Buddhist club changes lives
A rumbling coo surges out through a door slightly ajar, rushing to embrace the cloudy evening. As one speaker embellishes on his friendship lesson, the remaining members of the Buddhists for World Peace Club sit enthralled and complacent.
This club has been around for quite some time, and several of the members have been able to witness its growth and development.
“Around eight or nine years ago, I knew some people who were apart of it; they were my friends,” said club member Jeffrey Welliver. “After seeing there lives and how it affected them, I decided to check it out.”
Since this club has been functioning for several years, it has been able to win world acclaim. It has also been recognized by 191 countries and territories across the globe.
“The president [of this club] is respected all around the world,” said Harry Tolliver, 31, accounting. “He calmed down the tension between Russia and China.”
The Buddhists for World Peace Club has become a part of the community’s usual routine.
“This club is in people’s daily lives,” said Tolliver. “They have community meetings in people’s houses.”
After a few members taught their lessons, The Buddhist club represented here at Saddleback College, divided into two groups to talk about relationship issues and problems they have or are experiencing right now.
Many members voiced how chanting certain wise sentiments brought about reconciliation in some relationships. Welliver told his group how his sister and he had just now started conversing again after five years of no contact.
“Some chants are for happiness of not just our lives, but for others as well,” said Tolliver. “Peace is necessary in this world and it can happen, but only if each citizen exhibits that. People must strive to become better selves. People can feel complete today before they die. There is a heaven on earth.”
The Buddhists for World Peace talked about ten worlds, which range from low to high. A person can only be in one state at one time, and while he is in that world, the others are lie dormant. The lowest world is hell, where the person is overwhelmed by suffering, and the highest is appropriately named Buddhahood, where the person is wrapped up in a state of perfect freedom and peace.
Absolutely anyone can experience Budhahood, just as anyone can welcome Buddhism into their life.
“Any single person can achieve Buddahood,” said Officer Letita Steiner, 25, Business. “You don’t have to be a Buddha.”