Welcome to the website of the Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association, the Chan Meditation Center (CMC), the Dharma Drum Retreat Center (DDRC) and their affiliates. Our prime teacher is Ven. Master Sheng Yen (Shifu), who has taught Buddhism in the West since 1976. Other teachers include guest lecturer Ven. Master Jen Chun, who is the founder of the Bodhi Monastery in New Jersey, and the resident monastics. Our site offers information regarding ongoing programs (which include retreats at the Dharma Drum Retreat Center, located south of the Catskills, NY), publications (which include teachings of Master Sheng Yen in text and multimedia formats for free distribution), as well as other original material that you will find useful in your practice.

Our mission is to bring about the caring of life as a whole through cultural and educational activities, as well as the practice of meditation. We promote four environmental goals -- spiritual, social, living, and natural -- to help practitioners achieve peace and harmony of the body, the mind, the family and their careers. it is hoped that upon participating in our activities, practitioners from all over the world will be able to enjoy tranquility and peace, and live a life full of respect and security.

Resident Monastics:

• Ven. Guoming Fashi - Received full ordination in 1992. Guoming Fashi was appointed director of the Chan Meditation Center in September 2004. She specializes in providing guidance in Chan practice.
• Ven. Guochian Fashi - Received full ordination in 1995. Guochian Fashi was appointed supervisor of the Dharma Protector (Dharmapala) Group in September 2004. She specializes in giving Dharma lectures and providing guidance in Chan practice.
• Ven. Changwu Fashi - Received full ordination in 2003. She is responsible for the Chan Meditation Center's financial accounting since October 2003.

If you are new to Buddhism in general, or to Chan Buddhism in particular, you may find  the following articles helpful: