20th Anniversary of the Inauguration of the Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education

Continuing the Path of Uncovering the Inner Treasure Mountain

"Our mission in inaugurating the Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education is to awaken each person's inner treasure mountain—cultivating wisdom and compassion, and offering harmony, peace, joy, and well-being to our society and the world. This work is never complete. As long as new life is born each day, the treasure mountain within each heart needs to be revealed."
— Master Sheng Yen

Original text in Chinese by Mei-Chuan Chen (陳玫娟); photos: Dharma Drum Monthly (法鼓雜誌)

▲Dharma Drum Mountain  World Center for Buddhist Education serves as a model site for promoting Threefold Education and practicing the Four Kinds of Environmentalism.
 
On October 21, 2005, the Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education was officially inaugurated. After 16 years of construction and with the blessings of communities from around the world, the Center was opened to the public to invite all to experience the teachings of "Spiritual Environmentalism" and  uncover the inner treasure mountain of their own minds.
 
Now in 2025, Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education marks 20 years since its inauguration. Over the past two decades, the Center has closely followed the vision laid out by its founder, Master Sheng Yen. This includes promoting the Threefold Education, implementing the Four Kinds of Environmentalism, and spreading Chinese Buddhism through its architecture, facilities and landscape setting. Step by step, the center has realized the vision of establishing a Pure Land on earth within the quiet mountain forests of Taiwan's northern coast.
 
Promoting the Threefold Education—Step by Step

Among the Threefold Education, Extensive Academic Education is the cornerstone for nurturing future Buddhist talent. With the completion of the Dharma Drum Mountain Center for Buddhist Education, institutions such as the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts, the Dharma Drum Sangha University, and the Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies finally found an ideal home. Although Master Sheng Yen passed away in the fourth year after the inauguration, his educational aspirations have lived on. His disciples carried forth his visions by completing the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts campus, which began admitting students in 2015. Together, they carried out the educational blueprint for Extensive Academic Education.

Dharma Drum Mountain is not just an educational Buddhist center, but also a spiritual home for followers around the world. The Extensive Public Buddhist Education aims to promote Chinese Chan Buddhism, through events such as the annual Lunar New Year’s Eve Bell-Ringing Ceremony, Transmitting the Light of Dharma Assemblies, Lay Bodhisattva Precepts Transmission Ceremonies, and the Great Compassion Water and Land Dharma Service. In numerous intensive Chan retreats, countless participants are given a supportive environment and harmonious interpersonal interactions to support their practice. As a result, the participants have nurtured their original aspiration to improve themselves and serve others, thereby contributing to the purification of the human mind.

In the area of Extensive Social Care Education, the most far-reaching achievement is the establishment of the Eco-friendly Memorial Garden in Jinshan, which provides profound life-and-death education and inspiration for both the living and the deceased, as well as for the general public, serving as the most dignified model of Buddhist care and compassion.
 
Implementing the Four Kinds of Environmentalism—Building a Pure Land on Earth

Master Sheng Yen frequently reminded his disciples: "We uplift the character of humanity and build a pure land on earth through the practice of The Four Kinds Environmentalism." This is evident throughout the Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education. In daily life and every activity, the practice of the Four Kinds of Environmentalism is embedded in the actions of both the monastic and lay community.

The most beautiful element of Dharma Drum Mountain is its volunteers—the Myriad Practices Bodhisattvas, who are the practitioners of the Four Kinds of Environmentalism. Whether greeting visitors and guests, preparing meals, cleaning, or tending to the grounds, they all use Chan practice and Buddha's name recitation to maintain mental and physical stability, embodying the practice of "Protecting the Spiritual Environment". In their interactions, a smile or a simple "Amituofo" reflects Protecting the Social Environment. Through mindful use of resources (Protecting the Living Environment) and harmonious coexistence with nature (Protecting the Natural Environment), these values have become a way of life.

Though the Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education has been inaugurated for 20 years, as Master Sheng Yen said, the work of awakening the "treasure mountain of wisdom" from within every person never ends. Under the leadership of the sangha, the Center has become a model site of Dharma Drum Mountain's core principles, guiding generations of people to discover their treasure mountain within. As we cultivate the Pure Land within our own minds, we also guide more people to join in the effort of awakening their inner treasure mountain.
 

▲The Theme of Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education's Inauguration Ceremony "The Rising Great Compassion" called upon everyone to awaken their inner treasure mountain within
 
Timeline of Major Events in 20 Years of Dharma Drum Mountain
 
10 Key Events in 20 Years

2006 – Lotus Bell Inauguration
The Lotus Bell, known as Dharma Drum Mountain's "most treasured symbol," rang for the first time on Dec. 23, 2006. Over 13,000 global guests attended the inauguration ceremony. Its deep and resonant sound echoes the spirit of the Mahayana and the timeless presence of the Dharma.


2007 –The Eco-friendly Memorial Garden in Jinshan Opens
Opened on Nov. 24, 2007, this garden embodies Dharma Drum Mountain's "Four Kinds of Environmentalism." By adopting eco-friendly natural burial practices, the garden is not only the result of Dharma Drum Mountain's long-term efforts in promoting environmental protection, but also represents a cultural milestone in Taiwan's funeral traditions.


2007 – First Great Compassion Water and Land Dharma Service
From December 8 to 15, 2007, Dharma Drum Mountain held its first Great Compassion Water and Land Dharma Service. It is infused with the spirit of modernity, integrating art, technology, humanities, and environmentalism. This innovative and pioneering approach marked a new chapter in the modernization of Chinese Buddhism.


2009 – DDM founder Master Sheng Yen's Passing
At 4:00 PM on Feb. 3, 2009, Master Sheng Yen passed away. Over the 12-day memorial rituals until his burial, he demonstrated the Dharma through silence—teaching the assembly that all phenomena arise and cease in an instant and everything is impermanent, thereby guiding the followers let go of attachment to the physical form.


2010 –Transmitting the Light of Dharma Ceremony in memory of first anniversary of Master Sheng Yen's passing
On Feb. 22, 2010, nearly 10,000 followers gathered at Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education for the "Rising Great Compassion with Continual Vows" Dharma assembly. Lamps in participants' hands formed a sea of light, expressing deep gratitude to their teacher.


2011 – IABS International Buddhist Congress
The International Association of Buddhist Studies (IABS) Congress, the world's largest academic conference on Buddhist studies, was hosted by Dharma Drum Buddhist College in 2011. The 16th IABS Congress was held from June 20 at the Dharma Drum Mountain campus. Over the course of six days, nearly 600 Buddhist scholars from more than 30 countries presented over 500 research papers on Buddhism.


2012 – Launch of "Spiritual Environmentalism i-Relay" Campaign
On Feb. 5, 2012, people from around the world gathered at Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education to reaffirm and spread the message of Spiritual Environmentalism, first proposed by Master Sheng Yen 20 years ago, in response to the "Spiritual Environmentalism i-Relay" Campaign, thereby promoting Spiritual Environmentalism crossing boundaries of nations, religions, and ethnic groups.


2015 – Global Assembly of Dharma Drum Mountain Disciples
Marking the 10th anniversary of Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education's inauguration, the Global Assembly of Dharma Drum Mountain Disciples was held on Nov. 1, 2015. Over 10,000 followers convened at the Center to pray for the suffering and renew their vow to emulate Avalokitesvara's compassion through Chan practice and collective cultivation in Dharma assemblies.

2018 –Inauguration Ceremony of the 6th Abbot President
On September 2, 2018, the Inauguration Ceremony of the Sixth Abbot President was held. The ceremony was overseen by Chief Monk Venerable Hui Min (惠敏法師). The new Abbot President, Venerable Guo Huei, received the three symbolic Dharma items from the former Abbot President, Venerable Guo Dong (果東法師). With this, Venerable Guo Huei vowed to lead the monastic and lay communities in further promoting Dharma Drum Mountain's ideals and spreading Chinese Chan Buddhism worldwide.


2023 – Unveiling of the "Dharma Drum Spiritual Environmental Protection Education Site"
On March 29, 2023, the "Dharma Drum Spiritual Environmental Education Site" of the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts was officially unveiled after being certified as an "Environmental Education Facility" by Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration (EPA). This milestone realizes Master Sheng Yen's vision of promoting "protecting the natural environment" and "protecting the living environment," thereby contributing to the sustainable future of our planet.




Related articles: 

An Invitation for All Devotees to Return to Their Roots

Inauguration of the Center and Establishing of the Dharma Drum Lineage: A Shared Vow of Inheritance and Innovation

20th Anniversary of the Inauguration of the Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education

A Blueprint for World Buddhism: Venerable Guo Shing (果興法師) Discusses Master Sheng Yen's Founding Mission

Dharma Drum Mountain 20th Anniversary Gratitude Ceremony "Myriad Practices • Original Aspiration" Program Overview

Resource: Dharma Drum Monthly No. 421
Photo: Dharma Drum Monthly No. 421
Translation: 姚麗萍(Anne Yeow)
Editing: Keith Brown, YKL