One of the major aspirations of late Master Sheng Yen, the founder of Dharma Drum Mountain, is to spread Chinese Chan Buddhism to those with foreign cultural backgrounds, bringing the benefit of Chan to all.

Over the past decade, DDM International Meditation Group (IMG) has played such a role by offering Chan group practice to Westerners in Taiwan. The 2-day Beginners’ Meditation Class (BMC) was firstly held on April 20-21, introducing to beginners the basic principles of Chan practices and methods, as well as preparatory exercises, such as 8-form moving meditation; thereafter, the one-day retreat held on May 11 further provided an opportunity for comprehensive practice of what had just been taught at the BMC. These two events are significant yearly activities at IMG.

 

Practitioners were guided by two Venerables to gradually experience relaxation and tranquility throughout the day. Many young practitioners had never joined any group practice before, while others came into contact with practice through trying to learn meditation on the internet.

In light of this, after the opening exercises of 8-form moving meditation, Venerable Chang Ji briefly introduced the Chan methods in line with DDM lineage, and then gave step-by-step guidance for the practitioners to experience sitting meditation.

Although many of the participants were first timers, the group as a whole still maintained a calm and peaceful atmosphere. In as a short period as one day, they experienced the key principle of the mind present in moving, sitting and walking alike.
 

 

Right before the end of the retreat, practitioners enthusiastically shared: at the time of water-bowl meditation, one could surprisingly see one’s rising thoughts being elusive, instant after instant; one could contemplate how the habitual tendencies sneak into each and every one of one’s actions; with the support from the group, one is able to sit calmly on the cushion for long hours, way exceeding expectations.

Practitioners took the chances to ask two Venerables about the informed views of Buddhadharma, hoping to further improve their practices. Venerables also exhorted that all participants should exert oneself to Buddhist practices diligently.
 

 

Texts: Wenren, Liu (呂文仁)
Photos: Hannah, Liu (劉皓云); Wenren, Liu (呂文仁)
Translation: Elenda Huang
Editing: DDM Editorial Team; John Wu (吳俊宏)

One-Day Retreat in English in Taipei, July to September

7/27 (Sat) at Qiqun Building from 09:00~17:00 Led by Venerable Chang Ji
8/31 (Sat) at Qiqun Building from 09:00~17:00 Led by Venerable Chang Shen
9/28 (Sat) at Qiqun Building from 09:00~17:00 Led by Venerable Chang Ji
Register One-day Retreat HERE

Beginners Meditation Class, September

9/21-22 (Sat- Sun) at Yun Lai Monastery (雲來寺) from 09:00~17:00 Led by Venerable Guo Chan Register BMC HERE

About DDM International Meditation Group

Further details of DDM International Meditation Group can be found at IMG