2024
On February 15, Rubin Museum of Arts in New York City hosted an author’s event for Rebecca’s new book Illumination: The Buddhist Method of No-Method. The event was held in conjunction with the day’s Mindfulness Meditation program during which she spoke on the practice of Silent Illumination as the cultivation of loving kindness at all time. After leading a guided meditation, she shared with the audience what motivated her to write the book and her journey in writing the book.
Rebecca was the featured guest on Everyday Buddhism where she discussed her new book Illumination: The Buddhist Method of No-Method with the host. The podcast was released on February 14 and can be found here.
Rebecca was invited by Lion’s Roar to write an article about the practice of silent illumination. On January 31, her article “Silent Illumination: The Method of No-Method” was published in Lion’s Roar magazine’s March 2024 issue.
On January 23, Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, NJ hosted Rebecca for an author’s event for her new book Illumination: The Buddhist Method of No-Method. She started the evening with a short guided meditation, followed by a talk on how to transition from meditating with the breath into the practice of silent illumination and how the practice helps us gain insight into our mind to cultivate wisdom and compassion. The talk was followed by a session of Q&A and book signing. View event photos here.
2023
On December 15, Rebecca’s new book Illumination: The Buddhist Method of No-Method was named one of the thirteen favorite new books of 2023 by Tricycle.
On November 28, Rebecca was featured in the Tricycle event Illumination: The Buddhist Method of No-Method. She started with a short guided meditation before engaging in a conversation with Phil Ryan, Executive Editor of Tricycle, on how she came to Buddhism and on the practice of Silent Illumination.
On November 17, Rebecca was invited to speak on “Teacher-Student Relationships for Next-Generation Zen Teachers” for the online gathering At One with the Teachers organized by Lay Zen Teachers Association.
On November 7, an interview “Illumination of Chan with Rebecca Li” was published on the podcast Opening Dharma Access. The podcast is available on most podcast platforms. Listen to the podcast here.
On November 4, Bookreporter published a review of Rebecca’s new book Illumination: A Guide to the Buddhist Method of No-Method. At the end of the piece, the reviewer wrote “Reading this book is like having a wise and compassionate companion at your side, encouraging you to make progress on the path towards a wiser, more expansive view of existence, for the benefit of all.” The book was included in Bookreporter’s weekly newsletter. Click here to read the entire review.
On October 31, Rebecca’s new book Illumination: A Guide to the Buddhist Method of No-Method was released by Shambhala Publications. The book is distributed by Penguin Random House.
In October, Tricycle published an excerpt titled “Translating Silence” from Rebecca’s new book Illumination: A Guide to the Buddhist Method of No-Method. Read the excerpt here.
On September 28, Lion’s Roar featured Illumination: A Guide to the Buddhist Method of No-Method in its book reviews.
On September 28, Rebecca was invited to speak on the practice of Silent Illumination on the panel “Shikantaza: Teaching Methods” along with fellow panelists Zen teachers Rev. Daijaku Kinst and Rev. Nomon Tim Burnett at the American Zen Teachers Association annual conference held at Great Vow Zen Monastery.
On April 2, Spark Zen published “The Nature of Reality is Uncertainty” that was taken from Allow Joy into Our Hearts: Chan Practice in Uncertain Times. Click here to read the piece.
Rebecca was invited by Lion’s Roar magazine to contribute a piece on “Right Action” as part of the May 2023 issue’s cover story Eightfold Guide to Life. Read the article here.
On February 26, Rebecca led a one-day retreat for Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre via zoom. Dharma Drum Mountain posted the retreat report submitted by one of the retreat participants.
2022
On October 7-12, Rebecca led a Five-Day Chan Retreat at Dharma Drum Retreat Center. She guided retreatants in using a gentle approach to engage in huatou practice in this retreat. At the end of the retreat, six retreat participants took the Three Refuges in a ceremony held by Venerable Guo Yuan.
On August 14, Rebecca gave the Sunday morning talk at Great Vow Zen Monastery (Clatskanie, OR). Drawing on her forthcoming book, she talked about How Chan Practice Frees Us from Suffering.
On August 12, Rebecca was invited by the sangha of Great Vow Zen Monastery to share her experience practicing with Master Sheng Yen. She talked about his life and how she trained with the master. Click here to listen to the talk.
On May 28 to June 4, Rebecca led a Seven-Day Silent Illumination Retreat at Dharma Drum Retreat Center. Her retreat co-leader, Simon Child, was unable to travel to the U.S. this time and it was the first time she led this retreat as the sole teacher. At the end of the retreat, eight of the retreatants took the Three Refuges and each of them was given a Dharma name based on each aspect of the eightfold path. It was an auspicious occasion.
On May 11, Rebecca taught the final class of the six-month Monthly Dharma Study Course on The Three Studies attended by practitioners of the Chan Dharma Community. Course participants practiced with the teachings in a Dharma talk during the month, submitted reflections on their practice before engaging in group discussion held on Zoom.
On March 17-20, Rebecca led the retreat “Our Very Nature is Buddha: Chan Practice with the Platform Sutra” at Zen Mountain Monastery.
On March 6, Rebecca gave a talk “Allow Joy When Reading the News” for the mindfulness program of All Souls NYC via Zoom. She discussed how to engage in Chan practice to allow joy while reading the news and staying engaged in our community. Click here to listen to the talk.
In early 2022, Uncertain Girls in Uncertain Times: Poetry, Essential Advice, and Practical Know-How for Women Aiming to Set the World on Fire was published. Rebecca was invited to contribute to this volume reflecting on her early experience with the Dharma upon reading Emily Dickinson’s poem.
2021
On October 20, Rebecca Li gave a keynote speech at the International Western Dharma Teachers’ conference. The talk’s title is “What Does It Mean to Live the Dharma”
On August 24, Lion’s Roar published an excerpt from the book Allow Joy into Our Hearts: Chan Practice in Uncertain Times.
On August 20, Buddha Weekly published an interview with Rebecca Li and an excerpt from the book Allow Joy into Our Hearts: Chan Practice in Uncertain Times.
In June, Publishers Weekly published a review of Rebecca’s new book Allow Joy into Our Hearts: Chan Practice in Uncertain Times. Click here to read the review.
On June 11, Rebecca led the mindfulness meditation hosted by the Rubin Museum and spoke on the month’s theme “Awareness”. The talk was followed by a guided meditation. Click here to listen to the podcast.
On May 26, an interview with Rebecca by Wendy Haylett for the podcast Everyday Buddhism was published. Click here to listen to the interview.
On March 1, the eBook edition of Rebecca’s new book Allow Joy into Our Hearts: Chan Practice in Uncertain Times was published. It was also featured by The Book Report Network.
On February 24, Rebecca’s first book Allow Joy into Our Hearts: Chan Practice in Uncertain Times was published as a paperback. The eBook will be published on March 1. The book can be ordered on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
On February 14, Rebecca led the practice of Unconditional Kindness Meditation for the Yale Buddhist Sangha. One of the participants shared that it was helpful to deal with the sadness of being without a partner on Valentine’s Day.
On February 5, Rebecca spoke on “Recognizing Our Suffering is Wisdom” in the Biweekly Friday Dharma Practice Gathering.
On February 1, Rebecca spoke on the theme of “Love” at the Rubin Museum mindfulness meditation workshop online. Click here to listen to her talk and guided meditation.
On January 22, Rebecca started the Biweekly Friday Dharma Practice Gathering for practitioners of Chan Dharma Community to connect with and learn from each other through Chan practice.
In the January issue of Lion’s Roar Magazine, Rebecca published an article, co-authored with Bhikkhu Bodhi, Trudy Goodman, Thanissaro Bhikkhu and Jan Willis, on “Ethical North Star: The Five Precepts for Modern Times.”
2020
On November 1, Rebecca led an in-person meditation workshop at Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association of New Jersey in Edison. This was the first event of the center’s re-opening as COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed for religious organizations. She spoke on “How to Engage in Chan Practice during the Pandemic” after a session of sitting meditation.
On August 17, Rebecca returned to the Rubin Museum virtually to speak on the month’s theme “Awakening”. She spoke about how to engage in Chan practice and apply the teachings of emptiness to awaken from our illusions of life and cultivate wisdom and compassion along the way. The talk was followed by a guided meditation and Q&A. Practitioners from across the country joined the live session offered on Zoom. Click here to listen to the talk.
On August 5, Rebecca gave a talk at San Francisco Zen Center. The visit was scheduled over a year ago. Because of the pandemic that restricted travels and zendo opening, she gave the talk to the sangha via Zoom. Prior to the talk, the sangha expressed interest in learning more about the late Chan Master Sheng Yen and her experience practicing with him. The talk titled “The Teachings of Chan Master Sheng Yen” can be found here or by clicking here.
On August 2, Rebecca led a one-day online retreat for the community of Dharma Drum Mountain Vancouver. Owing to the restrictions related to the ongoing pandemic, the Four-Day Chan Retreat had to be canceled and Rebecca was invited to lead the center’s first online retreat via Zoom. Two days before the retreat, Rebecca gave the participants an orientation on how to set up their space and work with their family or housemates to prepare for the retreat. The day’s practice included moving, walking, sitting, eating meditation, work practice, Dharma talk and private interviews. Many participants expressed a deepened understanding of how to integrate their practice in daily life after the retreat. To read a retreat reflection by one of the participants, click here.
On August 1, Rebecca gave a public lecture entitled “Advice from Great Masters for Living in Uncertain Times” at the Vancouver Chan Meditation Center via Zoom. She drew on teachings from The Sutra on the Eight Realizations of the Great Beings to explain how to cultivate wisdom and compassion when we are dealing with a lot of anxiety and worries due to the great uncertainties of our time. To read a reflection on the talk, please click here. To listen to the talk, click here.
During the week of June 13-20, Rebecca practiced in a solitary retreat. In this retreat, she incorporated The Sutra on the Eight Realizations of the Great Beings in the morning service to support her practice. For guidance, she drew on Master Sheng Yen’s commentary on the Sutra of Complete Enlightenment. She was deeply grateful for all the causes and conditions that made the retreat possible, among which the most crucial and greatly appreciated were her parents who provided the accommodation and provisions.
On June 17, Rebecca presented Part 3 of the series on Living in Uncertainty with Clarity and Compassion in the Face of the Pandemic and Social Injustice. In this pre-recorded session, Rebecca took the sangha through a guided meditation before speaking on how one can apply Chan practice to be fully present with oneself in body and mind and one’s surrounding as a way to cultivate compassion.
On June 10, Newark Center for Meditative Culture hosted a discussion led by NCMC’s spiritual director, Ib’nallah S. Kazi, after the sangha viewed a pre-recorded talk given by Rebecca on the second session of the series on Living in Uncertainty with Clarity and Compassion in the Face of the Pandemic and Social Injustice. In this session, after a guided meditation, Rebecca spoke about how to cultivate clarity using the practice and allow joy into our heart in the midst of fear and anxiety to reduce the suffering we cause ourselves and others. You can watch NCMC’s broadcast on YouTube here.
On June 3, Newark Center for Meditative Culture hosted a live session with Rebecca as the first session of the series on Living in Uncertainty with Clarity and Compassion in the Face of the Pandemic and Social Injustice. In this session, Rebecca led a guided meditation before she spoke on how to work with anger and frustration in the face of social injustice as protests broke out across the country in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder by a police officer. Her talk can be found here.
On May 30, Rebecca led an online one-day retreat on Zoom. Participants of online Dharma study group were invited to attend the retreat to experiment with the format. In this retreat, Rebecca spoke on the Tathagatagarbha Sutra to encourage practitioners to connect with their Buddha nature. Retreat program included sitting, walking, moving meditation and periods of integrating work practice at home as well as private interviews.
On May 19-22, Rebecca participated in the Mindfulness and Meditation Summit featuring teachers such as Joanna Macy, Ruth King, Diana Winston and her friend Lama Rod Owen. Her session on May 22 focuses on the cultivation of unconditional kindness in Chan practice. To listen to the session, please click here.
On May 13, Rebecca led the final session of this round of Monthly Online Dharma Study with Rebecca Li offered for the Chan Dharma Community. Over the past month, practitioners practiced with her talk Working with Lacerating Self-Judgment given at Yale University. Practitioners shared their struggle with self-judgment and their experience working with it through Chan practice.
On April 27, Rebecca joined practitioners Buddhist Sangha of Bucks County on Zoom to talk about the Bodhisattva’s response in the face of a pandemic. Members of BSBC continued to meet weekly on Zoom since the stay-at-home order was implemented in mid-March. The community was eager to learn about how to practice as a Bodhisattva in this challenging time. Her talk can be found here.
On April 8, Rebecca led the fifth session of Monthly Online Dharma Study with Rebecca Li offered for the Chan Dharma Community. Over the past month, practitioners practiced with her talk Cultivating Clear Awareness of Group Dynamics given at DDMBA-NJ. Practitioners shared their experience of suffering in group life. The topic was set before stay-at-home order imposed because of the pandemic and social distancing has made it difficult to practice with this topic in greater depth for some practitioners.
On March 27, Rebecca started the weekly Online Dharma Practice Gathering with Rebecca Li after hearing about the needs of practitioners to have a structured practice space for mutual support as people were asked to engage in social distancing to help flatten the curve. In this first session, Rebecca spoke about the practice of allowing joy into our heart amidst the daily deluge of distressing news about the pandemic. Her talk can be found here.
On March 20, Rebecca offered an online practice session on Zoom to support practitioners as the Covid-19 pandemic began closing schools and stores. Practitioners shared their experience of the early days of the outbreak and found comfort and support in community.
On March 11, Rebecca led the fourth session of Monthly Online Dharma Study with Rebecca Li offered for the Chan Dharma Community. Over the past month, practitioners practiced with her talk Working with Self-Doubt through Chan Meditation given at Yale University. Practitioners shared their struggle with self-doubt and their discoveries in the process of facing their self-doubt.
On March 11, Tricycle Magazine followed Rebecca from home to work and back to home to take photographs for the magazine’s “A Day in the Dharma” where Rebecca will be featured in the summer 2020 issue.
On February 25, Rebecca returned to Yale University as visiting teacher of the Buddhist sangha. In response to the interest expressed by the students, she spoke on “Working with Lacerating Self-Judgment.” The shrine room was filled despite the approach of midterm exams. Apparently many high-achieving students suffer a great deal from this unhelpful habit. Rebecca explained how to cultivate clear awareness of various aspects of this habit to unlearn it so as to be freed from its destructive effects. Many students stayed after the talk to share mochi and tea and to ask questions about self-judgment and Chan practice. Hopefully, these students will be better prepared emotionally to face the challenges in the remaining weeks of the semester. You can listen to the talk here.
On February 23, Rebecca led a Daylong Retreat at Newark Center for Meditation Culture with the assistance of Kathryn Davis and Leslie. It was the first retreat held at NCMC’s new home at 2 Park Place, a lovely space for the growing sangha. The retreat organizer invited Rebecca to integrate her sociological expertise into the discussion. She spoke about group dynamics that cause suffering in her Dharma talk “Community-building with Clarity and Compassion” and how to reduce suffering in community life with Chan practice. Retreat participants shared their experience and reflected on how they could apply the sociological insight and practice in their life at work and spiritual community. To listen to the talk and discussion, please click here.
On February 16, Rebecca shared how to practice with death to gain insights into our mind and enrich our life based on the first two chapters of the book Advice for Future Corpses: A Practical Perspective on Death and Dying by Zen teacher and writer Sallie Tisdale at the monthly meditation workshop held at the New Jersey chapter of DDMBA in Edison. Click here to listen to the talk.
On February 12, Rebecca led the third session of Monthly Online Dharma Study with Rebecca Li offered for the Chan Dharma Community. Over the past month, participants practiced with her talk on Cultivating Gratitude and Total Awareness given at the New Jersey chapter of DDMBA. Practitioners shared how their relationships had been transformed during the month’s practice on gratitude.
On January 15, Rebecca led the second session of Monthly Online Dharma Study with Rebecca Li offered for the Chan Dharma Community during her family visit in Hong Kong. Participants practiced with her talk on working with perfectionism given at Yale University and shared their experiences in this zoom gathering.
2019
On December 18, Rebecca returned to the Rubin Museum to talk about the practice of generosity. She spoke about cultivating emotional generosity as a way to remain connected to love and hope in this world. Click here to listen to the talk.
On December 15, Rebecca gave a talk entitled “Cultivating Dhyāna Meditation as a Chan Practitioner” at the Chan Meditation Center in Elmburst, NY. She explained how to cultivate wisdom and compassion by engaging in meditative practice and warned against the common pitfall of attaching to meditative states. Click here to listen to the bilingual talk.
On December 11, Rebecca led the first session of Monthly Online Dharma Study with Rebecca Li offered for the Chan Dharma Community. Practitioners worked with her talk on generosity given at the Rubin Museum for a number of weeks prior to this session and gathered to share and discuss their practice experiences on zoom.
On November 24, Rebecca shared how we can make use of the holiday season as an opportunity to engage in Chan practice at the monthly meditation workshop held at the New Jersey chapter of DDMBA in Edison. The workshop was followed by a potluck lunch for the community to celebrate the upcoming holidays together. Click here to listen to her talk.
On November 18, Rebecca returned to Buddhist Sangha of Bucks County to talk about the teaching of “no-self.” She explained what the concept means by using the teachings of the Heart Sutra and discussed how to apply the teaching of no-self in one’s daily life practice to cultivate wisdom and compassion. Click here to listen to the talk.
On November 8-10, Rebecca led the Four Truths Chan Retreat at Zen Mountain Monastery. It was the first time she led practice at the monastery. Residents and students of ZMM learned to cultivate clear awareness of the ways they create suffering and how they can unlearn the habits of doing so through Chan practice. The retreat was followed immediately by the precepts ceremony (Jukai) given by Shugen Roshi. It was a deeply moving experience for everyone in attendance.
On October 11-16, Rebecca co-led the Western Zen Retreat with Fiona Nuttall and Hilary Richards from the U.K. at Dharma Drum Retreat Center. It was the first retreat co-led by the three teachers together. Participants, some of whom had been on the waiting list, traveled from all over the U.S. and from the U.K. practiced diligently and worked with the three teachers in private interviews to investigate their mind, gaining invaluable insights into themselves.
On September 21, Rebecca presented the paper entitled “Chan Practitioners as Agents of Social Change” at the academic conference Buddhism and Social Change hosted by the University of British Columbia and Dharma Drum Vancouver Center at the DDM Vancouver Center in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. Click here to read more and listen to the talk.
On September 17, Rebecca spoke on “Working with Perfectionism in Relationships and Social Engagement” at the Yale University Buddhist Shrine. Members of the Buddhist Sangha joined Rebecca for dinner before the meditation session and the talk and found it highly relevant and useful for their lives. Click here to listen to the talk.
On September 15, Rebecca spoke on “Practicing Patience-Endurance in a Politically Divided World” at the New Jersey chapter of Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association in Edison, New Jersey. She explained how Chan practitioners can use their encounters and interactions with people who hold very different political views as opportunities to cultivate the perfection of patience-endurance. Click here to listen to the talk.
On August 16-18, Rebecca led the Beginner’s Mind Retreat at Dharma Drum Retreat Center. Retreatants traveled from across the U.S. and Canada to participate in the retreat.
On August 14, Rebecca spoke on the theme of “Fear” and led meditation practice at the Rubin Museum in New York City. She shared the practice of being fully present and staying with it as it is when fear arises, giving ourselves space to experience other aspects of the moment besides fear. In this way, we do not allow fear to overwhelm and control us. You can listen to her talk here.
Rebecca led a Four-day Chan Retreat from August 2-5 at Dharma Drum Mountain Vancouver. She explained the practice of Silent Illumination and encouraged the retreatants to engage in this practice. At the end of the retreat, participants shared that they gained new understanding about Chan practice and insights about themselves and expressed commitment to taking the practice into their life.
On August 1, Rebecca gave a public lecture entitled “Harmonizing with the Rapidly Changing World” at the Vancouver Chan Meditation Center. She spoke about rapid social change in term of changing ways in which we play certain roles and the changing relationship between different roles. Rebecca discussed the two common reactions to these changes, being judgmental and feeling anxious, and how we can engage in Chan practice to recognize these habitual reactions arising and examine our existing beliefs to avoid perpetuating thoughts and behaviors that generate suffering for ourselves and others.
On June 29-30, Rebecca attended the academic conference “Buddhism and Social Sciences” at Dharma Drum Mountain to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Master Sheng Yen’s passing. Scholars from economics, sociology, public administration and other social sciences presented scholarly research on the connection between Buddhism and their field of study. Rebecca presented her paper “The Social Origin of Creativity: A Sociological Analysis of Master Taixu and Master Sheng Yen” that applies Randal Collins’s theoretical model of intellectual creativity detailed in his Sociology of Philosophies.
On June 28, Rebecca joined several Dharma heirs of Master Sheng Yen in an event at Dharma Drum Mountain in Taiwan to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the master’s passing. The first-generation Dharma heirs engaged in two panel discussions in the morning to share how they adapted their teaching of Chan to the rapidly changing world. In the afternoon, Rebecca led one of the Chan practice sessions for practitioners traveling from Taipei to have a taste of the practice of Silent Illumination.
On June 12-16, Rebecca joined a gathering of Generation X Dharma teachers at Great Vow Zen Monastery. Almost 50 Buddhist teachers from different traditions shared their experience as Dharma teachers and practitioners with each other as peers, and discussed topics ranging from ethics, to power and sexuality, to reconciliation in Dharma communities. From these discussions, participants felt the need for the community to become more organized and asked the advisory council, of which Rebecca has been a member, to embark on the effort and draft the structure and by-laws to be ratified by the community at the next gathering in two years.
On May 25 to June 2, Rebecca co-led a Silent Illumination Retreat with Simon Child at DDRC. Twenty-nine practitioners from across the United States practiced sincerely during this 9-day retreat. In the sharing at the end, many expressed a renewed commitment to Dharma practice and a clearer sense of direction.
On May 19, Rebecca returned to DDMBA-NJ chapter to lead the Sunday meditation workshop. She spoke on the cultivation of appreciative joy, being happy for the happiness of others especially when one has not contributed to their happiness. This is one of the four qualities of love in our cultivation of unconditional love for sentient beings.
On May 15, Rebecca joined three other Dharma teachers, Narayan Liebenson, Myokei Caine-Barrett and Grace Schireson, in a panel discussion “Women in Buddhism.” The thought-provoking discussion was moderated by Pema Khandro. The transcript of the discussion will be published in Fall 2019 special women’s issue of Buddhadharma. You can read the article here.
On May 15, Rebecca spoke on the theme of “Compassion” and led meditation practice at the Rubin Museum in New York City. She shared the practice of rejoicing in the merits of others as one of the ways to cultivate love for all sentient beings. You can listen to her talk here.
On April 29, Rebecca returned to Buddhist Sangha of Bucks County to give a talk on “Why do we practice? Why do we sit?” She invited participants to share their reflection on these questions and discussed a number of ways we apply our existing habitual tendencies to motivate our practice. She invited practitioners to reflect on their motivations honestly so as not to perpetuate unhelpful habits using our practice inadvertently.
On April 24, Rebecca spoke on the theme of “Action” and led meditation practice at the Rubin Museum in New York City. She discussed how to do our best and let go as a way to free ourselves from suffering in our daily life actions. You can listen to her talk here.
On April 9, Rebecca returned to Yale University to lead a meditation workshop with the Buddhist sangha on campus and join a discussion on “Asian and Buddhist.” She opened the discussion with a number of common assumptions made about her as a Buddhist practitioner of Asian descent which are incorrect. Together with her discussion co-leader, Dean Nilakshi Parndigamage, who grew up in a Buddhist family in Sri Lanka, they painted a nuanced picture of the diversity of Buddhists of Asian descent.
Rebecca led the Foundation Retreat on April 5-7 at Dharma Drum Retreat Center. Brian Pilecki who has been training with Rebecca served as timekeeper and assisted in the retreat as guest master. A number of participants returned from previous retreats at DDRC with their friend or family member.
On March 20, Rebecca spoke on the theme of “Reflection” and led meditation practice at the Rubin Museum in New York City. She discussed the importance of reflection on the intention behind our actions in our practice. You can listen to her talk here.
On March 14, Rebecca spoke on “Community-building as a Path of Liberation” at the Boston Meditation Center. Workshop participants were able to connect with their experience in their political engagement and saw the value of integrating their practice into this aspect of their life. You can listen to her talk here.
On February 24, Rebecca, with Kung-fu master Shaka Georges, led a Daylong retreat “Relaxing into Clarity and Flow” at Newark Center for Meditative Culture. She guided participants in the practice of silent illumination using Master Hongzhi’s saying “Stay with that just as that. Stay with this just as this” to recognize and unlearn the habits of craving and aversion. Participants shared many insightful comments after the Art of Seeing workshop to examine our habits of seeing with our ideas instead of actually seeing what is right here in front of us.
On February 20, Rebecca spoke on the theme of “Power” and led meditation practice at the Rubin Museum in New York City. She explained how Chan practice relies on self-power to free us from suffering. You can listen to her session here.
On February 17, in her quarterly meditation workshop held at the New Jersey branch of Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association in Edison, Rebecca spoke on “Cultivating Clear Awareness of Group Dynamics.” She discussed how we can engage in Chan practice to avoid cultivating hatred and ignorance inadvertently in group life by understanding its dynamics. You can listen to her talk here.
On February 2, Rebecca spoke on community building and Chan practice as part of the Tricycle team at A Night of Philosophy and Ideas in Brooklyn Public Library. Read full story here.
On January 12, Rebecca led practice at the International Meditation Group (IMG) of Dharma Drum Mountain in Taipei. She taught the practice of moving and sitting meditation and spoke on integrating Chan practice into our daily life.
On January 10, Rebecca spoke on “My Practice with Master Sheng Yen” where she recounted many valuable lessons she learned from her travels with her master when she served as his translator. The event took place at Nung Chan Monastery in Taipei, Taiwan and can be viewed here.
2018
On December 12, Rebecca spoke on the theme of “Generosity” and led meditation practice at the Rubin Museum in New York City. She spoke about giving kindness in addition to presents during the holiday season as a way to practice generosity. You can listen to her session here.
On November 27, Rebecca spoke on “Working with Self-doubt with Chan Meditation” to students at Yale University and led the group through a guided meditation in the Shrine Room used by the university’s Buddhist Sangha for group practice.
On November 11, in her quarterly meditation workshop held at the New Jersey branch of Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association in Edison, Rebecca spoke on “Cultivating Gratitude and Total Awareness” and encouraged everyone to practice with it as the holiday season began.
On November 5, Rebecca returned to the Buddhist Sangha of Bucks County to speak on the Bodhisattva Ideal and shared the practice of Silent Illumination.
On October 31, Rebecca spoke on the theme of “Hopes and Anxieties” and led meditation practice at the Rubin Museum in New York City. With the upcoming election on everyone’s mind, she spoke about being intentional and mindful as we engage as citizens and try to stay informed. Please click here to listen to her session.
Rebecca, with Simon Child from Western Chan Fellowship in the U.K., led the Western Zen Retreat at Dharma Drum Retreat Center from October 5-10. Participants came from around the country and from Canada.
Rebecca offered her first online Dharma course entitled “Giving Rise to the Bodhi Mind” to members of the Chan Dharma Community. Past retreat participants were invited to join the course as a way to deepen their practice through Dharma study. The course ran from September 10 to October 15.
Rebecca led the Beginner’s Mind Retreat on August 10-12 at DDRC during which participants learned how to engage in Chan practice through sitting, walking, doing simple tasks, eating, drawing, listening, reflecting and sharing.
On August 8, Rebecca spoke on the theme of “Intentionality” and led meditation practice at the Rubin Museum in New York City. She spoke about investigating our motivations in practice as a way to examine our mind. Please click here to listen to her session.
Rebecca led the Three-Day Chan Retreat on August 3-6 at Dharma Drum Vancouver Center. Practitioners of various levels of experience learned how to engage in Chan practice under her guidance. Please click here for a report in English and click here for a report in Chinese.
On August 2, Rebecca gave the first public lecture, “Living a Fulfilling Life in Chan Practice,” hosted by Vancouver Chan Meditation Center, the Dharma Drum city center in Vancouver opened in early 2018. Read more.
On July 25, Rebecca spoke on the theme of “Emptiness” and led meditation practice at the Rubin Museum in New York City. She explained the Buddhist concept of emptiness and how to apply it our daily life practice. Please click here to listen to her session.
Rebecca and her husband visited the farmhouse, located in the Peak District in England, recently purchased by Simon Child that will be converted into a retreat center for Chan practitioners between June 16 and 26. Read more.
Rebecca co-led a Koan Retreat with Fiona Nuttall in Wales for the first time over the week of June 9-16. The two Dharma sisters, both Dharma heirs of Simon Child, guided practitioners in examining their mind by using koans that resonated with each individual. Read more.
Rebecca co-led a Silent Illumination Retreat with Simon Child at DDRC from May 26 to June 3. At the end of the retreat, participants shared many heart-felt experiences from their retreat.
On May 16, Rebecca spoke on the theme of “Discovering” and led meditation practice at the Rubin Museum in New York City. Over a hundred participants took part, many of whom attend the weekly workshop regularly. A statue of Maitreya was chosen as the artwork for the day’s event. Please click here to listen to her session.
On April 25, Rebecca spoke on the theme of “Transforming Obstacles“ and led meditation practice at a sold-out event at the Rubin Museum in New York City. Over a hundred participants took part, many of whom attend the weekly workshop regularly. A statue of Padmasambhava was chosen as the artwork for the day’s event and Rebecca used the occasion to remember the late Dr. John Crook, one of her teachers, who passed away in 2011.
On April 23, Rebecca led an evening of practice in Silent Illumination with members of the Buddhist Sangha of Bucks County, Yardley, PA. BSBC is a vibrant community of Buddhist practitioners. Rebecca has been supporting this sangha as visiting teacher since 2016.
Rebecca met and hosted Vandana Shiva on April 12 on her campus. Even though it was their first meeting, Shiva has quickly become a role model whose tireless effort to preserve the world’s biodiversity and support small farmers is an inspiration. Read more.
Rebecca was invited by the Yale Buddhist Sangha to share her experience and perspective of being Asian and Buddhist in America. The event on April 10, “Asian & Buddhist (?) Redux: Dinner & Conversation” was attended by students and staff, Asian and non-Asian, Buddhists and non-Buddhists, from departments across Yale University.
Rebecca led the Foundation Retreat at Dharma Drum Retreat Center from April 6-8. Participants, both new and experienced, traveled from Virginia, Canada, and around New York and New Jersey to practice in this retreat and learn the Dharma.
On March 25, Rebecca gave a Dharma talk on “Cultivating Generosity as a Chan Practitioner” at the Chan Meditation Center.
Rebecca joined 200,000 protesters in March For Our Lives in New York City with other practitioners on March 24. She worked with members of the Buddhist Action Coalition to plan for the Buddhists in the New York area to march together. Lion’s Roar shared her reflections and photos of the march. She also shared her thoughts with Tricycle on why it was important for Buddhists to participate in the march.
Rebecca led a day-long retreat “Relaxing into Clarity” at Newark Center for Meditative Culture on February 25.
Rebecca addressed a gathering of 200 Buddhists at the Union Theological Seminary on February 3 at a one-day conference, “Buddhist Action: Morals, Vision and Justice.” She also served on the organizing team that included Bhikkhu Bodhi of Buddhist Global Relief to help plan the event and served as one of the facilitators in the breakout group discussion where participants brainstormed about actions and organizational structure for the community moving forward. Here is a report from Mountain Record published by the Mountains and Rivers Order. See full text of her address.
2017
Rebecca led a Three-Day Chan Retreat at the DDM San Francisco Bay Area Center in California over the weekend of December 8-10. After the retreat, she used the opportunity to meet with her fellow Dharma teacher friends in the Insight, Triratna, and Soto Zen traditions in San Francisco. You can read report by one of the retreat participants here.
Rebecca led the first Thanksgiving Chan Retreat at DDRC during the week of the Thanksgiving holiday (Nov. 21-25). The retreat introduced participants to the practice of Silent Illumination and the teachings of the Four Noble Truths.
Rebecca was invited by the Buddhadharma Magazine to write a piece in response to the question: How can practitioners “take on the suffering of the world” or practice “for the sake of all beings” without also inflating their own sense of self-importance? It appeared in the “Ask the Teachers” section of the Winter 2017 issue. Read her piece here.
Rebecca, with Simon Child and Hilary Richards from Western Chan Fellowship in the U.K., led the largest Western Zen Retreat to date at Dharma Drum Retreat Center from October 13-18. Participants came from around the country, travelling from as far as Los Angeles and Seattle, and from Canada.
Rebecca talked about Patience/Endurance and the Chan Practice at the Buddhist Sangha of Bucks County on October 9.
Rebecca gave a Dharma talk “Chan Practice and the Bodhisattva Path” at the Brooklyn Zen Center on September 23. In this talk, she discussed how the centrality of Bodhisattva Path in Chan deepens our understanding and cultivation of the six paramitas.
Rebecca gave a Dharma talk “Preparing for a Good Death: Cultivating Clarity and Generating Great Bodhi Mind” at Greenwood cemetery in Brooklyn on September 20, the last of the Death and Dharma series co-sponsored by Greenwood and Brooklyn Zen Center. She shared the lessons taught by her master, the late Master Sheng Yen, in the way he prepared for his death and his teachings on how to face death.
Rebecca joined other Dharma teachers in a 7-week course series U Mad? Wisdom for Rageful Times offered by Buddhist Peace Fellowship to discuss how to apply Dharma teachings and practice in this politically challenging time.
Rebecca’s reflection on her participation in the Third Buddhism and Race conference at Harvard Divinity School in March 2017 entitled “Buddhism and Race” was published in Chan Magazine, spring 2017 issue, in August 2017.
Rebecca attended the Gen X Dharma Teachers Conference held in Crestone, CO in June 2017. She joined the Advisory Council of the Gen X Dharma Teachers community at the conference.
Rebecca was re-elected to the board of director and board secretary of Dharma Drum Retreat Center (DDRC) in May 2017. She was one of the founding members of the board and has served on the board since the DDRC was incorporated in 2004.
Rebecca spoke at the Third Buddhism and Race Conference at Harvard Divinity School in March 2017.
Rebecca joined the Buddhist Sangha of Bucks County as guest teacher and gave a talk entitled “Interdependence: Embracing Life’s Ups and Downs with Equanimity” on February 13.
2016
Rebecca joined the teaching team of the iBme New Year’s Teen Retreat in Massachusetts in late December 2016.
Rebecca became a member of the American Zen Teachers Association in December 2016.
Rebecca became a member of the Lay Zen Teachers Association in September 2016.
Rebecca was invited by the Dharma Drum Vancouver Center to present a workshop “Curiosity and Choice: Being Me and Making a Difference.” Participants of all ages took part in a lively discussion after talk on how they could integrate the key ideas into their own life choices.
Rebecca was invited by the Yale University chaplain to offer meditation workshops with Dharma discussion to the Yale Buddhist Sangha during the academic year. She will give four workshops during the AY 2016-17.
Rebecca spoke at a panel on Global Citizenship with Venerable Guo Chan and Venerable Chang Ji, celebrating the late Master Sheng Yen’s international work to promote peace and youth empowerment, in the Sheng Yen Conference in late June 2016 held in Taipei, Taiwan.
Rebecca spoke at the Second Buddhism and Race Conference at Harvard Divinity School in March 2016.
The second edition of Chan Comes West, edited by Rebecca Li, was published in February 2016 after long delays. Publishing this book was the last request made by the late Chan Master Sheng Yen to Rebecca.
2015
Rebecca taught a month-long online retreat on Tricycle.com during the month of October 2015. Her retreat was titled “Living the Platform Sutra” where she covered the key teachings of the Platform Sutra by Chan Master Huineng.
2012
Rebecca joined the Silent Peace Walk around Central Park in Manhattan, NY on October 1, 2012 for peace in the Middle East. She was invited to serve as a facilitator in group discussions held in the park. It was a deeply moving experience.
Rebecca Li (智燈法傳 Wisdom Lamp, Dharma Transmitting) 