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.

Regarding the much concerned reconstruction of Huangxi Bridge in the Jinshan District of New Taipei City, Ven. Guo Dong, abbot president of Dharma Drum Mountain, has represented its sangha and followers to present the illustration of the new bridge in plan to Eric Chu, mayor of New Taipei City, to mark its donation effort. The mayor presented the certificate of appreciation in return to the abbot president at New Taipei City Municipal Hall at 10 a.m. on June 28, and expressed thanks to DDM for their offer to help rebuild the affected communities.

Take a moment to be aware of yourself, Are you tense? or relaxed?
There is actually a simple way to help you stop,relax and enjoy, SRE - Why don't you try to have a mindful walking?


Slow walking, being mindful of the steps
Ignoring sights in the surroundings
Unattached to external objects
Mind and mental objects both forgotten

In early June, continuous torrential rain heavily hit the communities of Shenmu Village and Tongfu Village in Xinyi Town, Nantou County, causing flooding and landslides that eroded the foundations of many houses. Around 10 households are currently staying in Hoshe temporary shelter at the National Taiwan University Experimental Forest. On the morning of June 8, representatives of DDM Social Welfare & Charity Foundation and local volunteers visited the affected, in an effort to encourage them to rebuild their homes.

Master Sheng Yen, founder of Dharma Drum Mountain, once used the analogy that life is like a stream of dreams in the samsara to urge us to be aware of our habitual tendency to “mistakenly take afflictions in the cyclic existence of birth and death as the goal of our pursuit, and the perpetual transmigration of birth and death as our travel playground.” As he often explained, entering the gate of Buddhist practice marks the initial step to awakening the self and others

Dharma Drum Mountain declared the Mother’s Day, which is designated as the Bathing-the-Buddha Festival in Taiwan, as the Action Day to encourage the practice of protecting the spiritual environment and showing gratitude. At 8 a.m. on May 14, at the MRT Zhongxiao-Fuxing and Xiangshan stations, people and volunteers joined together and kicked off their “urban walking meditation.” Participants had a fun day experiencing moments of stillness in the “Protecting the Spiritual Environment: Stop, Relax, and Enjoy” event, by fine-tuning their inner spiritual clocks through Chan practice.

Bathing the Buddha with Fragrant Water

More than 2600 years ago, Prince Siddhartha was born in Kapilavastu, an ancient city in India. Legend held that upon his birth there were beams of bright light descending from the sky, wonderful music sounding in the clouds, flowers in full blossom, and birds singing in the forests. Afterwards, nine heavenly dragons appeared and emitted warm streams of water, and the Four Heavenly Kings (Caturmahārājakayikas) came along with fragrant water and fresh flowers, to bathe the little prince together.