Members of Pacific Islands Leadership Program with Taiwan Visited DDM World Center for Buddhist Education
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Taiwan, hosted the Pacific Islands Leadership Program with Taiwan (PILP with Taiwan) for a month of field study from October 12 through November 8, 2014. On October 25, 31 members of PILP with Taiwan, representatives of MOFA as well as 12 Dharma Drum for Young People (DDYP) visited DDM World Center for Buddhist Education (DDMWCBE) in the evening as part of a cultural exchange program, particularly to experience the culture of Chinese Buddhism. They were guided to the Wish-Fulfilling Guanyin Bodhisattva Hall and given an explanation of the meaning of “Rising Great Compassion” as well as the resolution of the Guanyin Bodhisattva to relieve all sentient beings from suffering; in the Great Buddha Hall, they were shown the technique of bowing to the Buddha; and lastly to the dining hall to experience the dining ambiance of the monastery.
Landisang Kotaro from the Republic of Palau felt that visiting BBMWCBE is a great experience. In addition to learning about Buddhism, she had the opportunity to interact with Buddhist Masters as well as volunteers, thus gaining a deeper understanding of Taiwanese culture. She looked forward to an opportunity to visit DDMWCBE again and would share this experience with her friends back in Palau.
Hsu Tzu Ting, a senior at Soochow University, felt honored to have the opportunity to represent DDYP in this cultural exchange program. She was particularly happy that participants gained a basic understanding as well as experience Chinese Buddhism and Chan meditation through this visit.
It was hoped that participants can understand DDM’s core value to “Uplift the Character of Humanity and Build a Pure Land on Earth” through this special visit to DDMWCBE. In addition, arrangements were also made for the participants to visit other parts of Taiwan during these 4 weeks; Ms. Wu from MOFA indicated that this was to enable participants to experience the development and culture of Taiwan by visiting other parts of Taiwan.
(Translated by Tom Hsieh/Edited by Leefah)