On August 19, 2017, the Chinese American Academic & Professional Society (CAAPS) held its 42nd Annual Convention in Flushing, New York. The theme for this convention was “New Thinking and New Technology in the Changing Era.”

CAAPS invited three keynote speakers for this convention: Dr. Henry Lee, Venerable Chang-Hwa, and Secretary Elaine L. Chao. Dr. Henry Lee, a famous forensic scientist, spoke during the opening ceremony on “Sharing My Life Experiences - New Concept in Homicide Investigation”.

Every year, Chan Meditation Center holds a family camp for children aged from seven to sixteen at Dharma Drum Retreat Center located in Pine Bush, NY. This year, 47 children, 14 counselors, and 24 adults attended the camp.



Andrew Shen, a new counselor, said, “It was good that they taught us some important life lessons in the training session, and it helped me better deal with the kids at times.

Some activities for the kids group included creating kites, making lanterns, and learning about basic buddhist etiquette. Meanwhile, the teens attended conversations regarding compassion, buddhist philosophy, and learned about the art of tea. Guo Kai Fashi flew to the United States from Taiwan and taught classes for the adults, which consisted of discussions around topics such as life and death.

Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Centre Malaysia launched the Compassionate Mind Class, a children’s life education course, in 2017, with an aim to continually nurture the seeds of Bodhi already planted over the past few years. The first term of the course wrapped up on May 7.

6 p.m., April 19, 2017, Ven. Chang Zao (Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Centre Malaysia) gave a spiritual lecture on “Listen to Your Inner Voice and the World Will Hear You” at Taylor’s University. She explained in details the causes of vexation as well as methods to overcome them.

Master Sheng Yen, founder of Dharma Drum Mountain, once made a trip to San Francisco to share Chinese Buddhism, prompting him to establish the San Francisco Chapter in 2004. Ven. Guo Yuan, abbot of Dharma Drum Retreat Center, was the first monastic from DDM to visit the chapter and share the Dharma.

On January 21, 2017, at the invitation of Venerable Chang Xing, director of the San Francisco Bay Area Center, Venerable Yen-Ben (演本) delivered a lecture on “Approaches to Dharma Practice in the Daily Life of DDM Volunteers”.

As of last year, average temperatures on Earth rose to 1.3˚C warmer than pre-industrial levels, just 0.7˚C away from the United Nations' target maximum of no more than 2˚C change, a limit intended to prevent crossing thresholds beyond which scientists say it may be impossible to reverse the severe consequences of global warming. This was one of the main themes of Venerable Chang Ji's talk, titled "Is Civilization Dying or Being Born?" at Dharma Drum Vancouver Center on April 30, 2017. She spoke about the issues of climate change and the urgent need to fix it while we still have the chance to do so.

Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Centre Malaysia invited Ven. Chang-Yuan, director of Dharma Drum Mountain’s Meditation Activity Department in Taiwan, to lead an intermediate Chan meditation course at the Centre on October 29 and 30, 2016. The venerable used metaphors to show participants how to practice Chan in daily life, helping them gain a deeper understanding and experience of Chan practice.