UNIVERSAL CHAN
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Mission Statement
Universal Chan is a donation-based 501(c)(3) international Buddhist non-profit organization derived from the Chinese Chan (Chinese ‘禪’, Japanese ‘Zen’) Tradition, founded by the Chan Monk Da Xing. It operates mainly in Asia, Europe, and the USA, but we are open to be active in other countries as well. Compared to Asian countries where Buddhism is a prevalent religion, the USA has only been exposed to Buddhism for less than a century. Many active Buddhist schools across the USA are of Hinayana, Vajrayana, Mahayana, Chan, Japanese Zen, and doctrinal studies. All these traditions come from different countries and consequently reflect cultural influences and inflections specific to their place of origin. Although the Chinese Chan Tradition is present, we hope we can give our contribution to spread this wonderful teaching. It is a great pity that the vast majority of westerners have not been exposed to Chinese Chan, and even fewer people are able to use Chan Buddhism to improve their lives. The goal of the organization and of its affiliations is to spread the Chan Teachings to deeply benefit those interested in learning the teachings of the Buddha. In doing this, we use a modern approach rooted in ancient tradition to expose people to other aspects of ancient Chinese culture connected to this teaching. We hope numerous people will come to learn how to apply this teaching in order to achieve a more satisfying life and find liberation in any situation.
About This Cause
Universal Chan is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2017 in Berkeley, California, dedicated to spreading the Chan (Zen) teachings in order to deeply improve the lives of all sentient beings. The approach is through education: by teaching people the Chan principles and meditation methods (well-preserved Buddhist eastern wisdoms passed down from generation to generation) and how to apply them in all aspects of our daily life, Universal Chan shows people that there is an alternative way to live and experience life beyond what we are used to doing. The practice is to understand and cultivate the mind. By fostering a wholesome mind, we would be actualizing the age-old adage of “be the change you wish to see in the world.” When more and more people put effort into cultivating their minds, naturally more kindness, care, and compassion will follow in everyone’s actions, thoughts, and speech. Then in any situation, people will be more equipped to listen to each other completely and find common ground to cooperate and compromise. Universal Chan is at the forefront of this revolutionary educational movement. That is why we are calling for you to support our educational programs. We need your support because we are a completely donation-based non-profit organization and do not charge anything for our classes or activities. 1) We are donation-based because we follow the Buddhist tradition of making sure everyone has access to the teachings so they can benefit, regardless of financial constraints. 2) Being donation-based is also centrally related to the Chan teachings because it is to encourage people to donate so that they can cultivate generosity and the willingness to help others. 3) In addition, the majority of the organization’s work is done by volunteers. By giving to this cause, you will be helping to cover the costs associated with our current operations, addition of more educational programs, and further development of our organization. Your contribution will go towards funding our: 1) Cost of overhead for running the Center located in Berkeley, including rent and utilities, cost of maintaining the Center, insurance, repairs, payroll, and more. 2) Cost of current curriculum: • Tea Chan at the Center: Universal Chan uses tea as a tool to teach the Chan principles, where people can practice harmonizing the body and mind and cultivate awareness of the present moment by tasting tea with prajna wisdom. In order to secure the quality of class, the tea we use is very premium, high-quality tea with lots of variety from mainland China and Taiwan. • Hiking Chan: We offer daily or longer Hiking Chan Retreats for people who particularly like outdoor practice, where the walking is the prevalent part, while also implementing Sitting Chan, Exercise Chan, and other methods. • Chan Retreats: We provide retreats of different time lengths to beginners and advanced practitioners to help participants deeply engage in various techniques. During the retreats, participants may be involved in working, exercising, sitting, walking, and bowing periods to enable them to use the Chan principles in daily life more efficiently. Costs associated with organizing a retreat include renting a space, food, supplies, equipment, vehicle maintenance, travel expenses, and more. • Camping Chan: We practice Chan in a conducive environment where we camp, cook, clean, exercise, stretch, hike, and sit together. We reserve campsites in local, regional, county, state, and/or national parks. • Half-Day Chan and 1-Day Chan Practices: We hold these longer classes to give students opportunities for more immersive Chan practices. We include a variety of activities, such as Sitting Chan, Walking Chan, Exercise Chan, Bowing Chan, Recitation Chan, and Tea Chan. • Zen Meditation With Tea Workshops for Seniors/schools/organizations: In serving the community, Universal Chan also collaborates with local organizations such as senior centers and high schools to host these workshops to teach some Chan wisdom, relaxation techniques, gentle exercises, and meditation. 3) Cost of expanding the organization: • Expansion of Tea Chan class throughout the Bay Area: We are planning to offer more classes in the Bay Area and other parts of California to introduce Chan to more senior centers, schools, and other organizations. Accessibility is key. Costs include room rental expenses and fees (renting by the hour), meal costs, tea & implements, transportation, and more. • Expanding the Center in the future by renting or purchasing another property: With a bigger space, we will be able to provide a more immersive daily living Chan practice where students can live at the Center and take a variety of classes such as: gardening, woodworking, calligraphy, Hiking Chan, Tea Chan, vegetarian cooking, growing organic fruits and vegetables, summer camp, and retreats. An eco-friendly and sustainable Center. • Inviting Teachers From Abroad: Hosting teachers from abroad to come give Dharma talks and lead meditation retreats here will give students a more comprehensive exposure to Chan and help strengthen their practice. Your contribution matters. Donations are tax-deductible. You can make all the difference by giving to Universal Chan’s cause today. Thank you so much for your support!