Chinese Chan Buddhism Takes Root in Russia for 28 Years

Venerable Guo Xing and the Accompanying Monastics Travel to Russia to Lead Chan Retreats, Continuing Master Sheng Yen's Dharma Legacy


▲ Venerable Guo Xing led a two-day Chan retreat in Moscow. At the conclusion of the retreat, participants and monastics gathered for a commemorative group photo. (Photo courtesy of Venerable Yan Wei)

From May 24 to June 17, Venerable Guo Xing (果醒法師), Vice Abbot of Dharma Drum Mountain, together with Venerable Yan Jin (演勁法師), Venerable Yan Wei (演維法師), and Venerable Kuan En (寬恩法師), traveled to Russia to support the local Chan community in Moscow. During their visit, they conducted a two-day Chan retreat, a seven-day Silent Illumination retreat, and a five-day huatou retreat. Together, these events continued the Dharma affinity established by Master Sheng Yen, who first led meditation retreats in Russia in 1998.

From May 30 to 31, the delegation first held a two-day Chan retreat on the outskirts of Moscow, attended by approximately 40 participants. In his Dharma talks, Venerable Guo Xing explained that the purpose of Chan practice is to "see the true nature of one’s own mind", while emphasizing that everyone inherently possesses Buddha-nature. The retreat also included the Eight-Form Moving Meditation and yoga exercises, helping participants settle both body and mind through the integration of movement and stillness while directly experiencing the practice. At the conclusion of the two-day Chan retreat, ten participants joyfully took refuge in the Three Jewels.

From June 2 to 9, the group traveled to a retreat center near Pereslavl-Zalesskiy to conduct a seven-day Silent Illumination retreat, attended by 22 practitioners. Venerable Guo Xing gave Dharma talks twice daily, explaining the principles and stages of Silent Illumination practice. He guided participants to begin by relaxing the body and mind and becoming aware of the breath, then gradually expanding their awareness to the entire body while cultivating non-discriminating awareness.

From June 11 to 16, the monastic team led a five-day huatou retreat, with 19 participants. Venerable Guo Xing carefully explained the meaning of huatou practice and its stages of cultivation, guiding practitioners to investigate the huatou as a means of inquiring into the formless and invisible Buddha-nature that nevertheless possesses the functions of seeing, hearing, sensing, and knowing. Many participants resonated deeply with the huatou, "Who is dragging this corpse around?" During fast walking meditation, they practiced with wholehearted dedication, thereby creating an atmosphere of deep concentration and sincerity.

Venerable Yan Wei observed that the Russian practitioners were open, straightforward, and eager to ask questions. Their words and actions reflected profound respect and gratitude toward the Three Jewels. During the morning and evening services, although each participant had a different vocal range and tone, their voices blended harmoniously. Particularly moving was their earnest concentration as they carefully followed the chanting leader while reciting in Chinese pronunciation Mahāprajñāpāramitā, the Four Great Vows, the Ten Great Vows of Samantabhadra, and the Three Refuges.

For the past 28 years, Russian Chan practitioners have maintained close ties with Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM), overcoming the challenges of distance, language, and various practical circumstances in the hope that DDM sangha members would continue to visit and share the Buddhadharma through meditation retreats. Venerable Yan Wei reflected that this Dharma journey to Russia allowed him to witness firsthand how the seeds of the Buddhadharma planted by Master Sheng Yen decades ago have taken root and flourished in a distant land. The practitioners' sincere thirst for the Dharma and diligent commitment to practice also deepened his own aspiration to enlightenment.

After completing their visit to Russia, Venerable Guo Xing and Venerable Yan Jin proceeded to visit France and Germany to further propagate Dharma, thereby continuing to cultivate and strengthen the roots of Chinese Chan Buddhism throughout Europe.


▲ DDM sangha members lead Russian Chan practitioners in experiencing Chan practice through movement and stillness. (Photo courtesy of Venerable Yan Wei)


Original text in Chinese and photos by Venerable Yan Wei 
Translation: Patricia Yang 
Editing: Keith Brown