Lower Mainland Community
In 1994, Chan Master Sheng Yen (Shifu) was invited to Vancouver for the first time. Shifu’s lecture was so well received that he was invited back in the next year. His influence also prompted the formation of a small but dedicated sitting group in Richmond, BC. The group began by only using only each other’s homes as space of practice but as the membership grew, a space was rented. However, the sitting group had ambitions of a facility of their own. Work began to raise money to purchase a property to build a Buddhism center.
The story is that Master Sheng Yen promised them a Fashi (monastic) if they accomplish this achievement, and to everyone’s surprise, the group did. In 2003 a property on #5 road was purchased and in 2006 Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre (DDVC) opened its doors. True to his word, Master Sheng Yen sent a single Nun from Taiwan. Because she spoke only Mandarin, for the first years of operation DDVC only served the Chinese community of Vancouver but still the community grew. In 2013, Abbess Venerable Chang Wu was assigned to DDVC.
Venerable Chang Wu came from a business background and holds a MBA degree in the US. She lived in New York and began practising under Master Sheng Yen’s guidance in 1993. In 1999, she started teacher’s training with Shifu and began to translate for him. In year 2000, she joined the monastic community. The Venerable has held retreats and speaking engagements globally. She has attended the International Conference on Buddhism and Interfaith Dialogue since 2008, including the International Association of Buddhist Studies conference, the Sakyadhita International Conference for Buddhist Women, as well as conferences at the New York Interfaith Centre.
One of Venerable Chang Wu’s greatest goal is to continue Shifu’s life’s work of bringing Chan Buddhism to the Western world. Since her arrival at DDVC the Venerable has broadened the range of programs to include academic lectures in conjunction with UBC and the University of Calgary, youth programs in English, meditation programs at the Old Barn Community Centre in UBC, and since 2015, Chinese New Year celebrations in English. She began a program of inviting both Eastern and Western qualified Dharma heirs to hold retreats in Vancouver. DDVC now provides Buddhist services, Buddhist teachings, meditation classes and meetings as well as one-day, three-day and seven-day residential retreats led by local and visiting teachers, in both Mandarin and English, with translation provided as needed.
The Monastic community at DDVC has grown to five resident nuns and the Sangha has a vibrant and dedicated lay following. Volunteer work is a cornerstone of Master Sheng Yen’s teaching and DDVC has received several awards for community service in Richmond BC. The Vancouver Centre is now listed as one of the six main Chan Meditation Centre Affiliates of Dharma Drum in North America.
On March 2020, due to the impact of the COVID pandemic, all of our activities (including regular weekly practices, meditation retreats, and lectures) have been switched to the online format. In 2021, we ended our lease on the Broadway location and continued with the online format for all activities. Until we have found a new, suitable location, regular weekly practice sessions and lectures will remain online. Meditation retreats will be held at the venue of Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre in Richmond, BC.
May our work together continue to benefit all beings and give rise to greater peace and harmony in the world.