17 Years After Master Sheng Yen’s Passing, Dharma Drum Mountain Holds Lamp Transmission Ceremony in Remembering Master Sheng Yen’s Kindness

To express gratitude for the teachings and guidance of its founder, Master Sheng Yen, Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM) held its annual "Rising Great Compassion, Vows Continue Unceasingly — Dharma Drum Passing on the Lamp Ceremony" at 2:00 p.m. on February 28 at the Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education. The ceremony was simultaneously connected with DDM's branch monasteries around the world, including locations in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and a total of 15 affiliated centers. More than 6,000 devotees participated in the "Passing on the Lamp Ceremony" to commemorate the Master's kindness and jointly vow to keep the Buddhadharma illuminating the world.

DDM Abbot President Venerable Guo Huei (果暉法師) encouraged participants to remember the source while enjoying the benefits. Receiving the teachings of Master Sheng Yen through both personal example and verbal instruction is like inheriting the Master's Dharma lamp; disciples bear the responsibility to pass this light onward. Recognizing kindness, repaying kindness, and cultivating gratitude can be practiced in everyday life. By calming one's own mind and reducing suffering and distress for oneself and others, one is already transmitting the Dharma lamp.

The Abbot President also reminded the assembly that, in addition to inheriting the Dharma lamp of Master Sheng Yen, it is equally important to practice giving both the Dharma and fearlessness, while continuing personal growth and learning to serve others. He expressed the hope that, through practicing the Threefold Education, promoting comprehensive education and extending loving care to all, practitioners would spread Chan and Buddhist teachings, as well as apply the principles of Spiritual Environmentalism in daily life.

This year's ceremony centered on the theme "Building a Pure Land on Earth." During the "Remembering the Master's Kindness" segment, a video titled "What Is the Pure Land?" was shown, drawn from Master Sheng Yen's 2004 lecture in Melbourne, Australia, "Chan and the Pure Land on Earth". In the lecture, he pointed out that human self-centeredness and greed disrupt both inner stability and the natural environment. Through Chan practice, however, one can transform one's perspectives and attitudes—treating people with compassion and handling matters with wisdom—thereby living in a Pure Land created in the present moment.

A special highlight this year in the "Passing on the Lamp Ceremony" was the premiere of the music video "You Are Not Far (您未遠行)". The lyrics were inspired by Venerable Chi Chern (繼程法師) after watching "His Footsteps II", expressing insight into and continuation of Master Sheng Yen's vows and actions. The song was composed by Dai Weixiong (戴維雄) and performed by Yin Zhengyang (殷正洋), accompanied by archival footage of Master Sheng Yen's teaching journeys, deeply moving the audience. The video concludes with the Master's voice and an image of his handwritten calligraphy, "Building a Pure Land on Earth," thereby encouraging disciples to carry forward the teachings, ensure continuity in Chinese Buddhism, and widely share Dharma Drum Mountain's vision.

Chen Zhaoxing (陳照興) and Lai Meixing (賴美杏), a couple who joined the ceremony online from the Anhe Branch Monastery, shared that they first encountered orthodox Buddhism at Nung Chan Monastery in 1987 and later even traveled to Vancouver to help establish Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre. Master Sheng Yen's teachings and guidance, as well as DDM's philosophy and educational mission, profoundly shaped their lives. They expressed deep gratitude for following the Master's footsteps and vowed to try their best to work for the benefit of society while continuing to repay Master Sheng Yen's kindness and striving to realize a Pure Land on Earth.

Sun Jifang (孫紀方), who attended the lamp transmission ceremony for the first time, said that he had previously learned about Dharma Drum Mountain through his father's frequent reading of Master Sheng Yen's books and the "Common Endeavor of Buddhists". After his father's passing, his sister also became a Buddhist follower and volunteer at Dharma Drum Mountain. This time, through fortunate circumstances, five members of his family, including his mother and sister, attended together. He hopes to bring the insights and inspiration gained from the ceremony into daily life and remain mindful of his path of practice.

Another couple, Fu Guozhen (傅國禎) and Liu Shihua (劉室華), shared that although they never met Master Sheng Yen in person, his wise teachings continue to illuminate their lives. They were deeply inspired by his broad vision, inclusive spirit of teaching, and educational ideals, such as Spiritual Environmentalism and the "Fivefold Spiritual Renaissance Campaign." They aspire to remember the Master's teachings by silently reciting the "Four Steps for Handling a Problem", practicing diligence daily, speaking kind words, performing good deeds, and realizing the boundless wisdom of the Buddhadharma in everyday life.



At the conclusion of the ceremony, the DDM monastic community presented attendees with the newly published book "Happiness 99 (幸福99)", a collection of selected Dharma sayings by the Master, encouraging people to find peace of mind amid busy lives and bring warmth and happiness to themselves and others. Venerable Guo Jing (果鏡法師), who conducted the Anhe Branch Monastery's Lamp Transmission Ceremony, and Venerable Guo Shiuh (果旭法師), Director of the Monastery, also encouraged devotees to cultivate gratitude, humility, and a spirit of repaying kindness. This entails giving thanks to past patriarchs, the Three Jewels, and the opportunity to encounter the Buddhadharma, while striving for continuous self-improvement and becoming a light for others.

◎Original text in Chinese：法鼓雜誌、傅莉嫻
◎Photos：李佳純、傅莉嫻、林雅櫻
◎Translation：Patricia Yang 
◎Editing： Keith Brown