Teachers and students from the University for Life and Peace visit to witness the effectiveness of the curriculum

Seven professors and students from the University for Life and Peace's first Experimental Winter School in Yangon, Myanmar, came together nearly a year later for a small ceremony. The founder of the University for Life and Peace, and the Founding Abbot of Ling Jiou Mountain(LJM), Dharma Master Hsin Tao handed out certificates of course completion from the University. He congratulated the students and encouraged everyone to continue on their way to love the earth. The students were also happy to share their observations of the Winter School held for the first time last January(2019), and the changes they had undergone during their time at the school.

The second year of the Experimental Winter School of the University for Life and Peace begins this coming January. Prof Ernst Pöeppel and Prof Eva Ruhnau from Germany were instructors for the first year of the Experimental Winter School of the University for Life and Peace. Both Evgeny Parfenov and Elizaveta Parfenova from Russia are participating in the first year of the school, along with Joseph from Taiwan and Master Bao Yi from Malaysia. Professor Pöppel observed that he was delighted to present the certificate On behalf of Human Science Center of Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Germany and wished the students well in their lives and future careers.

Curious, Professor Pöppel inquired about the meaning of the plague hung on the wall. The calligraphy was read, “明心得道 (ming xin de dao)” in Chinese. Master Hsin Tao replied, “‘明 (ming)’ is the proper understanding, or, the awareness. By understanding the nature of mind (心 xin) properly, the state is, therefore, the realization of ‘明心 (ming xin)’”.

Another student added,“When your mind sees (得 de) clarity, you're on the right path (道 dao).”

Professor responded, "I still don't understand. I should already be on the path as I search for this very mind.”

Just like that, Master Hsin Tao inspired students to contemplate on the mind and the path at any point. As spontaneous as it is, any casual occasion could turn into a heartwarming Chan moment.

Awakening spirituality, changing your life

Students stated that attending the Experimental Winter School had led to many changes in their lives, enabling them to feel how each of their actions was connected to the environment and the Earth, and that all things under heaven and on the earth were interconnected and interrelated.

Elizaveta said she was glad attending the school and found out a new way of spirituality and mind awakening. Thus, she understood what else she can do for taking care of the environment. The Winter School in Myanmar was a new experience in her life, where Elizaveta discovered that she needs much less number of things she really needs. Besides, every time she intends to buy something she asks herself: "Do I really need this item? Is it necessary to buy it?"

Evgeny reminded the students who would be participating in the next session of the Experimental Winter School that they should “live in the moment” at all times, and that the school offered a complete curriculum, with something happening every minute. He told the students to focus at all times, since it is easy for them to miss course content if they are not careful, and to take advantage of the rare opportunities offered to them. They should learn as much as possible. The Winter School take the form of roundtable discussions, which are inherently transformative and inspiring, to the point that they produce instantaneous action. Unlike general taught courses, in which knowledge is transmitted in a one-way channel, the Winter School courses emphasize awakening and practice.

Joseph from Taiwan said that the greatest difference between the Winter School courses and ordinary courses was the awakening and cultivation of spirituality.  Only through spiritual awareness, he said, can human beings change their thoughts and actions. “General school can offer professional knowledge, but there is no way it can tell you how you should use this professional knowledge to face life and the future,” he described. “Actually,” he added, “this is a kind of lifestyle, since through the lifestyle we choose, we can change the entire ecology.”

Joseph shared his observations: “It is difficult to be truly awakened in life, yet after being awakened, you still need motivation to support continuing progress for human beings, and this is quite difficult. This is the core value of the University for Life and Peace.” He indicated that it is expected that the University will become a university that truly awakens spirituality.

Contributing to professionalism, solving problems

Master Bao Yi, a student from the last session of the Winter School and a facilitator in the coming session, said that during the Winter School coursework, the Founding Abbot of LJM, Dharma Master Hsin Tao will speak each day, letting him know that everything he does affects others, and the entire ecosphere. When one knows more clearly, one has greater awareness. When he started to carry environmentally-friendly chopsticks, the people around him followed suit, confirming that everyone affects the people around them.

He believes that the Winter School curriculum enables everyone to toss in their professional knowledge and learn from each other in a cross-disciplinary fashion, then together consider the problems of the ecosphere and how to save the earth. That is a sustainable direction, he added. He stated that as a facilitator of the 2nd University for Life and Peace, Winter School, he will not focus on sharing feelings or experiences during the mentoring process. Instead, he will help the students focus on the course discussions as much as he can, to get the students to work together to address ecological issues.

Last January, in a short two weeks, students from all over the world came to join the first Winter School in Yangon, Myanmar. Inevitably, there were transformations and rebirths, because spirituality is our common language, and loving the earth is our unshakeable mission. When spiritually is awakened, we can realize the principles of the interdependence and co-existence of all things.

As the Dharma Master Hsin Tao said at the opening of the first session of the Winter School in Yangon, Myanmar, “Because your wisdom and compassion give birth to the training plan of the Winter School, it will definitely become an important element in improving the global ecosphere in the future.” With instructors and students from all over the world, individuals with insight across a wide array of knowledge domains, and the continuous investment of attention and support over the years will make the movement to love the earth a flourishing, popular effort. One person is a seed that loves the Earth. When that seed falls on the fertile soil of the University for Life and Peace, it will sprout and thrive, driving more people to love the Earth and protect its ecosphere.