4 Residential Buddhist Life Opportunities To Apply To Today

These four residential programs (Living the Practice at Dharma Realm Buddhist University; Guan Yin Sessions at City of Ten Thousand Buddhas; Woodenfish Humanistic Buddhist Monastic Life Program in China; and Fo Guang Buddhist Monastic Retreat in Taiwan) are helpful for undergraduates or graduate students particularly interested in Asian studies, China, Buddhism, or religion, but are open to any adult, don’t even have to be a student! No Chinese-language experience required. Applications are now open for all four of these!

Summary (when the programs run):

Living the Practice at Dharma Realm Buddhist University, March 3 – April 8, 2018
Guan Yin Sessions with DRBU Extension at City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, March 31 – April 8; and July 28 – August 5, 2018
Woodenfish HBMLP, July 1 – July 28, 2018
Fo Guang Buddhist Monastic Retreat: July 7 – Aug 3, 2018

Details:

Woodenfish Humanistic Buddhist Monastic Life Program

— a summer program for young adults to experience Buddhism in China firsthand with all participants given scholarships to cover all tuition, room, and board!

Woodenfish HBMLP is now in its 16th year, and has provided more that 1,100 students from all over the world with a unique opportunity to experience Chinese Buddhism first hand – no Chinese language skills needed! Woodenfish HBMLP is a great program for students that are particularly interested in Asia and Asian religions, but is open to undergraduates in any major, graduate students, and young professionals ages 18-40 from anywhere in the world.

*Free tuition, only pay travel to China and $250 for supplies and uniforms for an intensive and life-changing month
*Daily meditation and meditation retreat
*Learn traditional Chinese culture
*Stay in real, active Chinese Buddhist monasteries
*A semester’s worth of classes on Buddhism
*Earn college credit
*Amazing, experienced staff
*Make wonderful new friends from all over the world (20+ countries represented!)
*Applications (open now) are accepted on a rolling basis, final deadline is April 30, 2018

http://www.woodenfish.org/

Dharma Realm Buddhist University Extension

Check out the 5-week Living the Practice Immersion Program, March 3 – April 8, 2018. The program presented by Dharma Realm Buddhist University Extension will emphasize the application of Buddhist teachings and principles in everyday life. Students will learn various approaches to Buddhism, namely, Chan meditation, Canonical Study, Vinaya, Esoteric Practice, and Pure Land, all while living among the community at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in California. No experience is necessary. All adults (students or not) are encouraged to apply.
http://www.drbux.org/living-the-practice.html

Guan Yin Recitation Retreats

Spend one week studying the mind and your inherent capacity for great compassion at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, a Buddhist Monastery in Northern California. March 31 – April 8, 2018, and July 28 – August 5, 2018. Anyone can apply for the English beginner’s track at www.drbux.org.

More information on Dharma Realm Buddhist University, www.drbu.org

2018 Fo Guang Buddhist Monastic Retreat

• Where?: Fo Guang Shan Monastery, Taiwan
• When?: 2018, Summer, July 7th to Aug 3rd
• Who?: 50-60 university / college students or graduates, aged 18-35,
interested in experiencing authentic Chinese Buddhist monastic life
• How Much?: Free! Airfare not included.
• Website: https://www.fgs.org.tw/events/fgmonasticretreat/

* This comes from an academic discussion group with the instructions, “feel free to share”. I’ve taught on the Woodenfish program the last two years, hence having a couple more photos to share. I was also a student on it in 2009 (in a different form than it takes on today) and a student at Fo Guang Shan in 2010. I have my biases but I’d highly recommend both of these programs. Dharma Realm and the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas come highly recommended by everyone I know who has visited, so check them out as well.

These are all of East Asian/Chinese Buddhism orientation, so if you know of Theravadin, Tibetan, Japanese/Zen, Soka Gakkai, Secular Buddhist or other similar opportunities, let us know in the comments.