DDM New York Chan Meditation Center Relocation Fundraiser A Success
Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association (DDMBA) hosted a successful fundraising banquet at New York La Gardia Airport Marriot Hotel on 19 May 2007 to help finance the relocation of DDM New York Chan Meditation Center.
More than three hundred guests attended the event, demonstrating their support for the relocation.
Amongst the honorable guests were Venerable Guo Dong (Abbot President of DDM), Andrew Hsia (His Excellency the Director-General of Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in New York), Li Zehou (President of World Journal, New York Branch) and Wong Dinghun, an eminent writer and many others from various Chinese communities. Venerable De En and Venerable Tong Zhi also made their gracious presence.
Venerable Master Sheng Yen founded DDM New York Chan Meditation Center in 1979, which has become the hub for propagating DDM’s Dharma in North America. The old construction and limited space of the venue soon posed a problem in the development of such efforts, calling for the inevitable and essential search for a new site for DDM New York Chan Meditation Center.
An atmosphere of warmth and gratitude was evident throughout the evening, with video presentations on ‘building a pure land on Earth’ and artwork auctions.Venerable Guo Ming presided over the banquet and warmly delivered the welcoming remarks in addition to a comprehensive video presentation denoting the various hardships undergone by Venerable Master Sheng Yen in the propagation of Dharma in New York and the extent of attrition endured by the old edifice.
Venerable Guo Dong also emphasized the need for attendees to understand DDM’s contributions to society, which inspired confidence towards DDM’s humanistic ideals and business endeavors and encouraged the spread of compassion and wisdom of Chinese Buddhism across the globe.
The evening came to a climax when Ellen Young, Democrat assemblywoman for the Assembly of the State of New York, auctioned Venerable Master Sheng Yen’s Chinese calligraphies and wooden furniture from the Master’s former study room.As anticipated, it was a fruitful and constructive event that concluded in peace and joy.
All the Venerables in attendance sincerely thanked the volunteers and honorable guests for their continued and endless support in fulfilling the vision of global Dharma dissemination.
(translated by Jin Yang/edited by DDM Australia Editing Team)
