Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

American Buddhist Perspectives

Home
About

Home
Buddhist
Religion News
Spend a month in a Chinese Buddhist Monastery this summer – Woodenfish HBMLP in China

Spend a month in a Chinese Buddhist Monastery this summer – Woodenfish HBMLP in China

Last updated on: March 10, 2019 at 1:08 pm by Justin Whitaker

Spend a month in a Chinese Buddhist Monastery this summer – Woodenfish HBMLP in China 2019-03-10T13:08:26-06:00 Justin Whitaker

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

In 2009 I traveled to China to experience Chinese Buddhist monastic life and learn about the practice, philosophy, and history unique to Chan/Zen Buddhism. Back then, it was focused mostly on graduate students in Buddhism or Chinese culture/religion/history but it has since grown in size and scope to look a bit like the program that was then run separately at Fo Guang Shan monastery in southern Taiwan.

My experience with the 2009 program was so positive that I applied for and participated in the 2010 Taiwan program as well and wrote about my experience here (and posted additional reflections and photos here). Today the Woodenfish Project, run by Ven. Yifa, is no longer affiliated with Fo Guang Shan, but continues its mission of bringing Westerners first-hand experience of Chinese Buddhist monastic life.

In 2016, 17, and 18, I taught on the program, covering topics in early Buddhism, Buddhist ethics, Yogacara philosophy, and meditation. This year I plan to return, but will also be starting a full-time writing position for Buddhistdoor Global in Hong Kong, so I will have to work out travel possibilities in the next month or so. In any case, there is a fantastic Woodenfish faculty and staff with many years of experience teaching and working on this program in China.

Below further information for Woodenfish in China.

Photo from a head-shaving ceremony at Jin-e Temple, 2017 (Copyright the author).

Read an account of the experience of one of the students from our 2017 program.

Deadline for applications: April 30th!

https://www.woodenfish.org/hbmlp-2019

Woodenfish Project 2019
Humanistic Buddhist Monastic Life Program

Join this life-changing journey through Chinese Buddhism.
Spend your summer exploring yourself and the world around you in a Buddhist monastery in China.
Meditation, Taiji, Dharma talks, academic lectures, discussions, tea ceremony, calligraphy and much more.
Visit the sacred Mt. Wutai, home of Bodhisattva Manjusri, and visit the largest nunnery in China, Pushou Monastery.
Room and board is free of charge. We only charge a uniform-fee of $250 for the whole month!
Get college credits and transfer to your institution.

The Woodenfish Project has since 2002 provided over 1000 Westerners with a unique and authentic first-hand experience of Chinese Buddhist Monasticism. This summer you can take part in the adventure!

Read more on our website: https://www.woodenfish.org/hbmlp-2019

The Woodenfish HBMLP provides international students and other young people interested in the study of Buddhism and Chinese culture first-hand experience with the lifestyle, training, and rituals of contemporary Chinese Buddhist monasticism. The participants cultivate their mind through meditation, monastic discipline and mindfulness in all activities. The program includes academic lectures and discussions on Buddhist history and doctrine giving the students the appropriate framework for the experience. Workshops and performances in traditional arts like tea ceremony, calligraphy, kongfu and taiji will also be featured. The program is concluded with a week-long silent meditation retreat.

All activities will either be conducted in English or English translation will be provided. No prior knowledge of the Chinese language is needed.

A Shaolin Monk demonstrates Kungfu at Jin-e Temple, 2017 (photo by author)

We accept application from people regardless of religious background, race and country of origin. Applicants from diverse academic disciplines and religious backgrounds are encouraged to apply. While a majority of participants are working toward an undergraduate or graduate degree, we encourages anyone with an interest in Buddhism to apply. Most of our participants are between 18 and 35 of age.

Deadline for Application: April 30th, 2019

Applications will be reviewed on a ROLLING BASIS, and decisions will be made within two weeks after the submission of one’s application. There are still spots open, but applicants are highly encouraged to apply early to have a better chance of admission.

For more information about the program and application procedures, please see https://www.woodenfish.org/hbmlp-2019

Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/woodenfishfoundation

The central Pagoda at Zhaoming Temple, location of the 2018 Woodenfish HBMLP (photo by author)

Students discuss topics during an academic lecture at Zhaoming Temple, 2018 (photo by author)

Do you find benefit in American Buddhist Perspectives?
Please support independent coverage of Buddhism and join our community of patrons.

Previous Post

February 27, 2019

pause, breathe, smile: awakening mindfulness when meditation is not enough, a Review

Next Post

May 8, 2019 I'm still here!

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Academia Activism American Buddhism Art Book review Buddhism Buddhism Today Buddhist Ethics Burma/Myanmar China Christianity Commodification Environment Gender Happiness Health Humor India Interfaith Islam Japanese Buddhism Kant Media / News Meditation mindfulness Photography Poetry Politics quicktakes Running Teaching Technology Thailand Theism/Atheism Theravada Tibet Tibetan Buddhism Travels Uncategorized Unitarian Universalism video Western Philosophy Zen

Select a Month June 2021 January 2021 November 2020 August 2020 July 2020 March 2020 January 2020 October 2019 August 2019 June 2019 May 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 November 2004 September 2004 August 2004

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz