The City Campus of the Mahayana Temple in New York. We sincerely invite you to join the “Chan and Art” workshop, where you’ll learn to transform your understanding of art into immediate practice through the lens of Chan. Discover the profound significance of “unlocated” in artistic creation.
Course Intro
The Chan and Art Workshop is a seven-session course that emphasizes direct insight and experiential understanding, drawing inspiration from Chan’s spirit of self-renewal.
We focus on the spirit of “unlocated” in artistic creation, rather than following established paradigms or conventional habits.
Through seven core themes — Delusion, Emptiness, True Insight, Fearlessness, The Person of No Rank, Awakening Within the World, and Pointing to the Moon Through Signs — the workshop gradually reveals the self-nature taught in Chan and the wisdom of exploring creativity.
Your Journey
Through seven weeks of mindful practice, we learn to release our attachment to outcomes.
Inspired by Chan teachings, we will bring our creative attention back to each moment of touch, breath, and sensation—returning to the inner self, letting the mind arise without attachment.
This workshop is offered in the spirit of connection; offerings are welcomed with gratitude.
Time
Every Saturday 2 – 3pm
October 25, 2025 – December 6, 2025
Venue
Room 305, City Campus, Mahayana Temple, 133 Canal Street, New York, NY 10002
Target Participants
Artists, Art practitioners, Curators. etc.
RSVP Contact
For More Information
https://en.mahayana.us/services/meditation-retreat
About Art Facilitator
Xiyun Xu (b. 1995) is a visual artist based in New Jersey and New York. Born in Hangzhou, his work ranges from sculpture and installation to digital art. He is passionate about deconstructing traditional sculpture into spiritual items and fitting it in the dynamic contemporary social scenarios, including the local community and ancient cultural legacy.
Xu initiated the “Speculation of Arts after Pandemic“artist talk series, as well as social welfare projects such as JJ Kitchen’s “Wish You Luck.”
He received a Master of Fine Arts from Pratt Institute. His works have been exhibited internationally in Unveil Gallery CA， Mana Contemporary New Jersey, Unveil Gallery Irvine, 68 Franklin St. SOHO New York, BOS2022 Bushwick, The Pratt Photography Gallery Brooklyn, T-Project Hangzhou, and more.
About Teaching Instructor
Venerable Rumu was born in 1980 and has grown up in a temple since childhood. Ven. Rumu entered the Buddhist Vimutti-Magga Institute, specializing in the studies of Mahayana Chan Buddhism’s Kanhua Can Chan under the tutelage of Chan Master Hui Men of Viriyachan Monastery. He has followed Master Hui Men to lead meditation retreats in the United States, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and China.
He has also been invited to give lectures on KanhuaCan Chan at various universities and temples, including Wuhan University’s School of Philosophy Studies, Tzu Chi University’s Institute of Religion and Humanities, Fo Guang University’s Department of Buddhist Studies, and several other temples in New Zealand, Indonesia, and Taiwan.
In 2013, Ven. Rumu received the Dharma transmission from Master Hui Men, becoming the 43rd generation Dharma heir in the Linji lineage and the 49th generation Dharma heir of the Caodong school of Chan Buddhism and holds the appointment of the Head Instructor Monk of the Viriyachan Monastery. Ven. Rumu served as the Dean of the Viriya Chan University from 2013 to 2014. From 2014 to 2020, he served as the abbot of Taipei Puji Temple.
(text & photo courtesy of The City Campus of the Mahayana Temple)
