​The First Buddhism Learning Course — the Completion of the "Happy Buddhist Learner" at Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Centre Malaysia

On November 5, the in-person 3-part course "Happy Buddhist Learners" held by Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Centre Malaysia was officially completed. Among the 79 participants successfully completing the course, 32 participants aspired to take refuge and receive five precepts, thereby taking their first firm step towards learning Buddhism. 

"Even though everyone's reasons for learning Buddhism are different, the direction is the same!" Ven. Chang Zao, the Director of Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Centre Malaysia, emphasized that, through learning Buddhist concepts and methods, we can attain harmony and peace of our body and mind by adjusting our speech and deeds, thus reducing the contradictions and conflicts within ourselves and with the external conditions. Since learning Buddhism is a long-term process, the Venerable encouraged everyone to work on both their understanding and practices. While cultivating compassion and wisdom in the process of learning Buddhism, it is also important to continuously accumulate merits.

"Learning Buddhism is not about living a secluded life in the woods and ignoring worldly matters, but about building a pure land on earth by engaging in activities that can express our care for the society with a human-oriented spirit!" Ven. Chang Ji shared the origin of Sigālovāda Sutta (the Buddhist code of conduct of a layperson) and the application of catvāri saṃgraha-vastūni (four methods of pacification). The Venerable also narrated how Master Sheng Yen, the founder of Dharma Drum Mountain, was adept at interpreting the essence of the vast Buddhist scriptures in plain words, thus making it easier for modern people to understand and implement the concepts and methods such as "Four Kinds of Environmentalism" and "The Six Ethics of the Mind Campaign" Into their daily lives.


On the afternoon of that day, the center held a simple yet solemn refuge-taking ceremony for the participants who aspired to take refuge in the Three Jewels and received the Five Precepts. The participants happily became Buddhists under the witness and blessings of the assembly. "Whenever you encounter all sorts of troubles and challenges in your daily lives, do not forget to find answers within." Ven. Chang Zao asked the participants to keep their refuge-taking aspiration in mind and to always remind themselves to continuously practice gratefully accepting various causes that facilitate their learning and growth. 

The completion of the "Happy Buddhist Learner" course signifies the beginning of the participants' Buddhist study. Ven. Yan Lian introduced the Dharma Drum Mountain's in-person and online courses to the participants in the hopes that they could make good use of the information provided to learn more about the Dharma, even after the course. The venerable also hoped that the participants would return to the center to participate in other activities and be virtuous Dharma friends along the path of learning Buddhism. 






Text: Publicity Team of Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Centre Malaysia
Photos: Zhen-Quan Huang (黃貞全)
Translation: 李祥苓 (Siang-ling Li)
Editing: Keith Brown, Glen Sha