We warmly welcome practitioners and visitors to come and experience Chan Buddhism here equally — whether through self-paced exploration or through structured learning in our meditation classes. Our doors are open all year round. We offer all levels of free meditation classes to adults and kids, and regularly hold vegetarian cooking classes, meditation retreats, Sunday services, and monthly ceremonies. Monetary giving and volunteering opportunities are also available to enhance and enrich an all-rounded Chan practice. We wish that everyone who comes to Buddha Mind Monastery always leaves with a mind filled with peace and harmony!
The Buddha Mind Monastery chapter of Dharma Support Association (DSA) is a part of the global Chung Tai World Dharma Support Association. It consists of a group of dedicated lay practitioners and serves as the backbone to the sangha’s (monastics) spread of Buddhism at the individual monastery or meditation center level. The inauguration of DSA members is held annually at our parent monastery in Taiwan.
Launched in 2004, our Buddha Mind Monastery DSA continues to grow year by year. Under the guidance of the Abbess and residential nuns, our DSA membership has expanded from less than 10 members to over 150 members today. Each member volunteers in various sections such as Acolyte (incense burning and ceremonial assistants), Class Administration, Culinary, Environmental Protection, Flower Arrangement, Liturgy Chanting, Maintenance, Reception and many more.
Through involvement in the DSA activities, members put the Buddha Dharma they have learned from the meditation classes into real-life practice. We call this “working meditation,” whereby cultivators continue to maintain stillness of mind while in action. Members also observe the Four Tenets of Chung Tai in their interactions with others and in everything they do, as a part of the walk-the-talk engagement in Buddhist practice.
Over the years, Buddha Mind Monastery has been actively participating in the local community events. Each year we take part in Groovefest, Peace Festival, and other events to share the Chinese Buddhist culture with local Oklahomans. We host the Health Fair sponsored by Langston University to offer health education to the public. We also host the Veggie Festival to promote a healthy and compassionate vegetarian diet.
As an education outreach effort, our Abbess accepts invitations from high schools and universities in Oklahoma to introduce Buddhism and meditation methods to local students. Buddha Mind Monastery is also one of the most popular service-learning sites of choice by college students across the greater Oklahoma City area. Students will benefit from the guided tour of the monastery and the basic meditation instructions while engaging in service-learning here. For more information on guided tour and service-learning, please contact us.