Youth Invited to Experience Short-Term Monastic Life at the 2027 Life Awakening Camp - Registration Now Open

What is the meaning of life? What kind of person do I want to become in the future? From January 22 to 29, 2027, Dharma Drum Sangha University will hold its 24th “Life Awakening Camp”, an eight-day program offering young people a short-term experience of monastic life. The camp introduces participants to Buddhist spiritual practice and invites them to explore alternative possibilities for their lives. Online registration is now open and will close once all spots have been filled. For details, please visit: https://ddmplus.ddm.org.tw/awakening.aspx

During the Life Awakening Camp, participants step away from their usual routines to experience the daily life and spiritual practices of a Chinese Mahayana Buddhist monastic community. Through activities and courses such as precept-taking, Buddhist chanting, meditation, daily liturgical recitation, communal work, and Dharma sharing, participants learn self-discipline through a structured daily schedule and practice mindful awareness of their body and mind. These experiences offer new perspectives on themselves and thus invite deeper reflection on their life direction and future.

“Rather than defining ourselves through external labels, we can reclaim our autonomy and cultivate the courage to find inner stability,” shared Kuan Lian (寬蓮), a former camp participant. Through the camp’s programs, she gradually learned to let go of self-imposed limitations and rediscover herself. Sitting on a wooden boardwalk beneath the stars at night and listening to Dharma talks by monastics helped her settle her mind and deepen her understanding of spiritual practice. Pilgrimage prostration also taught her to release attachments and experience changes in both body and mind. Looking back on the journey, she feels deeply grateful, and her original aspiration and commitment to Buddhist practice have grown even stronger.

Another participant, Kuan Ji (寬即), shared that she was grateful to have made the decision to attend the Life Awakening Camp. Through several days of classes and communal living, she learned to become more aware of her body and mind and to be more considerate of others. One particularly moving moment came during the precept-taking ceremony, when the participants chanted the verse for putting on the monastic robe. She was overcome with an indescribable sense of emotion. During the gratitude evening, hearing Master Sheng Yen recount his journey to monastic life gave her a deeper appreciation of the hardships and perseverance involved in seeking the Dharma. She also expressed gratitude for the support offered by people from all walks of life, which made it possible for her to practice Buddhism in a supportive environment with peace of mind.

Dharma Drum Sangha University warmly invites young people interested in experiencing monastic life to participate in the 24th Life Awakening Camp.

For registration and further information, please contact:
+886-2-24987171 ext.2351（Available time: weekdays 09:00-17:00）
+886-910159557（Available time: weekdays 17:00-19:30 , weekends 09:00-17:00）
Email: awakening.ddm@ddmf.org.tw
Website: https://www.ddsu.org/newsdetail_en.php?id=11671



◎ Photo: Publicity Department; Dharma Drum Sangha University
◎ Original text in Chinese: 傅莉嫻
◎ Translation: Patricia Yang  
◎ Editing: Keith Brown