Uplifting the Character of Humanity and Creating a

Pure Land on Earth

B L E N D I N G H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N A N D

Pure Land on Earth

B L E N D I N G H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N A N D B U D D H I S T P R A C T I C E O N

D H A R M A D R U M M O U N T A I N

Methodology

HistoryFounder’s written discourseOrganization’s official literatureInstitutions’ course listingsInstitutions’ syllabiP ti i t b tiParticipant-observationInformal interviewsStructured interviewsStructured interviewsFree listingQuestionnairesQuestionnaires

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?How Does Dharma Drum Accomplish Its Goals?

Academic education and Buddhist practice

Community of practiceCommunity of practice

Problem-Solution

Problem: General social/personal problems/p p

Solution: Uplift the character of humanity and create a pure land on eartha pure land on earth

Re-conceptualizing education and Buddhist practice, ultimately promoting Buddhist values and practiceultimately promoting Buddhist values and practice in daily life

“ t hi ifi ti h i d“…to achieve purification, peace, happiness and health throughout society in Taiwan and in the people's hearts and minds”people s hearts and minds

Self

C

Family

Natural Environment

Career

Humanity

Society

Using Discourse of Education

Re-conceptualizing academic education and p gBuddhist practice

Developing a co-curriculum that, prescriptively, gives equal emphasis to both

Creating a community of practice that unites laity, l i d h l i thi i lclerics, and scholars in this co-curriculum

Dharma Drum Mountain

Venerable Shengyan (1930-2009)Early Life in China

1930-1949

PhD in JapanPhD in Japan1969-1975

Return to TaiwanChung Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies, 1985

Founding Dharma Drum Mountain1989Dharma Drum Sangha University, 2001Dharma Drum Buddhist College, 2007

Dharma Drum Sangha University

“The University focuses on training monastics to specialize in d i i i d i l d d i fi ld Af d iadministrative, 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 Chaneducators 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)

M i Ed i P ( )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 clericsEducation focusing on:

Chan practiceChan practiceProper monastic behaviorUpholding preceptsB ddhi t d t iBuddhist doctrineEffective teaching techniquesPractical skills

Dharma Drum Buddhist College

“a learning environment combining academic excellence with a daily practice of Buddhism. Our

d ill h b h h i i d hgraduates will have both the motivation and the training to serve society in meaningful and productive capacities.”p p

Dharma Drum Buddhist College

2006: CHIBS approved for accreditation as private pp puniversity devoted solely to Buddhist Studies

2007: DDBC opens

Currently offering undergraduate and graduate degrees; planning to offer PhD

Four majors:Indian Buddhism

Chinese BuddhismChinese Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism

Buddhist Informatics

Dharma Drum Buddhist College

Heavy emphasis on language study:y p g g ySanskrit

Pali

TibTibetan

Classical Chinese

JapaneseJapanese

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.

I th f th t d t t t k ditIn the fourth year students must take 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, graduate students must take 44 course g g, g 44credits, including 30 academic credits and related academic research, ten credits in Buddhist practice, and four credits for thesis writing.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"Adorning the Great Vehicle, Chapter on Expedient Means Study of the gamas (I)Study of Pali Buddhist Scriptures (III)St d f P li Lit t (III)Study of Pali Literature (III) Study of the gamas (II)Directed Readings in Sanskrit LiteratureStudy of Sanskrit Scriptures: "Treatise on the Scripture of Adorning the Great Vehicle," "Paramita Sutra”Study of the History of Indian BuddhismPali GrammarStudy of Pali Buddhist Scriptures (IV)Study of Pali Literature (IV) y ( )

2010 Academic Year Courses: Chinese Buddhism

Special Topics in Chinese Buddhist History (I)Study of Chinese Pure Land Thought (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 ScripturesSpecial Topics in "Abhidharmakosha ” “Chapter on Precepts”Special Topics in Abhidharmakosha, Chapter on PreceptsSpecial Topics in TiantaiHuayan Meditative ContemplationSpecial Topics in Chinese Buddhist History (II)S d f Chi P L d Th h (II)Study of Chinese Pure Land Thought (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 ContemplationSpecial 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 WaSpecial 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 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 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) gSpecial 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 Informaticsf

Buddhist Informatics: Tools and Technologies (I) B ddhi t I f ti T l d T h l i (III)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 S ti d R f W kSemantics 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 Practicesg

2010 Academic Year Courses: General Courses

Selected Readings in Buddhist Studies Materials in JapaneseSelected Readings in Buddhist Studies Materials in Englishg gSelected 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)Special Topics in Indian Buddhist History Japanese Grammar (I)Directed Readings in English Buddhist MaterialsSpecial Topics in Chinese Translations of Buddhist Scriptures (I)Practical Buddhist Philology: Printed booksStudy and Application of Buddhist Digital ArchivesStudy and Application of Buddhist Digital ArchivesSelected Readings in Japanese Buddhist MaterialsSelected Readings in Tibetan Buddhism in EnglishBuddhism 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)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 (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 UniversityPhD, Ohio State UniversityPhD, University of ArizonaPhD, University of Tokyo, JapanPhD, Rissho University, JapanPhD, Bukkyo University, Japany y pMaster’s, Eastern Michigan UniversityMaster’s, University of Detroit MercyMaster’s, National Chung Yang University, TaiwanMaster’s, Fo Guang College of Humanities and Social Sciences, TaiwanB h l ’ G B C ll O iBachelor’s, George Brown College, OntarioBachelor’s, Department of Statistics at National Chengchi University, TaiwanBachelor’s, Department of Philosophy at Fu Jen Catholic University, TaiwanBachelor’s, Department of Accounting at Feng Chia University, TaiwanBachelor’s the Department of Business Administration at Datung University TaiwanBachelor s, the Department of Business Administration at Datung University, TaiwanBachelor’s, Department of Social Studies at Dong Hai University, TaiwanBachelor’s, Department of Pharmacy at Taipei Medical University, TaiwanBachelor’s, National Chung Hsing University, TaiwanBachelor’s, Department of Chinese Literature at National Chung Hsing University, Taiwanac e o s, epa t e t o C ese te atu e at Nat o a C u g s g U ve s ty, a wa

Faculty

Lay Instructors:yPhD, Harvard University

PhD, University of Virginia

PhD B i l U i i UKPhD, Bristol University, UK

PhD, Würzburg University

PhD, Chinese Culture University, Taiwan (x2)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-professionalsp

Already possess higher education

Strong desire to learn more about “true” Buddhismg

Attracted to DDM

After graduation, likely to stay involved with DDM or g , y ypursue further education, often in Western countries

Potential scholars

Future Progress

Still tweaking DDBC curriculumg

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 y g ppsocial change using this individual-outward model?

What do you see as the potential benefits andWhat 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 Mountainwww.DharmaDrum.org

Dharma Drum Buddhist Collegehttp://www.ddbc.edu.tw/en/

Dharma Drum Sangha University (Buddhist S i )Seminary)

http://sanghau.ddm.org.tw/en/AboutUs/Mission.aspx

Dharma Drum UniversityDharma Drum Universityhttp://www.ddc.edu.tw/