Footprints in the Spring Rain — Half-Day Chan Meditation for Young People at Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre

Spring in Vancouver is filled with the melodies of birds and the fragrance of flowers, often accompanied by fleeting rain showers. On June 18th, 2023, during the Dharma Youth Half-Day Chan Meditation event, it rained in the morning and afternoon. However, the participants were grateful for the warm sunlight that emerged during the walking meditation session at noon. Led by the resident venerable, everyone walked mindfully on the farm and lawn, step by step, making this segment the most mentioned and beloved activity for sharing.

This Half-Day Chan Meditation is an important part of the Dharma Drum Vancouver for Young People (DDYP) Chan series of activities for providing a more profound practice experience for the young practitioners. Unlike the previous two-hour meditation sessions, this half-day meditation spanned a longer period and included various activities such as sitting meditation, yoga, walking meditation, eating meditation, and work practice. Participants had more time to experience different forms of meditation, allowing their body and mind to gradually settle. Many of the participants were experiencing the practice in our centre for the first time, although they had personal meditation experience from self-study elsewhere. However, they rarely had the opportunity to practice together or participate in such systematic meditation learning. Young people are usually busy and face high levels of stress due to work and school, so it is rare for them to have half a day to quiet down, enjoy, as the resident venerable said, "a date with oneself," and feel the vibrant and tranquil atmosphere of group practice among their peers.

The design of this half-day meditation event followed a progression from movement to stillness and then from stillness to movement. The resident venerable first introduced the flow of activities and meditation instructions, and then led everyone in practicing the Eight-Form Moving Meditation. Afterwards, the schedule included sitting meditation, yoga, sitting meditation again, and walking meditation. After the walking meditation, the participants listened to a recorded Dharma talk by Master Sheng Yen and then proceeded to have a mindful lunch. Following lunch, they experienced work practice. Afterwards, everyone returned to the Chan hall for a guided mindful rest, and then proceeded with another sitting meditation, and finally ended the day with a sharing session. Through these alternating practices of movement and stillness, participants fully experienced the changes in their body and mind. For example, during the walking meditation, they were initially captivated by the beautiful environment. However, after observing and letting go of everything they saw and heard, they redirected their attention back to themselves, walking in circles on the grass, gradually slowing down and returning to their pure nature. During the third sitting meditation, their bodies were able to return to their own rhythm step by step, achieving unity of body and mind.
During the sharing session, a male participant shared his observation that he used to believe he could control his body and mind in daily life. However, during the process of meditation, he discovered how challenging it was to maintain control, whether it was his thoughts or the twitching of his eyelids. Young participants also raised many interesting questions. For example, one person discovered a state of joy during the sitting meditation and wondered what to do with it.

The participants of the Half-Day Chan Meditation event at the Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre hailed from diverse backgrounds, representing places such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China, South Korea, Toronto, New York, and Australia. Among them were both new immigrants and Filipino Canadians, some arriving with companions while others embarked on solitary journeys of inner exploration in search of peace. The centre provided these young individuals with a serene and tranquil space for their bodies and minds to find solace. Conducted primarily in English, the DDYP activities consistently attracted a considerable number of English-speaking participants. Many of these individuals had previously acquired knowledge of various Eastern meditation techniques from different locations. When they discovered the Dharma Youth activities through online searches, they promptly registered, eager to participate. Furthermore, some participants expressed a keen interest in Master Sheng Yen's teachings and spent additional time in the library at the Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre even after the event had concluded. This serves as a poignant reminder of Master Sheng Yen's own journey when he ventured alone to North America, spreading and teaching Buddhism to Westerners. In continuing his footsteps, we too are steadfastly and peacefully walking the same path to this day.

DDYP hosts online book clubs by reading and discussing Master Sheng Yen's books every Friday, Chinese and English alternating. If interested, please do not hesitate to reach us at [email protected] for registration and details.
 
Written by DDYP 2023.06.21
Photo: DDYP 2023.06.21