Shah Alam Buddhist Society Invites Dharma Drum Mountain Centre Malaysia to Lead Beginners' Meditation Class

On March 4 and 5 of this year, Dharma Drum Mountain Centre Malaysia was invited by the Shah Alam Buddhist Society to lead a Beginners’ Meditation Class. A total of 98 people who were interested in understanding and experiencing Chinese Chan Buddhism completed a two-day course. During this time, the participants learned the fundamentals of Chinese Chan Buddhism while elaborating on its concepts and practicing the methods of Chan.

The three monastic teachers, Ven. Chang Zao, Ven. Chang Ji, and Ven. Yen Rang systematically introduced the functions of meditation, the mindset for practicing, methods and principles of sitting meditation, relaxation techniques, experiencing and counting the breath, Buddha recitations, etc. With these methods, they gradually lead the Beginners’ Meditation Class through each aspect of Chan meditation. Throughout the course, the students were able to apply, practice, and experience these methods.

The monastic teachers explained during the class, that methods of Chan meditation are to be applied in our daily lives, be it walking, living, sitting, or lying down. Therefore, besides sitting meditations, the class also included moving meditations, walking meditations, eating meditations, and standing meditations. They encouraged the participants to approach the two-day course with an open mind, to fully learn and benefit from the guidance of Dharma Drum Mountain's Chan tradition. They also reassured the participants that, should they choose to explore other Chan traditions in the future that would be perfectly fine, as long as they continued to practice and benefit from Chan meditation.

The students were actively asking questions during the learning process, clarifying their uncertainties regarding the concepts and practice methods. Many of them expressed that they were unable to truly learn Chan Buddhism through the mere acts of reading books or following online videos and that they needed the guidance of a teacher. A fellow devotee Feng Ling, who is currently half-retired, remarked that she experienced the methods to maintaining stability and concentration in daily life through completing the comprehensive, systematic DDM's Beginner’s Meditation Class. Another fellow devotee Fu Xue, a disciplined middle school student, is busy with academics and extracurricular activities such as music and martial arts. He feels that the method of Chan meditation can help him relax, feel at ease, and free himself from troubles.

Lay Buddhist Ming Qiang Huang, who represented Shah Alam Buddhist Society in inviting DDM Sangha to teach the course, has been teaching mindfulness of breathing for a year at the former organization. He remarked humbly that he hopes the general public will have more opportunities to learn from Chan teachers of different lineages—in particular, organizations with complete orthodox curriculums and teaching facilities, such as DDM, as well as a formal, established Chan lineage.

The monastic teacher encouraged everyone to have faith in their good roots. As long as they maintain a long-term commitment and continue to practice, they can overcome physical discomforts such as soreness, pain, itching, and numbness, as well as the agitation that beginners may face. After the completion of the Beginners' Meditation Class, DDM monastics and Assistant Hall Monitors lead a bi-weekly meditation session at the Shah Alam Buddhist Society, accompanying the students on their journey of experiencing Chinese Chan Buddhism.

Text, Photo: Dharma Drum Mountain Centre Malaysia
Translation by: Shiang Shen (沈純湘)
Edited by: Keith Brown, Cheng-Yu Chang (張振郁)