Life is full of risks; there are risks in politics, industry and commerce, in the workplace, and even in the family. If we are prepared to face risk at all times, with no need to get excited or panicky no matter what happens, and don’t feel surprised when something good or bad happens, this is called “ ordinary mind.”

This ordinary mind corresponds to no-mind and is similar to original face. Ordinary mind does not think about gains or losses, about having more or less, of being a success of a failure; it is only concerned about doing what can or should be done. After undertaking something, if problems occur, one keeps a cool head and deals with the crisis with ease.

Religion, philosophy, and psychology have various explanations for “mind.” However, in Buddhism the mind is master. I will discuss the mind from the perspective of Buddhism and the Chan School. You may have heard the Chan saying, “illuminating the mind and seeing the nature.” What mind are we illuminating? It is the original mind, the mind that originally existed; it is ready and accessible everywhere, yet people do not know that. It is the mind that people have always had, which they have failed to notice; it is different from the mind discussed in psychology, and it is also different from spirituality. This mind has functions that are indescribable and power that is immeasurable; it is the mind that every sentient being originally has, and is also called the “original face” (“the nature”).

Dr. Vandara Shiva, the global renowned philosopher, the practitioner of environmentalism and the founder of Navdanya Foundation, visited Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts, DILA, and gave a special talk on the hot issue of “The Future of Sustainable Agriculture “on May 10th. Professor Teng, Wei-ren, from Buddhist Studies Depart and the Head of International Affair office in DILA helped with oral interpretation. Over 200 followers and devotees of eco-friendly agriculture came to join from island wide.

Be sincerely
Grateful to our parents
For giving birth to us
Also grateful to Buddha
For bringing us a wisdom of life




Best wishes & Happy Birthday

"Buddhist 101 with Mr. Duck " is a series of animations, regarding to the basic understanding of Buddhism. The first episode is talking about the origins and the legends of "Bathing the Buddha Festival" , one of the most significant festivals for Buddhists.

Master Sheng Yen began sharing Chan Buddhist teachings from the 1970s. By upholding the essentials in the Chan tradition that features the sudden or spontaneous approach, while integrating the strengths of various Buddhist schools, he proposed the idea of “protecting the spiritual environment,” which reflects the core value of Chan, to accommodate to the needs of today’s society, enabling everyone to practice Chan in daily life in an easy and natural way. The Chan practice taught at Dharma Drum Mountain not only helps people with their personal awakening, it also features methods of Buddhist cultivation of no-self, for the benefit of the self and others.

Hugo is a psychological counselor from Guangdong. He shared something with our friends at IMG (International Meditation Group) of Dharma Drum Mountain.

The Great Compassion Dharani encompasses the sacred name of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara and the manifold facets, wisdom, spiritual power, and virtuous merits of Avalokitesvara, as well as that of all other bodhisattvas and Buddhas.

Avalokitesvara, also known as Guan Yin Pusa, is a Bodhisattva with great affinity to the saha world or the world of suffering. Many people, when confronted with fear and apprehension, recite sutras, verses or the Buddha’s name. However, it is Guan Yin Pusa’s name that orthodox Buddhists as well as those who practice folk religion tend to recite instinctively at the moment of danger, akin to a drowning man grasping for the life-boat. The phrase “Amitabha Buddha lies in the mind of every family; Guan Yin Pusa guards every household” aptly describes the faith and belief in Avalokitesvara that is deeply entrenched in Chinese culture.

Why is that so?

As we all have vexations, we often feel uneasy; since on this retreat we have heard the Buddhadharma, we should use it to dissolve the vexations.

When this seven-day Chan retreat ends after breakfast tomorrow morning, I hope that you all have experienced the “joy of the Dharma in every moment, and abiding in the bliss of Cha in all places.”