Long Island University Students Visit DDM to Learn about Chan Buddhism
On 6 October, 2010, nineteen students from the Department of Religious Studies, Long Island University in United States of America arrived at the Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education in Jinshan Township, Taipei County, for a three-day program on Chan Buddhism.
The Department of International Affairs of DDM arranged a variety of inspirational courses that were rich in content, including an introduction to Buddhism, the thoughts of Venerable Master Sheng Yen, Protecting the Spiritual Environment, Buddhist Etiquette, Chan (Zen) Meditation and Eight-Form Moving Meditation.
The Director of the Department of International Affairs, Venerable Guo Jiann, on behalf of the DDM Sangha community offered a warm welcome to the students upon their arrival, as well as encouraged the students to make full advantage of the three-day program to learn and to raise any questions that they might have. Venerable Guo Jiann reiterated, “There are many Buddhist treasures hidden at DDM for every one of you to dig out.”
Throughout the program, the students were active in raising questions and practiced diligently. They also took down notes and as John, one of the students from the program had said, “Writing these significant points down could help me to reflect, learn and even practice again when I’m back at home.”
Students enjoyed the surroundings of the Center and as one student had shared that he would stroll along the trails around the Center and he especially enjoyed it in the early mornings, the sense of tranquility in the air. “It’s awesome!” he beamed.
The volunteering culture which is evident in DDM intrigued the students as they were impressed with the amount of compassion shown. A student teasingly said that, “The Center’s operation might shut down momentarily if the Center was short of volunteers.”
Before biding monastics and volunteers farewell, students expressed their deepest gratitude with the standing ovation to round up their exploration of learning at DDM.
(by Jin Yang/edited by DDM Australia Editing Team)
