“Zen in its essence is the art of seeing into the nature of one’s own being, and it points the way from bondage to freedom. By making us drink right from the fountain of life, it liberates us from all the yokes under which we finite beings are usually suffering in this world.” --Suzuki and Humphreys 1969
Embedded Files
Winter 2026 Introduction to Zen Meditation in Taiwan
CHIN/MVMT 2080; 3 credits
Department of Global Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Brooklyn College, CUNY
Date: December 30- January 21
Professor: Chia-ju Chang
Email: cchang@brooklyn.cuny.edu
Course Description
This three-week immersive winter study abroad program in Taiwan introduces students to Chan (Zen in Japanese) meditation through direct engagement with Buddhist practice, philosophy, and culture. Participants will be based primarily in Taipei and Taichung, taking part in a range of classes that include lectures, seated meditation (zazen), eight-movement meditation, and other contemplative activities such as Tai Chi, walking, photography, farming, and the tea ceremony.
In addition to lectures and intensive meditation practice, students will join a half-day meditation retreat. You will also have the opportunity to take part in a “Farm-to-Table” activity—traditionally called farming chan (nongchan)—to experience Zen practice beyond the cushion, including fieldwork, meal preparation, mindful eating, and more. The program also includes outdoor excursions to Yangmingshan National Park, the Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence, the Apricot Blossom Water Buffalo School, and the Lin Family Garden.
Taught in English. No prior experience in meditation is required—only an openness to explore and engage deeply with the rich culture of Chan Buddhism in Taiwan.
課程簡介：
為期三週的沉浸式台灣冬季海外研習課程。透過直接參與佛教的修行、哲學與文化，引導學生認識禪（日本稱作 Zen）修。課程主要在台北德貴學苑與台中寶雲寺（和寶雲別苑）進行，內容涵蓋各類課程，包括講座、坐禪、八式動禪，以及其他觀照活動，如太極、行禪、攝影、農作與茶道。除了講座與密集的禪修練習外，學生還將參加半日禪修營。學員也有機會體驗「從農場到餐桌」的活動——傳統上稱為「農禪」——在坐墊之外實踐禪修，包括田間勞作、備餐、正念飲食等。課程同時規劃戶外參訪，如擎天崗陽明山國家公園、士林官邸、杏花水牛學堂，以及林家花園。
課程以英語授課。無需任何禪修經驗，只需懷抱開放的心態，深入探索並體驗台灣豐富的禪宗文化。
Basic Information:
Basic Information:
- Arrival: 1/1 @ taoyuan airport
- Lodging:
1/1-1/15: Taipei: Howard Plaza Hotel Taipei, No. 160, Section 3, Ren’ai Road, Da’an District, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
1/16-1/21: Tai-chung: 53Hotel, No.27, Zhongshan Rd., Central Dist., Taichung City, 40042, Taiwan
- Class locations:
1/1-1/15: Taipei: Degui College, Center for Continuing Education, Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts. No. 77, Yanping South Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 100011, Taiwan (Exit 5, Ximen MRT Station)
1/16-1/21: Tai-chung: Baoyun Monastery, No. 75, Shangsi Lane, Yonghe Road, Wufeng District, Taichung City 413.
Daily meditation from 9-10 am at Degui College
Daily meditation from 9-10 am at Degui College
Description: Morning stretching and meditation sessions are held Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., except on days with outdoor activities.
9:00-9:30 Stretching exercises; 9:30-10:00 Zazen
1/2, 10:00-12:30 pm: Video Reporting and Production
Instructor: Chi-hung Wu
Description: This class guides students through the complete process of creating compelling video reports—from concept development and scripting to filming, editing, and final presentation. Emphasizing both technical skills and storytelling techniques, students learn to convey information clearly and engagingly, producing videos suitable for academic, professional, or creative purposes. Required equipment: Windows 10 or above, PC or laptop, at least 8G RAM
影音報導與製作 / 吳智鴻: 本堂課將引導學生完整學習影音報導的製作流程——從概念發想、腳本撰寫，到拍攝、剪輯與最終呈現。課程同時強調技術操作與敘事技巧的結合，協助學生掌握如何清楚且具吸引力地傳遞資訊，製作出可應用於學術、專業或創意領域的影片作品。必備設備：Windows 10 或以上版本的電腦或筆記型電腦，記憶體至少 8GB。
2:00-4:30 pm: Yoga Workshop; Instructor: Amy Lee
2:00-4:30 pm: Yoga Workshop; Instructor: Amy Lee
This yoga class is designed to help practitioners condition the body by relaxing muscles and joints. Through gentle postures and stretches, it opens the hips, lengthens the spine, and improves breathing. As physical tension is released and space is created within the body, the breath naturally calms and the mind becomes better prepared for meditation. In this way, yoga practice supports meditation, allowing practitioners to sit with greater ease and stability.
瑜伽工作坊：旨在幫助修行者調理身體，放鬆肌肉與關節。透過溫和的姿勢與伸展，打開髖部、延展脊椎並改善呼吸。隨著身體緊張得以釋放、空間逐漸展開，呼吸自然趨於平靜，心也更能準備進入冥想。如此，瑜伽練習成為冥想的支持，使修行者能以更輕鬆穩定的方式安坐。
1/6, 10:00-12:30 pm: Tracing the Footsteps of the Buddha in Ancient India
Instructor: Wei-jen Deng
Description: This lecture introduces students to the life and early teachings of the Buddha, situating him within the rich religious and cultural landscape of ancient India. We will explore the Buddha’s search for awakening, his key insights into suffering and its transformation, and the formation of the first Buddhist communities. Attention will be given to central ideas such as the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and the practice of meditation. Designed for students with no prior background, this session offers an accessible journey into the origins of one of the world’s most influential traditions.
2:00-4:30 pm: Tai-chi "Grasp the Sparrow’s Tail – Eight Forms" Workshop-1
2:00-4:30 pm: Tai-chi "Grasp the Sparrow’s Tail – Eight Forms" Workshop-1
Instructor: Haitian Pan
Description: This series introduces the foundational Tai Chi techniques Peng (ward off), Lu (rollback), Ji (press), and An (push), collectively known as “Grasp the Sparrow’s Tail.” Students will learn eight forms—four on each side—practiced in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners alike, the routine can be performed in small spaces at any time, promoting relaxation, refining skill, and deepening mind–body harmony.
太極工作坊「攬雀尾八式」/ 潘海天：本系列課程介紹太極拳的基礎功法——掤（Peng，掤勢）、捋（Lu，捋勢）、擠（Ji，擠勢）、按（An，按勢），合稱「攬雀尾」。學生將學習八個動作（每邊各四式），並以順時針與逆時針方向練習。此套路適合初學者與有經驗的練習者，能於任何小空間隨時演練，有助於放鬆身心、精進技藝，並深化身心合一的體驗。
1/7, 10:00-12:30 pm: Intro to the Tiantai School of Meditation
Instructor: Ven. Chang-hwa
Description: This class introduces The Essentials for Practicing Calming-and-Insight and Dhyana Meditation by Tiantai Master Zhiyi. It covers the preparatory steps before meditation, practical guidelines for applying Calming-and-Insight (Samatha–Vipassana) both in seated practice and in daily life, and instructions for overcoming common obstacles.
天台止觀禪修導論 / 常華法師：介紹天台智顗大師的《修習止觀坐禪法要》。內容涵蓋禪修前的準備功夫、止觀（奢摩他–毗鉢舍那）在坐禪與日常生活中的實踐方法，以及克服常見障礙的具體指導。
2:00-4:30 pm: Tai-chi Workshop-2 Instructor: Mr. Pan
2:00-4:30 pm: Tai-chi Workshop-2 Instructor: Mr. Pan
1/8, 10:00-12:30 pm: Ten Ox Herding Pictures
Instructor: Chia-ju Chang
Description: The Ten Oxherding Pictures depict the stages of Zen practice, from seeking the ox to returning to the marketplace. This class explores each image’s symbolism and teachings, guiding students to understand the path of self-cultivation, enlightenment, and compassionate action through art, poetry, and Chan (Zen) interpretation. We will also discuss a South Korean film, Why Has Bodhidharma Come to the East?
十牛圖 / 張嘉如：介紹禪修的十個階段，從尋牛到入廛垂手，展現自我修養、悟道與慈悲實踐的過程。本課程將逐一探討每幅圖像的象徵與啟示，結合藝術、詩偈與禪宗詮釋，引導學生理解修行之路。此外，課堂中也將討論南韓電影《達摩為何東來》。
2:00-4:30 pm: Film screening: Why Has Bodhidharma Left for the East?
2:00-4:30 pm: Film screening: Why Has Bodhidharma Left for the East?
1/9: One-day at the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts
10:00-12:30 pm: a lecture
Instructor: Huifeng Ou
Description: TBD
2:00-4:00 pm: Tea Ceremony
Instructor: TBD
Description: TBD
1/10: Trip to Qingtiangang Ranch, Yangmingshan National Park w/ Jackson Hu
Visit the historic ranch grasslands of Qingtiangang in Yangmingshan National Park. Enjoy open meadows, mountain vistas, and the chance to see water buffalo in their natural habitat, along with gentle hiking trails. We will conduct walking and photographic meditation.
擎天崗牧場之旅 —— 陽明山國家公園 / 胡正恆：前往陽明山國家公園的歷史牧場——擎天崗草原。學生將欣賞遼闊的草地與壯麗的山景，並有機會觀察水牛在自然環境中的活動。行程同時結合禪修健行與攝影，帶領學員在自然中培養專注、覺察與般若智慧。
Shilin Residence Hall, 2:00-4:00 pm
Shilin Residence Hall, 2:00-4:00 pm
The Shilin Residence, once the official home of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling, blends Chinese and Western architecture within expansive gardens. Beyond its political history, the site highlights harmony between culture and nature, offering space for reflection amid rich plant life and designed landscapes.
士林官邸：蔣中正與宋美齡的官邸，建築融合中西風格，並環繞於廣闊的庭園之中。除了承載重要的政治歷史之外，園區更展現了文化與自然的和諧，於豐富植栽與精心設計的景觀中，提供沉思與感受自然的空間。
Dinner at Huitian Vegetarian Restaurant, 5:30-7:00 pm
Shilin Night Market, 7:00 pm -
Shilin Night Market, Taipei’s largest and most famous, is more than a hub of food and shopping. After dark it becomes a living cultural ecosystem, where community, tradition, and environment converge in the rhythms of urban life.
士林夜市：台北最大、最知名的夜市，不僅是美食與購物的集散地，更是一個充滿生命力的文化生態系。入夜後，社群、傳統與環境在城市的脈動中交織，展現出台灣庶民生活的縮影。
1/12, 10:00-12:30 pm: Living Well and Leaving Well
1/12, 10:00-12:30 pm: Living Well and Leaving Well
Instructor: Tsung-yu Gu
Description: This class explores “good living” and “good dying” through survival, living, and the interplay of life and death. Students compare life’s beginning and end, examine their connections, and cultivate inner settlement. Emphasis is placed on preparing for peaceful departure and developing “death competence” for clarity and grace in life’s final stage.
從三生有幸到安心以赴 / 辜琮瑜：探討「善生」與「善終」，從生存、生活以及生死交互的角度切入。學生將比較生命的起點與終點，並思考其中的連結，以培養內在的安定。課程特別強調為「平和離世」做好準備，以及發展「死亡能力」，使人能以清明與優雅面對生命最後的階段。
2:00-4:30 pm: 8-Movement of Zen; Instructor: Ven. Chang-hwa
2:00-4:30 pm: 8-Movement of Zen; Instructor: Ven. Chang-hwa
1/13, 10-12:30 pm: Gong'an / Koan
Instructor: Chia-ju Chang
Description: Gong’an (Koan) Practice introduces the enigmatic stories and dialogues of Chan/Zen masters, designed to break habitual thinking and spark insight. Through studying classic cases, students explore their historical context, symbolic meaning, and practical application in meditation, cultivating direct awareness beyond words and concepts on the path to awakening.
公案 / 張嘉如：介紹公案（koan）禪法，透過禪師們神秘而深刻的故事與對話，引導學員突破慣性思維、激發智慧。學生將研讀經典案例，探討其歷史背景、象徵意涵與在禪修中的實際應用，培養超越語言與概念的直接覺察，進而走向般若智慧和慈悲之道。
2:00-4:30 pm: Tai-chi Workshop-3, instructor: Mr. Pan
2:00-4:30 pm: Tai-chi Workshop-3, instructor: Mr. Pan
1/14, 10-12:30 pm: From Bodhidharma to Chan Buddhism
Instructor: Pei-ying Lin
Description: Chan Buddhism in China evolved with remarkable diversity and vitality. Beginning with Bodhidharma’s arrival, this course examines the teachings and sayings of renowned Chan masters. Students will reflect on how a tradition that “does not rely on written texts” employs words so skillfully to “point directly to the mind.”
從達摩到禪宗 / 林佩瑩：探討中國禪宗的發展，其多樣性與生命力皆極為顯著。從達摩祖師東來開始，課程將帶領學生研讀歷代著名禪師的教法與語錄。學生也將思考：一個自稱「不立文字」的宗派，如何又能巧妙運用語言以「直指人心」。
2:00-4:30 pm: Tai-chi Workshop-4 Instructor: Pan
2:00-4:30 pm: Tai-chi Workshop-4 Instructor: Pan
1/15, 10-12:30 pm: Niu 牛: from Ecocriticism, Chan Gong'an (koan) to Biophilia
Instructor: Chia-ju Chang
Description: Again, this class takes the “ox” or water buffalo as its central figure to explore themes of animal suffering, metaphor, the absent referent, and interspecies kinship. We begin with a screening of Vohra’s Plastic Cow, followed by a study of Chan Master Baizhang’s “farm Chan,” and an introduction to ox-related kōans and the symbolic meanings of the ox in Chan Buddhism. On January 16, we will visit the Apricot Blossom Water Buffalo School in Hsinchu County to experience “water buffalo therapy.” Through direct interaction with the buffalo, students will not only engage in an embodied practice of interspecies kinship but also reflect on the Chan emphasis on the non-dual, coexistent relationship between humans, nature, and all living beings.
牛：從生態批評、禪宗公案到「愛生」/ 張嘉如：以「牛」為主角，探索動物受難、動物譬喻、缺席指涉者與跨物種親生等主題。我們將先觀賞 Vohra 的紀錄片《塑膠牛》，隨後學習百丈禪師的「農禪」，並介紹與牛相關的公案，以及牛在禪宗中的象徵意涵。最後，1 月 16 日將前往新竹縣杏花村水牛學校，體驗「水牛療癒」。透過與水牛的親身互動，學員不僅能感受跨物種的親生經驗，更能深思禪宗所強調的人與自然、萬物「不二」共生的深層意義。
2:00-5:30 pm: 8-Movement of Chan, instructor: Ven. Chang-hwa
2:00-5:30 pm: 8-Movement of Chan, instructor: Ven. Chang-hwa
1/16: Water Buffalo Therapy and Zen Biophilia
A 2-hour "Zen Biophilia" Workshop with Water Buffalo led by Mr. Peter Lee
On the way to Taichung, our second stop, we will visit the “Apricot Blossom Village Water Buffalo School” in Hsinchu County.
水牛療癒與禪的愛生工作坊 / 李春信 （兩小時）
在前往台中途中，我們將停留新竹縣「杏花村水牛書院」，參與一場以水牛為主題的工作坊。透過與水牛的互動體驗，學員將探索「禪宗愛生」的概念，培養對自然生命的感知與連結，進一步體會禪修中的寧靜與和諧。
1/17, 9-12 pm: Half-day Chan Meditation Retreat
Location: Baoyun Monastery
Description: TBA
2:30-5 pm: Afternoon visit to National Chung Hsing University 下午參訪中興大學
1/18: Trip to Lin Family Mansion and Garden
Location: Wufeng
Description: The Wufeng Lin Family Mansion and Garden, in Taichung, Taiwan, is a historic residence of the influential Lin family. Built in the Qing Dynasty, it blends traditional Fujianese architecture with ornate gardens, halls, and courtyards, reflecting Taiwan’s cultural heritage and the family’s political and economic prominence in the 19th century.
台中霧峰林家花園參訪： 林家花園是台灣林氏家族的歷史宅邸，建於清代，融合傳統閩南建築風格與精緻的庭園、廳堂與院落。此地不僅展現台灣豐富的文化遺產，也見證林家在十九世紀政治與經濟上的重要地位。
1/19, 9:00-2:00 pm: From Farm to Table: Agricultural Chan Practice
Location: Baoyun Villa
Description: A traditional practice integrating organic farming with Chan (Zen) meditation. Participants work in the fields, tend plants, harvest, and prepare meals with attentiveness, cultivating gratitude and presence at each step. The practice nourishes both body and mind, connecting daily sustenance with spiritual insight and harmonious living.
從農場到餐桌：農禪體驗 / 地點：寶雲別院
結合有機農耕與禪修的傳統實踐。參與者將親身下田耕作、照料作物、採收與備餐，在每一個步驟中培養專注與感恩之心。此修習不僅滋養身心，更將日常飲食與精神體悟相連結，體現和諧生活之道。
1/20, 2:00-4:00 pm: Final Project Presentation
Each student will deliver a 3–5 minute presentation.
期末成果發表：每位學生進行一場 3–5 分鐘的簡短發表，展現在課程或活動中所獲得的收穫與體悟。
5:00 pm: Farewell Party!
A closing gathering for students to celebrate, share reflections, and conclude the Taiwan study experience together.
歡送會： 學生們齊聚一堂，歡慶交流、分享心得，並共同為此次台灣研習之旅畫下句點。
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse