Awakening to the Value of Life: Awakening Camp registration begins
Let go of the pursuit of pleasure and the burden of possessions, and instead experience spiritual practice at a Buddhist monastery with evening drums and morning bells, to feel the joy of monastic life. The Dharma Drum Sangha University is hosting the 14th Awakening Camp at the Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education from February 8 to 18, 2017. People with high school education or above and who meet the age requirement are welcome to sign up for this 11-day camp, to allow themselves to awaken to the true value of life by experiencing various aspects of monastic life, including the study of Buddhist views on life, chanting practice, precepts practice, sitting meditation practice, and work practice.
Yen-Yuan from Hong Kong describes her experience of spiritual practice in early 2015: “I was a postulant living in a monastic community, wearing the lay Buddhist robe and outer garment. By being clearly aware of my movements, walking with calmness and relaxation, and living a simple life, I experienced ease and purity of mind.” It is at DDM that she realized that the Buddhist precepts serve as protection rather than constraint; they guide one away from mental afflictions and lead one toward bodhi, or supreme enlightenment.
“This journey helped me find my fundamental self,” said Yen Ru from Singapore. This year, they make up the “multinational team” with students coming from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Xiamen, sharing their experiences and thoughts, inspiring each other with their honesty and sincerity, to feel this collective power of personal growth.
“This is the best gift for my 30th birthday.”
“Participating in the Awakening Camp resembles pursuing further studies in a Buddha’s land, in that it strengthens our faith in the Three Jewels and endows us with power when we face trials and challenges.”
“After sweeping away the dust in my mind, I started making vows, vowing to follow the example of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva by embracing a great compassionate heart to help more others the best I can.”
“School teachers teach us knowledge for life, while Dharma masters at the meditation hall give us guidance about the reality of life with the Buddha’s teachings. By learning Mathematics we can do calculation, whereas by studying the Dharma we can learn to practice compassion, loving-kindness, joy and equanimity.”
Messages like these are seen on the Camp’s website, where participants often express their heartfelt emotions and encourage one another to realize the values of their lives.
For on-line application and brochure, please visit our website http://www.ddsu.org/. For further information, please contact us via e-mail at:
[email protected], or by telephone at: +886-2-2498-7171 ext.2351 (available time: Monday-Friday from 17:00 to 19:30; Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 to 17:00).
Edited by DDM Australian Translating and Editing Team