Sheng Yen Academy: Merit Cultivation Program

【Dates】2026/03/01, 04/05, 05/03, 07/12, 08/01, 09/13, 10/04, 11/01, 12/13, 2027/01/24
【Participants】Anyone who wishes to serve as a volunteer at Dharma Drum Mountain.
【Time & Schedule】10 sessions in total, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
【Venue】Dharma Drum Mountain San Francisco Bay Area Center
【Completion】Participants who meet the course requirements will be awarded a certificate of completion.
【Registration】Availability is limited based on first come first serve basis. Please register online via Sign up Now.

【Background and Purpose】

The goals are to nurture volunteers who embody the ideas and values of Dharma Drum Mountain and actively live out the Bodhisattva spirit through service, and to help Buddhist practitioners who resonate with Dharma Drum Mountain’s vision better understand its spirit and guiding principles. Through an integrated curriculum that balances learning (comprehension) and hands-on practice, volunteers live out these values in service and express the Bodhisattva spirit of caring for both self and others.

The Merit Cultivation Program is a ten-month course held monthly, comprising more than forty modules. The program is rich and diverse, offering a comprehensive and well-organized curriculum that balances theory and practice. Learning alongside Dharma teachers and experienced volunteers, participants support and care for one another every step of the way.

Comprehension​: Becoming a volunteer means sharing the Dharma and benefiting others through one’s actions, words, and intentions. You will come to appreciate the mindset and mission of volunteering better.

Practice: Engaging in temple etiquette, mealtime rituals, daily Chan practice, learning Buddhist chants, volunteer experience sharing, and more. Once you understand Dharma Drum Mountain’s values and spirit, you will also learn how to bring them into every aspect of your daily life.

【Ten Themes】
1. Gathering at Dharma Drum Mountain
2. A Life Compass of Blessings and Wisdom
3. The Inexhaustible Treasury of Inner Spiritual Wisdom
4. Bodhisattvas of Myriad Practices in the Human World
5. Spreading the Goodness of Great Compassion
6. Experiencing Dharma Drum Mountain
7. Democratizing the Minds for All
8. An Academy for Cultivating Future Generations
9. The Dharma Drum Lineage of Chan Buddhism
10. Sharing The Spirit and Mission of Dharma Drum Mountain

For more details, please refer to the course overview for the Merit Cultivation Program at Sheng Yen Academy, Dharma Drum Mountain.