News
Welcoming the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism to Fagushan
The delegation consisted of fifty-four Venerables representing fourteen Sangha universities in South Korea and six devote Buddhists who have had an interest in Sangha education. This visit was deemed a milestone by both sides as it was an extraordinary and valuable opportunity in promoting academic exchanges, formulating academic relationship and enhancing mutual-understandings between the Buddhist organizations in these two countries. Jogye Order is the representative school of Korean Buddhism with roots that go back 1,200 years to Venerable Master Doui, who brought Seon and Buddhist school, founded by the Sixth Chinese Patriarch, Venerable Master Hui-Neng, to Korea around 820 C.E. On behalf of Venerable Master Sheng Yen, DDM founder, and of Venerable Guo Dong, the Abbot President, Venerable Guo Pin, the Deputy Abbot President, led the congregation of Venerable (Fashi) from the DDM Sangha University to greet and welcome the delegation at the Bus Depot. The honorable g...
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DDBC's Academic Exchange with Scholars & Students of Buddhism from Rissho University
The delegation was headed by Professor Mitomo KENYO, head of the Rissho University Department of Buddhist Studies, and longtime friend of the Venerable Master. In tribute to a long-lasting affiliation between DDBC and Rissho University, Professor Kenyo and the Venerable Master signed an agreement to establish the two institutions as sister schools for academic exchange. On the morning of the 8th, DDBC scholars and students participated in an academic forum at the Library & Information Center during the Rissho University delegation's visit to the DDM World Center for Buddhist Education in Jinshan Township. Prior to the convention of the forum, Deputy Abbot President of DDM, Venerable Guo Hui, led the delegation to visit the Grand Buddha Hall, the Founding History Memorial Hall, the Wish Fulfilling Guanyin Hall, and the Library and Information Center. The forum was presided by Deputy President Professor Amin TU of DDBC. Firstly, Dr. Jifu Lan, a renowned Buddhist scholar, introduced the development of Buddhism in Taiwan and distinguished it from Buddhism in Japan. Professor Kenyo then introduced the development of Buddhism in Japan and the present profile of the propagation of the Japanized Buddhist teachings in Sinicized societies. At the finale of this meaningful and fruitful academic exchange, the delegation, Venerable Guo Hui and Professor TU had a group photo taken in front of the DDBC portal. (translated by Jin Yang/edited by DDM Australia Editing Team)
DDM donates fifty water-proof tents in the Chenjiaba township
Chenjiaba is one of the townships severely damaged by the deadly earthquake which occurred in early May of this year. Venerable Guo Pin, Deputy Abbot President of DDM and Mr Huang Chuqi, Vice President of DDM General Association of Dharma Upholders, also went to the township's Health Center to evaluate the reconstruction effort. DDM relief teams have visited the town many times in the past few months to distribute supplies to the local community and to provide medical treatment to the injured. This latest visit received a warm welcome from the local residents who experience an acute shortage of medicine, temporary accommodation and other daily necessities because of the remote location of the township. Venerable Guo Pin said that Chenjiaba is in urgent need of assistance and DDM will do its best to support residents through this difficult time. The Venerable said that DDM will aim to demonstrate compassion by addressing some of the immediate needs of the community. (translated by Jin Yang/edited by DDM Australia Editing Team)
DDM supports compassionate young volunteers in Sichuan
In addition to providing spiritual care and encouragement at a simple and solemn ceremony, Venerable Guo Pin donated, on behalf of DDM, RMB 5,000 to the Volunteer Society in support of students' efforts in helping disadvantaged villagers and RMB 200 to every household in Sifang that was in need of urgent assistance. Venerable Guo Pin said that he hoped the donations would assist those in need of immediate relief as well as to encourage college students to continually practice compassion in Sifang's communities. One of the Society's recent surveys revealed that among disadvantaged households, 50 percent lost production capabilities; 30 percent were senior citizens, widows and orphans; and 20 percent appeared to have tremendous living difficulties as a result of the earthquake. The leader of the Society, Mr Xiao Yong, asserted that donations would be honestly distributed to everyone in need. (translated by Jin Yang/edited by DDM Australia Editing Team)
DDMSWCF discusses plans for future projects with officials in Myanmar
On his visit to the remote regions Dan Lan and Kawn Gyan in the Irrawaddy Delta, Mr Chen reported that although the capital Yangoon was on the road to recovery, people living in these regions suffer in poor living conditions, with lack of quality drinking water and electricity. DDMSWCF's reconstruction projects will include two primary schools, one hundred shelters and two monasteries that were devastated by Cyclone Nargis. DDMSWCF will also set up a center in Yangoon which will provide spiritual counseling, teaching of the Chinese language and scholarships for learning. Mr Chen said the reconstruction projects are expected to cost over NT$14 million. (translated by Jin Yang/edited by DDM Australia Editing Team)
Two Masters emphasize the value and meaning of life
The Masters agreed that life is actually made up of birth, aging, sickness and death, and that this whole process is transient and inevitable. Once we realize and accept that life is ephemeral, it allows one to search for the true value of life and live in a meaningful way. They also said that their religious beliefs have given them energy and motivation to continually contribute to society and devote their lives to charity works. Venerable Master Sheng Yen said that just like China's ancient emperors had always been looking for ways to prolong life, ordinary people are also seeking physical eternity. However, accepting that transient life is normal and natural is a key for religious practitioners whose main focus is spiritual eternity. One's life could only be meaningful if one can realize that life is transient. Catholic Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-His S.J. cited an ancient Chinese proverb that stresses the value of life：If one does not know the meaning and value of life, the meaning of death could never be understood. If we understand this, even through illness, we will always have the energy and perseverance to live a happy and meaningful life. In conclusion, the two Masters further emphasized that life is transient and one can realize the meaning of life and the value of existence through religious beliefs. Death is not the end, rather it is a process of life. (translated by Jin Yang/edited by DDM Australia Editing Team)
2008 End of Year Philanthropic Parties around the island begin
The party aimed to deliver DDM's greatest care to the disadvantaged people in society through material and spiritual support. The party held at Nung Chan Monastery is the first of the many DDM's philanthropic parties which will be held around the island. In order to express their support to DDM's long-term care to disadvantaged people, the Mayor of Taipei City Government, Mr. Hau Lungbin, the Deputy Commissioner of Department of Social Welfare of Taipei City Government, Mr. Huang Qinggao, and other local celebrities all attended the party, and met with the Most Venerable Master Sheng Yen and the Abbot President, Venerable Guo Dong. The Deputy Commissioner Huang Qinggao said that DDM's long-term contributions have brought a positive impact to the society; for example, the eco-friendly burial of the ashes of the deceased which has already modernized the public's view on funeral rites. This compassionate party has been held for more than 50 years since the Venerable Master Dong Chu initiated the winter relief program of donating cooking oil, rice and winter clothes to disadvantaged people, including the elderly who live alone, the handicapped and children, in Beitou District in 1956. The second end of year party will be held on the morning of the 21st December 2008 at the DDM World Center for Buddhist Education in Jinshan Township, Taipei County. Parties will then be held respectively at local branches of Dharma Drum Mountain around the island till the end of January 2009. It is estimated that more than 1,859 households will benefit from the 2008 End of Year Philanthropic Party. (translated by Jin Yang/edited by DDM Australia Editing Team)
A Conversation between Venerable Master Sheng Yen and Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-Hsi
In this conversation, Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-Hsi, a cancer patient himself, revealed humorously that he had even prerecorded his farewell sermon - "and when the time comes, it is all set to play!" Venerable Master Sheng Yen, on the other hand, had refused to perform kidney transplant (he suffers from kidney failure), stating that - "I am old, wasting a new kidney on me is just not compassionate". With great vows, the latter have been able to overcome critical moments in life. Here are the excerpts of their conversation and interview: Q : How would you like people to remember 'you' in the future? Ven. Master Sheng Yen (Ven. Master) : I have not thought of such issue. There are certain people who like to put me on pedestal, and state that I could be part of history. But the fact is this - there are not many historical figures one could well remember. While one is still alive, there could never be a conclusive appraisal; such judgment is only reserved when one is dead. But after death, does it matter anymore on how people remember and perceive us? Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-Hsi (Cardinal Paul Shan) : I am not an important person in anyway, and would not expect anyone to remember me. My life is but to spread the Love of God. Hence, it does not matter how I were to be remembered. My life is meaningful as long as my actions reveal God's wondrous Love. Q : As recognized religious Masters, it is frequent to come across myriads questions from both believers and non-believers alike. Do you really have answers to all these questions? Would not there be questions that cannot be answered? Ven. Master : There are many questions that remain unanswered. I am just a normal human being, and even all my life's experience, there are still many questions that could not be resolved. Even Shakyamuni Buddha could not answer and solve all questions. For example, where does human originate? How did the Universe come to be? Certain questions can never ever be answered, they are inconceivable. To those questions that could not be answered, I would normally ask in return "What do you think?" Interestingly, this would normally lead to answers! Sometimes they already have answers in their mind, and are merely hoping to reaffirm those answers by getting me to agree with them. Other times, people who raise such questions are not clear within themselves. They become clearer when being challenged and question in return. Yet there are times people continue to pursue on questions that they clearly know have no answers! One example is the question that was raised to me before the election - "which candidate will win the election?" How could I ever know? Cardinal Paul Shan : I am not almighty, I would admit this and I could never provide satisfactory answers to everyone. For example, there are many people who like to treat religious believe as science, and insist on finding evidence of God existence, and that of Heaven and Hell. However, it is very difficult to seek answers from our limited wisdom. Evidence of God cannot be found with naked eyes - God is not a kind of material. Nevertheless, we could deduce with our wisdom to believe Its existence. Q : Cardinal, we understand that you were shocked when you were diagnosed with cancer in 2006. You revealed that you regained calmness after praying to God for half an hour. What exactly was in your mind when you prayed to God then? Cardinal Paul Shan : I was very shocked when the doctor informed me of lung gland cancer. I did not smoke or drink, why is it me? However, there is a little voice in me that raised this question "Why would others deserve this then?" I knelt down and prayed for half an hour. I asked God : "What would You like me to do?" I am old and sick, and if He feels that such an old person is still worthy, then by all means please make use of me! I prayed and said : "God, please allow me to understand what you have in mind." I pled for Him to enter my heart, praying that i understand his decree. Death is process, a process for me to enter God's eternality. Such understanding is for those who have faith. Some raised the question "Would you not be bored and tired with Eternality - something that would never change and remain the same forever?" To me, there would only be joy and happiness when there is Love. How could there ever be boredom? Time is just our imagination. The earth orbits around the sun. A complete orbit is known to be a year, 365 days. If there were to be no sun, no earth, what then is time? There is no word to describe Eternal. I have been a priest for 60 years, and yet I have not done anything for myself. I once thought I could be free and do whatever as I wish after my retirement, but God now says : "Hold on, I have other plans for you." He is using this opportunity to give me yet another mission. There are many out there who are infected with cancer. Some lost their will to live. Many doctors shared with me that similar cancer patients would only have an average lifespan of four months. However, one third of such patients died of fear. Last year, all three friends of mine who had such illness passed away in less than 4 months. Well, I think my illness is planned by God, and I accept it. I treat this as my 'little angle', who reminds me : The race is ending, you have to exert yourself every single second, in helping others to go beyond death. I have been living for a year and a half since then. Q : Ven Master Sheng Yen, you are also very much at ease with your illness. How do you treat such personal pains and sufferings? Ven. Master : Shakyamuni Buddha's helped and delivered sentient beings, and all his life was full of challenges and sufferings; Venerable Hsuan Tsang left for India in pursuit of Buddhist studies, and he had to overcome more than eighty obstacles. These great teachers made their way through great difficulties. Another recent example is the late Venerable Master Yin Shun in Taiwan. Throughout his 100 years life, he had never been able to live without medications and needles, yet his achievements in Buddhist studies and research is unparallel. As for me, I have always been ill throughout my life. Many had little confidence and hope in me, and thought that I could never live long. I only began to speak at the age of 5 or 6, and it is not until I reached 8 or 9 years that I attended school. I lived through war times and endless challenges and sufferings. I had never attended high school or university, yet quite surprisingly I managed to complete PhD in Japan. This required much hard work. I thank Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in tempering me with these challenges and sufferings, for they gave me the strength to serve and contribute. Throughout the years, I was able to write a few books every year. This has cumulated to slightly more than 100 works. Do I see these as my retributions and karma? No, I see them as missions given to me by Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and also the fulfillment of my early years' vow; the vow to popularize and share Buddha Dharma with more people. This is inspired by what I observed too, that the wondrous and delightful teachings of the Buddha are only known by a few. It is this vow that led to such achievements. I lived with, and survived through needles and medications through the years. Continuing to live on in this manner, I feel that I have certain obligations myself. Three years ago I had problems with my kidneys. The left one had a tumour and was removed. As a result, I was left with only the right kidney, which does not function well. This then requires me to receive dialysis treatment every week. Throughout these years, I had been through critical moments. It is because of my unfulfilled wish; building DDM University; that I managed to pull through and returned from the edges of death. I once prayed to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas that "I would leave anytime only when I complete my duties and responsibilities. However, if there are still undone works, please allow me to live on". With these in mind, I revived. Such is the strength of vow. Q : Was it depressing when the doctor declared that you need to receive long-term dialysis treatment? How did your change your mindset then? Ven. Master : I did not feel depressed or fearful. I could actually live happily and healthily even as a patient. I do not feel that receiving dialysis treatment is a painful burden. I am also aware that it is quite difficult for patients to remain optimistic in this manner. The moment I was infected, I did not raise questions such as "Why did I fell ill?" or "What had I done to deserve this?". Neither did I complain to Bodhisattvas that "This is so unfair!". Rather, I faced and accepted them. I simply have to face it. Being a meditation practitioner, it helped me to accept the pains. In the past 3 years, my health condition fluctuated - sometimes good, yet sometimes bad. As for me, I treated them with an ordinary and equanimous mind, leaving my life to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and my body to doctors. I coorporated fully with whatever treatments the doctors recommended. I lived and survived, without seeking death, without anticipating death, and without having fear of death. If I were to passively wait for my final moment, day after day, it would be so irritating! It is very rare that I find myself disturbed emotionally. It seems that meditation practice of tens of years does has its benefits. However, I could understand the patients' fear. I will like to sugget that we practice to handle them with these four steps: face it, accept it, dealing with it, and let go of it, so as to regulate and calm ourselves. Even if we cannot be totally succesful, we would, the very least, be able to reduce our mental sufferings. Faith is a very powerful element. If we could achieve serinity within our mind, we would eventually experience peace. Q : Having conducted innumerable funerals, and encountered countless births and deaths, how would both Reverends arrange the final journey? Cardinal Paul Shan : Right after the diagnose of cancer, I have been working in my best manner to complete my works, while leaving my fate to God. I am one very cooperative patient! I leave my illness to the doctors, while I take care of myself. When I have passed away, my contribution to Taiwan is simply this - my body as organic fertilizer! I have prepared my will to have a simple funeral with the thinnest coffin. There is no need for flowers and elegiac couplets, just a bible on top of the coffin will do. I have even prepared my final sermon! I have to do it myself because I am uncomfortable and afraid of receiving only praises, and no one remember of my own wrong doings and the need to seek for forgiveness! I have recorded my own sermon, and when the time comes, it is all set to play! I am a homeless person, just like Ven. Master Shen Yen. I do not own anything, any property. The most precious thing is Faith, that "God is Love". I share such faith of Love to all my friends, and leave my life and soul to God. This, to me, is complete. Ven. Master : My thoughts are very similar. I have earlier prepared and notarized my will with lawyers and official courts. I have no property - everything belongs to our organization. What I have is only this physical body, to be cremated in a simple thin coffin. After cremation, there would be no pagoda, no tomb and memorial. When I am gone, I will disappear from this world. The normal practice in our society is to stress on preparing a solemn funeral, and a good memorial. Perhaps there would still be people who come to pay respect within a decade or two. But soon after that, very few people will remember you. This is a fact. In line with advocating the protection of social environment, I wish we could reflect on this and change our attitude.
A New Page Turned for Buddhism in Taiwan: DDBC invited to host the 16th IABS Conference
The IABS was established in 1976 with a conference to be held every 3-4 years. Venerable Master Sheng Yen was one of the founding members of this initiative during the time of his propagation of Chinese Buddhism in the United States. With 325 research papers presented and with the attendance of 450 international Buddhist scholars, the 6-day conference began on 23 June 2008 in Emory University, Atlanta, United States. Led by its President, Venerable Hui Min, the DDBC delegation was represented by distinguished scholars of DDBC itself and of the Chung Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies (CHIBS). The delegation introduced Chinese Chan to all participants in the conference and presented the results of promoting Chinese Buddhism and Buddhist modernization in Taiwan in the theme of Buddhist technologies. The presentation left a deep impression on the attendants. Following research presentations by Venerable Hui Min, Professor Yi Xun Huang and Professor Guo Rui, Professors William Magee and Marcus Bingenheimer presented on the digitization of Buddhist scriptures based upon the progress of the Chinese Buddhist Electronic Text Association (CBETA). DDBC's major involvement in this project drew great interest from scholars particularly from Denmark and Bhutan. As a result of such great efforts exerted in Taiwan, DDBC was awarded the honor of hosting the 16th IABS Conference in 2011, turning a new page for Buddhism in Taiwan. Indeed, the honorary hosting of the 16th IABS Conference signifies that the long term dedication in Buddhist education of DDBC and CHIBS has gained solid accolades and recognition from the international Buddhist community. (translated by Jin Yang/edited by DDM Australia Editing Team)
A significant day for Dharma Drum Buddhist College - Venerable Master Sheng Yen at every turn
The first was DDBC's first anniversary celebration which was held at Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education in Jinshan Township, Taipei County. The second was the Signing Ceremony of alliance between DDBC and the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST). This signified the start of an exciting joint venture between the two institutions to cooperate in exchanging experience and expertise in the field of education. Venerable Master Sheng Yen expressed DDBC's aim to cultivate future spiritual leaders by offering them avenues to gain appropriate qualifications, nurture and uplift each individual's character, and to broaden their humanistic compassion. Venerable Master Sheng Yen noted that the establishment of DDBC was possible through long term planning and selfless efforts by many. It is pleasing that the quality of DDBC's academic environment has been noted and appreciated by many. The President of DDBC, Venerable Hui Min announced that following the Signing Ceremony, the curriculums and programs hosted by the two institutions will now be open for students from both institutions. The President of NTUST, Dr. Shui-Shuenn Chen, thanked Venerable Master Sheng Yen for his attendance and expressed his appreciation for the Master's blessing of this partnership. He stressed that future exchanges between DDBC and NTUST would be developed in line with Buddhist compassion for social good. The final event of the day was held at DDBC's International Conference Room and saw Venerable Master Sheng Yen presiding at a ceremony for conservation of priceless Tibetan historical documents. Many honored guests were present at the celebration, such as Abbot President of DDM, Venerable Guo Dong, President of DDM's General Association of Dharma Upholders, and Mr. Jia-Nan Chen. The Tibetan documents have been recorded on to 57,000 microfilms which were originally conserved by Professor Shunzo Onoda of Bukkyo University in Japan. They are now being carefully stored at DDBC's Library and Information Center. To honor Professor Shunzo Onoda's great compassion, Lahmas studying in DDM's Sino-Tibetan Program and DDM's academics were present at the ceremony to give their sincere gratitude and blessings. This marks an important milestone for DDBC as it becomes an academic research hub for the study of Tibetan language, history and medicine. (translated by Jin Yang/edited by DDM Australia Editing Team)