Those who frequent the Harrison Street corridor may have noticed the Vajrayana Buddhist Center’s new yellow awning at 13 Harrison Street or seen the resident teacher Gen Kelsang Khedrub (the term Gen means teacher in Tibetan) and his assistant Kelsang Wangden hurrying down the block in their Buddhist robes. The Vajrayana Buddhist Center moved from its former location on Lake Street and purchased the new building on Harrison to serve as the main center in the Chicago area. There are also branch locations located in Darien, Lakeview, Evanston, Palatine, Grayslake and Palos Heights.

I met with Kelsang Wangden, Education Program Coordinator, and Diane Bejcek, Administrative Director at Vajrayana. Gen Kelsang Khedrub, the resident teacher, was attending the International Summer Festival at the Kadampa Temple in Ulverston, England. New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) Buddhists from around the world have gathered there to listen to and learn from their Spiritual Leader, the Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

Our interview took place in the newly renovated Center on Harrison. The building has been divided into a meditation room, an informal meeting room and an administrative office space. They also have a back yard with a small garden. New drywall had been hung and freshly painted and the Center has a comfortable, homey feel despite its external storefront.

Wangden’s conviction and serenity is notable despite his young age. It was clear to me that Wangden found what he was looking for. His responsibilities as Education Program Coordinator at the Center involve ensuring the courses at the Center and branches run smoothly and efficiently. Kelsang Wangden also works at the River Forest Animal Hospital where he’s been employed for the last seven years. His work at the Vajrayana Center is purely voluntary, so this is how he supports himself. “Working with animals helps me feel grounded,” he states. “It doesn’t even feel like work. I feel like I’m hanging out with friends.”

Diane Bejcek, the Center’s Administrative Director, handles the secular aspects of running the facility including paying the bills. She is a Clinical Psychologist by profession and like Kelsang Wangden, volunteers her time at Vajrayana. Both Diane and Wangden also teach classes. Diane reports that she read books on Buddhism all her life, but never became farther involved until she saw a flier advertising the classes taught by Gen Khedrub. “In the first class I went to, Gen Khedrub presented the teachings in a very inspiring, clear, practical way. There’s something special about the focus of studies with a spiritual guide, a teacher. I now understand why it’s impossible to move along the path without one.”

Relying upon a spiritual guide is, in fact, one of the threads that runs consistently through all forms of Buddhism along with other ideas such as Karma, death, impermanence, compassion and wisdom. Though the goal of finding inner peace is universal to all forms of Buddhism, the methods by which one reaches this end may differ. Kelsang Wangden states, “One of the beautiful things about our tradition (New Kadampa) is that it is tailored to Westerners and is completely applicable in our society, but the essence of the teachings is complete. Nothing is lost. The teachings are pure, coming straight from the mind of the teacher to the disciple.”

I wondered what exactly it means to “practice” Buddhism. Does that refer to meditation, lifestyle, choices one makes moment to moment? Wangden and Diane were clear in their answer to this question. Meditation goes hand in hand with lifestyle. Meditation practice facilitates what one does in his everyday life. The more one’s internal environment changes, the more his external environment will change.

When one chooses to attend classes at the Vajrayana Center, nothing is forced. Lifestyle choices need not change. Whether an individual is ordained or lay, male or female, he or she can practice at whatever level matches his or her understanding. One needn’t give up anything unless compelled to do so. Buddhism is not an evangelical religion, so the goal is not to “convert”
students.

Should an individual decide to commit him or herself to a Buddhist way of life, there is no specific length of study required before ordination as a monk or nun. It depends upon the individual and how long it takes him or her to grasp the concepts and put the principles into practice. Connections with the Spiritual Guide and the tradition, and the wish to study all make the difference.

The Vajrayana Buddhist Center has an excellent, informative website with links to other resources. It can be found at www.meditateinchicago.org. Check it out and consider attending a class. One need not be Buddhist to benefit from meditation. Buddhists respect all people and are happy to help anyone regardless of whether they subscribe to another faith, or to none. There are suggested donations for each class, but no one is prevented from attending any program for financial reasons. The Vajrayana Buddhist Center is a not for profit organization. They periodically hold fundraisers and will be hosting a silent auction at the 19th Century Club this October.

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Story Telling

With Mary Ralph
at Buzz Café

Monday mornings at 10 a.m.
Bring a favorite book or just listen along!
*Stories are appropriate for children under 5

Coffee with Camille

This is a chance to discuss ideas, make suggestions, offer constructive feedback, find out what's happening on the arts scene and offer input on how the Council can better serve the needs of the arts community.

at
Buzz Café
905 S. Lombard Ave.
For more info call the Oak Park Area Arts Council
at 358-5692