Two meditation masters from the Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM) organization are visiting Australia this month.
Over the weekend of 4–5 October, Venerable Chang Hu led a comprehensive two-day meditation retreat in Sydney. Entitled “Chan Meditation - a beginners’ and refresher course,” the retreat was held at the DDM Sydney center in Hornsby, about 45 minutes from the city. During the event, Ven. Chang Hu taught participants how to integrate the theory and practice of meditation—from the correct posture to the finer details and purpose of meditation.
“Experienced practitioners got the opportunity to refresh and check their practice and beginners got a real taste of the benefits of meditation,” explained DDM Sydney committee member, Susie Chang.
Venerable Chang Hu was ordained at DDM Taiwan more than 10 years ago, but in fact hails from Sydney. He returns regularly to Australia to lead retreats, give Dharma talks, and visit family and friends.
Venerable Guo Yuan will be at Melbourne’s DDM center in Mitcham, a 30-minute drive from the city, to lead retreats and give Dharma talks from 8–20 October. From 10–12 October, he will lead a three-day meditation retreat. Participants will practice daily sitting and walking meditation and morning and evening recitation of the retreat liturgy, as well as maintaining a strict vegetarian diet; they will also listen to Dharma talks on various subjects. In addition, Ven. Guo Yuan will talk on “The Way of Incense” and “At One With Nature” from 13–15 and on 19 October.
Venerable Guo Yuan is currently the Chan Hall master at the DDM headquarters in Taiwan. He was ordained by DDM’s founder, the late Master Sheng Yen, at the Chan Meditation Center (CMC) in New York in 1985. Over the years, he served as Master Sheng Yen's attendant and translator, as well as being abbot of the CMC and the DDM Retreat Center in New York.
Venerable Guo Yuan is currently the Chan Hall master at the DDM headquarters in Taiwan. He was ordained by DDM’s founder, the late Master Sheng Yen, at the Chan Meditation Center (CMC) in New York in 1985. Over the years, he served as Master Sheng Yen's attendant and translator, as well as being abbot of the CMC and the DDM Retreat Center in New York.
“Our retreats are always well attended, and for this one we are so lucky to be led by Guo Yuan, who is fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese,” said DDM Melbourne secretary Sim Wong enthusiastically. Committee member Audrey Cooke was also looking forward to the events. “It is a privilege to have such an experienced and respected meditation teacher to instruct us and teach us how to apply the Dharma in our daily lives. As Venerable Guo Yuan says, ‘Chan is where meditation and daily living merge,’” she commented.
In the English version of his autobiography Footprints in the Snow, the late Master Sheng Yen had this to say about Venerable Guo Yuan: “Guo Yuan Fashi has been with me the longest, . . . Our relationship is master and disciple. Wherever I go, he goes with me. . . . He helps me conduct retreats and travels with me around the world. I would say we are like father and son, but fathers and sons get into fights and we don't” (DDM Melbourne Chapter website).
Both the Melbourne and Sydney chapters of DDM are Buddhist communities, learning and living the Buddha’s teachings through the tradition of Chan Buddhism as taught by Master Sheng Yen. They actively support and engage in Buddhist and interfaith projects, community events, and other initiatives. Regular activities include meditation sessions, Dharma talks, and workshops on Buddhist philosophy and practice, as well as retreats.
