dhamma savaka wrote:Hi folks,
I work for a University and was a student there several years ago. Our campus lacks a Buddhist/Dhamma club. There are tons of Christian groups, a Jewish group, and a Muslim group. I don't know how feasible or useful it would be to organize such a club and keep it running? I figured it might be a good group to organize Buddhist events or meditate together. I am already part of the Meditation club but it's not the same. It would also be a good group to have discussions on the Dhamma and maybe get non-Buddhists interested as well. The problem is, I don't even know where to start and if there are even like minded individuals or if other Buddhists just want to be left alone.
I would like the organization to be organized along the Venerable Walpola Rahula's "Basic Points Unifying the Theravada and the Mahayana" document (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_Poin ... 1y%C4%81na). Do you think this would work? Or is it too broad? Is it a worthwhile effort? The other thing I need to factor in is that it seems a lot of young people aren't too interested in this type of stuff.
Please let me know what you folks think.
Al
Some years back a friend and myself revived a Buddhist club on campus. It was extremely worthwhile.
We promoted it at Orientation, held two meetings a week, one focused on meditation and another on study and invited many teachers to come and speak to us. We also organised retreats, did working bees at temples, etc.
After the first year we had a core of committed members and 7 years on, I am very good friends with three of the people I met through this club, all still practicing (one sort of fledgling).
The Ven Rahula's paper is a good start. We tried to keep it strictly non sectarian and invited teachers from all traditions while personally people went to different places in their spare time too.
I think it is important to have a few people who are willing to do the legwork to keep it running but not take over too much. Once people show interest they should feel empowered to help out and feel that it is their club rather than yours and their are merely guests. It's also important not to become a de facto guru, but rather a convenor or a facilitator.
If there is anything I can do to help - feel free to ask.
