【Awakening Camp】

The Experience of A Chan Buddhist Monastic Life!

　　In February 2009, during the winter break following the Chinese New Year,
Dharma Drum Sangha University will hold the seventh Awakening Camp. (Conducted in Mandarin Chinese, with English translation provided if necessary)

　　The event time will last from Feb 8th to the 14th. For seven days, the participants will have the opportunity to experience monastic daily living, and thereby gain a new perspective on life.

　　Awakening Camp is more than just an ordinary camp, as apart from providing participants an opportunity to have a short-term experience of monastic life, it hopes to help participants utilize the methods of Chan practice to transform and purify their minds, thereby attaining Dharma Drum Mountain’s goal: “To uplift the character of humanity, and to build a Pure Land on earth.”

Within the seven-day camp, participants will be arranged into small groups, each one guided by a young, enthusiastic monastic student of the Sangha University. In addition to attending classes and studying the fundamentals of Chan practice and monastic behavior, they will learn the basic works of monastics, practice Buddhist chanting, etc. Thus they will get acquainted with Dharma Drum Mountain and Chan Master Sheng Yen. Hopefully they will be able to use the monastic experience to discover their inner treasure.

In addition, the camp has arranged time for ‘field work’ (for example, gardening or maintenance work), which is a very crucial part of life of a Chan Buddhist monastic. To make sure that the participants know how to use the method of Chan when working, each small group will have a counselor monastic to assist and guide the them, help them be firmly established with the right concepts and methods.

Do you have a sense of unease amidst the modern world?

Do you have difficulty finding a firm goal in life？

The experience that you gain by attending the Awakening Camp may help you resolve these issues, and go beyond the patterns and obstacles of your current lifestyle to discover a new direction in life.

Application Time:

　　　　　　　Early Nov, 2008~20/Jan,2009

Application method:

　　　　　　　apply on-line or through mail

More Information:

　　　　　　　　please see the “Event Description”

About the Organizer:

Dharma Drum Sangha University

　　Master Sheng-yen, a renowned Chan Buddhist master and scholar around the world, established Dharma Drum Sangha University (DDSU) in 2001, a Buddhist seminary whose mission is to use the principles and practices of Chinese Buddhism to cultivate young monastic talents possessing both virtue and scholasticism, emphasizing on both understanding and practice. After completing the courses, students will be able to propagate Buddha dharma, benefit those in need, and help all lead a more balanced and pure way of life.

　　Apart from contributing to the development of the monastic community, members of DDSU reaches out to youth of modern society, directing them on the right path by sharing the benefits of Chan practice, all of which can be best represented by the Awakening Camp.

DDSU Website：http://sanghau.ddm.org.tw/

(English site is under construction)