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POSTED AT 10:21 PM ON Sep. 25, 2012  (UPDATED AT 12:21 AM ON Sep. 26, 2012)

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When entering the Woodburn Hall classroom on Tuesday and Thursday nights, the scene isn’t too different from a normal class: a group of IU students sitting around a plain wooden table, and an instructor leading a discussion about the day’s reading.

But it isn’t just a class.

It’s part of a larger meditation, and the students are discussing the works of the Dalai Lama.

The Buddhist Study Association has been having meditation instruction like these for the past 20 years. Until now, they have only been offered in Chinese.

Starting this fall, the organization decided it was time to also offer the classes in English.

“The Chinese classes were a language barrier,” class leader and freshman Sarabeth Couch said. “There weren’t previously resources to translate the readings, but because there’s been more interest, we were able to get more resources.”

Because many Chinese characters don’t have direct English translations, the organization has previously been unable to translate readings.

“It was difficult for even the Chinese students to understand the terms,” Couch said. “And it was even more challenging for them to translate it to English.”

Now that Buddhism has become more popular with English speakers, Couch said, more authors have published about the subject, making it simpler to teach it to English speakers.

More bilingual instructors are willing to help out.

The English classes consist of guided meditation, prayers, readings and discussion for beginners. The class teaches Sunlun meditation, which is the traditional peaceful meditation. The class also includes Mahasi deep breathing meditation.

Students who have participated in the class said the meditation has helped them in many different ways.

“Meditation has given me much more awareness over my thoughts and actions,”said Andy Cooper,who attends the classes. “And through that awareness I have gained some understanding of myself and others.”

The students who attend the classes aren’t all Buddhist, either.

The classes, which started Sept. 11, are offered at 6 p.m. every Tuesday in Woodburn 006 and Thursday in Woodburn 118.
 
For more information, contact Sarabeth Couch at slcouch@indiana.edu.  For other English activities about Buddhism, students should contact the Asian Culture Center or check the schedule of events on ganden.org.

Attendees need no prior knowledge of meditation to participate.

“The only thing you need to bring is an open mind,” Couch said.