In a modest house just east of Interstate 35 in North Austin, a small group of students and professionals alike filtered in barefoot to a large rectangular room with throw pillows.
Members of Diamond Way Buddhism, most of whom are under 30, came for a group lecture, one of three in a series held last weekend in preparation for the Dalai Lama's speech at the Erwin Center Tuesday. Diamond Way Buddhism is a student group at the University that opened to the public in 1998.
Perched on pillows, the group listened to a lecture about how to calm the mind and develop wisdom and compassion. The lecture ended with a brief meditation and prayer.
Austin resident Sergio Ayala gives lectures and guides others in the group on meditation techniques. Ayala also travels to six or seven Diamond Way Buddhist centers throughout the country every year to speak. He does not use a specific title, nor does anyone else in the group.
"We're more like a big organism," Ayala said. "It's all based on friendship and idealism."
Ayala said the Dalai Lama practices a different lineage, or tradition, of Buddhism. The lineage of the Dalai Lama is a monastic tradition that focuses on studying, while the Diamond Way focuses on meditation, said Ayala.
"We love the Dalai Lama, and we support him," Ayala said. "We march side by side, but we still remain distinct."
Ayala said that in Texas, sometimes people are unfamiliar with Buddhist traditions and are not always open-minded.
"It is Bible-belt country," Ayala said. "Our flyers are taken down pretty quick. But I've only had a face-to-face confrontation once or twice; that's pretty rare."
Mike Jeffcoat, a philosophy senior at Southwestern University, has been a member of the group for a year and plans to start a Diamond Way Buddhism group in Georgetown.
Tammy Lee, a 2004 philosophy graduate of the University, said their budget comes from donations given by the public or friends of the group. Lee plans to ask the University for funding to advertise Buddhist teacher Lama Ole Nydahl. He will speak on campus Nov. 28.
Events in preparation for the Dalai Lama
Monday
A.C.E.S building, Avaya Auditorium, Room 2.302
* 2 p.m. "Change and Continuity among Tibetan Nomads, 1986-2005." A lecture by Melvyn Goldstein, John Reynold Harkness, professor of anthropology and co-director of the Center for Research on Tibet, Case Western Reserve University.
* 4 p.m. Lecture-Demonstration of Traditional and Contemporary Tibetan Music. A lecture by Dr. Keila Diehl from Stanford University and a performance by Techung, a Tibetan singer, songwriter and performer.
* 7 p.m. Performance of Tibetan Music. Techung will perform selections of contemporary and traditional Tibetan music.
* All three events will take place in the Avaya Auditorium. The events are free and open to the general public. No ticket or pass is required in order to attend.
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