To begin studying the function of Buddhism within my local community, I need to first understand how Buddhism is taught and spread in my surrounding area. I begin my research at the Emaho Foundation, a non-profit center for Buddhism dedicated to "preserving and sharing Tibetan culture, supporting humanitarian projects, and assisting with spiritual development." Founded in 2001, the Emaho Foundation offers Buddhist teachings to the public on a weekly basis, including meditations, lectures and discussions on the teachings of the Buddha, and even documentaries about Tibetan culture and lifestyle. Please click on the link below to learn more about what this unique organization offers to the community of Phoenix and Scottsdale:
The most popular activity at the Emaho is Wednesday night meditation, an event where people of all spiritual traditions and backgrounds are welcome to come and explore the inner-workings of their minds. This was the first event I experienced at the Emaho, and I was very happy to have attended. Coming to the Emaho on Wednesday nights is an excellent way to discover meditation, the art of living in the present, which is a foundational aspect of Buddhism. Wednesday night meditations require no knowledge of Buddhism, Tibetan culture, or even meditation-- so why not try it out? This was my mentality when I first came to the Emaho, and it is this same mentality that entices members of my community to do the same.
Aside from Wednesday nights, the Emaho Foundation offers a wider variety of exposure to Buddhism, for example the Lam Rim Intensive courses. These courses contain the essence of the 84,000 teachings of the Buddha, and they are crucial to understanding Buddhism on a deeper level. The Lam Rim is offered in a series of courses that are spread out over various weeks. I began taking these courses to discover how members of my community study Buddhism on a deeper level, and to see how those studies are unique to the community of Scottsdale and Phoenix. I will be using the Emaho Foundation as a major resource throughout the rest of my Senior Research Project.
Please feel free to come and meditate with me on a Wednesday night! I would love to see you all at the Emaho...
- Matt Riback
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