The joint ceremony for the awards took place at Yunji Monastery on the morning of May 19. Recipients from elementary schools to colleges in Yunlin, Jiayi and Tainan, along with their family members, around 180 people altogether, arrived at the meeting point at Zhongshan Park, located in front of the monastery.

The award began with a warm greeting from the host, Wang Junzhi (王俊智). Participants made friends with people from other places by doing activities together, including “Traveling around the World Searching for Friends.” The drum team from Ruifu Day Care Center for the Intellectually Disabled performed two joyful and upbeat pieces of music. DDMSWCF Secretary General Ven. Guo Qi (果器法師), DDM Sangha Representative Ven. Chang An (常庵法師), and DDMSWCF President Wang Jingyi (王景益), were also present, accompanying grant recipients to spend a cozy Saturday morning.

In an atmosphere of gratitude and joy, students divided into groups participated in challenge games, such as “Mindful Walking Holding a Bowl Full of Water,” (托水缽) “Fun Ball Rolling,” (滾球樂) “Ringing the Lotus Bell,” (法華鐘響)and “Sutra Transcribing in Silent Sitting,”(靜坐鈔經) in which they learned how to calm the mind in constantly changing situations. Participants were attentive yet relaxed, experiencing the unity of their body and mind and the joy of Chan either in movement or stillness.

As words of encouragement for the 116 grant recipients and 31 winners of the Book Reading Award from Yunlin, Jiayi and Tainan, President Wang said that DDM founder Master Sheng Yen’s great compassionate vow has always remained as the core spirit of DDMSWCF, and its predecessor, the Merit-field Society (福田會). He also urged the winners to seek to help others and benefit society. He invited the students and their families to visit Dharma Drum Mountain more often, a spiritual home for many.

Ven. Chang An gave the students a most useful piece of advice when talking about Master Sheng Yen’s karmic connection with Guanyin Bodhisattva. She quoted the Master’s words for his relatives on his trip back to mainland China by saying, “The gift I brought you today isn’t worth much money; what is most valuable is my good wishes. I advise you to keep Guanyin Bodhisattva in mind by reciting ‘Namo Guanyin Bodhisattva’ at all times. That is most useful in the world.”“

The ceremony concluded with Ven. Chang An leading everyone to chant “Namo great compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva.” The venerable urged all participants to emulate and act like Guanyin Bodhisattva, and try their best to help those in need as a way to return the kindness they have received from the general public today.

Texts: Wang, Shu-Li (王淑麗), Yunji Monastery (雲集寺)
Translation: Fang, I-jung (方怡蓉)
Editor: Chang, Chia-Cheng (張家誠), DDM Editorial Team