The Science of Gossip | Research: Not just for grad students | The Dissection of Discovery
By Megan Z. Shearin '06
Why Does Undergraduate Research Matter?
“Undergraduate research is a natural part of being a scholar and a natural part of being actively engaged in their profession. A scholar is always interested in pushing the boundaries of human knowledge, thought and imagination. Undergraduate research not only prepares students for advanced study in their discipline, but it trains the student to work like the advanced professionals in their discipline.”
Dr. Travis Malone
Program Coordinator, Theatre Department
Humanities Representative to the Undergraduate Research Committee
Confucius, a famous Chinese philosopher once said “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”
Kori Robins ’09, of Chesapeake, Va., is a testament to his words. A double major in religious studies and history, Robins spent 30 days in the summer of 2007 studying Buddhism in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, at the Fo Guang Shan Monastery through the Woodenfish Program. The purpose of her journey was an independent undergraduate research project titled, “The Lifestyle of Chinese Buddhist Monastics.”
I really wanted to understand how Buddhism and Christianity could be cohesive,” said Robins, who is in the process of writing an introductory book on Buddhism with the help of her faculty adviser, Dr. Craig Wansink, Batten Professor of Religious Studies.
A devoted United Methodist Christian, Robins immersed herself in Buddhism to learn how traditional Chinese monks live and how religion influences their daily life. It was a major step outside of her comfort zone and a grueling experience, “but it was definitely the most incredible thing I have ever done in my entire life,” she said.
The Woodenfish Program was entirely structured around Humanistic Buddhism, from the food Robins ate to the structure of her typical day with the integration of spiritual practices to reach enlightenment.
The Simplicity of Structure
Her typical day began at 5:30 a.m. with Tai Chi and Meditation in the morning, followed by a vegetarian breakfast that consisted of soup, rice, two vegetables and tofu. During breakfast the students had to face the center of the dining hall, participate in chanting before and after the meal and then eat in silence.
After breakfast, Robins attended class which was centered on Buddhist beliefs, Buddhist philosophy, Buddhist psychology, Chinese history/culture and Sutras. Lunch involved the same food as breakfast, followed by more class time with Dharma talk and evening chanting before lights out at 10 p.m.
During the third week of the program, Robins participated in a meditation retreat with 40 other students where they lived, slept and meditated in complete silence for six days. No spoken language, eye contact or body gestures were allowed.
Robins’ Reflections
From her experience, Robins said she learned more than she ever expected about the lifestyle of Buddhist monastics and herself. At times she wanted to give up, but now looking back she fully appreciates her experience.
“My experience was something completely opposite and it’s therapeutic to look back and reflect,” she said. “I wish I was back because everything in Taiwan was so simple… the monks told us that structure makes everything simple, and it does… I miss it.”
Wansink, who found and recommended the program for Robins, said he is proud of his student for her accomplishments with the independent research project.
“Kori had a unique and tough experience, but her experience was transformative,” he said. “Independent research that’s meaningful causes some disjointedness and it takes a student a number of months to look back on their research to understand… Kori gets what her experience is about.”
“I’m thankful for my undergraduate research grant because without it I would have never been able to participate in the program,” said Robins. “It was the highlight of my academic career at Virginia Wesleyan.”
Although Robins said she could not make immediate connections between Buddhism and Christianity while at the monastery, time and reflection have allowed her to find three similarities between the two faiths.
The first similarity Robins found is the compassion factor. “Both Jesus and Buddha looked at the undesirables in society and showed compassion,” she said. The second similarity is detachment – “Both figures stress that we shouldn’t cling to things in this world or make other things our source of happiness,” she added.
And the third similarity is the meditation factor. “Both faiths share the need for silence… the focus at the monastery is meditation and the focus at church is prayer,” she concluded.
Robins is also quick to say that there are differences between the two faiths. One difference is that Buddha is from royalty and Jesus is not. To further understand why, Robins is supplementing her independent study with additional research on Jesus.
One might question how Robins has the time or desire to do more research. For her, research is about educating herself.
“The main motivation for all my research is the saying that minds are like parachutes…they only work if they’re opened,” she said. “I like that mentality.”
“The liberal arts have given me a desire to want to explore and make connections,” Robins said. “Going to Taiwan was really a culmination of education and lessons I had received thus far.”
Minds are like parachutes… they only work if they’re opened.