Experience the Awareness and Relaxation of the Body and Mind – Chan Meditation Center Organized the “Outdoor Chan” Autumn Outing at Staten Island

October 29, 11 a.m. at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden at Staten Island in New York marked the beginning of the "Outdoor Chan" Autumn Outing that was jointly organized by DDM Chan Meditation Center and the N.Y. Young Buddhist Society. Led by Venerable Chang Hwa, Venerable Chang Yi and Venerable Chang Zhai, the "Outdoor Chan" was supported by the enthusiastic participation of almost a hundred Buddhist followers and volunteers, along with their family and friends from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

In the afternoon, all participants did walking meditation in the Garden to experience the awareness and relaxation of the body and mind. Following this, Chan Meditation Center Director and N.Y. Young Buddhists Society Advisor Ven. Chang Hwa led everyone in a sitting meditation practice on the grass lawn. The Venerable indicated that this was the first large outdoor gathering activity organized by the Chan Meditation Center since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, time spent in solitude was inevitably lonely; however, it led us to better cherish opportunities to take part in group practices. Ven. Chang Hwa encouraged everyone to practice being a "sound-absorbing panel". That is, when faced with the hustle and bustle of daily life, regardless of what sounds we hear, just clearly be aware of them, without being attached to or discriminating them. In constantly reminding ourselves to revert to the principles of Chan practice, we can thereby progressively increase our wisdom as well as eliminate our vexations.

During the lunch break, the culinary team volunteers put in the utmost effort in preparing two kinds of vegetarian lunchboxes for every participant to choose from. Wang Kuan-Yue, a young Buddhist practitioner who lives in New Jersey, joined the outdoor Chan with her mother. She expressed gratitude towards the N.Y. Young Buddhist Society for the well-organized preparation, thanks to which nearly a hundred delicious and nutritious vegetarian lunchboxes were properly packed and promptly distributed to everyone. She pointed out that the date of the Outdoor Chan Autumn outing happened to coincide with the anniversary of the Chan Patriarch Bodhidharma's birthday, which made her feel even more strongly the extraordinary significance of participating in this activity.


A young Buddhist volunteer from New York, Wang Xin-Yuan displayed her joy in finally being able to meet up again with several Dharma friends after the easing of the pandemic, while getting to know many new excellent and lovely friends. At the same time, she was deeply grateful towards the Venerables and volunteers for their efforts in successfully organizing this autumn outing trip.