Jug band millionaires: An Interview with David Chen of the Muddy Basin Ramblers
The Muddy Basin Ramblers, Taiwan’s best-loved jug band, released their fifth album in January this year. Taiwan Scene.com caught up with band leader David Chen to learn more about the history of the band, their musical philosophy, and their favorite venues to play in Taiwan.
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Ling Jiou Mountain
On Laolan Mountain in the northeast corner of Taiwan is the Ling Jiou Mountain Wusheng Monastery, a place that exists in harmony with nature. The statues of the Guanyin Buddha, the Forest of Stupas, and the 500 Arhats stimulate a bright and clear state of mind, and the visitor will see how they are perfect companions for the surrounding scenery of mountains and sea, plants and trees. In view in all places throughout the monastery, amidst the mornings bells and evening drums, the mountain setting is melodious.
Dharma Drum Mountain
Embracing heaven and earth, cultivating the self, the Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Education Park overlooks the Jinshan Plain, both high mountains and deep blue sea in glorious view. The park is interlaced with eight trails, and walking them is also a form of spiritual practice. Listen to the chanting stream waters, watch the breezes, and immerse yourself.
Chung Tai Chan Monastery
The magnificent stature of the Chung Tai Chan Monastery is a hard one to miss when passing through Puli Township, Nantou. Even its side profile mimics the outline of a praying monk. Its outward appearance appears stylish while still retaining the virtues and wisdom of Buddhism teachings and everyday life. Upon closer approach, one can feel its calming effects and find power deeply rooted in its tranquility.
Fo Guang Shan
The 48 Underground Palaces, a cycle of distribution spread over 4,800 years, the Eight Pagodas, and 4 paths to relieve suffering. A sense of grandeur is one’s first impression on entering Fo Guang Shan in Kaohsiung. Standing under the towering Great Buddha, amidst mountain and forest, one’s smallness is perceived, and humility is born spontaneously. Amidst Fo Guang Shan’s colorful aesthetics, the wisdom of people, of scenery, and of heaven and earth is borrowed. In achieving a state of tranquility, here no demands are made of these.
International Bodhisattva Sangha
How does the grape ivy on the wall grow so exuberantly? And why is the temple’s main entrance so small? Located in Dali, Taichung, the International Bodhisattva Sangha is an imperfect, flawed building. However, it is through its simplicity that one is able to experience the very essence of life. If life were a mountain, then the International Bodhisattva Sangha would be the awakening power that accompanies people to the mountain.
Zhaiming Temple
The oldest Zen Buddhist temple in Daxi is the Zhaiming Temple. The environment here is simple and elegant, lush with flowers and trees. The complex is an integration of heritage site, culture, art, and religion, a place of blissful unity and serene perfection. The venerable century-old temple and adjoining modernistic fair-faced concrete corridor form a harmonious pairing. This new style of architectural aesthetics has taken deep root in people’s hearts, embodying the eternal at a glance.
About|CommonWealth Magazine
In 2007, CommonWealth Magazine became the first financial news media in Taiwan to launch an English-language website. In the years since, it has presented stories of Taiwanese companies, industries and Taiwan’s political, economic and social environment to the world through comprehensive, in-depth reports. We provide news with a perspective.
Which Countries Get the Most Sleep?
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If you’re reading this with a niggling sense of dread, you’re not alone. More than a third of the world’s adults are worried or stressed, according to a new poll that’s found 2018 to be a record year for negative emotions.
Religious Violence is on The Rise
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Certain Commuters Stuck in Traffic 8 Days a Year
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The Best Countries for Expats to Live and Work In
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Taiwan’s First Successful Media Paywall
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Violent Video Games: Harmless Fun After All?
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Time to Say Goodbye to Plastic Straws, but What's the Best Alternative?
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5 Surprising Ways Digital Technology Is Changing Childhood
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Here's the Mechanism that Turns Us into Addicts of Technology
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Does Hosting a World Cup Make Economic Sense to the Host Country?
2018 World Cup in Russia is coming soon. The total economic impact of the mega sports event could be $30.8 billion by 2023.
Here are the World's Most Popular Passwords - They're Also the World's Worst
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Sitting All Day is Killing Us—Could a Bicycle Desk Be a Life-saver?
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A Container Market of Colorful Vocabularies
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Saving the Fat Kids
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Heating Up Taiwan's Concert Industry
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Managing Those Difficult Young Workers
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Fighting Upstream
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Taiwan's New Cultural and Creative Mecca
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The Unexpected Joys of Giving
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Rescuing 'Spirits in Danger'
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The Long Haul to Glory
Fourteen teenage girls, their features still childlike but their hands callused like construction workers, have shown the grit it takes to beat the most formidable athletes from around the globe.
Daughter of Press Tycoon Cheng Shewo: Lucie Cheng
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Music Festival Economy Blossoms
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What's Left without the Love?
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Buddy System Teaches Concern
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Elegant Simplicity: Coco Chanel in the Kitchen
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Vocational Education on the Rebound
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Bringing ‘Nbang' Home
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Farewell, Monoculture
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