Dharma Drum Retreat Center
Encyclopedia
Dharma Drum Retreat Center (DDRC) was founded by renowned Chinese Ch'an (Zen) Master, Master Sheng-yen
. Its location is at the rural area of Pine Bush, New York
, just about two hours drive or 90 miles (144.8 km) northwest of New York City
. The center's properties stand on 125 acre (0.5058575 km²) of land dominated by meadowland and woods of maple, oak, and beech populated by wild animals like birds, woodchucks, deer, and black bear. Beyond the center to the north is the ecologically-protected Shawangunk Ridge
. It also has a small lake (Murray Pond) near its Ch'an Hall.
The Dharma Drum Mountain
organization bought the land at 1995 after their Ch'an centers in Queens, New York and Corona Avenue were overflowed by participants during retreats. Its whole buildings, however, were finished at 2002. Master Sheng-yen held his first 49-day retreat in United States
at this center in 2000. He passed his Dharma transmission
to two of his prominent Western disciples, Dr Simon Child and Max Kalin in this retreat.
Currently it serves as the main retreat center for Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association - an association of Dharma Drum Mountain
chapters and branches in United States. It also has close affiliation with the Western Chan Fellowship
, a fellowship founded by Master Sheng-yen's western disciples. Its current abbot is one of the Dharma heirs to Master Sheng-yen
, Ven. Guo Xing
. Its activities include weekly Thursday Evening Meditation Group and Sunday Dharma Sharing. It also has regular meditation classes, month-long residential programs, and several types of retreats for all level of practices ( DDRC_activities_calendar).
Its faculty includes resident teachers such as the abbot himself, Ven. Guo Xing
, and a native New Yorker monk, Ven. Chang Wen; monastic Dharma heirs such as Ven. Guo Ru and Ven. Chi Chern
; and lay Dharma heirs, mostly Master Sheng-yen's western disciples, including Dr John Crook
, PhD, DSC, Dr Simon Child, Zarko Andricevic, and Gilbert Gutierrez.
Sheng-yen
Sheng-yen was a Buddhist monk, a religious scholar, and one of the mainstream teachers of Chinese Chan Buddhism. He was the 57th generational descendant of Linji in the Linji School and a 3rd generational descendant of Master Hsu Yun...
. Its location is at the rural area of Pine Bush, New York
Pine Bush, New York
Pine Bush is a hamlet located in the Town of Crawford, and Shawangunk, New York, in Orange/Ulster Counties, New York, U.S., roughly coterminous with the 12566 ZIP code and 744 telephone exchange in the 845 area code Pine Bush is a hamlet (and census-designated place) located in the Town of...
, just about two hours drive or 90 miles (144.8 km) northwest of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The center's properties stand on 125 acre (0.5058575 km²) of land dominated by meadowland and woods of maple, oak, and beech populated by wild animals like birds, woodchucks, deer, and black bear. Beyond the center to the north is the ecologically-protected Shawangunk Ridge
Shawangunk Ridge
The Shawangunk Ridge , also known as the Shawangunk Mountains or The Gunks, is a ridge of bedrock in Ulster County, Sullivan County and Orange County in the state of New York, extending from the northernmost point of New Jersey to the Catskill Mountains.The ridgetop, which widens considerably at...
. It also has a small lake (Murray Pond) near its Ch'an Hall.
The Dharma Drum Mountain
Dharma Drum Mountain
Dharma Drum Mountain is an international Buddhist spiritual, cultural, and educational foundation founded by late Ch'an Master Sheng-yen. The international headquarters of this organization is located at Jinshan District, New Taipei City, Taiwan .Dharma Drum Mountain is one of the most...
organization bought the land at 1995 after their Ch'an centers in Queens, New York and Corona Avenue were overflowed by participants during retreats. Its whole buildings, however, were finished at 2002. Master Sheng-yen held his first 49-day retreat in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at this center in 2000. He passed his Dharma transmission
Dharma transmission
Dharma transmission refers to "the manner in which the teaching, or Dharma, is passed from a Zen master to their disciple and heir...
to two of his prominent Western disciples, Dr Simon Child and Max Kalin in this retreat.
Currently it serves as the main retreat center for Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association - an association of Dharma Drum Mountain
Dharma Drum Mountain
Dharma Drum Mountain is an international Buddhist spiritual, cultural, and educational foundation founded by late Ch'an Master Sheng-yen. The international headquarters of this organization is located at Jinshan District, New Taipei City, Taiwan .Dharma Drum Mountain is one of the most...
chapters and branches in United States. It also has close affiliation with the Western Chan Fellowship
Western Chan Fellowship
The Western Chan Fellowship is an organisation of lay Buddhists. It was formed in 1997 and registered as a charity in 1998. It was based on a network of local groups which formed following the first teaching visit to the UK in 1989 of the Venerable Chan Master Dr Sheng-yen...
, a fellowship founded by Master Sheng-yen's western disciples. Its current abbot is one of the Dharma heirs to Master Sheng-yen
Sheng-yen
Sheng-yen was a Buddhist monk, a religious scholar, and one of the mainstream teachers of Chinese Chan Buddhism. He was the 57th generational descendant of Linji in the Linji School and a 3rd generational descendant of Master Hsu Yun...
, Ven. Guo Xing
Guo Xing
Ven. Guo Xing Fa Shi is one of the Dharma heirs of Ch'an Master Sheng-yen. He was born in Taiwan and ordained as monk in 1986 after previously studied Ch'an under Master Sheng-yen for about two years. Since then he committed himself in service in the Dharma Drum Mountain sangha. He entered...
. Its activities include weekly Thursday Evening Meditation Group and Sunday Dharma Sharing. It also has regular meditation classes, month-long residential programs, and several types of retreats for all level of practices ( DDRC_activities_calendar).
Its faculty includes resident teachers such as the abbot himself, Ven. Guo Xing
Guo Xing
Ven. Guo Xing Fa Shi is one of the Dharma heirs of Ch'an Master Sheng-yen. He was born in Taiwan and ordained as monk in 1986 after previously studied Ch'an under Master Sheng-yen for about two years. Since then he committed himself in service in the Dharma Drum Mountain sangha. He entered...
, and a native New Yorker monk, Ven. Chang Wen; monastic Dharma heirs such as Ven. Guo Ru and Ven. Chi Chern
Chi Chern
Ven. Chi Chern is the first Dharma heir of renowned Ch'an Master, Ven. Sheng-yen. He is also one of the most respected meditation teachers in Malaysia and Singapore. Born in Malaysia and ordained as monk by Master Zhu Mo in Penang, he later went to Taiwan to study in the Foguang University.In...
; and lay Dharma heirs, mostly Master Sheng-yen's western disciples, including Dr John Crook
John Crook
John Hurrell Crook, BSc, PhD, DSc , was a British ethologist who filled a pivotal role in British primatology....
, PhD, DSC, Dr Simon Child, Zarko Andricevic, and Gilbert Gutierrez.
See also
- Dharma Drum MountainDharma Drum MountainDharma Drum Mountain is an international Buddhist spiritual, cultural, and educational foundation founded by late Ch'an Master Sheng-yen. The international headquarters of this organization is located at Jinshan District, New Taipei City, Taiwan .Dharma Drum Mountain is one of the most...
- Master Sheng-yenSheng-yenSheng-yen was a Buddhist monk, a religious scholar, and one of the mainstream teachers of Chinese Chan Buddhism. He was the 57th generational descendant of Linji in the Linji School and a 3rd generational descendant of Master Hsu Yun...
- Ven. Guo XingGuo XingVen. Guo Xing Fa Shi is one of the Dharma heirs of Ch'an Master Sheng-yen. He was born in Taiwan and ordained as monk in 1986 after previously studied Ch'an under Master Sheng-yen for about two years. Since then he committed himself in service in the Dharma Drum Mountain sangha. He entered...
- Dr John CrookJohn CrookJohn Hurrell Crook, BSc, PhD, DSc , was a British ethologist who filled a pivotal role in British primatology....
- Guo Yuan Fa ShiGuo Yuan(Zen monk)Guo Yuan Fa Shi was born in Vietnam. He was a senior disciple of renowned Ch’an Master, Venerable Sheng-yen of Taiwan. In 1985 he first encountered Master Sheng-yen's teachings while attending a seven-day retreat in New York...