20260510【New Volunteer Orientation】

A First Step Into Service and Practice

Text by Lo Chee Hoe

Photos by Shirley Wong

For many people, volunteering at a Buddhist centre may seem like simply helping out with tasks and activities. But for the participants of Dharma Drum Mountain Malaysia’s New Volunteer Orientation on 10 May 2026, the experience became something much deeper: a chance to learn about understanding others, working together, and even perhaps more importantly, a chance for self reflection and an opportunity to discover more about themselves.

Organised by the Volunteer Growth and Planning Division, this was the first New Volunteer Orientation conducted bilingually in both Chinese and English. Through guided tours, work practice, lunch, group sharing, and introductory sessions about Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM) and its founder Master Sheng Yen, participants were gradually introduced to the values and volunteer spirit of DDM.

During the casual tea-sharing session, Venerable Chang Li spoke about the spirit of volunteerism at DDM: “Volunteering is not just about what gets done, but about how we learn and grow through the process.” He reminded participants that service at DDM is not centred on efficiency or results alone, but on learning to work with others through patience, understanding, and mutual respect. In this process, volunteering also helps one gradually shift the focus from the self towards caring for and helping others.

He also shared that DDM volunteers uphold the spirit of “serving wholeheartedly, doing our best at all times, and continuing to learn; without forcing, without being picky or calculative, and without disappointment.” In today’s fast-moving and highly results-driven world, such an attitude may sound simple but is often very difficult to practise.

The bilingual arrangement also helped English-speaking participants feel more connected to the environment and teachings within the centre. Yap Hock Toh shared that although he had visited DDM many times before, he never truly understood the meaning behind the calligraphy displayed in the Grand Buddha Hall, especially the phrase from the Diamond Sutra: “Abiding nowhere, give rise to the mind.” Through the guided explanations during the orientation, he finally began to understand why the words were placed there and the meaning they carried.

Another participant, Chan Hon Yew, was deeply touched by the idea that volunteering at DDM is never forced. “To volunteer when we are able, willingly and sincerely, feels very different,” he shared. For him, volunteering is not only about giving time and energy, but also about learning humility and selflessness in the process. His wife, Yong Wai Fun, who attended the orientation together with him, felt that the bilingual approach made it much easier for non-Chinese speakers to understand the programme and feel included.

Participants were also introduced to the different volunteer groups within the centre, ranging from reception and publicity to chanting service, meditation, choir and many more. Venerable Chang Ji described DDM as “a place for discovering one’s potential.” “Whether through familiar skills or completely new experiences, volunteering becomes an opportunity for learning and personal growth,” she added.

Making the orientation programme a bilingual one made the sessions more useful and effective in helping people from different backgrounds feel more at ease walking into the monastery, and perhaps, finding a place where they can learn, serve, and grow together through practice.