Faith Statement
DDM promotes the protection of the social, living, and natural environments based on Protecting the Spiritual Environment, by purifying the mind through transforming thinking, therefore uplifting the character of humanity and eventually achieving genuine peace and harmony.
The late Chan Master Sheng Yen had been promoting this value since 1993, in the hope to guide people’s way of thinking, enabling them to face and handle problems with a healthy mindset, stay calm in any situation, be concerned with people and the world around them, and remain hopeful for the future.
The Mission of Dharma Drum Mountain
“Protect the Spiritual Environment,
spread Chan Buddhism to the world,
carry out the Three Aspects of Education,
and build a pure land on earth.”
The Common Ethos of Dharma Drum Mountain
Our vision: to uplift the character of humanity and build a pure land on earth.
Our spirit: to give of ourselves for the benefit of all.
Our direction: to return to the original intention of the Buddha and work for the purification of the world.
Our approach: to promote comprehensive education and extend loving care to all.
The Three Aspects of Education
Education at the Academic Level
Public Buddhist Education
Education through Comprehensive Social Caring
Four Kinds of Environmentalism
o Protecting the Spiritual Environment
Chan Meditation
o Protecting the Natural Environment
Recognizing blessings
Cherishing blessings
Nurturing blessings
Sowing the seeds of blessings
o Protecting the Living Environment
Our wants are many
Our needs are few
Pursue only what you can and should acquire
Never pursue what you can’t and shouldn’t acquire
o Protecting the Social Environment
The Fivefold Spiritual Renaissance Campaign
—A Proposition for Living in the Twenty-first Century
o Four Fields for Cultivating Peace:
—A Proposition for Uplifting the Character of Humanity
Cultivating a peaceful mind lies in reducing desires
Cultivating a peaceful body lies in hard work and thrift
Cultivating a peaceful family lies in love and respect
Cultivating peaceful activity lies in being honest and upright
o Four Guidelines for Dealing with Desires:
—A Proposition for Living a Carefree Life
Our needs are few
Our wants are many
Pursue only what you can and should acquire
Never pursue what you can’t and shouldn’t acquire
o Four Steps for Handling a Problem:
—A Proposition for Resolving the Difficulties of Life
Face it: face the difficulty squarely
Accept it: accept the reality of the difficulty
Deal with it: deal with the difficulty with wisdom and compassion
Let it go: afterwards, let go of it
o Four Practices for Helping Oneself and Others:
—A Proposition for Getting Along with Others
Feeling grateful for the chance to develop
Feeling thankful for the opportunity to hone your practice
Reforming yourself through the Dharma
Influencing others through virtuous action
o Four Ways to Cultivate Blessings:
—A Proposition for Increasing Blessings
Recognizing blessings is the greatest happiness
Cherishing blessings is the best way of saving
Nurture blessings, and you’ll always be blessed
Sow the seeds of blessings that blessings may be shared by all
The Six Ethics of the Mind
Family Ethics
Living Ethics
School Ethics
Environmental Ethics
Workplace Ethics
Ethics between Ethnic Groups
The Common Endeavor of Buddhists
Have faith in the Buddha, follow the Dharma, respect the Sangha;
The Three Jewels are a bright lamp shining throughout eternity.
Uplift the character of humanity
And build a pure land on earth
Being grateful, repaying kindness: this is first;
Benefit others and you benefit yourself.
Foremost is to exert your wholehearted effort
Without measuring more or less.
Kindness and compassion have no enemies,
And wisdom engenders no vexations.
The busy make the most of time;
The diligent enjoy the best of health.
In broadly sowing the fields of merit,
Why fear any hardship or rebuke?
Those who give selflessly are blessed;
Those who do good deeds are happy.
In every moment feel the joy of the Dharma,
And abide in the bliss of meditation.
Recite “Guanyin Bodhisattva” everywhere
And chant “Amitabha Buddha” without end.
