About this Event
Beyond Duck Syndrome: Finding Equanimity at Stanford
Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026 Time: 7:00-8:00pm
Location: Old Union 3rd Floor, Stanford University . All welcome.
At Stanford University, students sometimes joke about Duck Syndrome: calm and confident on the surface, paddling furiously underneath. We’re expected to be brilliant, productive, and somehow effortless at the same time. But beneath the surface many of us feel the pressure of grades, expectations, the cost of education, uncertainty about the future, and a world that often feels unstable.
Is it possible to be steady in the middle of all that?
This evening explores equanimity: an inner balance that does not depend on others and things going our way. Through a short contemplative practice, stories, and music, we will explore a simple but radical shift: learning to see the world as it is, not only as we think it should be.
Come pause, breathe, and discover a different way to be.
Speaker Backgrounds:
Jin Chuan Shi
Bhikshu Jin Chuan was born in New Jersey and grew up in the Silicon Valley. In high school, he began exploring Christianity and Buddhism, and discovered his “calling” to be a monk–to the surprise of his family (and himself). While studying physics and religious studies at Stanford, he joined Dharma Realm Buddhist Youth and frequented Berkeley Buddhist Monastery. In 2005, he became a resident at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. He became a novice in 2011 and a bhikshu in 2013. In 2016, he received an M.A. in Buddhist Classics at Dharma Realm Buddhist University (DRBU) where he now serves as an assistant professor and chaplain. Since 2021, Jin Chuan has served on the Buddhist Global Relief Board and recently the BGR Sangha Council. Together with Bhikshu Jin Wei, he is helping establish Redwood Vihara, a forest monastery in Boulder Creek, California.
Jin Wei Shi
Bhikshu Jin Wei was born in Poland and began his meditation practice in 1999. After living a fun but unfulfilling bohemian lifestyle, he encountered a Polish translation of the Sixth Patriarch Sūtra that inspired him to dedicate himself to Dharma practice and service. He volunteered in various hospitals and helped organize DRBA Delegations to Europe. In 2013, he came to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas as a Sangha and Laity Training Program student. In 2015, he took novice ordination, and in 2017, full ordination. In 2020, he graduated from the DRBU M.A. in Buddhist Classics. Jin Wei Shi serves on the Buddhist Global Relief Sangha Council. Currently, he serves as a lecturer in DRBU Extension while dedicating himself to the development of Redwood Vihara.
Online Talks and Articles with the monks:
- Ask the Monks: Two monks. One question at a time. Ninety seconds to the heart of it. In this lightning-round Q&A, Jin Chuan Shi and Jin Wei Shi take on big questions about life: stress, relationships, attention, and the search for meaning. ;) [recently made by a community member in Taiwan]
- Buddhism and the Matrix: An article from Dharma Realm Buddhist University that uses the movie The Matrix as a metaphor to discuss Buddhist philosophy, including the nature of reality, suffering, and liberation.
- Spiritual Friendship and Noble Friendship: This video features a conversation with Venerables Jin Chuan Shi and Jin Wei Shi from Redwood Vihara about their personal journeys, spiritual friendship, and community building. They discuss the importance of complementary perspectives in leadership and offer advice on mindful listening and self-awareness for living together peacefully. The video concludes with a metaphor comparing their community to redwood trees, symbolizing how noble friendship allows individuals to grow to their full potential.
- Interview with Jin Chuan Shi: An interview with Bhikshu Jin Chuan Shi discussing his journey to becoming a monk and the importance of vows in monastic life. He explains how vows serve as a "north star" in life and shares a Jataka tale to illustrate the importance of patience.
- Dharma Practice Q&A: A repository of talks given during the pandemic answering people’s questions on the Dharma.
More events with Dharma Realm Buddhist University:
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Old Union at Stanford, 520 Lasuen Mall, Stanford, United States
USD 0.00
