Uplifting the Character of Humanity and Creating a Pure Land on Earth BLENDING HIGHER EDUCATION AND BUDDHIST PRACTICE ON DHARMA DRUM MOUNTAIN

Uplifting the Character of Humanity and Creating a Pure Land on Earth BLENDING HIGHER EDUCATION AND BUDDHIST PRACTICE ON DHARMA DRUM MOUNTAIN

Methodology History Founder s written discourse Organization s official literature Institutions course listings Institutions syllabi Participant-observation i t Informal interviews Structured interviews Free listing Questionnaires

Key Questions What is Dharma Drum Mountain? Shengyan, 1989 Large, influential Buddhist organization in Taiwan What is the Problem? Solution? How Does Dharma Drum Accomplish Its Goals? Academic education and Buddhist practice Community of practice

Problem-Solution Problem: General social/personal problems Solution: Uplift the character of humanity and create a pure land on earth Re-conceptualizing education and Buddhist practice, ultimately promoting Buddhist values and practice in daily life to achieve purification, peace, happiness and health throughout society in Taiwan and in the people's hearts and minds

Self Family Career Natural Environment Society Humanity

Using Discourse of Education Re-conceptualizing academic education and Buddhist practice Developing a co-curriculum that, prescriptively, gives equal emphasis to both Creating a community of practice that unites laity, clerics, and scholars in this co-curriculum

Dharma Drum Mountain Venerable Shengyan (1930-2009) Early Life in China 1930-1949 PhD in Japan 1969-1975 Return to Taiwan Chung Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies, 1985 Founding Dharma Drum Mountain 1989 Dharma Drum Sangha University, 2001 Dharma Drum Buddhist College, 2007

Dharma Drum Sangha University The University focuses on training monastics to specialize in administrative, i i educational and academic fields. After graduation, students have opportunities to enter graduate school, further their studies abroad on scholarship, or engage in research to become educators and academics. Also, they can choose to serve at DDM s Chan practice, cultural, or educational organizations and thereby devoting themselves to spreading the Dharma to benefit sentient beings.

DDSU Curriculum Three distinct tracks: Buddhist Studies Program (4 years) Chan Practice Program (6 years) Monastic Education Program (2 years)

DDSU Curriculum Three distinct tracks: Buddhist Studies Program (4 years) Chan Practice Program (6 years) Monastic Education Program (2 years) Cultivating young, capable, effective clerics Education focusing on: Chan practice Proper monastic behavior Upholding precepts Buddhist doctrine Effective teaching techniques Practical skills

Dharma Drum Buddhist College a learning environment combining academic excellence with a daily practice of Buddhism. Our graduates will have both the motivation i and the training to serve society in meaningful and productive capacities.

Dharma Drum Buddhist College 2006: CHIBS approved for accreditation as private university devoted solely to Buddhist Studies 2007: DDBC opens Currently offering undergraduate and graduate degrees; planning to offer PhD Four majors: Indian Buddhism Chinese Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism Buddhist Informatics

Dharma Drum Buddhist College Heavy emphasis on language g study: Sanskrit Pali Tibetan Classical Chinese Japanese English (required for admission) Excellent library resources Highly qualified faculty and staff Heavy workload and high expectations

DDBC Undergraduate Requirements Bachelor s students must take 128 credit hours to graduate. From years 1-3, students must take 16-25 credits every semester. In the fourth year students t must ttake 9-25 credits every semester.

DDBC Graduate Requirements The Institute will be flexible in the fixed amount of time taken to graduate, lasting between two and four years, but requiring at least two years. Before graduating, g,graduate students must take 44 course credits, including 30 academic credits and related academic research, ten credits in Buddhist practice, and four credits for thesis writing.

2010 Academic Year Courses: Indian Buddhism Study of Sanskrit Scriptures: "Treatise on the Scripture of Adorning the Great Vehicle, " Chapter on Expedient Means" Study of the gamas (I) Study of Pali Buddhist Scriptures (III) Study of PaliLiterature t (III) Study of the gamas (II) Directed Readings in Sanskrit Literature Study of Sanskrit Scriptures: "Treatise on the Scripture of Adorning the Great Vehicle," "Paramita Sutra Study of the History of Indian Buddhism Pali Grammar Study of Pali Buddhist Scriptures (IV) Study of Pali Literature (IV)

2010 Academic Year Courses: Chinese Buddhism Special Topics in Chinese Buddhist History (I) Study of Chinese Pure Land Thought (I) Special Topics in Tang and Song Chan Studies (I) Study of An Shigao (I) Special Topics in Consciousness-only Treatises and Scriptures Special Topics in "Abhidharmakosha Abhidharmakosha, Chapter on Precepts Special Topics in Tiantai Huayan Meditative Contemplation Special Topics in Chinese Buddhist History (II) Study of Chinese Pure Land Thought h (II) Special Topics in Tang and Song Chan Studies (II) Study of An Shigao (II) Special Topics in Consciousness-only Treatises and Scriptures (II) Study of "Abhidharmakosha, Chapter on Faculties" Special Topics in Tiantai Doctrine and Contemplation Special Topics in Huayan Doctrine and Contemplation

2010 Academic Year Courses: Tibetan Buddhism Special Topics in Tibetan Logic and Thought (III) Special Topics in Tibetan Contemplation of the Middle Way Thought (I) Special Topics in Tibetan Buddhist Scriptures (I) Special Topics in Tibetan Buddhist History (I) Special Topics in Tibetan Tantric Thought (I) Special Topics in the Master-Disciple Works of Tsongkhapa (III) Special Topics in the Master-Disciple Works of Tsongkhapa (IV) Special Topics in Tibetan Logic and Thought (IV) Special Topics in Tibetan Contemplation of the Middle Way Thought (II) Special Topics in Tibetan Tantric Thought (II) Close Readings of Buddhist Scriptures in Tibetan (II) Special Topics in Tibetan Buddhist History (II)

2010 Academic Year Courses: Buddhist Informatics Buddhist Informatics: Tools and Technologies (I) Buddhist Informatics: Tools and Technologies (III) Buddhist Digital Cultural Map Project Relational Database Management Advanced [Computer] Script Special Topics in Buddhist Digital Vocabulary Resources: Study and Application of Digitization of Phonology and Semantics and Reference Works Buddhist Digital Philology Project Buddhist Informatics: Tools and Technologies (II) Programming Language Buddhist Informatics: Tools and Technologies (IV) Linux Server and Website Server Management Practices

2010 Academic Year Courses: General Courses Selected Readings in Buddhist Studies Materials in Japanese Selected Readings in Buddhist Studies Materials in English Selected Readings in Tibetan Buddhist Studies Materials in English (II) Japanese Grammar (II) Special Topics in Chinese Translations of Buddhist Scriptures (II) Practical Buddhist Philology: Translation and Annotation Academic Research Methods and Writing Special Topics in Religious Studies (summer) Sanskrit Grammar (summer + semester) Tibetan Grammar (summer) Special Topics in Indian Buddhist History Japanese Grammar (I) Directed Readings in English Buddhist Materials Special Topics in Chinese Translations of Buddhist Scriptures (I) Practical Buddhist Philology: Printed books Study and Application of Buddhist Digital Archives Selected Readings in Japanese Buddhist Materials Selected Readings in Tibetan Buddhism in English Buddhism in the 21st Century: Digital Resources and Signs of Innovation and Application

2010 Academic Year Courses: Buddhist Practice Morning and Evening Service Study-Practice (II) Morning and Evening Service Study-Practice (IV) Essentials of Three Higher Studies [precepts, meditation, wisdom] Study- Practice (I) Special Topics in Meditation Study-Practice (I) Special Topics in Etiquette Study-Practice (I) Special Topics in Propagating [the Dharma] Study-Practice (I) Study-Practice Graduation Presentation Morning and Evening Service Study-Practice (I) Morning and Evening Service Study-Practice (III) Essentials of Three Higher Studies [precepts, meditation, wisdom] Study- Practice (I) Special Topics in Meditation Study-Practice (I) Special Topics in Etiquette Study-Practice (I) Special Topics in Propagating [the Dharma] Study-Practice (I)

Faculty Monastic instructors: PhD, Ohio State University PhD, University of Arizona PhD, University of Tokyo, Japan PhD, Rissho University, Japan PhD, BukkyoUniversity, y Japan Master s, Eastern Michigan University Master s, University of Detroit Mercy Master s, National Chung Yang University, Taiwan Master s, Fo Guang College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Taiwan Bachelor s, George Brown College, Ontario Bachelor s, Department of Statistics at National Chengchi University, Taiwan Bachelor s, Department of Philosophy at Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan Bachelor s, Department of Accounting at Feng Chia University, Taiwan Bachelor s s, the Department of Business Administration at Datung University, Taiwan Bachelor s, Department of Social Studies at Dong Hai University, Taiwan Bachelor s, Department of Pharmacy at Taipei Medical University, Taiwan Bachelor s, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan Bachelor s, Department e t of Chinese Literature e at National a Chung Hsing University, Taiwan awa

Faculty Lay Instructors: PhD, Harvard University PhD, University of Virginia PhD, Bristol University, i UK PhD, Würzburg University PhD, Chinese Culture University, Taiwan (x2) PhD, Kyushu University Master s, University of Michigan Master s, Tamkang University, Taiwan Bachelor s, Kaohsiung Medical College, Taiwan

Student Demographics and Outlook DDSU and DDBC Nearly all students are over 30 years old Post-professionals Already possess higher education Strong desire to learn more about true Buddhism Attracted to DDM After graduation, likely to stay involved with DDM or pursue further education, often in Western countries Potential scholars

Future Progress Still tweaking DDBC curriculum Some students want more concentration on practice, others on academics Same with instructors Faculty changes occurring now Constructing Dharma Drum University

Dharma Drum University Extension of the CHIBS, DDSU, and DDBC community of practice Secular, liberal arts university Located at the monastery Same pure land on earth goal Students still expected to participate in Buddhist practice students live their education in harmony and with respect

Questions? Do you know of other organizations who approach social change using this individual-outward model? What do you see as the potential benefits and potential downfalls of this approach? Is this something educators in the US could use? Is this something educators in the US could use? Has it been used and rejected?

More Information Dharma Drum Mountain www.dharmadrum.org Dharma Drum Buddhist College http://www.ddbc.edu.tw/en/ Dharma Drum Sangha University (Buddhist Seminary) http://sanghau.ddm.org.tw/en/aboutus/mission.aspx Dharma Drum University http://www.ddc.edu.tw/