in the West

  Guided by bodhicitta to create an energy field for common good For a long time, I searched for answers about the meaning of life. In 1975, I happened to participate in a meditation course led by two Lamas, and heard them say, “You don’t have to believe anything I say. You should still think about it and put it into practice, to see whether what I have said benefits you.” From then on, I developed an interest in Buddhism.   Traveling afar to the East to ordain and seek the Dharma  At that time, there were few places in America where you could learn the Dharma. I decided to quit my job as an elementary school teacher, traveled afar to Nepal and India to seek the Dharma, and relied upon Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche as my teachers. In 1977, I received the sramaneri ordination from my preceptor Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, who was His Holiness the Dalai Lama's senior tutor. As the bhikshuni sangha lineage was no longer extant in the Tibetan tradition, there were a few nuns who went to Taiwan to receive the Triple Platform ordination. Nine years after becoming a sramaneri, I sought help from a Dharma friend, and after receiving permission from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in 1986 I went to Yuanheng Temple in Taiwan to receive the full ordination, officially becoming a member of the sangha. In my Dharma practice, I rely upon the Tibetan tradition, and in upholding the Vinaya I follow the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya. I often remind myself to be mindful of my comportment, to conduct myself appropriately in order to be in accord with the wishes of my teachers in both lineages. Living in a different cultural setting gave me the opportunity to observe how American culture had conditioned and influenced my life. When I saw how others did things differently, I would reflect: Is it always good for me to do things according to American custom? Are American values and ways of doing things suitable for other

Propagating Chan Buddhism to the West for 20 yrs Editor Notes Gilbert Gutierrez, an attorney in U.S., also a seeker all his life, studied various martial arts and mind arts but couldn’t be satisfied until encountering with Master Sheng Yen. He received Master’s teachings as well as Dharma transmission and started to propagate Chan Buddhism to the West ever since he became one of the Dharma Heirs of Master Sheng Yen. How did he make all these possible?   I have been a seeker all of my life. I grew up Roman Catholic. However I was never satisfied with Christianity. My main discomfort was how could a god create sentient beings and condemn some to everlasting hell. I thought, "Was the fault in God or his creations?" But God was perfect and god loved all his creations. Even as a boy of nine years old this troubled me.    As I grew up, this troubled me more. I sought to know the truth and sought for it all my life. Later I studied various martial arts and mind arts. I had a good capacity to eat bitter so I would quickly advance among the most serious students. As I studied Chi Gong I developed a strong concentration and meditative practice. I realized everything was created by the mind. I did various types of mind work and studied with some of the best Chi Gong masters.   Yet when I asked them why they practiced I generally received an altruistic answer that one practiced for the betterment of others. This response did not ring true. I felt that I was hearing a response from a beauty pageant contestant. There was no sincerity in the words. Practicing Chi Gong exposed me to incredible skills but still I was not satisfied. I was still seeking. One famous Master even made me his heir. Something still was missing.    Once a Chi Gong master, whose practice was Wei Tuo Pusa Chi Gong, told a Chinese student to get me a book on Buddhism. When the student inquired of the Master just what book he sho

Poland  In 1993, Master Sheng Yen transmitted the Dharma to Dr. John Crook, a British national, who vowed to practice the Master’s teachings and sow the seeds of Chinese Buddhism in Europe. Practitioners in Poland invited Master Sheng Yen to give guidance on Chan practice for the first time in 1997. Twenty years on, these Polish disciples have continued to practice diligently under the guidance of Ven. Chi Chern and Dr. Simon Child, constantly honing their faith in Chan teachings.     Before encountering Shifu, Master Sheng Yen, we firstly began Buddhist practice in a group that had roots in the Japanese Zen tradition (Anna in 1975, Paweł in 1984). In the early 1990s, the group experienced difficulties due to improper behavior of the teacher, which prompted us to look for a new teacher. In 1994, a couple of its members got in touch with Master John Crook, the first Western Dharma heir of Master Sheng Yen, took part in one of his retreats, and in 1995, also with Shifu himself, in the United Kingdom. Impressed by the personalities and teaching of both teachers, they inspired several other Polish practitioners, and together they invited John Crook to come to Poland in 1996. John accepted the invitation, and gave a public lecture and led a retreat in Warsaw.   Chinese Chan Buddhism vs. Japanese Zen John Crook would later come to Poland almost every year until his passing in 2011. His visits and guidance were of great importance to us. He showed us a slightly different taste of meditation than the one we had been used to. We saw that Chan offers more natural forms of meditation than Japanese Zen does, emphasizing such aspects as relaxation, not pushing for achievements, respect for the natural rhythm of practice, and acceptance of the present moment. It does not force anything. What it considers important is penetrating attention rather than intention.   Master Sheng Yen's Visit Master Shen

  Introduction: In 1997, Master Sheng Yen led the first Chan retreat in Croatia at the invitation of Zarko Andricevic, founder of Dharmaloka. By following the Master’s footsteps, Zarko started to regularly guide Chan practice in Europe and American, as well as take part in cross-religion dialogues, ever since becoming a Dharma heir of the Master in 2001. After many years of collective efforts, they finally bought the land and built the Dharma practice center, a Buddhist community in Europe focusing on Chan Practice. Now Andricevic is sharing how all this was made possible as follows.   Before I met Shifu (Master Sheng Yen) I was a teacher in a group that had up to that point practiced martial arts, yoga and Buddhism for over 20 years in Croatia. I was, however, searching for a meditation teacher and wanted to make a connection with a living Buddhist tradition. Our practice until then, in lack of an authentic teacher, was more a sort of free exploration and experiment, then it was following a clearly set and well-defined, traditional Buddhist path. Luckily, my investigation led me to Shifu and Chan Meditation Center in NY. Meeting with Shifu was a turning point in my personal life and practice, as well as in the life of our community as a whole. Shifu has given us the orientation, vision and inspiration that were of crucial importance for the development of our community and for walking on the path of Chan.   Finding a way out We are usually talking about Western culture, implying its uniqueness, but there is a need to know that there are significant cultural differences between Europe and America and equally there are differences between individual European countries. In that sense, some states have some cultural, political and economic specific features that make them more or less suitable for accepting the Dharma. Let's say that unlike in England, we are the first generation of Buddhists in Croatia. Further,

Chinese Chan Buddhism blossoms discreetly    From Editors: Former Swiss pediatrician, Hildi Thalmann, deeply felt the anguish of this transient life, and turned to Chan meditation. In 2004, after participating in Chan meditation guided by Master Sheng Yen, she took refuge in the Three Jewels under the Master; aspiring to disseminate Dharma Drum Lineage of Chan Buddhism as taught by Master Sheng Yen in her motherland. She then founded the Chan Bern Center for Meditation, promoting a four-year educational curriculum. Through translating Master Sheng Yen's literatures and giving lessons, Thalmann's top priority was to help more people obtain correct guidance in Chan practice.   According to official demographics, among the entire Swiss population, only 0.3% of them are Buddhists, and immigrants are the major promoters of the Dharma. Other than the immigrants, Westerners have also played a role in spreading the Dharma. From the 60's to 80's, a group of Swiss went to Asia to learn Buddhism, such as the Kammaṭṭhāna Forest Tradition of Thailand, and started teaching vipassana upon their return. Some Japanese Zen masters came to teach Chan, while other Swiss priests went to study in Japan and later developed their own teaching techniques. However, in this over-saturated religious environment of Switzerland, Chinese Chan and Chinese Buddhism are still relatively new to the locals, due to their late arrivals.   Learning the Dharma through Chan practice Moreover, most Western followers came in touch with Buddhism through Chan practice. They were primarily interested in learning the techniques to knowing one's self and transforming negative habits and distorted views. Although learning the Dharma may not be their first intentions, but after reading or listening to some of the Doctrine, they soon realized that these concepts could not be found in other religions, and gradually developed an interest in learning

Learning Chan methods and propagating the teachings of the dharma  Rebecca Li, a disciple of the late Master Sheng Yen, learnt Chan Practices from Master Sheng Yen in the US and served as a translator for the Master in many international conferences. Initially skeptical of Buddhism, she is now devoted to the practice of the Path of the Bodhisattva and to the propagation of Chan Buddhism. What causes this change? Below is her story: “The first 7-day retreat I attended was led by Master Sheng Yen (Shifu). This retreat was amazing and memorable; I couldn’t stop crying during the interview session as I realized that I have finally found the true Chan Master. ” On January 10, Professor Rebecca Li from the Sociology Department at The College of New Jersey was invited by Dharma Drum Special Lectures to share the story of her journey in embracing Buddhism, titled “Master-Disciple Affinities: Master Sheng Yen and I”.   Rebecca took refuge in the Three Jewels under Master Sheng Yen in 1995. In addition to serving as a translator, she assisted in the publication of the books “Footprints in the Snow” and “Chan Comes West”; she also received dharma transmission from Simon Child in 2016 (Simon Child is one of the Western Dharma Heirs of Master Sheng Yen ) then established the Chan Dharma Community (禪法共修會) dedicated to the propagation of Chan Buddhism.   Altruism is essential to Chan Practice In order to be closer to Master Sheng Yen in New York as well as to practice Chan and volunteer every weekend at the Chan Meditation Center, Rebecca applied for a teaching position in New Jersey. Her happiest moment was when Master returned from Taiwan every three months. “Every time Master returned, he will ask: How should we spread the Chan method to the Western society?” She was deeply moved by Master's unceasing effort to promote Chan Methods so that more people coul