On October 27 and 28, 41 undergraduate students across two World Religions classes at Christian Brothers University (CBU) engaged in an insightful virtual dialogue with Venerable Miao Wei of Fo Guang Shan Chicago. The discussions moved well beyond textbook terminology into thoughtful questions about life choices, personal aspirations, and spiritual pursuit.

The virtual session grew out of a longstanding connection with Dr. Joanne, a professor at Lewis University who annually leads her students to visit Fo Guang Shan Chicago. Recognizing the value of experiential dialogue, she invited Venerable Miao Wei to speak with her CBU students, answering the candid questions of young adults aged 18 to 22.

The students explored foundational Buddhist concepts such as karma, rebirth, and meditation, while posing deeper existential questions: “Why is there so much suffering in the world?” and “How has becoming a Buddhist changed you?” Others inquired about vegetarianism and a typical day in monastic life, or compared the daily routines of Buddhist monastics with those of Christian monks and friars.

Venerable Miao Wei addressed each question warmly, drawing upon personal reflections and journeys in Buddhist practice. Spanning from “What do Buddhists believe?” to “How do we navigate our own lives?”, the students’ open inquiries transformed an introductory world religions lecture into a profound exploration of human existence.