On the other side THIS IS KIEV UNIVERSITY |

KIEV UNIVERSITY was founded in 1834. The inauguration ceremony was held on July 16 that year to the solemn toll of the St. Sophia Cathe- dral bells. It ushered in the first academic year for the 62 students of the university’s only department, philosophy.

In the 153 years that have passed the school has graduated over 120,000 peo- ple. It was alma mater to such prominent scien- tists and cultural figures as the famous geophysicist Otto Schmidt; one of the fathers of electric welding Nikolai Benardos; the writer Niko- lai bulgakov, author of “The Master and Margarita”; the prominent Ukrainian com- poser Nikolai Lysenko and the outstanding cardiologist Nikolai Strazhesko.

The university has ac- quired a new campus in ad- dition to the old building in downtown Kiev. It now occupies a territory of 100 hectares in the upper town.

Kieve University has 16 departments: chemistry, bi- ology, geography, geology,

by Alix Kreap

THE ZEN MOVEMENT in China is described as a revolution in Buddhism. The word Zen means Meditation. Meditation changed its char- acter in China; meditation was not understood in the In- dian sense of concentration but in the Taoist sense of conserving vital energy, re- ducing desire, preserving na- ture. In the end, meditation simply meant the direct en- lightenment of the mind.

There were two schools of Chinese Zen Buddhism. While the Northern School advocates gradual enlighten- ment, the Southern School advocates sudden enlighten- ment. The Northern School considers the mind in its undisturbed state as calm- ness and the senses in their undisturbed state as wisdom, but the Southern School re- fuses to accept the distiction, regarding both as of one sub- stance and not two. In fact, the Southern School consid- ers the Buddha-mind to be everywhere so that anything can be an occasion for its re- alization at any moment and that this realization can take

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history, radiophysics, ‘philos- ophy, physics, philology, law, economics, mathematics, cy- bernetics, journalism, Ro- man and German languages, international relations and international law. It of- fers training in 40 profes- sions amd 107 and its day, evening and correspondence departments have an aggregated enroll- ment of 20,000, including representatives of 60 ethnic groups inhabiting the USSR and 88 foreign countries.

specialties,

‘The university’s botan-

gardens, observatory and library all date back to the 19th cen- tury. Its research facilities have seen considerable mod- ernization in the past few years. Today 7,500 students are involved in research. In the past decade alone around 2,500 Candidate of Science and Doctorate theses have been defended there.

The 19 campus dormito- ries, complete with reading- halls, student centres and sports facilities accommo- date nearly 10,000. Accord-

ical astronomical

place in any way. It was out of this major concept that the peculiar Zen meth- ods have evolved.

The most puzzling tech- nique of the Southern School is that of shouting and beat- ing. These are an unortho-

*

the Uni- versity’s humanities depart- ments have been gaining popularity in the past few years. There has been a de- cline in interest in natural science, it seems, though the cybernetics department is

ing to statistics,

still extremely popular. Last year the philosophy depart- ment introduced a course in applied sociology, which im- mediately attracted numer- ous applicants.

As at other Soviet stitutions of higher learning,

. in-

Zen Buddhism

late 8th century A.D. From these conversations, we can

obtain a glimpse of humor in Zen Buddhism:

1. The Master ascended the hall. A monk asked, “What is the basic idea of the

dox way of shocking the pupil out of his outmoded men- tal habits and preconceived opinions so that his mind will be pure, clear, and thor- oughly awakened. This type of mental training is utterly Chinese. Chinese meditation works with the aid of exter- nal influence, operates in this world, emphasizes quick wit and insight, and aims at self- realization.

The following are some recorded conversations of a Zen Master who lived in the

Law preached by the Bud- dha?”

The Master lifted up his swatter. The monk shouted, and the Master beat him.

The monk asked again, “What is the basic idea of the Law preached by the Bud- dha?”

The Master again lifted up his swatter. The monk shouted, and the Master shouted also. As the monk hesitated about what to say, the Master beat him.

Thereupon the Master said, “Listen, men. Those who pursue after the Law

will not escape from death. |

I was in my late Master Huang-po’s place for twenty years. Three times I asked him about the basic idea of the Law preached by the Buddha and three times he bestowed upon me the staff. I felt I was struck only by a dried stalk. Now I wish to have a real beating. Who can do it to me?”

One monk came out of the group and said, “I can do tate ‘ The Master picked up the staff to give him. As he was about to take it over, the Master beat him.

2. Question: “What is meant by the mind not being different at different times?”

The Master answered,

“As you deliberated. to ask the question, your mind has already become different. . .

“Seekers of the Way, if you want to achieve the understanding according to the Law, don’t be deceived by others-and turn to your

tuition at Kiev University is free, and students making

good progress receive state

grants. All graduates are

guaranteed employment m their chosen profession. '

thoughts internally or ob- jects externally. Kill any: thing you happen on. Kill the Buddha if you happet to meet him. Kill a patti arch if you happen to mee!

him. Kill your parents or rel-

atives if you happen to meet them. Only then can yol be free, not bound by m« terial things, and absolutel/ free and at ease. . . I havé no trick to give people. ! merely cure disease and s¢ people free. . . My views at few. I merely put on clothin§ and eat meals as usual, and pass my time without doin$ anything. You people cot ing from the various dire“ tions have all made up yo" minds to seek the Buddb* seek the Law, seek eman pation, and seek to leave tht Three Worlds. ‘Crazy pe ple! If you want to leave th* Three Worlds, where can y™ go?. . . Do you want to kno¥ where the Three Worlds et They are right in your ™" which is now listening to * Law.” |

3. When the Master ”” among Huang-po’s congt¢é

Thursday February 18th 1988