DDM Thailand Hosts A Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Building
On the morning of 26 March 2008, the Chief Convener of Dharma Drum Mountain in Thailand, Mrs. Mao-Feng Su Lin, officially opened the Groundbreaking Ceremony to celebrate the commencement of the construction of a new building.
Venerable Guo Qi and Venerable Chang Zhi came from Taiwan to attend this special occasion. The ceremony began soon after the Venerables conducted the Purification Ceremony.
Honored guests, including Taiwan's Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand, Mr. Roy Y. Y. Wu, and the Vice President of Thai-Taiwan Business Association, were also present at the ceremony.
The chief convener commented that having the groundbreaking ceremony conducted on the birth date of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (Guanyin) and at Dharma Drum Mountain, the Dharma place of Guanyin, made it an even more special and meaningful event.
Venerable Guo Qi stated that DDM's vision is to 'uplift the character of humanity and build a pure land on earth', and our method is 'to promote comprehensive education and to extend loving care to all'. "We are sincerely looking forward to seeing the prosperity of DDM's ideas in Thailand."
Taiwan's Representative, Mr. Roy Wu, said that he believes this new building would provide better service to all Taiwanese as well as further propagate DDM's philosophies in Thailand. He also praised the chief convener's altruistic vow to construct the new building after long-term financial assistance in procuring the land. Her dream has finally come true.
The new four-storey building, occupying 1,500 hectares of land is expected to be completed in March 2009. It will be a high-quality, purpose-built multifunctional building for the teaching of Chan meditation and Dharma.
(translated by Jin Yang/edited by DDM Australia Editing Team)
