Our history

A return to the hometown.

The two masters were born on this mountain. Years later, after taking their vows and training away from home, they noticed something simple: the people of their own village had no easy way to study the dharma. The thought stayed with them, and in time it became a quiet vow — to return one day, and to plant the seeds of the teaching in the soil they had grown up on.

In September 2017 they came home. They turned the family dwellings they had grown up in into a small monastery, with one teaching aim — to help others build right view and right understanding of life. A Buddhist study circle was started for elementary-age children. An online book club followed, so that lay practitioners scattered across Taiwan could read, listen, and reflect together. And because the next generation deserves the same chance to begin early, a children's spiritual growth camp soon joined the calendar.

The monastery sits at the end of a winding road, and the masters know that reach is hard. They are not in a hurry. Their wish, as they describe it, is simply to serve the dharma for all living beings — one student, one season, one returning visitor at a time. Ru-Yi Meditation Center was founded on September 21st, 2017 by Ven. Master Da-hui and Ven. Master Yang-hui.

The meaning of Ru-Yi

Ru-Yi 如意

Ru-Yi is the transliteration of the Mandarin 如意. In Mandarin, rú yì means "everything goes your way," and is often seen in phrases like 諸事如意 (Zhū shì rú yì): everything as you wish.

In the context of Buddhism, however, rú yì carries a deeper meaning. In the Bodhi path to enlightenment, there are 37 factors to develop. Four of these factors are known as the spiritual powers — referring to concentration on intention, effort, consciousness, and investigation. In Pāli they are called Iddhipāda, a compound term meaning "power" and "base." In Mandarin this translates to 如意足 (rú yì zú), literally "wishful foot."

Rú yì therefore has a profound meaning: to have the spiritual power to have things go your way — thereby having a mind that is a master of itself, able to accomplish what it wants. That is the practice this center is named for.

Our founders

Two teachers, one path.

Ven. Master Yang-hui

陽慧法師

Co-founder

Co-founder of Ru-Yi Meditation Center, returning in 2017 to teach in the hometown where she grew up. A short biography is being prepared in consultation with the venerable.

Ven. Master Da-hui

達慧法師

Co-founder

Co-founder of Ru-Yi Meditation Center, returning in 2017 to teach in the hometown where she grew up. A short biography is being prepared in consultation with the venerable.

The team

The wider circle.

Luke Lin

林吉祥

Executive Director

Luke leads Ru-Yi's English-language teaching and writes most of the columns on this site. A lifelong English teacher in Taiwan, he has spent decades working at the seam between language education and the Buddhist tradition.

Lucien Hsieh

Deputy Executive Director

Supports center operations and program coordination.

Jennafer Duerden

Writer / Editor

Contributes regular columns on right livelihood, ethics, and the practical edges of the Buddhist life.

Dom Jones

Teacher

Teaches in our English-language programs.

David Wei

Social Media Lead

Brings the center's work to wider audiences online.

Find us

Visit, or write.

Address

No. 80, Yanghe Ln.
Xinyi Township, Nantou County 556001
Taiwan

南投縣信義鄉陽和巷 80 號
鳳貴斗山,海拔約 800 公尺

Phone

+886 928-961-171

Mandarin site

如意精舍 · ruyi99.org

For Mandarin-speaking community in Taiwan, with video archives and event schedules.