Directors
Current Director: Venerable Chang Qi
August 2026 - Present
Current Director: Venerable Chang Qi
August 2026 - Present
In 2006, he enrolled in the Dharma Drum Mountain Sangha University and, the following September, was ordained as a monk under the guidance of Master Sheng Yen. During his studies in the Department of Chan Studies, he established a monastic path dedicated to both the propagation of Chan and education; he has traveled to the United States, Poland, Mexico, Australia, Southeast Asia, and China to teach Chan. After graduating in 2012, he served at the Dharma Drum Mountain Chan Hall and the Lamp-Transmission Institute, dedicating himself to leading seven-day Chan retreats, promoting Chan practice to the general public, and developing Chan teaching methods—honing his skills through practice and growing alongside his students. In 2015, he assumed the roles of Dean of Academic Affairs at Dharma Drum Mountain Sangha University and Assistant Professor at Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts. In addition to teaching courses such as "History of Chinese Buddhism," "Chan Lineage," "Vinaya Studies," "Studies on Chan Meditation," "Chan Practice," "Seminar on Chan Methods," and "Silent Illumination Chan," he also provided guidance and pastoral care to student monks. He aspires to cultivate outstanding monastic talent and propagate the Dharma through personal example and earnest, skillful guidance. In 2026, he assumed the position of Director (Supervisor) at the Dharma Drum Mountain San Francisco Center.
Former Director: Venerable Chang Xiang
August 2021 – July 2026
Former Director: Venerable Chang Xiang
August 2021 – July 2026
He first encountered the Dharma through the writings of Master Sheng Yen and, in 2004, participated in the inaugural "Life-Awakening Camp" personally led by the Master; this experience deepened his understanding of the Dharma and led him to ordain as a monastic. He has held various roles related to Chan practice, including serving as the Director of the Chan Hall at the Chan Meditation Center (USA) and as the Director of the Lamp-Transmission Institute. Driven by the exigencies of the global pandemic, he launched the "Chan Hall in My Home—Dharma Drum Mountain Online Chan Practice" video series, thereby fulfilling a long-held aspiration to promote group Chan meditation sessions via the internet.
Since August 2021, he has served as the second Director of the Dharma Drum Mountain San Francisco Center, overseeing temple operations, practitioner care, and the promotion of online Chan guidance and group meditation sessions. Over the past five years, he has dedicated himself to the long-term endeavor of propagating the Dharma and teaching Chan in English—work that requires sustained effort to yield results—while helping practitioners establish correct views on Chan and refine their practice methods.
First Director: Venerable Chang Shing
2016 - August 2021
First Director: Venerable Chang Shing
2016 - August 2021
Ordained in 2002 and enrolled at the Dharma Drum Sangha University;
Received full ordination in 2004;
Graduated in 2006;
Previous positions held:
Educational units: Dean of Student Affairs (Sangha University) & Director of the Sangha Training Institute;
Outreach and propagation units: Director of the Youth Development Institute, Director of the Chan Meditation Center (New York), & Director of the San Francisco Center;
Current position:
Secretary-General, Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation.
In the field of Buddhist studies, maintains a deep interest in and dedication to the history of Buddhism, Early Buddhism, the philosophy of Maitreya, and the development of Mahayana Pure Land Buddhism.
In the field of Buddhist studies, maintains a deep interest in and dedication to the history of Buddhism, Early Buddhism, the philosophy of Maitreya, and the development of Mahayana Pure Land Buddhism.
Current Resident Dharma Master
Venerable Yan Qi
December 2024 - Present
Venerable Yan Qi
December 2024 - Present
Venerable Yan Qi joined the Dharma Drum Mountain San Francisco Bay Area Center in December 2024. In 2018, he entered a six-year Chan training program at Dharma Drum Mountain Sangha University, where he learned how to organize and run a Chan meditation center, lead meditation workshops and activities, and teach the Dharma in both Chinese and English.
He was ordained as a novice monk at Dharma Drum Mountain in 2019 and received the full Bhikshu precepts at Yuan Tong Temple in Puli, Taiwan, in 2022. During the precepts training period, he was selected as the honor novice of the year. While serving the sangha and the precept community, he dedicated himself to studying the Bhikshu Precepts in the Four-Part Vinaya and the Bodhisattva Precepts in the Brahma Net Sutra.
Prior to his ordination, he earned a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering in 2015. His research focused on hearing aids, hearing loss, psychoacoustics, and medical equipment compliance. Despite his background in engineering, he believes that while technology can make our lives more convenient, it cannot bring true happiness. Rather, genuine joy arises from realizingthe Dharma and Chan practice. For this reason, he has vowed to diligently practice Buddhism and share the Buddha’s teachings and help everyone realize compassion and wisdom just like the Buddha.
He was ordained as a novice monk at Dharma Drum Mountain in 2019 and received the full Bhikshu precepts at Yuan Tong Temple in Puli, Taiwan, in 2022. During the precepts training period, he was selected as the honor novice of the year. While serving the sangha and the precept community, he dedicated himself to studying the Bhikshu Precepts in the Four-Part Vinaya and the Bodhisattva Precepts in the Brahma Net Sutra.
Prior to his ordination, he earned a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering in 2015. His research focused on hearing aids, hearing loss, psychoacoustics, and medical equipment compliance. Despite his background in engineering, he believes that while technology can make our lives more convenient, it cannot bring true happiness. Rather, genuine joy arises from realizingthe Dharma and Chan practice. For this reason, he has vowed to diligently practice Buddhism and share the Buddha’s teachings and help everyone realize compassion and wisdom just like the Buddha.
Venerable Yan Rui
August 2026 - Present
Venerable Yan Rui
August 2026 - Present
Ordained in 2019, he enrolled in the Dharma Drum Mountain Sangha University; he received full ordination in 2022 and graduated in 2023. He previously served as an attendant to Venerable Guo Huei, the third Abbot President of Dharma Drum Mountain, and currently serves as a staff member at the Dharma Drum Mountain San Francisco Center.
His personal studies focus on exploring how the Dharma can practically address life's predicaments, helping both himself and others understand and transform the suffering and afflictions of life. He emphasizes applying what he has learned to daily living, gradually deepening his understanding of the Dharma through continuous experimentation, practice, and reflection.
Former Resident Dharma Master
Venerable Chang Xing
July 2020 – July 2026
Venerable Chang Xing
July 2020 – July 2026
Venerable Chang Xing was ordained in 2009 and received full Bhikshu precepts in 2011. In 2015, he took up a post in the Chan Hall at the Dharma Drum Mountain Headquarters in Taiwan. In 2017, he was assigned to the Dharma Drum Retreat Center in Shawangunk, New York, and since 2020, he has been serving the Dharma Drum Mountain San Francisco Bay Area Center.
He has focused on teaching foundational Chan meditation courses, and has also led and supported both short and long term Chan retreats in Mexico, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and Hong Kong.
He has focused on teaching foundational Chan meditation courses, and has also led and supported both short and long term Chan retreats in Mexico, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and Hong Kong.
Venerable Chang Yuan
July 2018-2020
Venerable Chang Yuan
July 2018-2020
Venerable Chang Yuan is a Chan meditation teacher with over ten years of teaching experience. In 2002, he entered Dharma Drum Sangha University to receive formal Buddhist education. In 2006, he received the full precepts. After graduating from DDSU, he spent the next four years working in youth education.
From 2010 to 2014, Venerable Chang Yuan served as an administrator at the Dharma Drum Mountain Chan Center, promoting Chan meditation through training classes, meditation courses, and short retreats. During this time, he organized two remarkable large-scale meditation events that together drew ten thousand participants.
From 2010 to 2017, he completed meditation teacher training at Dharma Drum Mountain and was certified as a Chan meditation instructor. He then spent several years in Taiwan teaching and promoting meditation, and leading numerous retreats. In 2018, he became a resident monastic at the Dharma Drum Mountain San Francisco Center. Since 2020, he has been serving as the Director of the Dharma Drum Retreat Center in New York.
From 2010 to 2017, he completed meditation teacher training at Dharma Drum Mountain and was certified as a Chan meditation instructor. He then spent several years in Taiwan teaching and promoting meditation, and leading numerous retreats. In 2018, he became a resident monastic at the Dharma Drum Mountain San Francisco Center. Since 2020, he has been serving as the Director of the Dharma Drum Retreat Center in New York.
