddhism. “I think the West Coast is beautiful,” Landry said. “When I think of land, I think of the West Coast. When I think of people and unity, I think of the South. The closeness and tightness of the family unit in the South is similar to Tibetan culture.” Katog Choling serves as a centralized meeting place in Lafayette for those interested in Rinpoche’s teachings. A pair of weekly practice meditations are held at the center. The meditation on Thursdays begins with a supplication prayer. Those attending then read a scripture called “The Heart Essence of Sublime Knowing,” a text on absolute nature. A calm meditation — referred to as a shamatha — follows. Lafayette resident David Leslie, 31, originally from Boston, said his experiences in the area and with the center have introduced a different environment to him. “It has taken me a bit of time to get used to the openness here,” Leslie said. “People are reticent in New England. People here have a more gentle way of communicating with each other. Coming to the center has softened my perspective, which is always positive.” CeCe Sloan said the principles of working toward a path of enlightenment carry over well to students, whether they are in smaller rural towns or in larger cities. “All of us are Rinpoche’s students,” CeCe Sloan said. “We are all working on something. We are all striving to purify and create virtuous actions.” During her travels, Landry has also witnessed how Buddhism relates to everyday life in various corners of the country. “Buddha encourages everyone to have an open heart,” Landry said. “It boils down to: All people want happiness. The material world does not fulfill that in its entirety. That is the purpose of a spiritual path.” Starting the journey down that path comes later for some students than others. “It took me a while to grasp the teachings because learning them as adults, we get it at different levels,” CeCe Sloan said. “I got it at 37 years old versus someone that gets it as a baby.” Those practicing the teachings at the center stressed that Buddhism provides a path open to people of all different faiths. “We may have a different spiritual lexicon for exploring some of the same concepts,” Leslie said. “Anyone is welcome here even though they are inherent into a different faith. This works for the welfare of all beings. It is very teacher-oriented.” When Rinpoche and Landry are traveling, she frequently drives them to destinations where their focus is not placed on attending social events or seeing tourist sites. The sole purpose is teaching. Seeing that process play out is an impressive event to Landry. “It’s amazing for me to watch (Rinpoche) change people’s lives in subtle ways,” Landry said. “Even the smallest gestures can affect change.” |
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