Minister of the Environment Visited DDM Abbot President for "Four Kinds of Environmentalism"

At noon on November 9^th, 2024, Dr. Peng Chi-ming (彭啟明), Taiwan's Minister of Environment, made a special trip to visit Ven. Guo Huei (果暉法師), Abbot President of Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM), at Yunlai Branch Monastery of DDM. Accompanying Minister Peng were Yen Hsu-ming (顏旭明), Director General of Environmental Management Administration, Lai Ying-ying (賴瑩瑩), Director General of Resource Circulation Administration, and Wang Yeuh-bin (王嶽斌), Director of the Department of Water Quality Protection. They came to seek advice on ways to promote environmental protection as well as how to more effectively enhance the public's awareness of and action on carbon reduction.

Minister Peng, who was invited to participate in the "Repaying the Master's Kindness Concert" commemorating the 15^th anniversary of Master Sheng Yen's passing in early 2024, indicated that he identifies with DDM's vision and is looking forward to the opportunity of working with DDM to promote environmental protection, so that people will spontaneously adopt environmental practices. Minister Peng also asked Ven. Guo Huei for his advice on the fact that people in Taiwan are less concerned about the long-term worldwide impacts of climate change than they are about the short-term impacts of flooding. As Minister Peng revealed, the staff of the ministry are under great pressure, since there is a huge gap between Taiwan's net-zero carbon emissions target and the current situation. Thus, they are wondering how to encourage young people and households to take action to reduce carbon emissions.

Ven. Guo Huei indicated that the "Four Kinds of Environmentalism" campaign, which aims to protect the spiritual, natural, living, and social environment, had been the core of Dharma propagation of DDM's founder, Master Sheng Yen. Therefore, DDM is surely willing to promote environmental protection with the ministry. Ven. Guo Huei also encouraged Minister Peng and his team by saying that, while dedicating ourselves, we are cultivating spirituality; serving in the public sector provides one with great opportunities to do good. In addition, he suggested they be patient in communication and coordination, as it takes time and room for changes to be made. Finally, it is best to fully immerse oneself in the work at hand and practice not worrying through meditation, as the stress derived from pressure often consumes mental and physical energy. 

Ven. Guo Huei also cited the "Four Guidelines for Dealing with Desires" – to examine our needs, wants, abilities, and propriety – as an example to underscore the importance of education, since a change in concept will lead to an accompanying change in behavior. He also emphasized that, when encountering difficulties, we can apply the "Four Steps for Handling a Problem." This way, we can wait for the right opportunity to come and make the best use of the current situation along our way towards the right goal. Dr. Robert Lai (賴杉桂), President of Dharma Practice Society, also shared how the company that he serves at applies the concepts and methods promoted by DDM to realize the ideal of net zero carbon emissions.

After a conversation over the meal, Minister Peng and his team went to pray for blessings at the Grand Buddha Hall. He said that he was filled with Dharma joy, and hoped to visit Ven. Guo Huei more often for his insights in the future. Ven. Guo Huei also presented several gifts to the guests, including the replicas of Master Sheng Yen's calligraphy of "The Rising Great Compassion" and "A World of Blessings" as well as his own latest work, From Relaxing to Letting Go: The Wisdom and Wondrous Function of Chan Buddhism (從放鬆到放下：禪的智慧與妙用).



Photos and original Chinese text / Chang Yao-chung (張曜鐘)
Translation / Li Siang-ling
Editing / Keith Brown, YKL