John Huculiak
Born a Ukrainian Catholic, raised in a Protestant household with Anglican ties, John was a cocky sixteen-year old boy when he encountered a Buddhist monk while traveling. After resisting his original urge to strike the elderly monk, who he thought was “disrespectful” to him; he decided to learn more about this “Eastern religion” after the monk chanted a mantra. Under the advice of this monk, he returned to Canada with the name and number of Ch’an master, The Venerable Master Chusam Siem [“cho-sam seam”] who was lecturing in Toronto at the time. The Venerable Master Chusam Siem [“cho-sam seam”] who, with the Venerable Master Hsing Yun [“sing young”], was building a Chinese Ch'an Buddhist temple in San Diego, allowed John to join his Sangha. It would be four years before John would take his layman vows and given the name “Spirit of Rebellion”, for being the only non-Asian in the Sangha and for asking the “easy” questions. He became a Dharma worker in 1993 and a Dharma Teacher in 1996, six months before his graduation from the Religion & Culture program at Wilfrid Laurier University. His faith turned down a different path when he moved to Toronto in 1999 and became re-involved with the Roma, who he shared blood with; as his father side were Roma is denial. Active in both close-knit communities until the death of his Buddhist mentor in March 2002, he has given his Buddhist side some space and accepted the solitary path of Roma Shamanism as a Wayfarer; while continuing an academic path specializing in World Spiritual practices. He continues to ask and answer questions about various things, including Buddhism.
Previous	Next