One hundred and forty participants completed the entire forty-nine day Silent Illumination retreat to deepen their experience of the “dharma of no-dharma” and to carry on Master Sheng Yen’s aspirations to propagate Chinese Buddhism.

Dharma Drum Mountain wish you a merry Mid-Autumn Festival!~

Please feel free to send this Mid-Autumn Festival card to your family and friends

Have you ever pondered the meaning of “family,” and the required qualities for the “master of the family”?




In an effort to continue Master Sheng Yan’s aspiration—extending loving care to society with the wisdom of the Dharma—Dharma Drum Mountain launched a Protecting the Spiritual Environment lecture at the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall on September 8 and 9.The event combined seminars and the form of TED Talks, bringing the audience closer to each other.

Early in the morning of August 18th, thirty-four student members of Rotary International from 19 countries arrived at Zhaiming Monastery, some of whom were from Germany, France, Turkey, Israel, India, and Thailand. Guided by DDM monastic teachers, they learned about temple etiquettes as well as the benefits and methods of Chan practice in this century-old ancient temple.

At 2 p.m. on September 1, representatives of 277 religious groups attended the 2017 Religious Groups Award Ceremony at the Ministry of Interior, to receive awards of appreciation presented by Interior Minister Ye Junrong, for their charitable endeavors and social transformation efforts.

The two-week long 2017 Summer Universiade was officially kicked off in Taipei with an impressive opening ceremony.

On August 12, Dharma Drum Mountain had already stationed in the Buddhist hall of the religious center at the Athletes Village in Linkou District, introducing the spirit of Chan to help athletes calm and relax their mind, and praying for success for the game.

Guan Yin Bodhisattva, as we all are familiar, attained Buddhahood through the approach of “achieving complete penetration through focused hearing”.

Let’s follow Guan Yin Bodhisattva, experiencing the true nature of impermanence by contemplating nature, using it as a daily practice. Before reaching Guan Yin's level, people can still calm their mind and stabilize themselves by acquiring basic hearing training, listening to the sounds of nature.

Master Sheng Yen said, “Nung Chan Monastery is the origin of Dharma Drum Mountain. Without the Monastery, Dharma Drum Mountain would not exist.”

This Between the Teacher and Disciple motion picture series was produced to allow more people to understand the spirit of DDM as it was first established. With narrations and dialogues and refined painting style, the series illustrates the early history of DDM. Its first episode traces back to 1965 when Venerable Master Dong Chu bought a plot of farmland in the Guandu Plain and started the practice of Chan in farming by modeling Chan master Baizhang in the Tang Dynasty. Animation Series, Episode 1-10

“Bodhisattvas endure great difficulties to alleviate all sentient beings from suffering without fear; through the attainment and liberation of sentient beings, these difficulties are transformed into happiness and peace.” On June 17, 2017, DDM Sangha University held its graduation ceremony for eight graduands who would be joining members of the Sangha in their mission to “uplift the character of humanity and build a pure land on earth”. Witnessed by an audience of two hundred consisting of relatives and friends, these students received their scrolls from Venerable Guo Dong, the Abbot President of DDM, at 5 p.m. This scroll presentation was accompanied by the meaningful rendition of “The Bodhisattva Path”.

DDM’s Anhe Branch Monastery organized a three-day Protecting the Spiritual Environment Camp for children starting from July 7. Through playing games, watching motion pictures, drawing Zentangle patterns, doing sitting meditation, and making veggie burgers, Ven. Chang Fa and several other instructors taught 110 children, aged nine to 12, to grasp the “magic method” of Chan—concentrate, relax, and be aware. On the last day of the event, around 60 parents were invited to learn about the magic method their children had been learning, for them to share a teaching in the Dharma that will help enhance family relationship.