Faculty and Students from Japan’s Rissho University Visit Dharma Drum Mountain to commemorate Master Sheng Yen’s Passing

On August 26, a group of 25 faculty members and students from Japan's Rissho University arrived in Taiwan on an official visit to Dharma Drum Mountain Abbot President Ven. Guo Huei. The purpose of their visit was to extend their gratitude for his personal visitation and lecture at their university this May, as well as for his donation to the "Master Sheng Yen Scholarship" fund at his Alma Mater. The group of visitors made a special trip to the Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education and Nung Chan Monastery, where they personally experienced Master Sheng Yen's profound and long lasting influence towards the world, through educational exchange, Chan practice experiences, Dharma ritual protocols, and so on.

The first stop of the tour was the Jinshan Eco-friendly Memorial Garden, where Master Sheng Yen's ashes had been buried in an eco-friendly manner. Led personally by the Abbot President, the faculty and students from Rissho University prayed in silence with joined palms while circling the garden clockwise with deliberate steps, to mutually commemorate Master Sheng Yen, a distinguished alumnus who had devoted his entire life to the Dharma propagation. Through volunteer interpreter Xu Shu-xun's Japanese narratives, the group of visitors was able to further comprehend the Four Kinds of Environmentalism that DDM has been vigorously promoting: namely, Protecting the Spiritual Environment, Protecting the Natural Environment, Protecting the Living Environment and Protecting the Social Environment.

Afterwards, the group arrived at the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts for a meeting with Vice Dean Ven. Guo Jing and school representatives. During their educational exchange, the Abbot President stated that both his teacher Master Sheng Yen and himself were alumni of Rissho University; therefore, he felt very grateful to his Alma Mater' nurturing. At the same time, he also hopes that both institutions could promptly resume their customary frequent exchange of faculty and students, just as they had prior to the pandemic.

During their interactive communication, former schoolmate of the Abbot President, Professor Tejima Isshin explained that the purpose of this revisit to Dharma Drum Mountain is to pay tribute to Master Sheng Yen. Upon learning of the Master's last will and testament, as well as the concept and spirit of the eco-friendly manner of burying ashes, everyone was deeply moved. On behalf of Rissho University, the visiting group leader, Professor Miwa Zehoh, presented the Abbot President Ven. Guo Huei with a Certificate of Appreciation, to show gratitude to his personal visit and lecture at their school this May, as well as the contribution to his Alma Mater's "Master Sheng Yen Scholarship" fund, which is intended to benefit more students.

The faculty and students of Rissho University also took the opportunity on this visit to experience Chan practice methods for relaxing the body and mind at DDM's Chan Hall. During their visit to Nung Chan Monastery, coincidentally, the Monastery was holding the Emperor Liang's Repentance Dharma assembly. In addition, the visiting group learned further about the rituals and proceedings. One senior student, Omura Haruka, noted how, on this trip, she observed how closely integrated Buddhism has become into the lives of the common people of Taiwan. The other students were also deeply impressed by the dedication of Master Sheng Yen and the contributions from devotees of DDM towards pacifying the people's minds as well as purifying the society.

Text: 張曜鐘
Photos: 張曜鐘
Translation: Cheng-yu Chang (張振郁)
Editing: Keith Brown, YKL