Jim Eubanks is the Center for Pragmatic Buddhism's founding teacher and Monastic Director, and formal student of the late Ven. Shi Shen Long, Ryugen Fisher and David Shaner Sensei. On October 15, 2006, Ryugen and Jim had a one-on-one assessment of Jim's work in showing others the Buddhist path, mostly through his efforts in ASC. Ryugen confirmed his confidence in Jim's ability to relate Buddhist teachings to others and adapt it according to contemporary needs. Ryugen informed Jim while returning from another Buddhist event in St. Louis (pictured here) that he had nothing more to teach; continuous, authentic practice made available to others who sought the same was Jim's charge from his late teacher. Ryugen's message was simple: that we are all empowered to determine a meaningful path for self-cultivation, and that the measure of our success as a student and teacher is in the positive, transformative work we do for ourselves and others. To read more about our unique system of formal and informal study at CPB, go to our "Buddhist Education" tab. To read about our particular Buddhist monastic Order, please visit our "Order & Lineage of OPB" tab.
Ryugen taught Jim in the Buddhist methods of "Pragmatic Buddhism. One of the ideas taught to Jim that influenced him the most was the idea of "socially engaged monasticism," where, as Jim's current teacher, David Shaner Sensei, says, "your life IS your monastery." Another idea emphasized during Jim's training was the idea of the teacher as one who guides others on their own paths of self-cultivation, and helps them embrace the rigorous self-honesty necessary to realize positive transformation in their own lives. At the Center for Pragmatic Buddhism, serious study and application of Buddhist living is not reserved for an isolated temple life, but is available to all persons willing to practice and apply Buddhsit principles to their lives. These simple and effective methods, applicable in everyday life, are the focus of teacher-guided training, weekly practice and workshops at CPB.
Jim studied under the direction of Ryugen for three years after spending time as a martial arts student in high school and college. He studied the traditional Chinese arts of Shaolin gongfu (kung fu), taijiquan (tai chi), Chinese yoga and qigong (chi kung), and Daoist and Zen meditation, and spent considerable time investigating the positive health results from engaging these arts. Though the traditional Chinese roots of the arts practiced in CPB's American Shaolin Center (ASC) are acknowledged, all of the arts taught by Jim are approached from a contemporary perspective that incorporates modern knowledge of biomechanics. While an undergraduate student at Furman University in Greenville, SC, Jim continued his study of the traditional Chinese arts and founded the Furman University Chinese Arts Group (FUCAG), which has since opened an additional location at Washington University in St. Louis (WUCAG). Both of these organizations are chapters of ASC. As of January 2008, Jim is also the head instructor of St. Charles Natural Healing Center in St. Charles, MO, where he teaches the martial and meditative arts of ASC.
As a philosophy major at Furman, Jim's study of comparative philosophy allowed him to develop a meaningful friendship with comparative philosopher, Buddhist scholar and the Chief Instructor of the Eastern Ki Federation, Ki-Aikido instructor David E. Shaner. His time as a student of Dr. Shaner has provided Jim with the tools necessary to meticulously learn the thought and practice of Buddhism. Shaner Sensei is now Jim's primary teacher. Another teacher, Jim Edwards, introduced Jim to a vast array of contemporary Western thought, influencing the methods Jim uses to teach Buddhism to Americans. After graduating from Furman with a BA in philosophy (comparative studies), Jim moved to St. Louis to enroll at Logan University where he is pursuing a Master's degree in Sports Science and Rehabilitation (MS) and a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC). Jim's interest in health care is an extension of personal health issues he has battled, a desire to investigate the role a meditative lifestyle plays in maintaining and restoring health, and the overall approach to Buddhism knows as Pragmatic Buddhism.