On 8 September 2013, Abbot President of DDM Venerable Guo Dong attended the seminar titled, “Practice of Protecting the Spiritual Environment in Daily Life”. He shared with over 200 attendees, how to bring Buddha Dharma into our daily life and set our mind free. A number of volunteers of the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation also attended the seminar. They have placed great effort to collaboratively spread the Buddha Dharma in Australia, where is well-known for multiculturalism.

September 2013 marked a significant milestone for DDM Sydney with the grand opening of the practice centre in Hornsby. DDM Sydney and guests welcomed Abbot President Guo Dong Fashi, Guo Chi Fashi, Guo Jian Fashi, Chang Gui Fashi, Chang Zhen Fashi and Mr. Jimmy Chou to the newly renovated Hornsby centre on the morning of Sunday 15 September, this was followed by a public talk by Abbot President at The University of Sydney in the afternoon titled “Portable Happiness”.

DDMBA Ontario is pleased to announce that Dr. Jimmy Yu (Guo Gu) will be coming to Toronto to lead a 3 Day “Gateway to Chan” retreat, from Thursday November 28 to Saturday, November 30.

Thirteen children who led by Ven. Yan Xiang (演祥法師) and twenty volunteers from Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Centre in Malaysia took an outdoor learning trip on July 22nd. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, they came to a green-filled town- Sungai Buloh (雙溪毛糯) to visit a local asylum for Leprosy called the Village of Hope.

In 1998 and 2003, Master Sheng Yen visited Saint Petersburg and Moscow respectively to give guidance for local Buddhist practitioners, introducing Chan teachings into Russia. Part IV of this in-depth interview will share the story of how do they continue their Chan practices in the family



Q1:How do you practice Chan, being a couple?

Sasha: The latest period of our joint practice started on October 18, 2016, with the simultaneous addition of two masculine pusas to our family. Our practice became ensuring their life sustenance and our own survival. I had thought that it would be very difficult for me to quit my usual life mode which included Chan practice, my Wushu and calligraphy. All that together with teaching was taking practically all my time. Now my practice is the absence of such articulated practice.

On the weekend of Jan 31, 2014, Chan Meditation Center held a two-day Compassionate Samadhi Water Repentance Dharma Ceremony followed by a celebration of the lunar New Year.

It was a great honor to invite the residing Director of Dharma Drum Vancouver Center, Venerable Chang Wu Fashi to teach the Eight-form Moving Meditation to teachers of Westwood Montessori.

On May 9, 2014 the University of British Columbia (UBC) held a workshop at the Institute of Asian Research, C.K. Choi Building regarding "Buddhism and community care" (Buddhist Perspectives on the Work of Care). The topics discussed during this workshop were the ways in which Buddhist cultures, groups, and individuals, both monastic and lay practitioners, shape the provision of social care in East Asian settings. Apart from the scholars Professor Anne Bruce (UVic), Professor Jessica Main (UBC), Professor Andre Laliberte (UOttawa), Director of Dharma Drum Vancouver Center (DDVC), Venerable Chang Wu was also invited as a presenter to give a speech and took part in this important workshop that was full of insightful information and in-depth discussions.

On June 8th, 2014, (9:30-3:30pm) Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre hosted its first Gardening Meditation event. There were about 40 participants altogether ranging from teenagers to seniors in their seventies both males and females. We started the day with the Eight-form Moving Mediation guided by Venerable Chang Wu. It was a wonderful way to start the day as we were taught how to relax while moving, and how we should be mindful of our every movement. One participant shared that she got a lot out of this practice because the Venerable reminded everyone to exert the least amount of energy when doing the movements as well as acting in our daily life. She said that she have never heard that before and found it extremely useful.

On 24th May 2013, Dharma Drum Mountain in Malaysia (DDM Malaysia) held a Dharma Assembly in celebration of Vesak Day, which was attended by more than two hundred people.