Special Topics
An Inquiry into Youthful Struggles Today
At a young age, due to the lack of experience, we might get ourselves exhausted and overwhelmed in the whirlpool of self-worth. At a young age, we don't completely understand what love is, and may experience betrayal or even become a deceiver in a relationship. At a young age, we care about relationships with our peers, and thus we want to make friends and care what people think of our appearance. At a young age, we might think that death is still very far away from us, and...
Life Questions: How Do You Define Success? Answered by Ven. Chang Ge
"Will I be able to achieve more in the future if I continue to study for my doctorate?" "All my classmates plan to have a study tour or a working holiday to experience life: what about myself?" "My parents want me to get a stable job." "I want to be a YouTuber, but what if I fail?" A world that embraces diverse social values appears to offer young people unlimited possibilities; however, this actually makes it even harder for them to make decisions. As ...
What Should We Look for in Life?
Suppose that, one day, your cherished belongings were stolen. While you were desperately searching for the thief to retrieve your possessions, you were suddenly asked, "Which is more important: finding the thief or finding yourself?" How would you answer? In both the Fascicle 15 of the Mahīsasakavinaya and the Mahāvagga of the Pali Canon's Vinaya Piṭaka, there are accounts of a group of young men with virtuous roots who were confronted with this very same dilemma when questioned...
Life Questions: Where to Find Happiness either with or without Money? Answered by Ven. Chang Deng
Sometimes we might see that our have-it-all classmates from the university are again posting on social media to show off their extraordinary lives, such as traveling to Scandinavia to see the Northern lights and spending tens of thousands of dollars to learn the tea ceremony in Japan. By contrast, as a loser, we can only say to ourselves, "Well, I'm spiritually rich!" But is that really what we think? Why do our feelings still get hurt in a subtle way? Interview with Ve...
Life Questions: Oh Love, What Should I Do with It? Answered by Ven. Chang Sui
"If I confess to him and get rejected, can we still be friends?" "You'll never know if you don't try." "But he only likes pretty girls. Oh, never mind..." "Then why not date Mr. A. He has had a crush on you for a long time, and he's a nice guy." "But I don't like him!" People long for a sweet romantic relationship, but it does not seem to be an easy task... Interview with Ven. Chang Sui (常遂法師), Laity Education Depa...
Life Questions: Would You Be My Friend? Answered by Ven. Chang Chii
"We're good friends!" "Why did he misunderstand me?" "I hate cocky people!" While interacting with others, our mood fluctuates like a roller coaster. Are you tired of it? Let's quiet our minds so we can find our true selves. Interview with Ven. Chang Chii (常啟法師), President of Academic Affairs of Dharma Drum Sangha University (DDSU) About Ven. Chang Chii: Before becoming a monk, Ven. Chang Chii was the Vice President of Dharma Drum f...
Don't look down upon young people!
Being young is sometimes like bearing a label that says, "Inexperienced, much left to learn." Over 2,500 years ago, even the young Buddha, shortly after attaining enlightenment, was also questioned for being young. As recorded in Discourse 1226 of the Saṃyukta Āgama, one day when the Buddha was at the Jetavana in Shravasti, King Pasenadi of Kosala came to visit him. After exchanging pleasantries, King Pasenadi asked, "Mr. Gautama! I've heard that you claim to have ...
Life Questions on Beauty Bonus: How Much Do Looks Matter? Answered by Ven. Yan Rou
"Some people are just born good-looking. It's so unfair!" "Tell me if I am gaining weight? Look closely!" "What should I wear for the gathering tomorrow?" Young people are used to measuring themselves against the social norm for beauty. Why do people care so much about their own appearance? And how do we embrace our perceived imperfections in terms of physical appearance? Interview with Ven. Yan Rou (演柔法師), monastic advisor of Dharma Drum Mountai...
Physical Beauty Is Impermanent
Are good looks obstacles or aids to spiritual cultivation? Before becoming a renunciants with the Buddha, Śāriputra saw Bhikkhu Assaji on the street and was impressed by his dignified demeanor. Out of curiosity, Śāriputra approached him and asked, "Who is your teacher, and what is the Dharma you learned from him?" Upon hearing a single verse from Bhikkhu Assaji, Śāriputra attained the first realization (sotāpanna), and, together with his friend Maudgalyāyana, he joined the sangha to...