News

Special issue in English marks the 70th anniversary of Humanity Magazine.

To provide local practitioners with the compassion and wisdom of Buddhadharma, a symposium was held by Humanity in June 2018. Content presented in this special edition includes the full text of the two keynote speeches and the panels delivered at that symposium. Speakers from various traditions include Jakusho Kwong Roshi, founder of Sonoma Mountain Zen Center; Rev. Meian Elbert, Abbess of Shasta Abbey; Ven. Chi Chern, Abbot of Pu Zhao Monastery in Malaysia; Ven. Phap Kham, Executive Director of the Plum Village Foundation Hong Kong; Ven. Guo Huei, DDM Abbot President; Daniel Aitken, CEO of Wisdom Publications and Sam Mowe, Associate Publisher of Tricycle. This special edition also contains articles by late Master Sheng Yen's western Dharma heirs, including Simon Child, Gilbert Gutierrez, Max Kalin, Karmen Mihalinec, disclosing many interesting stories between them and the late Master and how they contribute to the propagation of Chinese Chan Buddhism in the West. It also contains an interview with Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi in which he talked about his reflection on the oppression from social institutions on human beings and how he turned from a traditional monk to a social advocate. Also Ven. Bhikkhuni Dhammadinna shared the story of how she switched from learning dancing to studying Buddhism, and to eventually becoming a female Buddhist monastic. It has been so well received since its publication that both Chan Magazine from Chan Meditation Center in New York and Tricycle contacted Humanity for permission to publish articles contained in this special edition. When the western Dharma heirs came back last June to attend the forum "The Development of Chan Buddhism in Contemporary Era," they also found its significance and brought it back to share with Buddhists at their hometown. They truly hope that DDM could keep publishing English periodicals or books in the future so that more windows on Chinese Buddhism could be available to English practitioners, fostering a deeper connection between Buddhists from the West and the East. Texts / Photos: Dharma Drum Monthly Translation: Chang, Cheng-Yu (張振郁) Editing: DDM Editorial Team; John Wu (吳俊宏)

[Topics] The Five Precepts

SHI-FU: The five precepts are part of the Buddhist tradition and they are: no killing, no stealign, no sexual misconduct, no lying, and no alcohol or drugs. The five precepts are a protecting mechanism for practitioners. They help to ensure the purity of their lives and minds so that they can safely and steadily continue to practice. For this reason, precepts are necessary. In taking the precepts, you check yourself in regard to actions and speech. If your body karma and verbal karma are relatively undefiled, then your mind will tend to be more stable and pure. A stable mind leads to better practice, which in turn can lead to samadhi. Thus, the attainment of samadhi is dependent on the practice of the precepts.Taking the precepts must be voluntary. You must be willing to curb your actions and speech. If you are forced to do so, then the precepts will only create frustration and anger; they will not help you in attaining samadhi, or even in your daily life. It is not only for attaining samadhi that you should take the five precepts; it also signifies that you want to accept the teachings of the Buddha. In addition to taking the refuges, they are the basic requirement for being a Buddhist. When you follow these precepts, your behavior will be different from the ordinary person's. Either people will recognize that your actions and speech are different because you are a Buddhist, or, conversely, they will surmise that you are a Buddhist by your actions and speech. At this point, whether you practice to attain samadhi is another issue. Even if you do not meditate, but wish only to be a basic Buddhist, you should take the five precepts. Do people's attitudes concerning the five precepts change as they journey deeper into practice? Yes, definitely. The precepts can be viewed from three levels. The first is the "individual liberation precept." It is the level of the ordinary practitioner. Here the precepts are held one by one, from one period of time to the next. Each precept is taken and followed separately. If you are sincere in keeping a particular precept, then you will acquire the benefits of that precept. It does not mean that you will, or can, hold all five precepts simultaneously. The second level is the "precept that is in conjunction with samadhi." When people move sufficiently deeply into samadhi, they will no longer have any desire to break any of the precepts, and will naturally refrain from breaking them. If people claim to have attained deep samadhi, yet break the precepts, then the samadhi they speak of is not genuine.The third level is the "precept that is in conjunction with wisdom." From the time people first see their true nature to the time they achieve Buddhahood, their wisdom will progressively deepen. During this time, they will not have to remind themselves to keep the precepts. At this point precepts are a natural part of the practice. Resources Zen Wisdom, The Five Precepts , p.101 Bookstore Amazon: Zen Wisdom

Nung Chan Monastery will not be open from Oct. 5 to Oct. 12

[Notice] Nung Chan Monastery will not be open on Nov. 9th (Sat.)

New Abbot President Venerable Guo Huei: Seize every moment in my life

  Ever since taking the mission as the 6th Abbot President, I started to behold many “first–time experiences” of my life. I am very grateful being able to adapt to them alright. My approach to the adjustment is actually simple, just as the old sayings, “a monk cares nothing but tolling the bell one day at a time” (做一日和尚, 撞一日鐘). That is, first take good care of myself, and then take good care of the Sangha and the lay followers, so that all of us can propagate Dharma and benefit the world together.     Roughly speaking, as I see it, there are three layers to the adaptation process. First of all, I should properly take care of my duly tasks. As it is essential and fundamental to upkeep religious practices in a regular and routine manner, I attend daily dharma services in the grand hall with the sangha and take pure meals with the mass as much as I could, and I maintain daily practices of morning sitting meditation and evening prostration to the buddhas. Second, being the Abbot President I surely have the responsibility of caring for the public as a whole.In the everyday intensive interactions with people of all backgrounds, the monastics as well as dharma followers, at all time I remind myself to adjust and modify, and to always come back to the practice method. That is, to practice “take good care of the mind.” Lastly, in dealing with the intensive work load as Abbot President, at any time I am simply mindful of what I should do at that time, “just concentrate on the present moment”, the inordinate vexations usually left off then. This is also what the late Master Sheng Yen's teachings are about, to take care of ourselves so as be able to give more of ourselves.     In fact, learning from the Dharma teachings, we should always take every present moment and every interaction as the most precious and wonderful experience, that is, ” Every moment in encounter is once in a lifetime ” or いちごいちえ in Japanese. During the process of adaptation, what benefits me most is to learn and make progress together with the monastics and lay followers. I used to be the Vice Abbot President in DDM Sangha, assisting the former Abbot President with the tasks of Dharma propagation. I was mainly in-charge of the academic affairs in the university, undertaking the tasks of the administration, teaching, researches, and services. The daily schedule back then was intensive but routine and stable. Besides, the task of academic research demands focused concentration, thus I had relatively less interaction with the general public. Now, taking the mission commissioned by the Sangha and the monastics, I have many more opportunities to learn and to communicate with the public. I cherish these precious opportunities very much.     As for my personal growth, I commit myself to personally uphold practices of the mind, including sitting meditation, sutra recitation, as well as reciting the Buddha's name. Yet, in terms of protecting and propagating the Dharma, I need the help and support from everyone. The job of Abbot President is huge, and it is not achieved by me alone. It is the fruit of the devotion and collaboration of many people. Therefore, with joyful gratitude, I attend daily morning and evening services, take pure meals, and participate in various activities. I sincerely appreciate all the connected conditions that help me grow.All the time I am learning how to deal with things in a better way, and to give more cares for the Sangha and lay followers, which I believe ought to be the most important job of the Abbot President!     Text: Venerable Guo Huei; Dharma Drum Monthly Photos: Yu-fa Wang (王育發) Translation: Frances Liu (劉珮如) Editing: DDM Australian Editorial Team; Shujen Yeh (葉姝蓁) More info about New Abbot President      

The Development of Chan Buddhism in Contemporary Era

  By sharing the video “Immense Grace,” life stories about Shifu, Abbot President Venerable Guo Huei led all the Dharma heirs and followers on-site to look back on how late Master Sheng Yen spread the Dharma through his compassionate vows, upholding the precepts and global visions. Over and over again, Abbot President quoted late Master Sheng Yen's exhortation on propagating Chinese Chan Buddhism, urging the followers to practice, dwell, realize, and propagate the Dharma. Buddhadharma could nowhere be manifested but in serving and benefiting the general public, regardless of their level.     Nine Dharma heirs and representatives were invited to participate in the forum, including Venerable Chi Chern (繼程法師), Venerable Guo Xing (果醒法師), Venerable Guo Jing (果鏡法師), Gilbert Gutierrez, Simon Child, Zarko Andricevic, Karmen Mihalinec, Ela Vukelja and Rebecca Li. In their insightful discussion, analogies in the spirit of Chan flew spontaneously, dispelling vexations and opening up a bright outlook for the audience.     In the discussion of “How does Chan respond to the issues in contemporary societies?” Venerable Chi Chern suggested that practitioners follow the causes and conditions, Venerable Guo Xing also reminded that what has been passed down from those lineage patriarchs is nothing but the direct realization of mind, which could be equally attained by lay practitioners as well.     Another discussion focused on the propagation of Dharma in modern Western society and the teacher-disciple relation in Chan practice. Venerable Guo Jing shared her experience in teaching college students and how she promoted Chan practice through camps at school. She found it quite difficult and quite different from teaching in the Chan Hall. Teachers have to come up with new approaches to adapt to the characteristics of students. Simon Child, on the other hand, focused his endeavors in particular on establishing programs for educating both dharma teachers and meditation instructors in the U.K., embodying his profound vision in continuing the Dharma.   Sharings from Dharma Heirs: Zarko Zarko Andricevic, who has just inaugurated the Chan Retreat Center Hartovski VRH in Croatia this past May, indicated that Chan School could be said to be the most prominent school in Chinese Buddhism, and through the lively ways of Chan, wisdom radiates its light and heat. The mind, however, is not bounded by cultural barriers. Back the time when late Master Sheng Yen propagated Dharma to the West, he did not emphasize Chan as the “Eastern Way”; rather, Shifu guided Chan practices with essence of the Dharma, the true mind. In Zarko's view, the nature of mind is free of cultural differences, which, therefore, would not necessarily bring about obstacles in Chan practice. Dharma is just like medicine, and the teacher plays an important role in giving the right prescription. He also mentioned that proper causes and conditions must be present, and both the teacher and the student should learn from each other, building mutual trust with respect and cherishing the shared Dharmic affinity. For Zarko, this forum is like a big family reunion at DDM, with so many people dedicated to continuing the same lineage. And it's wonderful to meet with other Dharma heirs to exchange experience in learning and propagating the Dharma.       Gilbert Gilbert Gutierrez, from Riverside Chan Meditation Center, L.A., California, stressed the significance of leading Chan practices from the “heart.” Regardless of the size of the group, when the practitioners could fully appreciate the compassionate deeds of the teacher, they would also be inspired accordingly and benefit from putting the dharma teachings into actual practice. Similarly, if one can remain mindful moment after moment, constantly returning to one's compassionate vows, one would eventually reach peace of body and mind in their daily life, either in dealing with the external world or the internal spiritual practice. To adapt to modern lives, on the other hand, internet technology can be of great help in promoting the Dharma, benefiting in particular those who can not meet their teacher in person. However, traditional face-to-face interaction would still benefit students most, if causes and conditions allow. Either way, it would still require continuous effort from the part of the student; the best dharma teachers can do is to assist and provide guidance. After such a significant event, Gilbert would love to see more exchange and communication with DDM Taiwan and other branches in Asia to learn from each other further along the path.     Texts: Chang, Yao-Chung (張曜鐘) Photos: Lee Fan (李東陽);Chang, Yao-Chung (張曜鐘); Chen, Le-Rong (陳樂榕) Translation: Elenda Huang Editing: John Wu (吳俊宏)        

DDM Set Tablets of Quelling the Calamity for the TransAsia Flight Crash

  Meanwhile, volunteers of DDM Social Welfare and Charity Foundation (DDMSWCF) in Taoyuan region also helped family members from China or other countries identify the injured and deceased. In addition, the Director of DDM Social Care Department, Ven. Chang Jian, led about 60 monastics and volunteers to head for Taipei City Mortuary Services Office Second Funeral Parlor to offer comfort to family members of the deceased, and jointly chant the sacred name of Amitabha, by which, hopefully the deceased can reborn in the Western Pure Land.     DDMSWCF said it will continuously cooperate with related government departments to proceed with reassuring those who need care and comfort in this tragedy, and appealed to the followers showing their compassion for praying for blessings for victims, their families, rescuers and medical personnel.    

Memorizing Master Sheng Yen with beautiful vocals: DDM Best Care for life Awards Ceremony

  At the invitation of Dharma Drum, Taipei Mayor, Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), along with the former DDM Abbot President, Venerable Guo Dong (退居方丈果東法師), and the former Taiwan Vice-President, Vincent C. Siew (蕭萬長前副總統), jointly presented the Best Compassion Award to the Principle of Yu-Chi Junior High School (魚池國中), Lin Jiaru (林家如); Best Wisdom Award to Mr. Liu Datan (劉大潭); Best Group Great Aspiration Award to the Catholic Good Shepherd Social Welfare Foundation (天主教善牧社會福利基金會), to honor these role-models of “Caring for Life”, either as an individual or as a group. Under the warmth of the atmosphere, nearly a thousand attendees gave their blessings to all awardees in the ceremony.     DDM Abbot President Venerable, Guo Huei (方丈和尚果暉法師) shared that all awardees of the Care for Life Award, either of the individual or group, set themselves forth as "self-assured" and "aspired". Self-assurance, according to Venerable Guo Huei, referred to the ability to be clear about one's own strengths and resources, and to face one's shortcomings or limitations. Caring for life, on the other hand, is a characteristic of compassion, namely to actively develop one's strengths and help others to grow. In addition, with aspiration for Caring for Life means taking altruism as one's own duties. Therefore, DDM is honored to give praise and present the award to the winners for their self-assurance and aspirations.     On this occasion, Taiwan Vice-President Vincent C. Siew, also a perpetual volunteer of DDM, expressed his profound respect and congratulations to the winners, for they served as role-models and fully dedicated themselves to the society. Meanwhile, his sincere gratitude went to Master Sheng Yen and his dharma teachings, for which the public could come to know the way to respect life and be aware of its true meaning. DDM, by following such guidance and holding various activities toward positive attitude, is also able to strengthen the path of propagating “uplifting the character of humanity and building the pure land on earth.”     The Principle Lin Jiaru, who won the Best Compassion Award through her work utilizing local resources and introducing skilled teachers for talent training, was striving to cultivate the disadvantaged students’ living-making skills. She guided the students to find their confidence directly from their actual experience of practices and completely transformed their rebellious and negative attitudes in school. In this regard, she showed them the way to assure themselves and grow into forward-looking progresses in life. Over and over again, she expressed her gratitude to DDM for they granted her so much strength to carry on.     Liu Datan, who won the Best Wisdom Award, has suffered from polio since early childhood. Even suffering from muscular atrophy to his legs, he fearlessly continued to confront all the challenges of life with relentless effort. Furthermore, initiated from his aspiration to enhance the function of social care, Mr. Liu kept yielding his innovative products toward more than 200 patents in total, to fulfill his ideals. At the same time, he furthered his efforts to guide and care for the mentally or physically handicapped, and aimed towards building their skills to become financially self-sufficient. As the awardee of Care for Life Award, as he shared his most heartfelt feelings, the more he shared, the more confident he became to accomplish the innovative products, construct the factories for the handicapped, and conduct lectures to share his stories. When the abbot president squatted down to give the award to the little giant, all attendees applauded, bringing the house down.     Catholic Good Shepherd Social Welfare Foundation has long been engaged in caring for high-risk adolescents, women and children under domestic violence, single-parent families and victims of human trafficking; helping those in need returning to normal life and restoring their confidence through warm acceptance and loving care. Playing a preventive and therapeutic role, the Good Shepherd Foundation won the group award. Sister Tang Jinglian (湯靜蓮修女), born in Malaysia and devoted her life to those in need for 30 years, was grateful for the support from various sources; from good friends and the public, as well as the affirmation given by the DDM Humanities and Social Improvement Foundation in particular.     Before and after the awards ceremony, DDM Humanities and Social Improvement Foundation invited DDM chorus and Chi Yu (齊豫), Tang NaNa (坣娜), Roger Yang Pei an (楊培安), Kang Jiliang (康吉良) and many other famous singers sharing their beautiful vocals in the concert - to memorize the establishment of this award by Founder Master Sheng Yen . DDM said that the Care for Life Award is given by and returned to society. It is hoped that through the biennial election, the strength of life will be launched to the public, and the light and warmth of life will shine in every corner of the world.     Texts： Chang, Tian-Pei (張田沛); Chang,Yao-Chung (張曜鐘) Photos: Lee, Fan (李東陽); Wang, Yu-Fa (王育發) Translation: Elenda Huang (頤嵐達) Editing: Christine Huang; DDM Australian Editorial Team    

Reuniting with the Dharma across seven thousand kilometers

  25 student monks and faculty members from DDM Sangha University took Tamara's ashes to the Eco-friendly Memorial Garden for burial, fulfilling the last wish of this future Dharma brother. On September 15, the very last day of the Mid-Autumn holidays, the Jinshan Eco-friendly Memorial Garden on Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education was transformed into a life's education classroom. At the ash burial ceremony of Tamara Yazikova, a practitioner from the Wujimen Martial Arts School Chinese Cultural Studying Center in Russia, 25 students and faculties from the DDM Sangha University were given an opportunity to participate in a life lesson on “Green Farewell.”   Divided into groups, twelve monastic students, including both Venerable Yan Yao (演要法師)and Postulant Yan Shi (演誓行者) from Russia, gently poured her ashes back into the earth then offered a flower, finally covering with handfuls of soil. Although her family members were not present, there were nevertheless more than twenty fellow monastics and postulants who bid her farewell.   Vowing to become a Buddhist monastic in future life Born in 1961, Tamara passed away in June after a short illness, aged 58. In 2003, she participated in the seven-day retreat led by Master Sheng-Yen in Moscow. Working at a publishing house back then, she had to communicate a lot with colleagues, although she is quiet by nature. Therefore, when she learned that noble silence would be required during the retreat, she cried out "Great! That's exactly what I need!"   Since the retreat, Tamara practice Chan meditation without cease. She then volunteered to take up the responsibility of general affairs at the Wujimen Martial Arts School. She also gradually built up a deep connection with DDM due to her contributions in the arrangement of a pilgrimage trip to DDM for the Society and DDM monastics going over to Moscow for retreats.   Previously, she had already paid two visits to DDM, firstly in January 2018 along with members of the pilgrimage trip, then in March this year to participate in the bilingual seven-day retreat led by Gilbert Gutierrez, a Dharma heir of late Master Sheng Yen. When asking for instructions from monastics, she shared that she once felt that her "body disappeared" while meditating. As a diligent practitioner, she never missed out on any opportunity to learn from the Sangha to clarify her questions in Chan practice and Buddhism.   “She vowed to become a Buddhist monastic in her future life!” said Venerable Yan Yao, a sophomore at DDM Sangha University. Tamara once asked him, via email, to help enquire on how to fulfill this aspiration. And when she learned that Shifu once taught people to fulfill their aspirations by chanting the Mantra of Bodhisattva Cundi (準提咒), she too began to chant diligently the mantra, persisting for a very long time.   Fulfilling the last wish of a future Dharma brother   After Tamara passing away, her daughter decided to have her mother's ashes buried in the Eco-friendly Memorial Garden at DDM, perhaps due to the deep impressions Tamara had from her previous visits there. Tamara, a Chan practitioner from Russia (back, second to the right), vowed to become a Buddhist monastic in future life after attending a seven-day retreat led by late Master Sheng Yen. Venerable Yan Yao (back, second to the left) and Postulant Yan Shi (front, kneeling) Postulant Yan Shi, a close friend of Tamara as well as a freshman at DDM Sangha University this year, then proceeded to apply for the necessary documents, contact customs and the Embassy, and hand-carried her ashes on his flight from Moscow, via China, all the way to DDM in Taiwan.   Although there have been overseas application in the past for ash burial in the Eco-friendly Memorial Garden, they have all come from English-speaking countries. Tamara’s application was indeed the very first one from Russia. Fortunately, the niece of Zheng, Wen Lie (鄭文烈), the Deputy Manager of the Memorial Garden, happened to be a graduate majoring in Russian language, and she volunteered to translate the death certificate, crematory permit and other important documents. Venerable Chang Qi (常啟法師), Director of Academic Affairs of Sangha University, also accompanied Venerable Yan Yao and Postulant Yan Shi to the New Taipei Municipal Funeral and Interment Management Office to apply for the ash burial, trying their best to help fulfill the last wish of this future Dharma brother.   Taking the opportunity of Tamara's ash burial, Sangha University invited Venerable Chang Zhe (常哲法師), Director of the Social Care Center, to present a lecture on “Let the love of life return to earth.” In this lecture, he led monastic students to understand life and death from a Buddhist perspective, the current funeral and interment situation in Taiwan, as well as late Master Sheng Yen's promotion of Buddhist memorial ceremony and eco-natural burial, and his aspirations to donate the the Jinshan Eco-friendly garden grounds to the local council to implement this practice..   Traditionally, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for reunion. Tamara's farewell has brought about the reunion of all the participants with the Dharma, enriching one another's life of merits and wisdom, and furthermore manifesting the fact that death need not be faced with sorrow or joy. Just like the weather on the day of the burial, it was neither windy, rainy nor sunny.     Text: Liang, Jin-man (梁金滿) Dharma Drum Monthly Photos: Lee, Fan (李東陽) Translation: Chang, Cheng-yu (張振郁) Editing: DDM Editorial Team; John Wu (吳俊宏)     25 student monks and faculty members from DDM Sangha University took Tamara's ashes to the Eco-friendly Memorial Garden for burial, fulfilling the last wish of this future Dharma brother. On September 15, the very last day of the Mid-Autumn holidays, the Jinshan Eco-friendly Memorial Garden on Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education was transformed into a life's education classroom. At the ash burial ceremony of Tamara Yazikova, a practitioner from the Wujimen Martial Arts School Chinese Cultural Studying Center in Russia, 25 students and faculties from the DDM Sangha University were given an opportunity to participate in a life lesson on “Green Farewell.”   Divided into groups, twelve monastic students, including both Venerable Yan Yao (演要法師)and Postulant Yan Shi (演誓行者) from Russia, gently poured her ashes back into the earth then offered a flower, finally covering with handfuls of soil. Although her family members were not present, there were nevertheless more than twenty fellow monastics and postulants who bid her farewell.   Vowing to become a Buddhist monastic in future life Born in 1961, Tamara passed away in June after a short illness, aged 58. In 2003, she participated in the seven-day retreat led by Master Sheng-Yen in Moscow. Working at a publishing house back then, she had to communicate a lot with colleagues, although she is quiet by nature. Therefore, when she learned that noble silence would be required during the retreat, she cried out "Great! That's exactly what I need!"   Since the retreat, Tamara practice Chan meditation without cease. She then volunteered to take up the responsibility of general affairs at the Wujimen Martial Arts School. She also gradually built up a deep connection with DDM due to her contributions in the arrangement of a pilgrimage trip to DDM for the Society and DDM monastics going over to Moscow for retreats.   Previously, she had already paid two visits to DDM, firstly in January 2018 along with members of the pilgrimage trip, then in March this year to participate in the bilingual seven-day retreat led by Gilbert Gutierrez, a Dharma heir of late Master Sheng Yen. When asking for instructions from monastics, she shared that she once felt that her "body disappeared" while meditating. As a diligent practitioner, she never missed out on any opportunity to learn from the Sangha to clarify her questions in Chan practice and Buddhism.   “She vowed to become a Buddhist monastic in her future life!” said Venerable Yan Yao, a sophomore at DDM Sangha University. Tamara once asked him, via email, to help enquire on how to fulfill this aspiration. And when she learned that Shifu once taught people to fulfill their aspirations by chanting the Mantra of Bodhisattva Cundi (準提咒), she too began to chant diligently the mantra, persisting for a very long time.   Fulfilling the last wish of a future Dharma brother   After Tamara passing away, her daughter decided to have her mother's ashes buried in the Eco-friendly Memorial Garden at DDM, perhaps due to the deep impressions Tamara had from her previous visits there. Tamara, a Chan practitioner from Russia (back, second to the right), vowed to become a Buddhist monastic in future life after attending a seven-day retreat led by late Master Sheng Yen. Venerable Yan Yao (back, second to the left) and Postulant Yan Shi (front, kneeling) Postulant Yan Shi, a close friend of Tamara as well as a freshman at DDM Sangha University this year, then proceeded to apply for the necessary documents, contact customs and the Embassy, and hand-carried her ashes on his flight from Moscow, via China, all the way to DDM in Taiwan.   Although there have been overseas application in the past for ash burial in the Eco-friendly Memorial Garden, they have all come from English-speaking countries. Tamara’s application was indeed the very first one from Russia. Fortunately, the niece of Zheng, Wen Lie (鄭文烈), the Deputy Manager of the Memorial Garden, happened to be a graduate majoring in Russian language, and she volunteered to translate the death certificate, crematory permit and other important documents. Venerable Chang Qi (常啟法師), Director of Academic Affairs of Sangha University, also accompanied Venerable Yan Yao and Postulant Yan Shi to the New Taipei Municipal Funeral and Interment Management Office to apply for the ash burial, trying their best to help fulfill the last wish of this future Dharma brother.   Taking the opportunity of Tamara's ash burial, Sangha University invited Venerable Chang Zhe (常哲法師), Director of the Social Care Center, to present a lecture on “Let the love of life return to earth.” In this lecture, he led monastic students to understand life and death from a Buddhist perspective, the current funeral and interment situation in Taiwan, as well as late Master Sheng Yen's promotion of Buddhist memorial ceremony and eco-natural burial, and his aspirations to donate the the Jinshan Eco-friendly garden grounds to the local council to implement this practice..   Traditionally, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for reunion. Tamara's farewell has brought about the reunion of all the participants with the Dharma, enriching one another's life of merits and wisdom, and furthermore manifesting the fact that death need not be faced with sorrow or joy. Just like the weather on the day of the burial, it was neither windy, rainy nor sunny.     Text: Liang, Jin-man (梁金滿) Dharma Drum Monthly Photos: Lee, Fan (李東陽) Translation: Chang, Cheng-yu (張振郁) Editing: DDM Editorial Team; John Wu (吳俊宏)