International Graduate Students Join Tea Meditation and Cultural Exchange at Dharma Drum Mountain

On July 14, fourteen faculty members and students from Dharma Realm Buddhist University (USA) and over ten international graduate students attending the second annual "Classical Buddhist Chinese Language Summer Workshop" (July 6–26), hosted by Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts (DILA), gathered at the DILA's Field of Free Mind to experience a tea meditation session and exchange their experiences of Buddhist study and practice. Dharma Drum Mountain Abbot President Ven. Guo Huei (果暉法師) was also present to offer his blessings, expressing his hope that faculty members and students can transform the inspiration from this cultural exchange into a sincere vow to uphold and spread the Dharma.  

Ven. Guo Huei began by addressing the international graduate students from Korea, India, Bangladesh, China, the U.S., and other countries. He highlighted the fact that Chan meditation not only strengthens and balances our mental and physical health, but also provides us the key to deep relaxation and sharpened concentration. Ven. Guo Huei welcomed everyone to return to Dharma Drum Mountain regularly to deepen their Chan practice and to help promote it globally, adding that he believes this will be a truly rewarding experience.

DILA explained that the "Classical Buddhist Chinese Language Summer Workshop" is an all-English Summer program, co-taught this year by Associate Professor Matthew Orsborn (歐慧峰) from the DILA's Department of Buddhist Studies and Dr. Nelson Elliott Landry from DILA's sister school, the University of Hamburg. The course focuses on reading and translating the Indian and Chinese Buddhist scriptures, with selected texts including the Mahāprajñāpāramitā Sūtra (摩訶般若波羅蜜經), and the Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (大智度論), as well as inspirational tales from Buddhist documents.

Responding to the international graduate students' keen interest in experiencing Chan practice, the workshop introduced a one-day Chan retreat for the first time. DILA Vice President Ven. Guo Jing (果鏡法師) skillfully guided the group through the classic Chan koan "Drinking Tea," which sparked enthusiastic discussions among the students. Yuan Tianyi (袁天一), who was returning to the workshop for the second time, shared that it was his first encounter with tea meditation and that he found it refreshing and intriguing. A Catholic himself, he was particularly moved by the dedication prayer after the evening service, which offered equal blessings to all beings in the six realms. He felt that the experience enriched his own spiritual path. In addition to gaining insight into Chinese cultural thought and language through Chinese Buddhism, he also expressed a wish to draw wisdom from various religious traditions to promote interfaith peace and understanding.

Dr. Wu Shiyou (吳適有), Vice President of Dharma Realm Buddhist University (DRBU), noted that since 2010, DRBU has maintained a close relationship with its sister school DILA, valuing their shared efforts to advance higher Buddhist education. This year's deep dive into Buddhist scriptures, conducted in a camp-style format and combined with the classical Chinese workshop, marked a meaningful first step. Students from both institutions benefited greatly from the activities—vegetarian meals, morning and evening services, tea meditation, outdoor walking meditation, and environmental education—thereby gaining new insights and broadening their horizons.

DILA concluded by warmly inviting scholars from around the world interested in studying, translating, and promoting Chinese Buddhist texts to join their lectures and programs. With an outstanding faculty and comprehensive degree offerings at the doctoral, master's, and bachelor's levels, DILA provides robust resources for advanced Buddhist studies. More information is available at: https://www-en.dila.edu.tw/





Original text in Chinese: 張曜鐘  
Photos: 張曜鐘    
Translation: Patricia Yang 
Editing: Keith Brown