Approximately 900 Joggers Experienced Wholeheartedly 54 Minutes of Running at National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

Co-organized for the first time by the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and the Dharma Drum For Young People, on May 1 at 16:20, at the Reflecting Pool in the outdoor plaza, "Running Feels Great — Let's Hit the Track at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall!" road run kicked-off to a warming start at the crash of the blessing gong by Dharma Drum Mountain Abbot President Ven. Guo Huei (果暉法師). Director-general of the Memorial Hall, Mr. Wang Lan-sheng (王蘭生) led the leading group of runners, having explained that the goal of this sporting event was to experience wholeheartedly the 54-minutes duration of this road run. Here, the process forms the goal of running rather than speed and distance, with the main intention that we may get to know ourselves better, and live in the most realistic present moment.

DDM Abbot President Ven. Guo Huei, DDM General Association of Dharma Supporters President Chang Chang-pang (張昌邦), Vice Presidents Wang Chong-Zhong (王崇忠), Lin Shi-tang (林世堂) and Su Wan-ling (蘇妧玲)-- together with the directors of various DDM groups and societies, such as Huang Chu-Qi (黃楚琪), Lai Shan-gui (賴杉桂), Ye Shu-zhen (葉素貞) etc.-- all came to offer their blessings or participated in the run alongside approximately 900 joggers, experiencing for themselves this sport without any competition or comparison with oneself or others. The Abbot President encouraged everyone with words of inspiration: "Jogging is good, jogging is healthy; run relaxed, be aware of each step; keep the body and mind focused on the motions of running; just run, take forward steps, keep every step refreshing and take every step at ease". In doing so, the Abbot President inspired all to learn to apply Chan methods in sports activities, as well as maintain an optimistic mind.

National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Director-general Wang Lan-sheng indicated that today was not merely a road run, but more of a practice on "Protecting the Spiritual Environment". Advocated by DDM, Protecting the Spiritual Environment reminds us to begin spiritual betterment from within ourselves, purify all vexation and negative emotions in our minds, and face our daily lives using a calm and positive attitude. On this account, jogging is precisely a great form of self-cultivation. When we focus on taking each breath, pacing each stride, in fact, we are practicing living in the present moment, and cherishing that present moment.
During the event, the symphonic musical feast put up by the Dharma Drum For Young People, coupled with the gentle sway of long flowery orange scarfs worn by runners as a souvenir for this road run, formed the spotlight of this event that attracted the attention of the spectators. As an avid road runner, Golden Bell Award host Chen Lian-qiao (陳濓僑) invited his hearing-impaired good friend to participate in the event. He stated that even though they were not marathoners, the opportunity to take part in and experience the recreational relaxation of jogging is a very wonderful feeling. Subsequently, they will return to participate again in the future.

DDM and National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall both stated that their cooperation in promoting social charity events have been quite a long-standing relationship. Since 1983, Master Sheng Yen continually gave many Dharma talks at the Memorial Hall. 30 years ago (1995) at this same venue, he first brought up the subject of "How to apply Chan methods to bring peace to the mind, body, family and activity", while simultaneously organizing the Dharma Supporter Representatives Assembly. In so doing, he laid the foundation for "The Fivefold Spiritual Renaissance Campaign" in which he proposed thereafter for the purification of the human mind and maintaining peace in our society. On top of that, DDM also often organized Bathing the Buddha events on Buddha's Birthday at National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, creating numerous happy memories for many people.

Through the 54 minute of running, DDM hopes to bring good health, peace, bliss, and happiness to this world, with the learning of positive views of life from "The Fivefold Spiritual Renaissance Campaign", as well as application of the "Four Fields for Cultivating Peace: Mind, Body, Family, Activity", "Four Steps for Handling a Problem: Face it, Accept it, Deal with it, Let it go", "Four Guidelines for Dealing with Desires: Need, Want, Ability, Propriety", "Four Practices for Helping Oneself and Others: Feeling Grateful, Feeling Thankful, Reforming Yourself through the Dharma, Moving Others Through Virtue", and "Four Ways to Cultivate Blessings: Recognizing blessings, Cherishing blessings, Nurturing blessings, Sowing the seeds of future blessings".

Original Chinese text: 張曜鐘
Photos: 李佳純, 盧羽妍、傅莉嫻、林雅櫻 
Translation: 張振郁
Editing: Keith Brown, YKL