Silence is golden at Zen Buddhist Temple

 

If asked about the Zen Buddhist Temple on Packard Street in Ann Arbor, most people would probably think of the wall that separates the temple from the street.

“The wall is there not to separate us from the rest of the town,” said senior member Catherine Brown of Ann Arbor.

It serves, instead, as noise barrier. Silence plays a key role in a Zen Buddhist service.

Upon entering the temple, those in attendance sit in quiet meditation for about 20 minutes. This is repeated at the end of service.

Meditation is integral to the Zen Buddhist belief system. Meditation is how Siddharta Gautama reached enlightenment to become the first Buddha, according to tradition.

Kim McCusker of Dearborn Heights believes meditation should be a part of everyone’s life.

“You want to talk about some good relaxation,” she said. “It gets you thinking the right way.”

McCusker found Zen Buddhism after realizing that the Catholic church she was attending was not for her. After attending Zen services, she said, “I felt completely where I was supposed to be.”

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