Venerable Guojun (born 1974) is one of the youngest Dharma heirs of respected Ch'an (Zen) Master Sheng-yen. He was born in Singapore and was ordained as monk under Ven. Song Nian of Mahabodhi Monastery, Singapore. Before and after his ordination, he earned educational degrees in various fields of study. He has a diploma in biotechnology from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore. He also earned his degree in Buddhist philosophy from Fu Yan Buddhist Institute, Taiwan; and in psychology and sociology from Monash University, Australia.[1]
Venerable Guojun started to practice meditation intensively in 1997. He studied various traditions of Buddhist practice, from Tibetan Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism, and also Mahayana tradition, including Ch'an Buddhism under the guidance of Ven. Master Sheng-yen. He entered solitary retreat in 1999 in Korea at Hwa Gye Sa Buddhist Monastery and Song Kwang Sa Buddhist Monastery. He was named Dharma heir by Ven. Sheng-yen in September 2005.
He speaks Mandarin, Korean, and English. He has traveled around many parts of the world to share his experience, including Singapore, Australia, Indonesia, United States, Luxembourg, Poland, Croatia, and Switzerland. He was the abbot of Dharma Drum Retreat Center in Pine Bush, New York from 2005 to 2008. Currently he is the chairman of Mahabodhi Temple in Singapore. However, he spends most of his time in Australia, undergoing his Master in Buddhist Studies at the University of Sydney.
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