Malaysia now suffers the most severe flooding over the past 30 years, which has caused over 120,000 victims homelessness and many people to die. Besides, an AirAsia plane with 162 people on board went missing on Sunday after taking off from Indonesia for Singapore. Many countries are jointly searching and rescuing the 162 passengers.

Dharma Drum Mountain produced a series of videos to greet 2015 Chinese New Year. We invited some amiable and kind foreigners to help us finish producing these videos. By these videos with their warm blessings, DDM hopes everyone can have a bright and happy 2015.

At 5 p.m. on December 13, 2014, among the chant of the sacred names of Amitabha Buddha and sound of Lotus Bell, DDM Great Compassion Water and Land Dharma Service was consummated through the solemn Ceremony for Sending off the Sages, in which, about ten thousand followers jointly devoted their sincere vows and wishes to those they want to worship, make offerings to, and express their gratitude to. During the event, many people also use DDM digital prayer system to offer their blessings to others throughout the world, which makes the long-standing event have a new style in modern times.

(Translated by Tom Hsieh)

The founder of Dharma Drum Mountain, the late Venerable Master Sheng Yen had said the speed that the technology and culture of mankind destroys the natural environment is too rapid, which brings the unprecedented threats to the Earth. Therefore, DDM promotes “protecting the spiritual environment” to help us build healthy and correct philosophy of life to offer care to ourselves, others, society, and the natural environment. DDM hopes all the followers attending Great Compassion Water and Land Dharma Service can apply the altruistic spirit of Buddhism to our daily lives.

(Translated by Tom Hsieh)

The late Venerable Master Sheng Yen had defined that the purpose of Dharma Assemblies of Dharma Drum Mountain is to serve Buddhist education. Therefore, the Great Compassion Water and Land Dharma Service covers the aspects of tradition, innovation, reformation of environmental protection, care, education, and Chan meditation.

(Translated by Tom Hsieh)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Taiwan, hosted the Pacific Islands Leadership Program with Taiwan (PILP with Taiwan) for a month of field study from October 12 through November 8, 2014. On October 25, 31 members of PILP with Taiwan, representatives of MOFA as well as 12 Dharma Drum for Young People (DDYP) visited DDM World Center for Buddhist Education (DDMWCBE) in the evening as part of a cultural exchange program, particularly to experience the culture of Chinese Buddhism. They were guided to the Wish-Fulfilling Guanyin Bodhisattva Hall and given an explanation of the meaning of “Rising Great Compassion” as well as the resolution of the Guanyin Bodhisattva to relieve all sentient beings from suffering; in the Great Buddha Hall, they were shown the technique of bowing to the Buddha; and lastly to the dining hall to experience the dining ambiance of the monastery.

Protection of Spiritual Environment is the core idea of Dharma Drum Mountain which every event of DDM is organized by. In combination of elements of religion, technology, and humanities, 2014 Great Compassion Water and Land Dharma Service demonstrates how to well maintain the interrelationship among human beings, society, and the nature through a creative and educational way for bringing a peaceful mind and life to everyone from all walks of the society.

(Translated by Tom Hsieh)

The annual Great Compassion Water and Land Dharma Service has started from December 6, 2014, and it will last until December 13, 2014. Please jointly witness every moment of the solemn and Dharma service.

(Translated by Tom Hsieh)

The International Conference on Buddhist Meditative Traditions: A Comparison & Dialogue was held on Oct. 25 and 26, 2014 to explain different aspects of Buddhist Meditation to the public. This conference was organizes by the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts (DILA) and scholars from different countries were invited to present their views on this subject. Amongst those present were Bhikkhu Anālayo from the University of Hamburg in Germany, Bart Dessein from Ghent University in Belgium and Sāmaṇerī Dhammadinnā from DILA, just to name a few.

Dharma Voice for Animal (DVA) is an organization in San Diego, U.S., that promotes animal rights based on the teaching of the Buddha. The late Ven. Master Sheng Yen, founder of DDM, on the other hand, advocated the practice of cultivating compassion through vegetarianism; this was also the reason Bob Isaacson, president of DVA, visited DDM World Center for Buddhist Education (DDMWCBE). On the morning of October 21, 2014, President Isaacson, Chang Li Chun, Director of Dharma Drum Humanities and Social Improvement Foundation (DDHSIF) as well as Cheng Mei Ling, a devotee of DDM, had a dialogue to promote vegetarianism and Daily Life Ethics.