Dear dharma friends,

Chan Magazine goes digital this year. With a new team in place, we are taking the time needed to complete this mission. Our great appreciation goes to Buffe Laffey, Ernest Heau, David Berman, and many others for making this Chan Magazine possible. In this issue, Ernest writes about the history of Chan Magazine. And it is our privilege to have Edward Lin as our new editor-in-chief, Iris Wang as associate publisher, Ven. Chang-Zhai as managing editor, and Fanyi Pan as graphic designer.

Regarding CMC’s ongoing expansion project, we are delighted to announce that we have taken another step forward.

During the pandemic, our expansion project stopped. Then we needed to change the general contractors/engineers, resolve issues with our neighbor and other construction challenges. Right now, we have a new construction team and a new schedule for the grand opening in 2027. We will continue to share our progress in the following issues.

Finally, as you may have noticed, AI may play a significant role in our learning and influence our practice. We need to contemplate how to reposition Chan Magazine's role so that it remains relevant.  While we are not sure about the perfect way to make adjustments, we decided to “ride a donkey to find a horse.” Our mission remains to share the right dharma (正法), to guide Chan practice, especially in Linji (Huatou) and Caodong (Silent Illumination) lineages, and to inspire the cultivation of compassion and wisdom in our daily lives.

Your input and feedback are very important for us to grow. We appreciate your patience and support.

Bhikshuni Chang Hwa and the CMC community