Master Sheng Yen Guided by Guanyin Bodhisattva

Episode 1: The moon’s reflection on the river
Since his childhood Master Sheng Yen and his practice had always been inspired by Guanyin Bodhisattva. He established Dharma Drum Mountain as a “Dharma center dedicated to Guanyin Bodhisattva,” and often urged people to recite Guanyin Bodhisattva’s name, pray to Guanyin Bodhisattva, emulate and act like Guanyin Bodhisattva. Therefore, we produced this Master Sheng Yen Guided by Guanyin Bodhisattva motion picture series, with the first episode tracing back to the Master’s childhood and how he was first inspired by the Bodhisattva and thus aspired to emulate his compassion and wisdom. Video Clip:The moon’s reflection on the river

Episode 2: Following the moon to cross the strait
To honor the dignity of the nation and its people, and to maintain the glory of Buddhism that was declining in China at that time, young Sheng Yen chose to leave the monastery and join the army to come to Taiwan. Being a soldier might be hard for Sheng Yen, he nevertheless remained a vegetarian and kept the Buddhist precepts, and never forgot his vows made before Guanyin Bodhisattva. Then, he encountered Venerable Master Ling Yuan and, by contributing articles to the Humanity Magazine, got acquainted with Venerable Master Dong Chu, and thus got to resume his monastic life and start the journey of sharing the Dharma for the benefit of beings.Video Clip:Following the moon to cross the strait

Episode 3: Moonlight in the Mountains
“I want to enable more people to realize the benefit of Buddhist teachings.” With his childhood wish in mind, Master Sheng Yen left his teacher, Ven. Dong Chu for six years to do a solitary retreat in Meinong, Kaohsiung. Thanks to the spiritual protection and support of Guanyin Bodhisattva, the Master spent his every day concentrating on the practice of Buddha-name recitation, repentance prostration, Chan practice, and sutra study. This period of time devoted to the practice of concentration as well as wisdom allowed him to lay a solid foundation for his future personal practice and his endeavor to share the Buddha’s teaching with more people. .Video Clip: Moonlight in the Mountains

Episode 4: The Moon in Japan
As Buddhism in Taiwan was in decline and facing a crisis, Master Sheng Yen, with an aspiration to help revive Buddhist practice in Taiwan, decided to go to Japan for further study right after he concluded his solitary retreat. Though challenged by hard weather conditions in summer and winter, financial difficulty, and his tutor professor’s sudden passing, the Master never relinquished the path of the Dharma and forgotten the admonition of his guiding master, Ven. Dong Chu, who had urged him to become a great religious leader. This six years of experience as a PhD student indeed enabled the Master to be once again enriched with spiritual nourishment..Video Clip:The Moon in Japan

Episode 5: Exploring the Wilderness with the Moon
After attaining his PhD in Japan, Master Sheng Yen travelled to the US on invitation to spread Chinese Chan Buddhism, where he had to overcome language and cultural barriers with a pioneer spirit. As he had just started to settle in to life in New York as a Dharma teacher, he was forced to return to Taiwan due to Ven. Dong Chu’s passing, and from then on had to divide his time between Taiwan and the US every three months, sharing the Dharma around by acting as a monk often on travels...Video Clip:Exploring the Wilderness with the Moon

Episode 6: Everyone Can be a Guanyin Bodhisattva
After many years searching, in 1989 when around 1,000 devotees gathered together to chant the Great Compassion Dharani 21 times, their prayer was answered and the land granted, thanks to Guanyin Bodhisattva’s spiritual response. As a child, Master Sheng Yen had made a vow to the Bodhisattva, which is to make a big and beautiful Guanyin statue for people to worship. Now the vow was fulfilled, and the Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education, a practice center dedicated to Guanyin Bodhisattva, resembles the moon reflecting in the river, with illuminating light guiding people to emulate, and act like Guanyin Bodhisattva....Video Clip:Everyone Can be a Guanyin Bodhisattva