Seekers of Deliverance Share Their Great Vow to be Ordained, Grateful for Their Family’s Support in Entering the Monastic Life

Dharma Drum Mountain's Community of Monastics will hold a Tonsure Ceremony in the Grand Hall on September 21 (Earth Treasury Bodhisattva's birthday) at 9 a.m., where six postulants will receive ordination and enter the monastic life. Dharma Drum Sangha University made special arrangements on September 6 at the International Banquet Hall for these seekers of ordination to interact and exchange thoughts with their family and friends, together with DDM Abbot President Ven. Guo Huei (果暉法師) and the faculty members of Dharma Drum Sangha University. On September 19 at 18:30 and September 20 at 13:30, DDM World Center for Buddhist Education will also organize Tonsure Great Compassion Repentance Assemblies at the Wish-Fulfilling Guanyin Hall, to encourage the families, friends and Buddhist followers to come and present their best wishes to these newly ordained monastics.

To this year's newly ordained monastics, Abbot President Ven. Guo Huei bestowed Dharma names and style names in accordance with the Chan Buddhism Dharma lineage. He encouraged these seekers of ordination by pointing out that to join an order of monastics requires an enormous amount of blessed rewards, especially at Dharma Drum Mountain where the approval process goes through a multitude of review checkpoints. At the same time, the Abbot President conveyed his gratitude to the parents and family members for their support in helping these ordination seekers achieve their great vow to enter the monastic order, inviting relatives and friends of the monastics and postulants to often visit DDM and be close to the Three Jewels.

The Abbot President also emphasized that joining the monastic order does not entail leaving the world behind, but instead, means performing actual deeds that benefit all sentient beings. Such deeds are not only intended to replay the family's kindness, but also to instill a greater meaning to life. The world today is in dire need of religious teachers. DDM possess a complete educational system to train and cultivate monastic talents, with the expectation that these seekers of ordination will strive diligently towards the learning and practice of Buddhadharma. This ensures that, in the future, they may not only be able to benefit both local and international followers, but also benefit all sentient beings.

Interactive activities started off with a brief documentary on the founder of DDM, Master Sheng Yen, and his determination to cultivate monastic talents. The seekers of ordination also produced home-made documentaries showing their daily lives at the Sangha University. In front of their family and friends, they sincerely stated the causes and reasons that led to their resolution to join the monastic order. These presentations helped everyone better understand the various elements that finally led them to this aspired new life.

"The process is the result, and vice versa", Postulant Kuan Liang from Singapore shared his summary thoughts of past learning at the Sangha University since enrollment. Postulant Kuan Chong reflected that Buddhadharma taught him the perspective of causes and conditions, i.e. everything is interdependent. Postulant Kuan Yu stated that his motivation to join the Sangha is to search for the meaning of life, so that he may look at himself from a more realistic perspective. Postulant Kuan Pu recalled that, upon making the decision to take the monastic path, his fears dissipated, and hopes his family live happily and peacefully for generations to come.

"Choose the path you most desire to take." Postulant Kuan Jia repeated his mother's advice to him and voiced his thoughts that he is not isolated and alone on this path, for there are numerous teachers, seniors and fellow brothers and sisters to accompany him on his journey. Postulant Kuan Yi first expressed his gratitude to his family for their loving care throughout his growth, and intends to dedicate all the loving care he may receive in the future to all sentient beings.

Lin Yi-feng (林義豐) told everyone that his child, Postulant Kuan Yi, motivated the entire family towards Buddhadharma, and they are very grateful for his inspiration. Although a little reluctant to part ways, Yi-feng stated that his child's choice is the right path, and could be of help to many people. He also expressed the hope that his child may continue to apply Buddhadharma in his daily life. Postulant Kuan Pu's mother presented her best wishes on behalf of the whole family, and indicated she was rest assured that her child is in the best hands with the Three Jewels, hoping his future path of learning will be straight and smooth.

Dharma Drum Mountain cordially invites followers to attend the 2025 DDM Tonsure Ceremony, and give blessings to the newly ordained monastics. 



Original text in Chinese: 曾彗睊 
Photos: 張曜鐘
Translation: 張振郁 (Cheng-Yu Chang)
Editing: Keith Brown, YKL