Experience sharing
A Reflection on Repentance
Going to temple to do repentance prayers in the seventh month of the lunar calendar is something that I have done ever since I was a teenager. I prayed for the souls I may have hurt knowingly and unknowingly, in this life and in my past lives. I prayed that if I cannot be forgiven for my past mistakes, then perhaps, the punishment can be lessened. Listening to Venerable Chang Wu's talk today, I realized that the practice of repentance isn't just about asking for a less...
Returning Home to the Mind: A Chan Retreat Journal
By Jiang Xin (Ivy Yanjing) This year, I had the opportunity to attend a seven-day Chan retreat in Berlin, Germany, led by Venerable Guoxing, Vice Abbot of Dharma Drum Mountain, together with Venerable Yanjin, a graduate of the Chan Meditation Department at the Dharma Drum Sangha University two years ago. Every year, this is the period of time I look forward to the most—a stretch of days that belongs entirely to myself. Free from the distractions of the outside world, I can set asi...
Reflections on the 7-Day Chan Retreat with Venerable Guo Xing
I would first like to express my sincere gratitude to Venerable Guo Xing, Venerable Yan Jing, and everyone who helped organize this retreat. It was a deeply meaningful experience, and I am very thankful that I had the opportunity to participate. Overall, the meditation period went relatively smoothly. Compared to previous retreats, my legs remained stable and were generally not in significant pain. I believe the yoga exercises that Venerable Yan Jing taught between meditation session...
Reflections on the One-Day Chan Meditation Retreat
Attending the One-Day Chan Meditation Retreat at the Dharma Drum Degui Academy on May 30 was my very first time participating in an event organized by International Meditation Group (IMG). I feel fortunate to have been there, having recently returned from a country in Central America where resources on meditation, let alone Chan meditation, are virtually non-existent. The day began with a presentation by Venerable Guo Chii (果啟法師), who introduced fundamental concepts which can help us c...
The True Meaning of Letting Go
On May 30 2026, I attended a one-day English Chan retreat led by Venerable Guochii. The retreat included moving meditation, sitting meditation, eating meditation, walking, yoga and dharma talks etc.. The most special experience was the outdoor walking meditation. In the busy center of Taipei, a group of practitioners walked mindfully. With each step, we practiced being fully present in the moment and maintaining awareness of our breathing. Walking step by step through t...
A Reflection on the One-Day Retreat at the DDM Degui Academy
Stepping into the tenth floor of the Degui Academy (德貴學苑) of Dharma Drum Mountain, the room initially felt slightly narrow. With so many cushions placed close together in a limited space, I wondered how we would all find the inner room for deep meditation. However, learning from the Fa-shi about Master Sheng Yen's arduous solitary retreat in a tiny, primitive space completely shifted our perspective. Compared to his six years of austerity, having air conditioning and a space free...
What an experience! The reflection on English one day retreat 5/30
I was fascinated by the slow walking meditation outside on the street. It was so rich and dream-like. Fashi’s 4 instructions were very helpful. So many things to experience and let go. What an experience! I also appreciated the four sits, separated by movement. It made sitting not painful and gave sufficient time to slow down the mind. And lastly, the food meditation was so enjoyable because the food was so delicious. Thanks to the wonderful volunteers! Written by...
A Real Highlight
Even though I’ve attended many retreats with Fashi before, this one (English one day retreat on 5/30) was just as impactful as my very first time. We even tried some entirely new practices I hadn't done in previous retreats, like the exercise where we threw our hands up, exhaled "Ha!", and dropped them back down. It’s a very healing experience. The outdoor walking was a real highlight. After a full morning of mindfulness practice and multiple sile...
Experiencing the Sensations of Introductory Meditation
On Sunday, May 10, 2026, I attended an Introduction to Meditation session led by Tom Kaczmarski at the Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre. This was my first time participating in a meditation session at the centre, the experience lasting approximately four and a half hours, including a delightful lunch prepared by volunteers. It offered not only practical instruction to beginners, but also great insights into how meditation can be realistically integrated into everyday life...
Where things don’t align-March 29, 2026 – 1-Day Chan Retreat Reflection
Last Sunday, March 29, during the Chan retreat where Tom was supervising the meditation hall, I was assigned a seemingly simple task: coordinating the cleaning of the women's bathroom. As I sat in meditation that morning, a subtle tension began to build. My attention kept drifting back to the task; how to organize things, how to make it efficient in such a short time. My mind was already arranging everything: the sequence, the gestures, making sure nothing would be missed. During the w...