Buddhism and the Role of Ocean Sky Chan Monastery in the Philippines
By Aaron Ponce

According to the wisdom of Buddha, if more people in a country were to hear, understand, and follow the True Dharma, i.e. the reality of all things in this universe, and eradicate the three poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance, then the country would enjoy peace, blessings, and happiness.

One can take a look at countries like India and China, two enduring civilizations, which had periods in their history that favored Buddhism, and had adopted Buddhist values as their government policies. These countries knew prosperity and peace. Leaders such as Indian King Ashoka (304-232 B.C.) and Chinese Emperor Tang Xuanzong (唐玄宗 685-762 A.D.), exemplified the virtues of righteousness, tolerance, charity, and compassion, and brought about golden ages of knowledge, culture, arts, and philosophy in their countries.

The Philippines is an infant compared to these great civilizations. Blessed by nature, it is rich in diverse natural resources. However, due to the ignorance and greed of some people, these resources were misused for the sake of personal profit, resulting in massive destruction of nature. These, in turn, led to much suffering caused by disasters and other calamities such as floods, landslides and poverty.

Colonized by Spain for three centuries and the US for decades, the inherently kind-hearted and jolly Filipinos embraced Western philosophy and Christianity. While Christianity teaches a reverence for one God, most people still have a primitive understanding of their own inner spirituality, which is deeply discussed in Eastern philosophies, particularly Buddhism.  For this reason, most Filipinos are uncomfortable in welcoming other faiths, and an alternate way of life.

Although there are Buddhist temples scattered around the country, many primarily serve the spiritual needs of the ethnic Chinese minority, most of whom view their Buddhist practice as a way to increase their luck, obscuring the brilliance of the True Path. Thus, the people in the country, though having the precious jewel of Buddha’s teachings in their midst, fail to grasp its supreme value.

With the coming of the new millennium, the Philippines is now ready for transformation.  But true transformation can only happen under the guidance of those who have proper knowledge, compassion, and wisdom. Grand Master Wei Chueh of Chung Tai Chan Monastery in Taiwan is one such person.  A descendant of the Zen lineage, he has brought forth the most valuable teachings of Buddhism to the Philippines, by establishing Ocean Sky Chan Monastery.

The Monastery provides an ideal place for personal cultivation. The Dharma Masters in the temple are well versed in both Eastern and Western philosophies, sciences, math and the arts, and are themselves excellent cultivators of the Buddhist Path. They aim to help people look inward to their inherent pure nature, and guide them on the proper way to eradicate greed and ignorance, eliminate suffering, and attain peace of mind and true happiness.

By offering classes on Zen meditation, the Monastery teaches students how to calm the mind, by focusing and illuminating inward, in order to see through reality, eventually attaining clarity and enlightenment. The lectures provide essential knowledge on Buddhism’s most important points, compassion being one of the components, showing people how to help others unconditionally. This virtue embodies the Six Perfections (Six Paramitas) —charity, moral conduct, tolerance, diligence, meditation, and wisdom. In its 10 years of existence, Ocean Sky Chan Monastery has touched a great number of lives, making them aware of their pure nature, and empowering them with the proper conditions for enlightenment.

In this commemorative issue, we take a look at the various activities of the Monastery, and how it has positively transformed the lives of many people who have benefited from its propagation of Buddha Dharma. More importantly, we will appreciate how excellently the Dharma Masters of Ocean Sky have brought the profound wisdom of Buddha to the Filipino people, through their compassion and tireless effort.  Ultimately, it is the goal of the Grand Master Wei Chueh and Ocean Sky to gradually transform people’s minds and attitudes that cause suffering and discord in the land.

                Namo Amitofo!