The Globalization & Human Rights minor had the honor of visiting the Oxford Buddha Vihara to meet with a Thai monk, learn about the core principles and practices of Buddhism, ask questions, and experience a guided meditation. We learned about the Four Noble Truths: that suffering exists; that suffering is caused by attachment; that there is a way out of suffering; and that the way out of suffering is through practicing the Noble Eightfold Path. We learned about the fundamental principles embedded within the Eightfold Path, which are spiritual values found in all major religions and are generally accepted as positive moral guidelines across cultures. These include honesty, nonviolence, compassion, and generosity. We also heard about the daily routine for monks living in a Buddhist monastery, and about the spread of Buddhism from Southeast Asia to Europe and the Americas. The students asked insightful questions related to cultural appropriation, the commoditization of spirituality, and the practicalities of being a devout spiritual student in the modern world.

There were beautiful moments of connection and cross-cultural understanding that led organically into a shared meditation practice. Seated in a circle on floor cushions, the monk guided us to become aware of our breath. He told us to simply notice the thoughts that come into our minds or sensations in our bodies and to accept them without judgment before drawing our attention back to our breath, over and over again. Notice; accept; return to the breath. There were extended moments of silence punctuated by his gentle reminders. When he instructed us to slowly bring our awareness back to the room and open our eyes, we were amazed to realize that 15 minutes had passed. The students expressed their gratitude to him with grace and sincerity as he tied small bracelets around each of our wrists in a simple ritual of blessing. The feeling in the room was one of great warmth and peace; the students were noticeably moved by the experience and it was beautiful to watch. Their curiosity, engagement, open-mindedness, and presence gave me a profound feeling of gratitude for being part of their learning process during this summer adventure we are all having together.

— Becca & the Globalization minor