Celebrating the 30^th Anniversary of DDMBA Vancouver, DDM Abbot President Led Followers to Make Vows

In 1994, Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association Vancouver (DDMBA Vancouver) was established under Master Sheng Yen's direction. On the morning of July 14^th, 2024, to commemorate the growth of DDMBA Vancouver over the past 30 years, more than 300 lay practitioners gathered at the Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre (DDVC). There, the Abbot President of DDM, Venerable Guo Huei (果暉法師), arrived to congratulate its 30^th anniversary. He led both the monastic members and the lay followers to vow to "introduce people to the Dharma, turn people's mind to the Dharma, raise funds for the spreading of the Dharma, and foster monastics to uphold the Dharma." In addition, he presented his latest book From Relaxing to Letting Go (從放鬆到放下) as a blessing for everyone.

The celebration began with a video themed on the 30^th anniversary of DDVC. Through tens of thousands of precious photos, videos and written records that preserved the historical moments of DDVC, the followers were led to retrace the four stages of the growth of DDMBA Vancouver, which faithfully depicted how DDM planted seeds of Buddhism in the West, as well as how the seeds sprouted, grew and flourished. The audiences in the Center were moved by a video filmed in 2003, in which Master Sheng Yen encouraged everyone to make vows.

"We have more than ten people here. That's great! We can start now." When Master Sheng Yen first came to Vancouver to spread the Dharma, he encouraged approximately ten Taiwanese followers to set up a Dharma center, with its primary goal being to facilitate group practice and Buddhadharma propagation. After fundraising for the purchase of land and the construction of the building, the DDVC was completed in 2006. Since then, resident nuns have been residing at the Centre to spread the Dharma. With the assistance of both regular practitioners and volunteers, DDM resident nuns in Vancouver have been making an unstinting effort to promote Chan practice, Dharma gatherings, and Dharma classes, all in order to spread the Chinese Chan Buddhism.

Ven. Guo Huei praised the Vancouver Buddhist followers for their aspiration to uphold the Three Jewels and to support the Dharma center. Since they have experienced the benefits of Dharma, the Venerable exhorted everyone to apply the Dharma in their daily life in order to not squander this life. Both the monastic members and the laity also followed the Abbot President in practicing the Contemplation of Compassion and dedicating merits, wishing everyone to emulate Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara (Guanyin Bodhisattva) who benefits innumerable sentient beings with Buddhist teachings.

Venerable Chang Wu (常悟法師), the Director of DDVC and Managing Director of Monasteries in Europe and America, expressed her deepest gratitude to all those who have supported the Vancouver Center during the past 30 years. She acknowledged the followers who have supported the Center since its early days. Their fearless pioneering spirit and sense of mission – which is most seen in their willingness to take responsibilities and dedicate themselves – has exemplified the ethos of DDM. She encouraged everyone to learn and apply the Buddha's teachings earnestly, since it is the best way to uphold and propagate the Dharma.

As DDVC indicated, while marching towards the next 30^th anniversary of the DDMBA Vancouver, everyone should keep learning, upholding, and spreading the Buddha's teachings with earnestness, patience and dedication by reminding themselves and other practitioners of the Abbot President's words.



Original Chinese text and photos / Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre
Translation / Li Siang-ling
Editing / Keith Brown, YKL