PROGRAMS & NEWS
- Woodenfish helps to inaugurate the Dunhuang Buddhist Studies Center in partnership with Dunhuang Research Academy. A world-class Buddhist Studies Workshop held in Dunhuang in June
- Our 16th Humanistic Buddhist Monastic Life Program (HBMLP) is underway! Buddhist studies, way of eating, martial arts, meditation and so much more...
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Our awesome kitchen staff at the 2017 HBMLP in Ningbo, China. You can never overestimate the deliciousness of the food that these passionate and compassionate human beings serve!
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Woodenfish Dunhuang Buddhist Studies Workshop took place from June 16th to 27th, 2017 at the Dunhuang Research Academy, bringing together 30 participants, graduate students and young scholars from top universities all over the world. There were four workshops led by world-renowned experts in the field: Professor Stephen F. Teiser from Princeton University, Professor Angela F. Howard from Rutgers University, and Professor Sarah E Fraser from Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg. During the 10-day intensive lectures, site visits and discussions, scholars spent a considerable amount of time in the Mogao Cave complex—the largest repository of medieval Buddhist art in China with over four hundred intricately painted caves.
The program is the continuation of a long-term cooperation between the Woodenfish Foundation and Dunhuang Academy, and the long-term goal is to generate a foundation of new scholarship on Buddhism in the greater Dunhuang region and establish Dunhuang as a vibrant center for scholars and critical scholarship. At the end of the workshop, on June 26th, we celebrated the opening ceremony of the Dunhuang Buddhist Studies Center. The center is the fruits of Woodenfish's continuous efforts to connect China's Buddhist heritage with the greater international Buddhist and academic communities.
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Our 16th Humanistic Buddhist Monastic Life Program (HBMLP) is back! This signature program provides an immersive experience in the Buddhist way of life within a traditional Buddhist monastic setting and offers participants a possibility to stop from the non-stop, to reflect and to reconnect. Studying the practice and theory of Buddhism located at Jin'e Temple in Ningbo, participants from 35 countries truly experience the modern Buddhist lifestyle and the Chinese culture to envision their life and relationships to the religion and culture. Through meditation and contemplation, they further form a novel connection to the world and other people.
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- The Buddhist Way of Eating: Venerable Yifa taught students to eat in the monastic tradition, from dining manners to the Five Reflections during a meal, such as appreciating the food, reflecting upon one's own virtues, retaining a balanced mind unattached to good or bad flavors, and treating the food as medicine and sustenance for achieving liberation and Buddhahood.
- Hair Cutting Ceremony: On the fourth day of the program, under the special requests of some participants, Venerable Yifa introduced the meaning of the hair cutting ceremony in Buddhism - letting go of the earthly life and moving onto the path towards liberation. The Abbot of Jin'e Temple cut the hair of 35 students who signed up for this ceremony.
- Chinese Martial Arts, Calligraphy, Ink Painting, Tea and Incense Taoism: Every morning, Xia Baofeng, the 13th inheritor of Neijia, a form of internal martial arts that emphasizes the spiritual aspect, taught the students this profound means of exercise. Renowned calligrapher Yang Xinge and ink painter Xu Zhihuang also introduced the students to Chinese calligraphy and ink painting. The students were further exposed to tea and incense culture and practice.
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Global CitiZEN Youth Camp is anchored in four qualities of being:
diligence, awareness, tranquility, inclusivity.
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We gather once a year to cultivate these four qualities while we practice English, build relationships, and have a lot of fun. This year’s CitiZEN camp will be the most attended youth camp in Woodenfish history. Because of the growth and commitment of our participants, we’ve found a new location—Aimer Lingerie Factory in Beijing. Beyond the modern learning facilities and the comfortable dormitories, Aimer is beautifully conceived. What makes this award-winning structure especially unique is its design philosophy. In order to accommodate the needs of its occupants, the Aimer building provides room for both contemplation and human interaction, bringing out the community’s best qualities, with incredible craftsmanship and a gorgeous look.
The CitiZen camp’s primary goal is to anchor participants in the idea of global citizenship with English instruction. This year’s teacher team consists of an international group of strong academics, teachers, and social leaders. They come together once a year to combine their skills and experiences to build this impermanent, yet powerful, community. We have educators, geopolitical analysts, physical fitness and martial arts specialists, global health teachers, filmmakers and artists, philosophers, and entrepreneurs. Our programming will focus on the fundamentals of English, mindful communication, and how to think more critically about our place in the global community.
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Whether you are joining the camp or supporting from afar, thank you for contributing to this vibrant experiment in collectivism. Please reach out if you’d like to be further involved or just stay updated on the great things that are happening!
Aimer Factory
Beijing, China
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