Dharma Drum Mountain Signs MOU with Stanford University’s Ho Center for Buddhist Studies

Professor Paul Harrison of the Department of Religious Studies at Stanford University was invited to Taiwan to serve as keynote speaker and panel moderator for three consecutive days at the 6th Chung-Hwa International Conference on Buddhism, celebrated from October 30 to November 1. On the morning of November 2 at 11 a.m., Professor Harrison made a special visit to Dharma Drum Mountain to gain a deeper understanding of its higher education programs. On behalf of Stanford University's Ho Center for Buddhist Studies, he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies (CHIBS) and the Centre for the Study of Chinese Chan (CSCC) of Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts (DILA).


The signing ceremony was witnessed by Dr. Chen Ting-Ming (陳定銘), President of Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts, and Professor Emeritus Lin Chen-Kuo (林鎮國) of National Chengchi University. The MOU was signed by Venerable Guo Jing (果鏡法師), Director of CHIBS, Vice President of DILA, and Director of CSCC, together with Professor Paul Harrison, who served as the representatives of the two institutions. Attendees included Venerable Guo Xing (果幸法師), Executive Director of CSCC, as well as scholars Dr. Teng Wei-Jen (鄧偉仁) and Dr. Yang Pei (楊蓓), co-principal investigators of the Special Lecture Series Project. With the signing of this memorandum, the three academic institutions will be able to further expand Buddhist studies and strengthen their collaborative partnership.


Professor Harrison, accompanied by his wife, Dr. Irene H. Lin, came to Taiwan especially to take part in the three-day international conference on Buddhism jointly organized by the Dharma Drum Mountain educational system. President Chen Ting-Ming warmly welcomed the couple to DILA, inviting them to experience an atmosphere of relaxation and tranquility for both body and mind.

While watching a campus introduction video produced by students of DILA, Professor Harrison was touched to see familiar faces such as Venerable Huimin (惠敏法師) and Professor Aming Tu (杜正民), which brought back memories of his first visit to Taiwan in 1993—when Dharma Drum Mountain had not yet established its world center for Buddhist education and campus. He remarked that whether during his visit to DILA in 2011 for the IABS International Conference on Buddhism or this current conference, he has always been deeply impressed by the enthusiasm and hospitality of the Dharma Drum Mountain faculty, students, and volunteers.


The signing ceremony concluded successfully at noon. During the following luncheon, the three institutions exchanged ideas for future collaboration. Professor Harrison also visited Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education and campus, once again leaving with deep and wonderful impressions.


Original text in Chinese: Chang, Yao-Chuang (張曜鐘)
Photos: Chang, Yao-Chuang (張曜鐘), Venerable Jue Shan (覺善法師)
Translation: Patricia Yang 
Editing: Keith Brown