DDM Stabilizes People's Body and Mind in Earthquake Stricken Areas in Hualien

Since the 7.2 magnitude earthquake on April 3^rd struck Hualien and affected Taiwan, Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM) immediately enacted its post-disaster emergency response, and DDM's affiliates also prayed for the disaster-stricken people during Dharma services. On the morning of April 4^th, on behalf of DDM Abbot President, Venerable Chang Shun (常順法師), Secretary General of DDM Social Welfare and Charity Foundation; Venerable Chang Guang (常寬法師), Vice Dean of Dharma Drum Sangha University; and Venerable Chang Kong (常空法師), Vice Director of Hualien Practice Center, led local volunteers to the funeral home in Hualien in order to express heartfelt condolences to the victims' families. Moreover, in cooperation with the city government, DDM set up an Equanimous Booth at the shelter center in Chung-hua Elementary School (中華國小) in order to help affected people to settle their bodies and minds atall times. 

According to Ven. Chang Kong, Hualien Practice Center, along with DDM Social Welfare and Charity Foundation, accompanied the locals hit by the disaster at the Equanimous Booth to stabilize their minds and bodies through eight-form moving meditation, scripture transcribing, andspiritual counselling. The Venerables and volunteers first visited the shelter center at the Chung-hua Elementary School, expressing their loving care and concerns to more than one hundred local residents in tents. They then headed to the funeral home to send condolences to the bereaved families and offer cash supplements. In the afternoon, the team visited Zen Light Nursery School (禪光育幼院) to inspect the damages caused by the earthquake.


As Hualien is still experiencing numerous aftershocks, the locals are in urgent need of stability both for their bodies and minds. According to Ven. Chang Shun, the Foundation has deployed volunteers to provide peace of mind services for the people in the disaster area, listen to and accompany them, and guide them to relax physically and mentally through moving meditation. At the Equanimous Booth, the Foundation provides illustrated books for children, peace of mind pamphlets, as well as Buddha beads, cards with images of buddhas, and other supplies for the locals. Dharma Drum Mountain wishes for the peace of Hualien, in addition to the smooth recovery for the locals to rebuild their damaged homes.

Original text written in Chinese by Tan Siang-lian (譚香蓮)
Photos provided by DDM Social Welfare and Charity Foundation, DDM Hualien Practice Center
Translation: Siang-ling Li
Editing: Keith Brown, YKL