This month we feature an interview with Sonia Chu, the Vice President of the Dharma Support Society at Buddha Gate Monastery. Sonia has been a Sangha member for eight years and tells us about her meditation practice, vegetarianism, and her visit to Chung Tai Monastery in Taiwan. She is also a frequent volunteer and participant in Buddha Gate classes and ceremonies.

When did you first come to Buddha Gate?

I saw an ad in the Chinese newspaper saying there was a meditation class at Buddha Gate Monastery, so I came to check out this place with my sister and my parents. It was October 2001, about one year after Buddha Gate opened. I felt that meditation would be beneficial for my health. At that time, I was just taking a class in chi gong. I had no idea about Buddhism. My parents, sister, and I drove from Orinda and enrolled in the Beginning Dharma class. It was the teaching at Buddha Gate that really caught my interest, and I have now been here for the past eight years.

Why is it important for participants to come regularly to Buddha Gate?

First, I know that in order to have the correct understanding of Buddhism, we need to come here often to listen to the Dharma. I also realize that we need to be reminded of the teachings regularly as our tendency is to be forgetful. I usually come to Buddha Gate most days of the week to help get things done, support the activities, and attend sutra study classes. After my children went to college, I had more time. I feel fortunate that my husband and sons have been supportive of my efforts throughout the years.

What are the benefits of vegetarianism in your life?

I used to eat only meat dishes and few vegetables. Now I'm vegetarian and I feel very good. We became Buddhists because we don't want to kill. The main reason we are vegetarian is so we are able to practice a compassionate mind. I find it interesting that for health reasons we are seeing more and more people becoming vegetarians. My kids are fine with my beliefs though they are not vegetarians; I often cook "veggie meat" to accommodate them and my husband. I'm glad they respect my view.

How significant is meditation in one's practice?

As a Buddhist, meditation is the only way to calm down, to go into your self and look at things more clearly. When you calm down, things don't seem so complicated. We have a tendency always to judge others and point to their wrongdoings. We tend not see ourselves and our actions clearly. But I've found it's easier to correct myself than correct others. For instance, if I don't agree with my husband and we get into an argument, we just continue to argue and nothing is resolved. However, if I stop and think of why I am saying something to agitate him and reflect calmly about it, I can turn the action a little bit and make things change.

Every morning I light incense before my altar at home and chant one of the many sutras we have learned, such as the Sutra of the Eight Realizations or the Diamond Sutra. During the past eight years, all the Dharma teachings have helped me a lot to reflect upon myself, to check myself, and not criticize others. I have served as the coordinator for the beginning classes for more than ten times now, and each time I hear the content of the lessons, I still learn something new. I still study in the sutra classes. Studying the Dharma is a lifetime practice. When Abbot Jian Hu was first here at Buddha Gate, he said I should recite the Diamond Sutra every day. After chanting it every day, it became very natural. Later I heard an explanation of it in class by the Abbess, and it became clearer in meaning. The shifus like us to learn the Heart Sutra; to recite it by heart so that when you need it, it will come to you. I feel we are very fortunate to have such good teachers, the Dharma Masters at Buddha Gate.

In what ways has being a Buddhist changed you or your outlook on life?

I haven't really considered this question. But I guess I must have because I know I spend a lot of time here, and certainly, less time going shopping or going to tea or something (laughing). I come here almost every day, maybe one day off... I'm not sure being a Buddhist has really changed my life because my life has always been quite simple. I have my family, my work with my husband's business, and my friends.

What I have changed is my attitude in dealing with people. I remember at my first classes, the Dharma Master mentioned something about awareness and reflection. If you reflect, then you will have a chance to turn your action into the right direction. You know if it is right or even a little bit wrong. Every reflection allows you the opportunity to change things. This does not mean at the end of the day you review and reflect upon what happened that day. Actually, I'm talking about every moment in your life you are given the chance to be reflective. This is very powerful for me.

How would one define "sangha" in one's life? What does this concept mean to you in your everyday life?

What comes to mind first is that sangha is the company of monks and nuns. They give up everything to teach Buddhism. Sangha means someone who has given up something for Buddha's teachings. It's a commitment. It is very pure.

Sangha also means a community that is harmonious. Every mind is different and we have not gotten rid of our vexations. That is why of course we are annoyed by other people's wrongdoings. If it's not your idea then it's wrong. So it is a good place to practice harmonious relations when you need to adjust. It's a good place to work on right actions.

It is important to know that we need everybody to make something happen, even if the results are less than perfect. We try to make good connections with all sentient beings. If you insist on having your way, it will result in too much conflict. It is a complicated process. For example, at work, you can give and should provide your opinions to your colleagues or boss and observe what he or she does with it. If you're the boss, you must correct your workers, but not in an abusive way. None of this is easy.

What can you tell us about your journey to Chung Tai Chan Monastery in
Taiwan? Why should we take that journey?

Every year since 2002, I have gone to Chung Tai at least once or twice a year. The pilgrimage journey in the summer is an opportunity for Dharma Society members to gather together and for those who never been there; it is a wonderful opportunity to know our parent temple, to see how this big assembly works so efficiently and so harmoniously. We visit the ancestral temples and branch meditation centers located in different cities. We come to understand that many people are involved in Buddhism. We participate in many big ceremonies and the gathering of all the disciples. Thousands of people attend. They also prepare the liturgy in English, translations for Dharma talks, so everything is taken care of. Participants only have to purchase round-trip airline tickets, and we also donate whatever we can. When we see so many people’s efforts, we understand how everything is accomplished so beautifully. We feel fortunate that as a result of the donations from disciples in Taiwan, we have Buddha Gate Monastery. Now we hope to sustain this institution and not only stand on our own, but also become the givers, expanding the Dharma to other places, so more people can benefit from it.

Dana is the practice of giving. It is important we know how to give. I have come to realize that there are many fields of giving we can cultivate: to respect elders, our parents, or give charity to the poor. Not only the poor need our charity, but in fact a lot of rich people, if they don’t have a healthy, happy mind, and don’t understand the basic truth, they might live miserably most of the time too. We can also give people hope, a warm smile so they can feel it, or when they’re down, give them a hug. An act of compassion is Dana.

At Chung Tai, participating in a seven-day meditation retreat is something totally different. You have to let go of everything. No phone calls, no books, no music, no TV… Chung Tai is such a beautiful place, and everything is well arranged for the retreat. You don’t have to think about anything when you arrive at Chung Tai; however, you may be so excited and distracted by many thoughts and impressions that are jumping around in your mind, so calming your mind is the hardest part. It takes me several days to finally do so. Every day during the seven-day retreat, there are ten incenses (one incense takes about 40 minutes, plus another five to ten minutes of walking meditation). The big meditation hall is so quiet, and you can listen to Dharma talks from our Grand Master Wei-Chueh and the Abbot Venerable Jian-Deng. If you follow their guidance, you could really achieve a better stage. During my last retreat, on the fifth day, I experienced the joy of meditation, the Chan joy, so peaceful and full of delight. Usually I felt pain in my legs, but then I was able to sit in full lotus position and didn’t feel any pain. Then during the next incense, when I wanted to recapture that experience, it would not come back, although it was still better than usual. During the last day of the Dharma talks, I learned that if you experienced some good sittings, the way to have better ones is to work on the cause rather than expect the effect. And the cause is the fundamental thing, to let go of all thoughts, be calm, not attaching to previous good experiences.

What is the Dharma Support Society? What role do you play?

The whole monastery is supported by everyone in every way. Not only that, we hope we can do more to support others. I’ve been a member since the beginning. I give regular donations and attend activities. The first day of my visit, I registered for the meditation class and the second day I came to help. Everything here is enjoyable and you learn a lot. I am vice president of the Dharma Support Society. When I first came here I didn’t have the sudden realization that this is the place for me. You just feel comfortable here. The main thing is that the Buddhist teaching makes sense to me, and I need to know more and practice accordingly. Here, since a variety of activities are going on (meditation classes every day, one day retreat, half day retreat, Sunday service, monthly ceremonies, special day events…), there are a lot of things that need to be done and we need much help. I am very blessed because I have free time, so I do what I can, when I can. We need everyone’s involvement. When a group of people work together, it is a good way to practice no self, so things could be accomplished harmoniously. Giving is really most beneficial to yourself.