SOCIAL EDUCATION

"The Buddha Dharma is here in this world; there is no enlightenment apart from the world." To establish a Pure Land on earth, Chung Tai is actively involved in bringing the wisdom of the Buddha to the local communities.

Establishing Meditation Centers
to Promote the Chan Way of Life

To make the benefits of Buddhism easily accessible to the busy people of today, the Grand Master established meditation centers across USA, Australia and Asia. These urban centers offer adult and youth meditation classes, conduct regular Dharma services, as well as programs in Chinese calligraphy and painting, flower arrangement, vegetarian cooking, and choir. Chung Tai has also built libraries for the community to enrich their spiritual lives.

Multiple Avenues
to Benefit from Buddhism

Each year, Chung Tai Chan Monastery conducts not only seven-day meditation retreats, but also various Dharma ceremonies and services. It has established a "Chung Tai World" website and publishes a monthly magazine, as well as books on Buddhism for free distribution. It has held symposiums and meetings on world religions, cultural exchange, Buddhist studies, and the arts, thus opening many avenues for the public to come to know Buddhism.

Social Services
Based on the Buddhist spirit of equality and liberation of all beings, the Grand Master has led the Sangha and lay disciples in various relief efforts to help those impacted by the devastation of natural disasters, such as the severe 1999 earthquake in central Taiwan, and the South Asian tsunami disaster in 2004. Chung Tai also provides hospice and funeral services, dedications to the deceased, establishes education funds for aborigines, and makes donations to schools, public services and communities. This reflects the spirit of "bodhisattva practice in this world."