Vesak celebration is a significant day for Buddhists which recognize the birth, enlightenment and passing of Gautama Buddha. On Saturday, 10 May 2008, DDM Sydney held a beautiful ceremony to mark this event.

On Friday 21st to 28th March 2008, DDM Sydney held a first ever combined four and seven day beginner's meditation retreat at Karuna Sanctuary in the Blue Mountains. We learnt later that this center has been used for meditation practice by other groups before, which explained the peacefulness and tranquility immediately felt once we walked in.

On the morning of 26 March 2008, the Chief Convener of Dharma Drum Mountain in Thailand, Mrs. Mao-Feng Su Lin, officially opened the Groundbreaking Ceremony to celebrate the commencement of the construction of a new building.

February 9 2008 – New Year Blessing of the Buddha

"Happy New Year! Wish that peace make everyone at ease in living. We also pray for the turning of the Dharma Wheel." On the 3rd day of the Chinese New Year, 105 practitioners gathered at the branch office of HKDDM for season's greeting.

Once again, Principal Lin Xin De arrived in Hong Kong carrying with him his heavy suitcase. The case, which is filled with mercy and wisdom, is Principal Lin's treasure chest. A number of events were held in the period from 25 to 27 December 2007. The lecture "Apex of Our Life" was held on 25 December; the Illustration Instruction class was conducted on 26 December and the "Illustration Book Club" took place on 27 December.

Group Chanting Session on January 25 2008

Chang Yue Fashi came to join the Friday group practice session and shared with us her thoughts on the Liberation Assembly of Water of Land. The Liberation Assembly of Water and Land is a major event of Dharma Drum Mountain which was greatly assisted by modern audio-visual technology.

On 31 January, 2008, Agnes Chow, convenor of Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM) Sydney and DDM member Jessica Chow were invited by Dr Lin Bin of 20R Australia Oriental Radio to participate in a radio interview in Cantonese, introducing Dharma Drum Mountain, Chan Buddhism and Master Sheng Yen.

On September 17, 18 and 19, three separate classes of 16 students each and teachers from Voyages Preparatory High School visited the Chan Meditation Center in New York to learn about Chan Buddhism and meditation. The teacher led the students in his classes on readings of the novel Siddhartha by Herman Hesse and wished to bring his classes to the Center as a part of their study of the book.