The Director of Bureau Français de Taipei Visits DDM World Center
The director of Bureau Français de Taipei, Mr. Benoît Guidée, and his wife visited Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education with a colleague in the afternoon on February twenty-fourth. The abbot president of DDM, Ven. Guo Dong, together with Dr. Po Chang Chen, the dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, greeted the director alongside other representatives of Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts.
Abbot president Ven. Guo Dong accompanied Mr. Benoît Guidée and his wife to the Grand Buddha Hall and its surroundings, introducing the landscapes and characteristics of the Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education as they went. He also took this opportunity to explain to them the educational concepts and principles underlying the organization of the DDM campus. Abbot president Ven. Guo Dong expressed that although the construction of DDM had been completed after more than ten years, the core idea of its spiritual environment had been accomplished since its inception. In the words of Master Sheng Yen, he explained, as long as there are people who agree with the idea of uplifting the character of humanity and building a pure land on earth, this work could be carried out at any place.
Over tea, Abbot president Ven. Guo Dong went into further detail on aspects of the DDM world education center's program, particularly its emphasis on environmental education and its core principle of protecting the spiritual environment. Ven. Guo Dong went on to share with the guests the idea of transforming circumstances through the key points of compassion and wisdom: Viewing the world with wise eyes, it will be filled with brightness; viewing the world with compassionate eyes, it will be filled with warmth and harmony. As long as our mind is stable through practice, we can learn to relax when faced with all kinds of circumstances; using wisdom to tackle problems, we do not give rise to vexations. With proper practice and a compassionate attitude, even if we face the adversity, we won’t feel opposition. And this can inspire the joy of Chan.
During their conversation, the director praised DDM for its contribution and positive influence both in Taiwan and overseas. He expressed his admiration, saying that he thought of DDM as a treasure, a place which provides much benefit to those who come to learn there. Afterwards, during a sharing by the professors from different departments of Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts, Mr. Guidée asked questions about the institution's educational ideas and its prospective curricular designs. He also expressed great interest in the cooperation in conferences between all kinds of academic and Buddhist disciplines.
After a lively discussion, they gave gifts to express their good will to each other and had a photo taken as a memento. The visitors concluded with a visit to the Founding History Memorial Hall and Wish-Fulfilling Guanyin Pool. Their conversation with abbot president Ven. Guo Dong, coupled with their tour of the campus, they hoped they could visit Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education, again.
Translated by Frances Liu (劉珮如) and edited by Matthew Stoia