DDM Hosts Music Concert in Memory of Venerable Master Sheng Yen
Prior to the Transmission Day of Dharma Light on 12 February at the Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education, a music concert was held at Taipei’s Sun Yat-San Memorial Hall on 10th and 11th February 2011 in memory of the late Venerable Master Sheng Yen.
The Abbot President, Venerable Guo Dong, Vice President, Mr. Vincent Siew, former Mayor of New Taipei County, Mr. Si-Wei Chou, Minister of Mainland Affairs Council, Miss Shin-Yuan Lai, Minister of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Mr. Yen-Shiang Shih and local celebrities attended the concert to commemorate the Master’s spirit and teachings.
The concert started with beautiful songs of Dharma Drum Mountain pperformed by the Yu Yun Symphonic Orchestra. This was then followed by a moving performance by an internationally well-known young pianist, Mr. Sheng-Lian Zhang.
According to Zhang, he devoutly practices chanting the ‘Heart Sutra’ everyday. Moreover, having been deeply moved by the Master’s teachings, he has made a vow to undertake religious studies in order to propagate the Dharma in English in the future.
In his welcome speech, Abbot President Venerable Guo Dong thanked all guests for attending the concert which had been organized in commemoration of the Master’s teachings and his spirit. The Abbot President stressed that ‘although it has been two year since Venerable Master Sheng Yen had renounced his dharma body, the DDM Sangha Community has been constantly and devoutly walking on the path he had taught which is the vision of 'building a pure land on earth'.
He encouraged everyone to constantly have a bright light shining in their heart and to dedicate their efforts to the construction of a ‘pure land’. “This is the best way to honour Venerable Master Sheng Yen.”
The concert ended on a high note with the screening of a few documentaries and films introducing the Master’s ideas and life, as well as his Dharma talks.
(translated by Jin Yang/edited by DDM Australia Editing Team)
