Open class with Buddhist leader discussed ethics, spirituality and happiness
The Commencement Hall of PUCRS was in full occupancy to hear Coen Roshi / Image: Camila Cunha
“We are all one. I need to recognize other people in myself.” By using these words to encourage otherness and mutual understanding, nun Coen Roshi, leader of the Religious Council of the Community Zen Budista Zendo Brasil, began her session with the academic community in the evening of Thursday, Mar 7. Before she began the main speech, she conducted a brief meditation session with more than 1,500 people, in an effort to foster relaxation and internal connection. All seats in the Commencement Hall were fully taken. “We need to adjust ourselves like we would tune the strings of an instrument, in quest of a point of equilibrium”, she said in a soft and loud voice. The absolute silence was only broken by the mumbles of a child, whom she commended as being the representation of everyone’s futures.
“When we talk about spirituality, it’s about complete life we’re talking about. Something so big and sacred we can’t give a name to”
The theme Ethics and Happiness, sparked discussions on the importance and need to respect to life, in several aspects, in all of its forms. “When we talk about ethics, are we really doing our best for other people or just for ourselves?”, she asked. She mentioned that people lose sensibility over time and open up for negative thoughts and attitudes. However, “there are ways to avoid whatever is harmful to our own mind, a way to see an ability stronger and bigger than what we actually have, which get us to see the wisdom of compassion”, Coen Roshi added. She recommended different forms of meditation as silence is a great tool to connect ourselves with our own minds.
Tolerance to differences
More than 1,500 people meditated at the Commencement Hall as they were being conducted by nun Coen Roshi / Image: Camila Cunha
As she delivered a message to value tolerance, she stressed the importance of dissent as a means of growth. “Those who have a different line of thought will not offend me. On the contrary, they will provide me with a different perspective.” In her own words, these things are what Buddha has preached. “It is not inside of you. It is everywhere. It is a manifestation of the sacred. People who realize that will lead a happy life”, the nun said. As for knowledge, she put that above academic life. “We’re all in an ongoing process of quest for truth. Not scientific but internal truth. The awakening to conscience”, she mentioned.
“Everything that happens to us makes us revisit ourselves. It has a connection and consequences”
As she is aware of the habits of contemporary life, especially of the audience’s inclination to watching series, Coen shared the messages of Merlí, a Netflix show. “The role of a teacher is to get people to think rather than receive knowledge without questioning. This issue that we may have been dealing with somehow needs to be addressed. Who am I? Who is God? Where is he? How does he show? What kind of meaning can I give to my existence? Think about it! Reflect upon it!”, the nun said.
Value life
Her messages include the respect to different lines of thought / Image: Camila Cunha
Many times over the course of the lecture, Coen Roshi addressed issues that are quite sensitive to many people, such as depression, suicide, death and cremation in a natural and light-hearted way. She claimed death to be something good and that it will come to everyone one day. In her view, the fact that all of us will certainly die at some point in our lives is a good reason to enjoy every moment in life. She claims to be a privileged person at the age of 73. Many people were taken aback when they learned about how old she was. She shared with the audience the immersion she had in India as she witnessed the tradition of cremating family members. She also talked about her father’s death. Back then, she prayed since the moment he closed his eyes till when his body turned into ashes, even when some people were trying to stop her. Coen is aware of the fact that each religion has their own beliefs and they need to be valued. However, life is gift to all of them.
“Our body, our vital energy, must be treated with respect. We need to be dignified in life and in death”
Before she finished, she reinforced to the audience that the quest for the sacred comes in many forms: the absolute presence, the wisdom of Buddha, justice and mercy. “We need to create a culture of peace. An active culture of non-violence. A culture that will be shared by our predecessors”. To her mind, servitude is above the satisfaction of personal pleasures. “How do I serve? What are the vows that I make in life? Doing good is the best vow one could ever make. Each one of us can make this world a better and more loving world”, the nun professes.
Musical greetings
Nun was welcomed by Br. Evilázio Teixeira at the President’s Office’s Great Hall/ Image: Camila Cunha
Coen Roshi’s disciple, monk Yakusan, gave a presentation at the beginning of her session. He is a faculty of PUCRS’ School of Medicine and is her family doctor. In the company of piano maestro Marcio Buzatto, he sang Perhaps Love, by John Denver, and Bridge Over Troubled Water, by Simon & Garfunkel. Before the event, Coen, who is the official missionary of the Soto Shu tradition of Buddhist Zen Antes, met with the president Br. Dr Evilázio Teixeira, at the Office of the President’s Great Hall. She was thrilled to make mention of her meeting with Teixeira during her session. They talked about spirituality, the university as a community and about how to encourage people to think and question the construction of a better world.
A life of dedication to Buddhism
Nun Coen Roshi began her zazen practices in the USA. She also lived in Japan for 12 years. When she returned to Brazil, she headed the Busshinji Temple in São Paulo for six years. This temple is the home of the Soto Shu tradition in Latin America, for six years. After that, she founded the Zen do Brasil Buddhist Community, based at the Tenzui Zenji Temple, in São Paulo.
Coen has written a number of books: Viva Zen, Sempre Zen, Palavras do Darma, A Sabedoria da Transformação, 108 Contos e Parábolas Orientais, O Monge e o Touro, O sofrimento é opcional, Zen para distraídos, O inferno somos nós, com Leandro Karnal, and A monja e o professor, in collaboration with Clóvis de Barros Filho. Today she works as an advisor for affiliated groups in several states all over Brazil. She promotes public activities that include inter-religious meetings and lectures to advance the principles of non-active violence and the culture of peace.
