DDSC was started more than 20 years ago by a couple in the basement of their Bellevue home, where they held meditation sessions and formed a Buddhism book club. In April 2002, Master Sheng Yen visited Seattle for the first time, and gave his public lecture on "Caring For One's Body And Mind In The Modern World." at the University of Washington Seattle and drew nearly 2,000 attendees. During his visit, Master Sheng Yen planted the first seed of compassion in this foreign land. 

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Over the years, DDSC gradually gained recognition and started renting community centers. In 2004, the center moved to a rental location in Bellevue, intended for long-term use. As the activities further expanded and became more frequent, yearning for a permanent location grew stronger. The desire and commitment from the members are much like the seed planted by Master Sheng Yen two years ago, it’s now eager to take root and flourish.

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In 2019, DDSC launched a project to acquire a permanent location, driven by the collective aspirations of the community. Despite facing financial hurdles and the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, the members persevered and with a lot of support from others we were able to secure the current location in July 2022. After more than two decades, DDSC finally has a place to call home. 

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Today, the Dharma Drum Mountain Seattle Center continues to uphold the compassionate aspirations of its founder, Master Sheng Yen. With the guidance of its Venerables, the center provides a wide range of Buddhist services including the Chinese Buddhism classes, weekly meditation sessions, Dharma assemblies, book club, teen mindfulness workshop, holiday celebrations, and children’s summer camp. Our mission remains dedicated to practicing and realizing Master Sheng Yen’s vision of "uplifting one’s virtue and building a pure land on earth"