German Media Interviews Venerable Guo Shyan on the Features of Dharma Drum Mountain

On the morning of April 17, Venerable Guo Shyan (果賢法師), Managing Director of Dharma Drum Mountain Cultural Center, was interviewed by Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) for a feature on the "relationship between society and religion". In the interview, Venerable Guo Shyan shared why Buddhism has gained widespread attention in the modern world, as well as Dharma Drum Mountain's unique position within Taiwan's Buddhist community.

Journalist Hans Stallmach, who grew up in a Christian cultural context, began exploring Buddhism two years ago. Noticing that Buddhism has drawn increasing global attention in recent years, especially among younger generations, he traveled to Taiwan to learn more about Dharma Drum Mountain's core ideals, its approach to spreading the Dharma, and how it differs from other Buddhist organizations.

Venerable Guo Shyan noted that one of the important reasons Buddhism has been able to transcend language and culture and gain widespread recognition is that many modern Buddhist masters have translated traditional teachings into methods that contemporary people can understand and put into practice. In the case of Dharma Drum Mountain, its founder, Master Sheng Yen, transformed Chan practice into the mindfulness in action: "where the body is, there is the mind". In addition, he promoted the "Fivefold Spiritual Renaissance Campaign". Among these teachings, the guideline "face it, accept it, deal with it, and let it go" has become particularly well-known among the general public. It helps people stay grounded in the present moment amid daily life and has become a practical method that can be applied anytime for modern people.

Venerable Guo Shyan further explained that modern people resonate with Buddhism not only because it helps them face life's difficulties, but also because it encourages them to look inward and see the deeper roots of their problems, rather than simply attributing them to external circumstances. Buddhism also offers a set of concepts and methods to help people purify their minds and transform their lives. When a person is willing to adjust their perceptions and let go of attachments, the mind changes. Subsequently, the way they see the world changes along with it.

After the interview, Stallmach also visited Nung Chan Monastery to gain a deeper understanding of how Dharma Drum Mountain puts its ideals into practice through Dharma propagation activities, thereby integrating them into the everyday lives of the general public.


Original text in Chinese: Venerable Yan Wen (演穩法師)
Photos: Dharma Drum Mountain Cultural Center
Editing: Keith Brown, Patricia Yang