Center History
2003 － 2006：The founding of the DDM San Francisco Chapter and the establishment of the Millbrae location
Inspired by a remark from Master Sheng Yen — “Perhaps it is time for us to get started in San Francisco?” — the Dharma Drum San Francisco Chapter was officially established in Millbrae in 2003. We rented a small office space and began organizing a variety of events such as sitting meditation, Buddha-name recitation, and One-Day Chan retreats, as well as study groups held in rotation at the practitioners’ homes.
Establishment of the Dharma Drum Mountain San Francisco Chapter in Millbrae
Venerable Guo Yuan was the first to be invited
Study groups in practitioners’ homes
2006 - 2007： Everywhere is home
When the lease on the Millbrae office ended, the Dharma Drum Mountain San Francisco Chapter began a ‘nomadic’ period, moved from place to place. Group practice sessions were held alternately at the homes of practitioners Ms. Hsieh Hsiu-Ching, Mr. Liao Chi-Chung, and Mr. Lin Tzu-Sheng. During this time, the Chapter also rented venues from other Buddhist organizations, where monastics and experienced leaders guided events such as intensive three-day Chan retreats, Dharma lectures, and Tea Chan.
Three-day Chan retreat led by Venerable Guo Qian
One-day retreat led by Gilbert, Western Dharma heir of Master Sheng Yen
Group meditation practice at practitioner’s homes
2007 － 2013：Establishment of Sunnyvale location
Thanks to the practitioners’ heartfelt support, enough funds were raised to lease a space in Sunnyvale for the San Francisco Chapter. This allows us to organize a wider variety of activities, including mindfulness tea gatherings, children’s summer camps, volunteer training, the Merit Cultivation Program, musical festivals, and large-scale Chan meditation retreats attended by over a thousand of participants.
During this period, Abbot President Venerable Guo Dong visited the San Francisco Chapter multiple times to express his deep compassion and blessings for the local community, strengthening the sense of unity among practitioners.
Dharma Drum Mountain San Francisco Chapter leased location in Sunnyvale
Inaugural Merit Cultivation Program
Dharma Drum Mountain San Francisco held its first thousand-person Chan retreat in North America
2014 - 2015：Establishment of Fremont location
When the leased Sunnyvale space was scheduled for demolition, practitioners came together to make a vow collectively and purchased a new center in Fremont. Even as renovations were ongoing, we started offering events to help the public learn about Dharma and Chan practices. These included interfaith dialogue, children’s spiritual environmentalism classes, English sitting meditation group practices, life-care courses, Water and Land Dharma Ceremony, and Dharma study classes.
On May 30, 2015, we held the inauguration of the new center, the Buddha statue consecration, and a refuge ceremony. The successful establishment of a permanent location was a major milestone. The San Francisco Chapter seeks to share the vision of the Dharma Drum Lineage of Chan Buddhism with the West.
Venerable Chang Hua and Pastor Spencer in dialogue on Buddhist and Christian views on life and death
English sitting meditation group practice
Water and Land Dharma Service
December 2016: Official recognition as Dharma Drum Mountain San Francisco Center
In December 2016, the San Francisco Chapter was officially recognized as an overseas Dharma Drum Mountain Center, with resident monastics committed to supporting the Center and sharing the Dharma.