​Finding Direction in Life — Nearly 900 People Took Refuge in the Three Jewels at Baoyun Monastery

On October 29^th at 2:00 p.m., DDM Baoyun Monastery in Taichung held the "Praying for Blessings and Refuge Taking Ceremony" in which DDM Abbot President Ven. Guo Huei transmitted the Three Refuges and Five Precepts to nearly 900 people from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan. Among the attendees were approximately 100 family members and friends of the refuge takers who congratulated them on fulfilling their wish to take refuge, thereby taking the first step of learning Buddhism and becoming the disciples of Buddha who learn to benefit themselves and others. 

"The first step to learning Buddhism is to have faith in the Buddha, follow the Dharma, and respect the Sangha." Ven. Guo Huei further stated that, after taking refuge, we should learn Buddhist concepts and practice methods by modeling ourselves on the Buddha, who attained enlightenment 2,600 years ago; learn the compassion and wisdom by following the Dharma that the Buddha imparted; and respect the assembly of monastics and patriarchs of the past who have transmitted the Buddha's teachings. The Abbot President exhorted the followers that, as orthodox Buddhists, they should constantly and diligently practice, uphold, and propagate Buddhism. Reciting the Buddha's name, practicing meditation or volunteering are part of the Six Perfections and myriad deeds that allow us to reduce our mental afflictions and cultivate blessings and wisdom. Not only can we benefit ourselves and others, but we can also transform ourselves and move the family members and friends around us.

The Abbot President shared that Buddhism can help all sentient beings liberate from the bitter sea of mental afflictions, solve the root causes of the ongoing wars and ethnic confrontations in the world, the conflicts between environment and human activities, and the calamities induced by climate change. The Abbot President emphasized that, if we apply the wisdom and compassion of Buddhism in our daily lives and maintain the purity of our mind at all times, we will lead a peaceful and happy life. 

"My joy of being enlightened comes from verifying, step by step, the wisdom of Buddhist texts in my daily life." Mao-lung Chang, who took refuge with his two friends at Baoyun Monastery, said that orthodox Buddhism gives him a clearer direction towards spiritual practice. He stated that he recites seven Buddhist scriptures every day as his routine practice, and serves as a volunteer on a fixed day each week at Baoyun Monastery. Prior to taking refuge, he always searches online for the lectures on the Buddhist scriptures given by the Venerables of DDM or listens to the program "Great Dharma Drum" for answers, when he cannot fully understand the meaning of the Buddhist texts. 


After retiring, a 78-year-old participant, Wen-san Lu, came into contact with DDM's meditation courses at the recommendation of his friends, wife and son, and made a vow to recite the "Lotus Sutra" 108 times after taking refuge. Since 2018, he and his wife have started taking DDM's courses, and they are both students of the "Sheng Yen Academy Buddhist Teachings Program." Wen-san Lu said that he uses reciting the Buddha's name and breath counting as methods when practicing Chan meditation. When he faces troubles and feels unsettled, he reminds himself to dissolve the ego and not to get caught up in his moods, thereby keeping the calmness and stability of body and mind. 

DDM encourages refuge takers to practice following the footsteps of the Buddha and jointly pass on and propagate the teachings of Chinese Buddhism, thereby using the wisdom of Buddhism to illuminate our mind, as well as making our lives peaceful and at ease by learning and practicing Buddhism.


Text: 傅莉嫻 (Li-xian Fu)
Photos: 廖順得(Shun-de Liao)、趙炳義(Bing-yi Zhao)、邱森(Sen Qiu)
Translation: 李祥苓 (Siang-ling Li)
Editing: Keith Brown, YKL