Israeli Representative in Taipei Visits DDM in Recognition of the Vision to "Building a Pure Land on Earth"
On the morning of 14 August 2007, Representative of the Israel Economic and Cultural Office (ISECO) in Taipei, Mr. Raphael Gamzou and his wife, Mrs. Michal Gamzou, paid their first visit to Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education in Jinshan Township, Taipei County.
Mrs. Shirley Lin (Lin Xiuer) gave them a guided tour, explaining Venerable Master Sheng Yen's vision for the Center, the Center's history, surrounding environment and architectural features.
Mr Gamzou and Mrs Gamzou felt inspired by the Center's harmonious and tranquil environment and through Mrs Lin's explanations both guests gained a better understanding of the Master's compassionate vows on humanity. Mr Gamzou said that Dharma Drum Mountain is a place blessed with serenity, one that would surely bring about inner peace in people.
On behalf of Venerable Master Sheng Yen, the Abbot President of DDM,Venerable Guo Dong, greeted the honored guests at the Center and said DDM is opened for individuals seeking peace, in addition to cultivating Buddha's wisdom from every corner of the world.
Venerable Guo Dong spoke about the idea of "peace", asserting that without inner peace, peace in the world can hardly be achieved. The Abbot President said this concept of "inner peace" presented by Venerable Master Sheng Yen has been gradually envisaged by people in the international community as a solution for peace.
He added peace will only be sustained amongst people, communities and nations when one can maintain inner peace. Representative Gamzou agreed and cited as an example, suicide bombers in Palestine - hatred is generated when the mind is not peaceful.
After a delicious vegetarian lunch together, the Abbot President presented, as gifts to the ISECO's Representative, a wooden tablet inscribed with Chinese characters "Peace & Harmony" and a collection of Master Sheng Yen's English publications.
Later that afternoon, the Abbot President personally accompanied the two honored guests to tour the Founding History Memorial Hall and the Wish Fulfilling Guanyin Hall again in greater detail to further the understanding of Master Sheng Yen and the Center's history.
As they walked by the "Wishing Bodhi Tree", a tree that symbolically represents a bodhi tree where anyone can make wishes for themselves and offer good wishes to others, Mr. Gamzou stopped to write down his wishes and hung it on the tree as a gesture of putting the DDM mission "building a pure land on earth" into action.
ISECO's special visit to DDM concluded in an atmosphere of gratitude and peace.
(Reported & photos taken by Jin Yang/edited by DDM Australia Editing Team)
