Dharma Drum Mountain
Encyclopedia
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
spiritual, cultural, and educational foundation founded by late Ch'an (Zen) Master Sheng-yen
Sheng-yen
Sheng-yen was a Buddhist monk, a religious scholar, and one of the mainstream teachers of Chinese Chan Buddhism. He was the 57th generational descendant of Linji in the Linji School and a 3rd generational descendant of Master Hsu Yun...
. The international headquarters of this organization is located at Jinshan District
Jinshan District, New Taipei
Jinshan District is a rural district on the coast in northern New Taipei City in northern Republic of China . The district draws many visitors each year because of its hot springs and its proximity to Chin Pao San and the Ju Ming Museum...
, New Taipei City, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
(ROC
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
).
Dharma Drum Mountain is one of the most influential Buddhist organizations in Chinese Buddhism. In Taiwan, it is considered one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" or four major Buddhist temples of Taiwanese Buddhism, along with Tzu Chi
Tzu Chi
The Tzu Chi Foundation, whose name means "compassionate relief," is an international humanitarian organization and the largest non-governmental organization in the Chinese-speaking world....
, Fo Guang Shan
Fo Guang Shan
Fo Guang Shan is an international Chinese Mahayana Buddhist monastic order based in the Republic of China , and one of the largest Buddhist organizations. The headquarters of Fo Guang Shan, located in Kaohsiung, is the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan. The organization itself is also one of...
, and Chung Tai Shan
Chung Tai Shan
Chung Tai Chan is a Taiwan-based Buddhist monastic order founded by the Venerable Master Wei Chueh in 1987. The headquarters monastery itself, Chung Tai Chan Monastery , completed in September 2001 in Puli, Nantou County, is the tallest and one of largest temple and monastery in Taiwan and the...
. Its impact on Buddhist circles and both Eastern and Western societies stems from the vision, charisma, and life experience of Sheng-yen
Sheng-yen
Sheng-yen was a Buddhist monk, a religious scholar, and one of the mainstream teachers of Chinese Chan Buddhism. He was the 57th generational descendant of Linji in the Linji School and a 3rd generational descendant of Master Hsu Yun...
.
History
Long before the establishment of the JinshanJinshan
-Mainland China:*Jinshan District , Shanghai*Mount Jin , mountain in Zhenjiang, JiangsuSubdistricts *Jinshan Subdistrict, Fuzhou, in Cangshan District, Fuzhou, Fujian*Jinshan Subdistrict, Xiamen, in Huli District, Xiamen, Fujian...
headquarters, the development of Dharma Drum originated in the Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Culture (CHIBC) and Nung Chan Monastery
Nung Chan
Nung Chan Monastery is a monastery at Beitou, Taipei at Taiwan. It is formally founded in 1975 by Ven. Dongchu, a scholar monk and disciple of renowned Chinese Buddhist Master Taixu. It's named ' Farming Ch'an ' as its early residents dedicated themselves to Ch'an practice and grew their own food...
. Both were founded by Dongchu
Dongchu
Dongchu was a Chinese Ch'an Master in Mainland China and later in Taiwan, and also the teacher of respected modern-day Ch'an Master Sheng-yen. He is the 51st generation of Zen patriarch from the Caodong School...
, a prominent Ch'an monk back in Mainland China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and later in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, who was also disciple of renowned modernist monk, Grand Master Taixu
Taixu
Venerable Master Taixu , 1890-1947, was a Buddhist modernist, activist and thinker who advocated the reform and renewal of Chinese Buddhism.- Biography :...
.
CHIBC was founded in 1956 and primarily active in promoting Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
culture mainly through publishing journals, such as the periodical Humanity Magazine. Nung Chan ('Farming Ch'an') was established in 1975. Dongchu died two years later, and at 1978, his principal disciple and Dharma heir, Sheng-yen
Sheng-yen
Sheng-yen was a Buddhist monk, a religious scholar, and one of the mainstream teachers of Chinese Chan Buddhism. He was the 57th generational descendant of Linji in the Linji School and a 3rd generational descendant of Master Hsu Yun...
became the new abbot of both Nung Chan and CHIBC. Under Master Sheng-yen
Sheng-yen
Sheng-yen was a Buddhist monk, a religious scholar, and one of the mainstream teachers of Chinese Chan Buddhism. He was the 57th generational descendant of Linji in the Linji School and a 3rd generational descendant of Master Hsu Yun...
's leadership, both institutions grew rapidly, the number of devotees in Nung Chan and students in CHIBC overwhelmed the building capacity. Therefore, in 1989, the institutions bought a plot of hilly land in Jinshan
Jinshan District
Jinshan District of Shanghai is neighbouring Zhejiang and near Hangzhou Bay. It has a land area of 586.14 km² and a population 536,900 as of 2001....
, Taipei County
Taipei County
New Taipei City is the most populous city of Taiwan. The area includes a substantial stretch of Taiwan's northern coastline and surrounds the Taipei Basin...
in order to build a new monastery that would accommodate the increasing devotees and students. Master Sheng-yen
Sheng-yen
Sheng-yen was a Buddhist monk, a religious scholar, and one of the mainstream teachers of Chinese Chan Buddhism. He was the 57th generational descendant of Linji in the Linji School and a 3rd generational descendant of Master Hsu Yun...
named the new monastery Dharma Drum Mountain – also in the same time Dharma Drum Mountain as an organization was formally created.
The architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
ural design of the monastery totally took seven years, the construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
process took further time. Master Sheng-yen
Sheng-yen
Sheng-yen was a Buddhist monk, a religious scholar, and one of the mainstream teachers of Chinese Chan Buddhism. He was the 57th generational descendant of Linji in the Linji School and a 3rd generational descendant of Master Hsu Yun...
, in the framework of his environmentalism
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
campaign, insisted the monastery buildings to follow and adjust to the natural contour
Contour
Contour may refer to:* an outline or silhouette* a contour line on a contour map, or the corresponding line on the ground or sea bed* Contour , a phonetic sound* Pitch contour , a melody shape...
of the hills – therefore it didn't change much of its natural geomorphologic
Geomorphology
Geomorphology is the scientific study of landforms and the processes that shape them...
features. He personally oversaw the whole process and carefully looked after the details. The first phase of DDM broke ground in 1993. The first phase of the project, which consists most of the complex of DDM we see today, was completed and inaugurated at 2001.
At Jinshan, New Taipei City
Dharma Drum Mountain at Jinshan was a complex of monasteriesMonastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
and education centers. Aside from being the international headquarters of Dharma Drum Mountain, it also serves as the campus of Dharma Drum Sangha University(DDSU)http://sanghau.ddm.org.tw/, Dharma Drum Buddhist College(DDBC)http://www.ddbc.edu.tw/en/, and Dharma Drum University(DDU)http://www.ddc.edu.tw/index_en.php.
DDSU is specified for monastic training for monks both from Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and various other countries. It had three fields of study: Basic Training, Buddhist Study, and Ch'an Study. DDBC is for both monastic and lay men. It opens graduate
Graduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
and post-graduate program for Buddhist Study and Buddhist informatics
Informatics (academic field)
Informatics is the science of information, the practice of information processing, and the engineering of information systems. Informatics studies the structure, algorithms, behavior, and interactions of natural and artificial systems that store, process, access and communicate information...
. While DDU is currently under development. DDU, however, had opened registration for its first students with its preparation office located at Beitou, Taipei, just 15 minutes drive from Nung Chan
Nung Chan
Nung Chan Monastery is a monastery at Beitou, Taipei at Taiwan. It is formally founded in 1975 by Ven. Dongchu, a scholar monk and disciple of renowned Chinese Buddhist Master Taixu. It's named ' Farming Ch'an ' as its early residents dedicated themselves to Ch'an practice and grew their own food...
Monastery.
The complex of Dharma Drum Mountain at Jinshan consists of several buildings (DDM Map Guide)
(from the entrance):
- Building II
- 1st level: Bus terminal
- 2nd level: Visitor Service Center, Briefing room–theater, Dharma Shop–book store
- 3rd level: The Guanyin Hall (with a tranquility pond in the front and waterfall in the background)
- 4th level: Dining hall (serves rich vegetarian food)
- Building I (note: as DDM buildings mirrors the natural contour of the land, Building I starts at 3rd level)
- 3rd level: Founding History Memorial Hall
- 4th level: Auxiliary Hall (artworks display)
- 5th level: Multipurpose Exhibition Room
- 6th level: Grand BuddhaBuddhaIn Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
Hall
- Ch'an Hall
- Dharma Drum Buddhist College
- Library and Audio-Visual rooms
- Dharma Drum Sangha University
- Dharma Drum University (under construction)
- Monks quarter
- Nuns quarter
DDM Complex also has several distinguished features, such as:
- DDM Emblem Rock
- A stone inscription, "A Spiritual Mountain and Sublime Environment"
- Statue of welcoming Guanyin
- World's largest LotusLotus SutraThe Lotus Sūtra is one of the most popular and influential Mahāyāna sūtras, and the basis on which the Tiantai and Nichiren sects of Buddhism were established.-Title:...
bell - Statue of founding Guanyin
- Statue of Medicine Buddha
- Seven walking paths with various attraction, from the splashing streams that passes through the land, bamboo forest, and dense woodland with varieties of birds and insects
Vision and spirit
Dharma Drum's vision is to "uplift the character of humanHuman
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
ity and build a pure land on earth." Its spirit is to "give of ourselves for the benefit of all.
Three types of education
Dharma Drum's educational approaches is abbreviated in three types of education:- Education through Academics – its aim is to cultivate high-caliber Buddhist talent
in the fields of research, teaching, Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
propagation, or service through formal academic training.
- Education through Public Outreach – its aim is to promote or deepen the teachings of the Buddha through traditional Buddhist practices such as meditationMeditationMeditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
or recitationRecitationA recitation is a presentation made by a student to demonstrate knowledge of a subject or to provide instruction to others. In some academic institutions the term is used for a presentation by a teaching assistant or instructor, under the guidance of a senior faculty member, that supplements...
of the Buddha's name as well as modern cultural activities. - Education through Caring Services – its aim is to uplift the level of caring service through education, and realizing the educational goals through caring service. In the past, DDM had provided emergency assistance for natural disasters both in TaiwanTaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and other countries, notably the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake2004 Indian Ocean earthquakeThe 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake...
and Indonesian May 2006 EarthquakeMay 2006 Java earthquakeThe May 2006 Java earthquake occurred at 05:54 local time on 27 May 2006 , in the Indian Ocean around south-southwest of the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta, near Galur, on the southern side of the island of Java , 10 km below the seabed, with a magnitude of 6.2, according to the U.S....
.
Four kinds of environmentalism
Dharma Drum also had promoted the four kinds of environmentalismEnvironmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
- these are manifestation of ideas and concepts in Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
to the frame of modern environmentalism
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
. Hence, it is an offer of guidance for living in the 21st centuryhttp://www.dharmadrum.org/fivefold/fivefold.aspx?cid=C_00000005.
- Protecting the spiritual environment:
- Ch'an meditationMeditationMeditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
- The Fivefold Spiritual Renaissance Campaign
- Ch'an meditation
- Protecting the naturalNaturalNatural is an adjective that refers to Nature.Natural may refer too:In science and mathematics:* Natural transformation, category theory in mathematics* Natural foods...
environment:- Recognizing blessings
- Cherishing blessings
- Nurturing blessings
- Sowing the seeds of blessings
- Protecting the living environment.
- Protecting the socialSocialThe term social refers to a characteristic of living organisms...
environment:- The Six Ethics of the Mind
- Buddhist-Style Joint Weddings
- Buddhist-Style Joint Birthday Celebration for the Elderly
- Buddhist-Style Joint Natural Funerals
Fivefold spiritual renaissance campaign
- Four Fields for Cultivating Peace - A Proposition for Uplifting the Character of Humanity
- Cultivating a peaceful mind lies in reducing desires
- Cultivating a peaceful body lies in hard work and thrift
- Cultivating a peaceful family lies in love and respect
- Cultivating peaceful activity lies in being honest and upright
- Four Guidelines for Dealing with Desires- A Proposition for Living a Carefree Life
- "Our needs are few, our wants are many. Pursue only what you can and should acquire. Never pursue what you can't and shouldn't acquire."
- Four Steps for Handling a Problem- A Proposition for Resolving the Difficulties of Life
- Face it: face the difficulty squarely
- Accept it: accept the reality of the difficulty
- Deal with it: deal with the difficulty with wisdom and compassion
- Let it go: afterwards, let go of it
- Four Practices for Helping Oneself and Others - A Proposition for Getting Along with Others
- Feeling grateful for the chance to develop
- Feeling thankful for the opportunity to hone your practice
- Reforming yourself through the Dharma
- Influencing others through virtuous action
- Four Ways to Cultivate Blessings - A Proposition for Increasing Blessings
- Recognizing blessings is the greatest happiness
- Cherishing blessings is the best way of saving
- Nurture blessings, and you'll always be blessed
- Sow the seeds of blessings that blessings may be shared by all
Six ethics of mind
- Family Ethics
- Living Ethics
- School Ethics
- Environmental Ethics
- Workplace Ethics
- Ethics between Ethnic Groups