Passing on the vows: Abbot President’s journey to North America

On Sept 4th, DDM Abbot President Venerable Guo Huei set out on a month-long journey to North America where he extended his care to followers, hosted the refuge-taking ceremony and gave talks. In addition, he also visited local Buddhist groups on behalf of DDM Sangha, exchanging experiences on various subjects.

Accompanied by Venerable Chang Wu (常悟法師), Managing Director of DDM Branch Monastery Administration in America and Europe, Abbot President visited Ling Yan Mountain Temple in Canada (靈巖山寺) on Sept 10th, to congratulate Venerable Zi-Cheng on his recent inauguration as Abbot of LingYan Mountain.

They had deep conversations regarding the establishment and propagation of Chinese Buddhism in North America. Venerable Guo Huei was especially impressed that Ling Yan Mountain managed to propagate the Pure Land method in a western culture where most people find Chan practice more appealing.

Seeing that their stage-three construction program was about to begin, Venerable Guo Huei also expressed his best wishes, hoping to have more frequent exchanges in the future so as to work together to propagate Chinese Buddhism in North America.

On Sept 16th, Abbot President, together with Venerable Chang Xing (常惺法師), Director of DDM San Francisco Bay Area Center, as well as Mr. Chu-Chi Huang (黃楚琪), Chair of DDM Honorary Board of Directors, visited “City of Ten Thousand Buddhas” and Dharma Realm Buddhist University.

On behalf of the Sangha of City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, Venerable Heng Sure (恆實法師) gave their warm welcome to Venerable Guo Huei, whereas the Principal Susan A. Rounds, along with teachers and students from Dharma Realm Buddhist University held a welcome tea party on university campus in which they exchanged ideas on Buddhist education in a symposium.

Venerable Heng Sure mentioned that education had always been the core in the propagation of Buddhism for both Master Sheng Yen and Master Hua since last century. Now it is indeed truly meaningful to have Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts in the East and Dharma Realm University in the West.

Venerable Guo Huei also said that while still teaching at DILA, he himself invited Venerable Heng Sure for many times to share his observations on education and propagation of Chinese Buddhism in North America. This time, by visiting the Dharma Realm University in person, he was inspired even more deeply, hoping that close cooperation would be realized in the future.

On Sept 18th, Abbot President, Vice President Venerable Guo Xing (果醒法師), and Director of DDM Los Angeles Center Venerable Guo Jian (果見法師) paid visit to Tzu Chi USA. Both Tzu Chi USA CEO Mr. Han-Kui Huang (黃漢魁), and VEO Mr. Ji-Hong Chen (陳濟弘) warmly greeted them in person.

Mr. Huang and Mr. Chen briefly shared their current engagements in the U.S., including medical care, education, humanitarian aid, Buddhist prison chaplaincy service, emergency relief, as well as participation in UN conferences, etc..

Abbot President highly praised the volunteers at Tzu Chi USA for embodying perfectly the spirit of great compassion in Buddhism, acting like Master Cheng Yen’s countless manifestation bodies to relieve sentient beings from suffering.

On Sept 23rd, accompanied by Ven. Guo Xing and some other members, Abbot President visited Fo Guang Shan His Lai Temple, meeting the current Abbot Venerable Hui Dong (慧東法師), then moving on to New York and Boston on Sept 24th to resume his journey of Dharma propagation.

Text: Venerable Yan Chan (演禪法師) Dharma Drum Monthly
Translation: Elenda Huang
Editing: DDM Editorial Team; John Wu (吳俊宏)

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