Our world is changing dramatically, rapidly and with ever greater complexity. We see this on full display from the ravages of prolonged conflicts and many new ones to the rising impact of climate change. From growing inequalities to entrenched gender discrimination to the challenges of record numbers of people on the move and the world’s most vulnerable people suffering the most. The United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development — under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council — began its fourth annual session from 9 – 18 July. Four years after their adoption, progress on many of the SDGs remains slow amid rising inequality. The DDMBA delegation of 5 lead by Venerable Chang Ji partook in the conference held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

On July 6 and 7, Venerable Guo Yuan (果元法師), abbot of Dharma Drum Retreat Center in New York, together with Venerable Chang Hu (常護法師), director of DDRC, held a one-day retreat, the Chan in Tea activity, and two lectures on Chan practice at the Soeurs Franciscaines in Luxembourg.

From July 4th to 18th, Ven. Guo Xing (果醒法師), Master of the Meditation Hall, Ven. Chang Xiang (常襄法師), Director of the Meditation Activities Center, together with Ven. Yan Yi (演一法師), student from the Chan Department, DDM Sangha University visited Russia on invitation for a second time to continue the affinity started last year. In addition to paying solicitudes to local senior followers, they also led retreats in a retreat center in the suburbs of Moscow.

Chan Meditation Center hosted a 7-Day Amitabha Chanting Retreat at Dharma Drum Retreat Center in Pine Bush, New York from July 7 - 14, 2019. The retreat was led by Venerable Guo Kai and 7 monastics, and was attended by more than 60 participants from across the United States and Canada.

From June 19 to 21, at the invitation of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University, Abbott President Ven. Guo Huei attended the inaugural International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS) at the Raffles City Convention Centre in Singapore. The conference tackled the idea of “Many Communities, One Shared Future”, and nearly 1,000 government representatives, scholars and leaders of various ethnic groups from 40 countries and 250 organizations gathered to seek for dialogues to foster greater harmony in societies in this current world filled with racial, religious and cultural conflicts. On the afternoon of June 20, during the first session “What We Believe (Faith)”, the Abbott President spoke on the topic of “Religious Belief and World Peace” from the perspective of Chinese Chan Buddhism.

After 15 years of long-term preparation and construction, Zarko Andričević , one of the Western Dharma Heirs of late Master Sheng Yen finally established and held the completion ceremony of Chan Retreat Center Hartovski VRH in Croatia on May 18.

DDM former Abbot President Venerable Guo Dong (果東法師) was invited to host the ceremony of “Introducing the Light” and congratulate the new center on behalf DDM Sangha. Venerable Chang Wu (常悟法師), Managing Director of DDM Branch Monastery Administration in Europe and America, together with more than ten DDM followers made a special long-trip to participate in the ceremony.

Among all, more than 120 participants from Taiwan, Hong Kong, America, Canada, Swiss, as well as local practitioners gathered together in Croatia. Marcel Geisser Roshi, the adviser from well-known Chan practices group “Haus Tao” in Swiss also partook in at Zarko’s invitation.

On May 12, 2019, the 16th United Nations Day of Vesak Celebration was held at Tam Chuc, Vietnam by the Executive Council of National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, NVBS, in corporation with the International Council of the United Nations Day of Vesak, ICDV, as well as the Government of Vietnam.

In early May, Ven. Guo Dong (果東法師), former Abbot President of Dharma Drum Mountain, made a trip to North America on behalf of the current Abbot President, Ven. Guo Hui (果暉法師), to propagate Dharma teachings.

In the afternoon of May 4th, at the invitation of Chinese Buddhist Culture Association, Ven. Guo Dong delivered a speech titled “Good wishes for the world – mutual benefits for a life of wisdom,” at Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel.

Nearly two hundred participants were present, including Wang Lihua (王隸華), wife of Wang Dingjun (王鼎鈞), a well-known writer now residing in America, and Yang Chaohua (楊朝華), holder of Sheng Yen Professorship of Chinese Buddhism at Columbia University.

At the invitation of Laura Del Valle, Head of Mar de Jade in Mexico, Venerable GuoYuan (果元法師), Dharma Drum Mountain Vice Abbot also Abbot of Dharma Drum Retreat Center, went to Mexico to lead a one-day Beginners’ Meditation Class and a following 7-day Silent Illumination retreat from May 10 to 18; participants of both events reached 34.

Venerable Guo Yi (果毅法師), Managing Director of DDM Public Buddhist Education Center and Director of DDM Nung Chan Monastery, led a seven-day Silent Illumination Retreat at DDM Vancouver Center from April 5 to 12. After the retreat was concluded, a lecture entitled “Development and Evolution of Chan Buddhism” was held on April 13 and 14, engaging nearly 120 participants with a vast amount of historical materials and literature, to explore the history of Chan School of Buddhism by identifying the crucial and turning points over its 1800 years of development.