The Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts (DILA) is pleased to announce its 2026 Intensive Summer Program in Classical Buddhist Chinese. This three-week program is designed for scholars, researchers and graduate students who wish to deepen their proficiency in reading and translating classical Buddhist texts under the guidance of leading scholars.

Readings cover selections of Bodhisattva and Mahāyāna literature in classical Chinese translation, as well as texts related to the Vinaya and monasticism in East Asia.

The program combines close reading with philological methodology, providing graduate students with practical skills for dissertation research in Buddhist Studies, East Asian religions, and premodern Chinese intellectual history.

July 27 (Mon) – August 5 (Wed)

Instructor 1 — Dr. Matthew ORSBORN

• Associate Professor, Department of Buddhist Studies, Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts, Taiwan
• PhD, University of Hong Kong (2011)

Matthew Orsborn is an Associate Professor at the Department of Buddhist Studies, Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts, Taiwan. Since completing his doctorate in Buddhist Studies at the University of Hong Kong in 2011, he has taught in Taiwan, Australia, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. His research focuses on Indian Buddhist literature and doctrines, including early, Abhidharma, and Mahāyāna periods, utilizing Pāli, Sanskrit, and Chinese sources. As a former monastic, he has also published on various aspects of contemporary Chinese Buddhism.

For the first half of the program, Matthew will be leading us through selections of Bodhisattva and Mahāyāna literature in classical Chinese translation.

August 5 (Wed) – August 14 (Fri)

Instructor 2 — Dr. Thomas NEWHALL

• Lecturer, Department of Indian Philosophy and Buddhist Studies, University of Tokyo
• PhD, Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, UCLA (2025)
• MA, University of Tokyo (2016)
• MA, Foguang University, Taiwan (2012)
• BA, Oberlin College, Ohio (2007)
  

Thomas Newhall is a Lecturer in the Department of Indian Philosophy and Buddhist Studies at the University of Tokyo. He completed his PhD in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures at UCLA in 2025, and received master’s degrees from the University of Tokyo (2016) and Foguang University (2012) in Taiwan, and a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College (2007) in Ohio prior to that. His research focuses on the development of monasticism and monastic literature in China and Japan.

During the second half of the program, Tom will guide us through a selection of texts related to the Vinaya and monasticism in East Asia.

2026 CBCL Summer Workshop · Life at DILA

Life at DILA  ·  在法鼓的生活

出坡禪 Mindful Work · Universal Participation

Learning at DILA happens beyond the classroom. In the Chan monastery tradition, work was never set apart from practice — cleaning, walking, eating each done with the same quality of attention as meditation.

During CBC, you will take part in 出坡 chūpō (going out to work) and 普請 pǔqǐng (universal participation): everyone cares for the shared space together, no exceptions. This page gives you a sense of what each day might look like.

“Aren’t you already practising? Isn’t eating practice? Isn’t sleeping practice, walking practice, working practice?” Once you leave home, you come to see that everything you do is practice.

— Master Sheng Yen, Life in a Chan Monastery

一

逛逛 Explore the campus

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The DILA campus sits in the mountains above Jinshan. Before the morning session begins, the trails are quiet. Some participants use this time for a slow walk; others find a spot near the bridge for informal sitting before class.

法鼓文理學院安心地圖  ·  DILA Campus Safety Map

• 法悅步道 Fayue Trail Gentle loop near the main buildings — good for a 15-minute circuit before breakfast
• 法喜步道 Faxi Trail Winds uphill into forest shade; cooler and quieter than the main path
• 大願橋 Great Vow Bridge Shaded and still; a natural spot for quiet sitting before the day begins
• 揚生館 Yangsheng Fitness Center Open during designated hours — ask at the office for the current schedule

Emergency: Campus security 24-hour line  ·  0963-119-276  ·  Internal ext. 5011

二

打掃 Cleaning assignments

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Move slowly. Notice the surface under the cloth. Return things to order — this is the work. During CBC, participants share responsibility for dormitory and classroom spaces, rotating every 1–2 weeks.

A

Toilet & Washbasin

Toilet, washbasin, rubbish & recycling bins

B

Bathroom

Shower floor and handwashing area

C

Classroom

Desks, floor sweep, whiteboard after each session

• Each area: clean at least once per week
• Bins: empty when full — don’t wait for cleaning day
• Whiteboard: wipe at the end of every class session
• Trash & recycling: outside the laundry room, 1F of the dormitory building

Your area assignment will be posted when you arrive.

三

吃飯 Dining · 心安軒素食

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心安軒素食 Xin An Xuan Vegetarian — all-vegetarian, order and pay at the counter. Cash only. No card payment.
Reservations & enquiries: Chef Liu  ·  (02) 2498-8028

Hot Pot  鍋物

Wellness Herbal Hot PotNT$260

Mala Spicy Hot PotNT$280

Sesame Oil Hot PotNT$280

Curry Hot PotNT$280

Braised Soups  燉湯

Four Herb Tonic Soup GF四神湯 NT$99

He Shou Wu Herbal Soup GF何首烏燉湯 NT$99

Noodles  麵食

Sesame Paste NoodlesNT$120

Sichuan Pepper NoodlesNT$150

Tomato Sauce SpaghettiNT$150

Snacks  小食

Braised Stinky Tofu Set+ greens + rice NT$100

Braised Stinky TofuNT$80

Light Bites  點心

Glutinous Rice Balls (2 pcs) GFNT$90

Steamed Rice Cake GFNT$60

Vegetarian Sticky Rice Cake GFNT$90

DumplingsNT$80

Chinese Toon PancakeNT$60

Basil PancakeNT$60

Snow Fungus & Red Date Sweet Soup GFNT$80

Rainbow / Corn / Japanese-style Egg NT$80 solo  ·  NT$150 duo + Extra egg   NT$10

Value Sets  超值組合

Herbal Soup + Pancake

NT$120

Herbal Soup + Rice Cake

NT$120

Herbal Soup + Rice Balls

NT$150

Gluten note: Items marked GF are prepared from naturally gluten-free ingredients. As a shared kitchen, cross-contamination cannot be fully guaranteed. Guests with celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivity are advised to speak with kitchen staff before ordering, or to bring food as needed.

Chef Liu  ·  (02) 2498-8028  ·  Reservations & enquiries

🔴 [CLOSED] Applications closed on April 30, 2026.

Application Link: https://forms.gle/caEb1b7VKtc7EXPS7

Eligibility: Currently enrolled graduate students with a solid foundation in classical Chinese and Buddhist studies.

Housing: DILA offers housing subsidies at Chanyue (禪悅) for all accepted participants.

Capacity: Limited to 20 participants (on-campus housing provided)

Expenses: Participants are responsible for their own airfare, insurance, and meal expenses.