Understanding the True Self through Chan Meditation: Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre Hosts an Online Lecture

On the afternoon of December 27, 2025, Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre invited David Listen to give a lecture titled "True Self-Worth: Affirmation without Ego." Due to severe cold and snowstorms that paralyzed the eastern United States and led to the cancellation of more than a thousand flights, the originally planned in-person event was changed to an online format. Nearly 70 participants gathered at the centre, interacting with the speaker via a large screen, with undiminshed enthusiasm.
 
David Listen began by reflecting on the situation he was facing and posed a question to himself: if only a handful of people attended in person and the response was lukewarm, should he feel upset and conclude that he was a poor speaker? Conversely, if the venue were packed, with thunderous applause and constant praise, should he feel proud and affirm that years of practice had made him a good teacher? He explained that confidence does not come from clinging to or inflating the ego. So how can one cultivate confidence—true confidence, which in Buddhism is the teaching of no-self? David Listen explained that the best practice lies in the four steps taught by Master Sheng Yen: self-understanding, self-affirmation, self-growth, and self-dissolution.
 
Do you truly know yourself? David Listen noted that true self-understanding can only be attained through Chan meditation—recognizing one's genuine, pure self, not the self others expect us to be, nor the self we imagine ourselves to be. Self-affirmation means complete trust—trusting that one possesses the same Buddha-nature as the Buddha. Whether through Buddha-name recitation or meditation, continuous practice elevates the depth of one's life and enables one to transcend difficulties; this is self-growth. Self-dissolution does not mean fading away from society or becoming invisible or marginalized, but rather letting go of self-attachment—no ego-centered desires, avoidance, or clinging.

In responding to questions from the audience, David Listen further explained that practicing these four steps taught by Master Sheng Yen is not a linear, step-by-step ascent like climbing stairs. For example, greater self-growth leads to deeper self-understanding; more self-dissolution brings stronger confidence and self-affirmation. He added that for young people striving in the workplace, self-dissolution does not mean withdrawing from the world. Rather, it means fully enhancing one's ability to handle people, matters, and situations.

David Listen's insightful yet accessible sharing inspired great confidence among the participants to move forward on the path of practice. The participants also looked forward to his arrival in Vancouver after adjusting his flight, hoping for in-person guidance and further interaction.
 


Original text in Chinese and photos: Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre
Translation: Patricia Yang 
Editing: Keith Brown