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.”

On March 25 at 9 am at the Buddha Hall, with Ven. Guo Chan and Ven. Chang Ji as the host speakers, near 40 faculty members and students participated in the workshop entitled "Being a Global Citizen".

Taking this opportunity, both the Venerables shared the acquisitions from their experiences of long-termed global interactions with young leaders around the world; the University further wished to benefit the monastic students through better understandings of the progression DDM has made to spread Buddhism worldwide.

A literal translation of ‘Guanyin,’ the Chinese name for Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, would be ‘Contemplating Liberation Bodhisattva.’ Avalokitesvara is also known as the ‘Bodhisattva Who Contemplates the Sound of the World.’ In fact, a bodhisattva who perfects this practice is a Contemplating Liberation Bodhisattva.

Chan is neither religion nor philosophy, but a kind of outlook, style, and way of life. However, Chan life is different from the life of ordinary people; a Chan practitioner does not seek, display, or reject things for oneself, nor does one feel joyful in good circumstances, or troubled in bad; one only needs to live each day like everyone else, doing what should be done and not doing what shouldn’t be, doing what can be done and not doing what cannot. Engaging in society is neither for oneself nor for others, but simply to fulfill ones’ duties.

Nung Chan Monastery will not be open from April 28th to May 5th for Foundation Chan Retreat

For your kind reference, as Nung Chan Monastery is holding the Seven-Day Foundation Chan Retreat, from April 28th to May 5th, 2018, the Campus will NOT be open to the general public within the above duration.

During this period of time, activities only take account of Chan Retreat; neither sight-seeing nor photographing were permitted.

The campus will be reopening as soon as the retreat is ended after May 5th. Many thanks for your kind attention.

Looking forward to seeing all visitors soon!


Nung Chan Monastery
With Joined Palms

Recently, I received a letter from a French professor who thought that I must be physically robust and very energetic, being so busy and yet still able to write and publish many books. In my reply, I wrote that, to the contrary, I have been susceptible to illness since childhood, hardly going a day without being sick. I have dragged on with this feeble body to repay my “straw sandals money”, only because of my gratitude for the kindness of the Three Jewels. The socalled “straw sandals money” refers to all the help I’ve received from others, as well as the blessings I’ve received from the Three Jewels throughout the journey of my dharma practice. I just do my best for the sake of returning these favors, which is none other than repaying kindness.

For your kind reference, as Nung Chan Monastery is holding the Seven-Day Retreat of Buddha's name Recitation for Repaying Gratitude to Ancestors, from April 1st to April 7th, 2018, the Campus is NOT open to the general public within the above duration.

Arousing the Bodhi-mind vowing to act with great compassion,
aspiring to deliver beings in the spirit of Bodhisattva’s actions.

At 10:30 a.m., on March 11, the first group of 583 lay Buddhist practitioners from China, Hong Kong, Macau, Belgium, the UK, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Taiwan, completed the 23rd Lay Bodhisattva Precepts Transmission ceremony at the Main Buddha Hall of Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education. The Bodhisattva Dharma masters, including Ven. Guo Dong, DDM abbot president, Ven. Hui Min, DDM chief-seat monk, and Ven. Guo Hui, DDM vice abbot, gave their blessings to the precept recipients, or the “baby bodhisattvas,” expecting them to learn the compassion and wisdom required of a bodhisattva, by developing the self while benefitting others.

Everlasting remembrance of Master Sheng Yen's grace and a recollection of the Master's silhouette

A Dharma Drum “Transmitting the Light of Dharma Assembly” was held on the 9th day of the lunar calendar. DDM monastic and lay followers at the DDM World Center and DDM branch monasteries around the world gathered to show their gratitude towards Master Sheng Yen's teachings and beneficence.

Editor’s Note:

Ven Guo Xiang grew up on a farm in the company of insects and animals. In recent years, she went into farming and devoted herself to promoting natural farming. During her farming practice, she came to understand the real meaning of the Buddhist saying that “everything is dependent origination, namely, causally interconnected; everything co-exists and prospers in harmony”.