Fallbrook alum to attend retreat in Taiwan

FALLBROOK – Fallbrook High alum Tyler McCune will be spending part of his summer vacation in monastic robes while participating in the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Monastic Retreat at the Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Southern Taiwan.

Fo Guang Shan Temple, the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan, is opening its doors to 50 to 60 university students interested in experiencing authentic Chinese Buddhist monastic life.

Past participant Justin Whitaker wrote in a blog that the program has a “notable intensity factor.” McCune says he wants to work hard and is ready for whatever is thrown at him.

“I know that it’s going to be a lot of work,” McCune said, “but I’m really excited to be part of something so special.”

Participants are expected to adhere to the five basic ethics of Buddhism and eat a monastic diet, which consists of strict lacto-ovo vegetarianism.

Once the participants are accustomed to daily monastic life, they will begin the next phase, a one-week silent Chan meditation retreat. According to the Fo Guang Shan website, “This retreat, lasting seven days and held in full silence, will take place in the Fo Guang Shan Chan meditation hall, led by experienced monastic meditation teachers. This is valuable time to apply the Buddhist teachings learnt in the first two weeks to look deep within one’s own mind, a critical part of the process of Buddhist spiritual development.”

McCune said this phase of the retreat is what he is looking forward to most and hopes that he will develop the skills necessary to calm his mind while learning about himself.

“I have never had a chance to not talk or live in total silence for a whole week,” McCune said, “It’s weird to think about, because I usually have so many distractions, things that I assume make me happy, and now I can put those assumptions to the test.”

After the silent meditation retreat, McCune will have the chance to talk as he and close to 1,000 other youth will take part in the 2014 International Youth Seminar on Life and Chan, a seminar designed to facilitate discussion between young Buddhists.

The retreat ends with a three-day tour in which participants will see scenic, cultural and religious sites along the entire length of the island of Taiwan.

McCune will then make his way home and then back to Chico State University, where he will begin his senior year of college.

“I am just grateful and feel blessed for the opportunity to experience something so outside my frame of reference,” said McCune.

He will be keeping a blog during his experience which can be accessed at http://tyintaiwan.blogspot.com/.