MISSION & VISION
The Compassionate Service Society (CSS) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization based in southern California. CSS was founded by Master Ce Hang Truong in 2002. Though founded on Buddhist principles, CSS takes an ecumenical and all-inclusive approach that transcends religious and cultural boundaries. By integrating the ancient teachings of Buddhism with the best of 21st century thought, practices, philosophies, and knowledge, CSS seeks to bring unity and healing to the body, mind and spirit.
“Our goal is to facilitate the practice of Bodhisattva ideals (altruism) and to promote holistic living.”
In Buddhism, Bodhisattvas are people who have generous heart, imbued with kindness and compassion, and who selflessly dedicate energy and service to the betterment of other beings.
To carry out our goal, CSS plans to create a learning center. The center will provide a nurturing environment for those seeking to practice holistic living and incorporate altruism into their lives.
The integral model for holistic living is to develop all four dimensions of our life (spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and behavioral) within the four contexts of living/life conditions (physical/body, nature, culture, and social system).
“Our mission is to create a spiritual and healing environment for body, mind and spirit.”
The purpose of the Center, projected to be in Orange County, California, is to develop, foster, and promote spiritual growth, emotional harmony and physical wellness as experiences central to the lives of our Buddhist communities. Toward this end, we provide a holistic training in body, mind and spirit.
The center will undertake the following activities :
– Integrate mind, body and spirit.
– Provide training to develop spiritual awareness.
– Promote health and well being.
– Encourage creativity.
– Promote emotional and social harmony.
HEALTH & BODY TRAINING
The Ten-Forms of Integral Tai Chi is a series of exercises, relaxation techniques and meditation. Essentially, the forms combine Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong and meditation into one holistic system that integrates body, mind, and sprit. The forms also combine activities and relaxation, movements and stillness through the practice of meditation. Thus, these forms are not just simply movements, but also are means to integrate the body, mind and sprit.
This series of exercises can integrate various forms of energy from the practice of Tai Chi, Qi Gong (chi-kung) and Yoga into a higher form energy that supports the development of higher consciousness. This system can deeply change our body and mind in a practical and solid way. As our energy generates and expands, we will discover a higher philosophy, a larger worldview, a more satisfying way of living, and a better way of expressing our-selves, filled with love and care.
The Ten-Forms of Integral Tai Chi empowers you by helping you channel your energy more efficiently.
It has been developed as a way to induce physical wellness, sharpen mental focus, and train meditative awareness through a combination of exercise, breathing, relaxation, visualization and meditation techniques. When we are physical well it is much easier to deal with mental and emotional challenges, and the Ten-Forms is on valuable of achieving that total well-being.
The Ten-Forms begins with Heaven form and ends with Earth form. In between there are eight forms represented by eight symbolic animals progressed sequentially in practice. These are the Frog, the Buffalo, the Crane, the Dragon, the Phoenix, the Tiger, the Butterfly, and the Tortoise. Each of these forms correlates with a center of subtle chakra energy in the body.
The Ten-Forms is designed to develop and maintain the centers of “spinning energy” in the body at equilibrium to give the practitioner a more physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual balance. From the view of modern science, this chakra system sustains a level of consiousness and understanding, choices of lifestyles and types of relationships that dictate how we are in the world. By practicing the Ten-Forms of Integral Tai Chi, you will be able to:
♦ Reduce stress
♦ Increase flexibility
♦ Lessen the effects of aging
♦ Improve feelings of well-being
♦ Increase physical fitness
While this program is open to students of all levels and abilities, it may not be suitable for those with severe health challenges.
ACTIVITIES & PROGRAMS
Compassionate Service Society (CompaSS) provides an environment facilitating holistic development and promotes the practice of Bodhisattva’s ideals (altriusm). All activities organized by CompaSS are open to everyone of all ages, race, gener, religion and beliefs. Most of the activities are free admission, with the exception of retreats and pilgrimages.
♦ Physical training classes:
Integral Tai Chi, exercises for Elders are held daily in San Jose, California. These are also being taught at all CompaSS locations through the world. Integral Tai Chi seminars are also given abroad (Asia and Europe).
♦ Spritual training:
Monthly meditation classes and trimester or quarterly meditation retreats address the spiritual needs of the population. Dharma lectures are given monthly in Vietnamese, Chinese and English.
♦ Religious activities:
Recitation of Sutras and Buddha’s name, Repentance ceremonies, Buddha’s Birthday celebrations and Pilgrimages are also organized.
♦ Community activities:
The Vegetarian Cooking club not only gives delicious recipes and demonstrates how to cook the dishes, but the chance to taste them too. We also serve dinners to homeless people at Inn Vision.
♦ Recreational activities:
Our Hiking Club for all ages is aimed for some fun, fitness and appreciation of nature and the environment. The hikings are organized regularly every month or bi-weekly. Summer camping and special events (holiday celebrations) bring fun and facilitate communications between different generations and allows expressions of love and care among friends and families.
♦ Media educational programs:
Our media programs reach nationwide audiences about the basic teachings of Buddhism via our weekly Khai Tam TV show and Khai Tam Radio broadcasts. Audiences learn how to apply, practice the dharma and utilize the teachings to resove various stresses, problems or conflicts that we all encounter in our daily lives.
♦ Seminars/Workshops:
Training sessions are organized for our vonlunteers/working members on topics such as teamwork, Sprial Dynamics, organizational structure, Integral Teory, emotional intelligence and ways of communications to provide members with the tools and knowledge to work together more efficiently, effectively and harmoniously.
♦ Charity:
We have provide charity opportunities and relief efforts for disaster stricken areas. In the last few years, we provided tsunami relief in Sri Lanka and raised funds for orphans and poverty populated Nepal. Fundraising activities such as vegetarain barbecue and concerts were conducted to support other non-profit organizations in their humanitarian activities in Vietnam. We also have been working with Operation Blessing to raise fund for clean water project, especially for Haiti.
Volunteering
Throughout history, humanity has valued the ethic of service and altruism, values that are staples at CompaSS. The willingness to sacrifice a portion of your time and property to the welfare of others is the essence of giving service and compassion. At CompaSS many people are donating their time and talents to teach, provide, support and care in an effort to improve our communities and public, to serve a purpose greater than themselves.
Service as a Vehicle for Learning
Service-learning is a method of teaching and learning that connects lecture/text lessons with meaningfull service to the public. Volunteers build leadership skills while strengthening communities through service. Benefits include better understanding of self in body, mind and spirit, increased engagement skills, increased flexibility and stronger teamwork, increased acceptance of other’s views and continuous growth and evolution of self and community.
With the philosophy and methodologies taught by Venerable Master Hang Truong as a foundation, the afore mentioned activities provide opportunities to educate and facilitate awareness, evolution and transormation towards a better self in all aspects of one’s life in body, mind and spirit.