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4 years Duration

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OVERVIEW CURRICULUM KEY INFORMATION ADMISSION TUITION FEE ACCOMMODATION

OVERVIEW

ABOUT

A small but beautiful institute with an emphasis on liberal arts education.

Following changes to the regulations surrounding the establishing of Colleges of Humanities and Social Sciences, an office was opened in September 1993 to start planning for the future Dharma Drum College of Humanities and Social Sciences, allowing Dharma Drum Mountain to further pursue its goal of developing Buddhist Higher Education. Yet, the gradual decline in the number of students caused by low birth rates in combination with the saturation of the higher education market (171 universities to date) have resulted in a heightened competition over resources between Taiwan's 62 public and 109 private universities. In response to this situation, Dharma Drum Mountain decided to integrate the Dharma Drum College of Humanities and Social Sciences with the existing Dharma Drum Buddhist College so as to concentrate its resources and further develop the organization's distinctive focus.

In order to bypass the requirement for Colleges of Humanities and Social Sciences to maintain over 5000 students, and as part of Master Sheng Yen's wish to create a 'small but beautiful' school which may become 'a cradle of positive change capable of training agents for the betterment of society,' the decision was made to take example on the North American tradition of liberal arts education and name the newly-formed school the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts—or Fagu wenli xueyuan in Chinese (法鼓文理學院). With a few hundred students enrolled in its various programs, the institute will be able to offer residential accommodation and small classrooms, fostering a strong sense of community and creating an autonomous and holistic learning environment conducive to the growth of future leaders and the cultivation of an interdisciplinary outlook, a caring for life and a dedication to serving society.

With its focus on graduate programs in Buddhist Studies and the aforementioned fields of study, the school has been given the English name of Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts, in contrast to Liberal Arts Colleges' traditional focus on undergraduate education. With protection of the spiritual environment as its guiding principle, the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts strives to further its goal of creating a rich learning environment for the study of Buddhist teachings as well as the humanities and social sciences and help train global citizens capable of responding to the challenges of globalization with the values of compassion, wisdom, harmony, and respect.

CURRICULUM

Undergraduate Program

Curriculum

The Department of Buddhist Studies seeks to offer a unique learning environment for those seeking to deepen their understanding of Buddhist teachings, history, languages and practice. In addition to offering courses covering a wide range of scholarly topics in the field of Buddhist Studies, the department’s undergraduate and graduate programs also strive to integrate Buddhist practice (行門) in its various forms with the academic study of Buddhist thought and history (解門). While academic research and study is conducted free of religious sectarianism and in accordance with secular standards of academic neutrality, the programs’ theoretical and practical dimensions are intended to be mutually supportive in the furthering of one’s personal cultivation and studies. Departing from the modern paradigm of an exclusive focus on the student’s scholarly development, the program endeavors to offer a holistic approach to higher education by enriching one’s intellectual pursuits with the practice of time-honored methods of spiritual cultivation.Over the course of their studies, students may also expect to benefit from a steady flow of outstanding Taiwanese and international visiting scholars. Their academic experience is further enriched by attending the department’s numerous conferences, lectures and workshops. In addition to interacting with exchange students and visiting PhD candidates from around the world, students are also given the opportunity to study abroad in one of the Institute’s partner institutions.

Academic Courses

Owing to Master Sheng Yen’s wish to promote the study of Buddhism free of sectarian bias, courses at the department of Buddhist Studies cover the colossal cultural and philosophical monument which is Buddhism, from its inception in ancient India to its unique developments in China and Tibet. In addition to these subjects, the study and development of Buddhist Informatics has played and continues to play an important role in the institution’s identity (formerly under the Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies). Students and researchers in this field seek to utilize information technologies to develop new tools for academic research (i.e. digital humanities) or promote wider access to Buddhist knowledge and teachings (through text digitization, etc.). Another noteworthy feature of both undergraduate and graduate programs is the curriculum’s focus on the acquisition of the linguistic skills necessary for a rigorous study of Buddhist thought (Sanskrit, Pali and Tibetan for classical languages, and modern Japanese and English for research languages). In order to help them plot a coherent and manageable course of study through this vast expanse of knowledge, graduate students are asked to choose from one of four specializations or groups (組別);

Indian Buddhism (漢傳組)
Chinese Buddhism (印度組)
Tibetan Buddhism (藏傳組)
Buddhist Informatics (資訊組)

Courses in Buddhist Practice

As part of the wider Dharma Drum Mountain (法鼓山) organization, the Institute enjoys access to exceptional facilities (meditation halls, retreat centers, etc) and teachers who have trained under Master Sheng Yen in the methods of practice of Chan Buddhism (禪宗). These courses allow students to study and cultivate various forms of Buddhist practice throughout their studies. As such, practice courses form an integral part of the undergraduate and graduate curricula.

Courses in Buddhist Studies

In accordance with Master Sheng Yen’s wish to encourage the study and practice of Chinese Buddhism, the first year of the bachelor’s degree program in Buddhist studies focuses on laying strong foundations with courses dealing with the monastic community, history and teachings of the Chinese Buddhist tradition. In their second year, students’ courses begin to explore Buddhism’s roots in India. In their third and fourth years, students are exposed to the different Buddhist traditions that have emerged out of Buddhism’s contact with various cultures throughout its history. Beginning in their third year, students start taking courses in the three great Mahāyāna doctrinal systems as well as commence their study of Sanskrit. In addition to taking reading courses in Sanskrit, students in their fourth year may choose to begin study of Tibetan or Pali as well.General EducationIn addition to their training in Buddhist studies, students are required to take general education courses (通識課程) including modern and classical Chinese, English, Japanese, informatics, research methodology or law. The Buddhist Studies undergraduate program’s general education courses also features three unique courses in Dharma Drum’s vision of Protection of the Spiritual Environment (心靈環保), advanced courses in Buddhist informatics (digital humanities), and training in missionary work (弘化).

KEY INFORMATION

A Unique Learning Environment

Integrating Academic Research, Scriptural Study and Buddhist Practice

Open to monastics and lay people alike, the department of Buddhist Studies is located at the heart of the Dharma Drum World Center for Buddhist Education. Programs offered include bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in Buddhist Studies accredited by the Republic of China’s Ministry of Education.

Listed below are some the department’s defining features:

Joining the academic study of Buddhist history, philosophy and institutions with personal cultivation though regular Buddhist practice.
A strong emphasis on the acquisition of classical language skills (Classical Chinese, Sanskrit, Pāli & Tibetan).
An ecumenical spirit which encourages the study of all major Buddhist traditions (Indian, Chinese and Tibetan) and celebrates the diversity of Buddhist traditions.
An international campus with students from across Asia and beyond as well as exchange programs with universities throughout the world.
The training of scholars and practitioners who embody the Buddhist ethos of compassion and wisdom and strive to benefit society.

Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM, 法鼓山) is an international Buddhist spiritual, cultural, and educational foundation founded by late Chan Master Sheng Yen. The international headquarters of the organization are located in the Jinshan District (金山區), New Taipei City, Taiwan (ROC). Aside from being the international headquarters of Dharma Drum Mountain, the Jinshan complex also serves as the campus for the Dharma Drum Sangha University (DDSU，法鼓山僧伽大學; a seminar for future monastics in training) and the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts (DILA, 法鼓文理學院). In addition to the monastery complex in Jinshan, Dharma Drum Mountain has a number of monasteries, centers and local branches throughout the island and abroad.

Dharma Drum Mountain is one of the most influential Buddhist organizations in modern Chinese Buddhism. In Taiwan, it is considered one of the “Four Heavenly Kings” or four major Buddhist temples (四大道場) of Taiwanese Buddhism, along with Tzu Chi (慈濟), Fo Guang Shan (佛光山), and Chung Tai Shan (中臺山). Its impact on Buddhist circles both Eastern and Western stems from the vision, charisma, and life experience of master Sheng Yen.

ADMISSION

Admission

Applications for the department’s graduate and undergraduate programs in Religious Studies (宗教學碩士) are open to lay people and monastics alike. International students are not required to take an entrance examination. The selection process for international applicants will be based on the submitted application alone. Applicants should maintain at least grade B or 75% in their average academic performance as well as in major courses.

Furthermore, applicants must be able to understand, speak, read, and write Mandarin Chinese.*

If possible, prospective students are highly encouraged to come and visit the Institute beforehand to meet the students and faculty as well as get a sense of the unique campus environment on Dharma Drum Mountain. International applicants may attend the information meeting (新生招募說明會) held every year in January to meet with faculty and students. For information on the next meeting, please refer to the following document:

Bachelor’s Degree

Application for admission should be received every year from the 1^st of February and the 15^th of April. Applications received after the deadline will be processed in the next school year. For a detailed account of the admission guidelines, the list of required documents and application forms, please refer to the following documents:

Admission Handbook for International Students Academic year 2017-2018: PDF, WORD

TUITION FEE

Tuition and Fees

As part of the founder‘s wish to allow access to the study of Buddhism irrespective of one’s financial circumstances, tuition fees are waived for both monastic and lay students. Additionally, miscellaneous and lodging expenses are also waived for monastic students. On-campus job opportunities are available for both international and local students.

Approximate cost for one semester (2013-2014):

Tuition: 36,000 NTD (1,208 USD)

Tuition remittance: 36,000 NTD (1,208 USD)

Tuition paid: 0

Miscellaneous (includes food): 7,000 NTD (235 USD)

Internet fee: 1,000 NTD (34 USD)

Life insurance: 6,320 NTD (212 USD)

Lodging: 7,500 NTD (252 USD)

Total: 21,820 NTD (733 USD)

ACCOMMODATION

Campus life

One of the Institute’s most unique features is its location next to the Dharma Drum Monastery on the slopes of the lush Jinshan valley. This relative isolation from the hustle and bustle of the nearby Taipei urban center provides the students with a quiet environment conducive to both diligent study and fruitful contemplative practice. This remarkable setting reflects DILA’s particular emphasis on the equal importance of academic study and spiritual practice, with students enjoined to participate in regular meditation retreats as well as daily sittings. It is certainly this integration of theoretical study and personal practice which sets DILA apart from other Buddhist studies departments or colleges.

Students are encouraged to live on campus in the dormitory where they usually share their room with another roommate. The campus is located next to the Dharma Drum Mountain monastery complex, allowing students to take part in the various religious activities and ceremonies conducted throughout the year, such as the Water and Land Ceremony (水陸法會), the New Year celebrations, the yearly ordination ceremony (剃度典禮), etc. In daily life, students eat at the dinning hall (齋堂) located within the nearby monastery where vegetarian food is served for breakfast, lunch and dinner at 6:40 am, 12:00 pm, and 17:00 pm respectively. For the bravest students, the day begins with a forty minutes seated meditation session (早坐) at 5:20 am followed by the communal morning service (朝課) held in the Great Hall (大雄寶殿) with all other monastic and lay members of the community. The service consists in reciting in unison a collection of ancient mantras (咒), sutras and liturgy. Another service is held in the evening at 8:00 pm (晚課) before the evening’s sitting meditation session (晚坐). As part of the program, students are required to attend a certain number of times, while still being given the freedom to choose which time of the day is most congenial to their habits and daily schedule. Students are encouraged to engage in some form of practice everyday to take advantage of the facilities, guidance and group energy to develop a strong habit of daily cultivation.

For entertainment, a variety of clubs (社團) organize weekly activities for students and faculty. Those activities include traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting (書法、國畫), yoga, racket sports, etc. Other clubs offer activities closer to the spirit of Buddhist cultivation which focus on community service and meditation. For physical exercise, the institute’s Fitness Center (揚生館) offers various indoor fitness equipment as well as tennis, basketball, squash and badminton courts.

Off-campus, students have a wide array of destinations to pick from for excursions, ranging from a quick stroll down the narrow alleys of neighboring Jinshan’s famous night market (夜市), a hike up the nearby Yangming volcanic mountains (陽明山), a weekend expedition to the capital or a longer trip to one of the numerous spots on the island.

DHARMA DRUM INSTITUTE OF LIBERAL ARTS

A Unique Learning Environment – Integrating Academic Research, Scriptural Study and Buddhist Practice