This paper examines mainly two issues concerning Building aPure Land on earth: 1. The nature and status of the thought 2. Framework, characteristics, and value of the thought With a vision to “Uplifting the individual character of humanity and building a Pure Land on earth”, Master Sheng Yen founded Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM) in 1989. Since then, Building a Pure Land on earth has become the spiritual guidance of DDM, and also the hallmark of Master Sheng Yen’s teaching. The thought of Building a Pure Land on earth was proposed by Master Sheng Yen at his 60’s—quite a later stage in his life, but the budding of the thought took root much earlier. As early as when he was 28 (1957), Master Sheng Yen suggested that followers of Buddha should “work on this earth; turn it into a pure land, a Buddha hometown on earth,” which expressed explicitly his working toward the Earthly Pure Land. From that time on till he was 35, he had articulated this same idea in many of his works. However, this thought was not getting focused or widely spread until 1978, when he came back from abroad to carry on the spiritual work left behind by Venerable Master Dongchu. After the establishment of DDM in 1989, the teaching of Building a Pure Land on earth finally came into highlight. Building a Pure Land on earth is an effort that progresses along the line of modern Chinese Buddhism started by Venerable Master Taixu. In addition to looking further into the question of “why on earth,” and addressing the ontological question of “how possible,” a step taken forward at this stage is to turn the issue to “how to build.” This paper examines the Pure Land on Earth Program directed by Master Sheng Yen, and outlines its three resolutions as: connecting Dharma Studies with international academic disciplinaries; incorporating Dharma Chan Meditation with Buddhism; promoting Buddhist ideals through public outreach. Promoting Buddhist ideals is particularly important, because it is the bedrock on which the main idea Protecting the Spiritual Environment is built. The Four Kinds of Environmentalism, the Fivefold Spiritual Renaissance Campaign, and The Six Ethics (心六倫) have all sprung from this. Master Sheng Yen’s guidance on the setting out of and the process of Buddhadharma learning can be summarized as comprising the following characteristics: Stressing spiritual and character education; Crediting the self as the subject of action; Encouraging everyone to see himself/herself as a layman Buddha; Incorporating different branches of Buddhist thoughts and establishing a new sect.
