Buddhist Circle
One of the core activities that I am going to get involved in--Buddhist Circle has sprung into a new chapter. With the new logo, new website layout, and new theme ( A whole new experience ) of the Cambridge University Buddhist Society, we are all enthusiastic about this year's activities. After a short film on Life of The Buddha, the discussion went on with a surprisingly high level start. The new members offered their experiences which are tied to their philosophical ideas. I was afraid that the old members get intimidated by the heavy stuff because most of them seem to be a little quiet.
I am not having the intention to draw the border between asians and westerners, but we cannot ignore that there is a difference in the way they act in the discussion today or in daily life in general. The feeling of today's discussion is just different from previous discussions that we had last term. I am not sure whether it is because that there are newcomers or is it because that is the way westerners do in discussions. Previous discussions are more like discussion amongst a group of close friends. Today's discussion is inspiring and interesting but the sense of closeness was not really felt.
Rachael, our senior treasurer mentioned that she could just feel the difference when it is a group of asians carrying out that discussion. She said that there is just a kind of feeling which I guess it the closeness that Asians bring. But westerners have not learnt this as she said, they each come for themselves. For example, my meditation, my philosophy etc. On the other hand, Asians are less able to convey and share one's thought sometimes. The intriguing discussion couldn't have happened if the group consists of asians only. I guess we have got things to learn from each other.
This leads to an article which came out in the Varsity newspaper today with the title "UK universities failed to integrate foreign students". I was actually interviewed about this issue by Varsity and expressed my views that foreign students really find it hard to integrate with the British. It might be due to British being unaware of the uneasiness of foreign students in mixing around with them. It could be partly due to British students just do not bother to understand us or just simply not that interested. Internationals here also have the responsibility perhaps. We do not take the first step to explain our situation and to reach out and say: We need help.
I really hope that the members from different culture and background in the Buddhist Circle can break through this cultural barrier and form the close-knit environment again. It is a challenge which I am willing to take because I do not want Buddhist groups to be fragmented according the regions and cultures. Because come to think of it, we, whether from the East or the West, are not that much different. We look for the same thing and suffer from pretty much the same problems.
One of the core activities that I am going to get involved in--Buddhist Circle has sprung into a new chapter. With the new logo, new website layout, and new theme ( A whole new experience ) of the Cambridge University Buddhist Society, we are all enthusiastic about this year's activities. After a short film on Life of The Buddha, the discussion went on with a surprisingly high level start. The new members offered their experiences which are tied to their philosophical ideas. I was afraid that the old members get intimidated by the heavy stuff because most of them seem to be a little quiet.
I am not having the intention to draw the border between asians and westerners, but we cannot ignore that there is a difference in the way they act in the discussion today or in daily life in general. The feeling of today's discussion is just different from previous discussions that we had last term. I am not sure whether it is because that there are newcomers or is it because that is the way westerners do in discussions. Previous discussions are more like discussion amongst a group of close friends. Today's discussion is inspiring and interesting but the sense of closeness was not really felt.
Rachael, our senior treasurer mentioned that she could just feel the difference when it is a group of asians carrying out that discussion. She said that there is just a kind of feeling which I guess it the closeness that Asians bring. But westerners have not learnt this as she said, they each come for themselves. For example, my meditation, my philosophy etc. On the other hand, Asians are less able to convey and share one's thought sometimes. The intriguing discussion couldn't have happened if the group consists of asians only. I guess we have got things to learn from each other.
This leads to an article which came out in the Varsity newspaper today with the title "UK universities failed to integrate foreign students". I was actually interviewed about this issue by Varsity and expressed my views that foreign students really find it hard to integrate with the British. It might be due to British being unaware of the uneasiness of foreign students in mixing around with them. It could be partly due to British students just do not bother to understand us or just simply not that interested. Internationals here also have the responsibility perhaps. We do not take the first step to explain our situation and to reach out and say: We need help.
I really hope that the members from different culture and background in the Buddhist Circle can break through this cultural barrier and form the close-knit environment again. It is a challenge which I am willing to take because I do not want Buddhist groups to be fragmented according the regions and cultures. Because come to think of it, we, whether from the East or the West, are not that much different. We look for the same thing and suffer from pretty much the same problems.
posted by Wei Shen @ 4:51 PM
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