This year will be my second year as the House Manager of Middle House, formerly Buddhist House (or Buho). As HM, with a deep interest and practice in Buddhism and residential experience at Dai Bosatsu Zendo Zen Monastery, I have been working along with residents, friends, Reslife, and my Buddhist sangha to bring the house closer to its mission of providing a space on campus for residents and non-residents to learn about Buddhism, explore Buddhist thought, and develop or maintain Buddhist practices.
I worked closely this past summer with my Zen teacher and other Buddhist practitioners on how to setup a meditation room and altar, develop house rules, and create a schedule for weekly meditations and Buddhist services. Additionally, this semester, we will have several Buddhist guest lectures, mindfulness workshops, and attend weekend meditation retreats to Buddhist monasteries.
With this renewed commitment to a dedicated Buddhist space, I will soon be proposing to change the name back to Buddhist House. As HM, I feel that it is important that the name more closely reflect the mission of the house, and be easily identifiable to the greater community. The name was changed to Middle House roughly a year and a half ago in response to student criticisms inferring cultural appropriation and misrepresentation of Buddhism by the house community. It’s true that the house had strayed from its mission, but I feel confident now that this is no longer true, and that the house will serve Wesleyan well as a space for people with a common interest, practice, and/or identification with Buddhism. I am excited to open our doors this year to new residents and to the Wesleyan community, so that together we can create a mindful and sincere space for Buddhist living, inquiry and practice, with a more intensive schedule of meditation and chanting, and an ongoing relationship with Dai Bosatsu Zendo Monastary.
Monday, September 11thth, at 5:00 pm, we will be holding a meeting in our meditation room to further discuss this proposed name change, the culture of the house, and its future. All are welcome to join in the discussion. Please also see our meditation, Buddhist service, and yoga schedule below. For house event updates, email ltrampota@wesleyan.edu to be added to our listserv.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 5:30 – 6:20 pm: Meditation, Chanting, & Discussion
Sunday, 10 – 11 am: Morning Service & Meditation
Sunday, 11a – 12 pm: Ashtanga Yoga
*All new comers arrive early for meditation instruction & posture review