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News from the Dharma Realm OPENING THE LIGHT The week of November 4th marks the dedication of the 18' high golden image of Kuan Yin Bodhisattva which graces the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas. This special event coupled with the Official Opening of Dharma Realm Buddhist University and a general open house for all of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, will be attended by Buddhists throughout the world. During an Opening the Light Ceremony, the image of a Buddha, Bodhisattva, Patriarch, or Sage becomes engendered with an efficacy which ever remains and brings inconceivable equable and compassionate benefit to all who draw near, pay homage, revere and worship, and make offerings, inspiring deep faith, firm sincerity, and constant practice in multitudes of beings. The entire week of November 4th will be devoted to learning about the Orthodox Dharma. Investigation of the Pure Land, Vinaya, Teachings, Ch'an, and the Secret School will be carried on and an opportunity will be available to join in the practice of the Proper Dharma in all its aspects. DHARMA REALM BUDDHIST UNIVERSITY SCULPTURE SHOW Professor F. Chowe welcomed visitors to the Dharma Realm Buddhist University campus for the opening of a display of sculpture, paintings, and drawings done by students and faculty of DRBU's College of Fine Arts. The sculptures are of mixed media and primarily are products of classes held at DRBU's main campus, the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, during the past year. Featured is a three quarter size walnut carved image of the Venerable Master Hsu Yun done by Professor Chowe. The show will remain through the Official Opening of DRBU held the week of November 4th. RESCUE COUNCIL FORMED The Compassionate Avalokitesvara of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Refugee Rescue Council, a nation wide organization of American Buddhist congregations, has been formed to aid in the effort to care for refugees who are fleeing oppression and suffering in Southeast Asia. Guided by the compassion for living beings in distress which is the fundamental teaching of Buddhism, the majority of Buddhist organizations in America with centers in nearly 100 cities, have banded together to seek approval from American government agencies to bring refugees from the camps in Asia and help them towards new lives in America. The Refugee Council was founded by the Sino American Buddhist Association and the Buddhist Association of the United States of America. Under the Refugee Council's auspices, refugee families and individuals will be cared for by Buddhist congregations across the country. A larger group of refugees will be welcomed for care at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. The staff of the Sino American Buddhist Association and Dharma Realm Buddhist University will devote their efforts and skills to help the refugees in their adjustment to relocation and to train them in English and in vocational skills so that they can become productive members of American society. The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas will offer special care for elderly refugees and children who have been separated from their families and for other refugees who, for whatever reason, would hive difficulty in adjusting to American life. Because Buddhists in America, whether of Asian or Western origin, share the religious beliefs of many of the refugees and are familiar with their language and cultural patterns, the members of the Buddhist Refugee Rescue Council will be able to understand the refugee's needs and help them quickly over the difficulties of being relocated in a new country. SIXTY-EIGHT DAY FAST Dharma Master Heng K'ung, disciple of the Venerable Master Hua, recently completed a 68 day fast during which he took nothing but a little water each day. Under the guidance of the Venerable Abbot, Dharma Master K'ung practiced this Dharma door of Compassion in order to dedicate the merit to all peoples of the world suffering from hunger and thirst, difficulty and distress. He especially dedicated his practice to the homeless people of Southeast Asia in the hope that they might quickly find relief from their plight. Dharma Master Heng K'ung has successfully completed several long fasts prior to this recent one and was well-trained in the method of fasting before attempting sixty-eight days without food. Such a practice is not recommended (and would not be possible at all) without proper training and expert guidance. How rare is the opportunity to be able to cultivate the Proper Dharma! How, fortunate to meet with a Good Knowing Advisor who recognizes the Right Path and compassionately points out the Way to those who seek! HIS HOLINESS TENZIN GYATSO THE XIV DALAI LAMA VISITS THE UNITED STATES This year on September 5th the Fourteenth Dalai Lama visited the United States for the first time in history. Arriving in New York, he was greeted by overflow crowds at Saint Patrick's Cathedral as he spoke on a theme that he was to repeat throughout his tour of the major cities of the United States: the principle and feeling of compassion that unites all people in the world, regardless of their cultural background, race, nationality, or religion, into one family. "Compassion," said His Holiness, "is the only hope for this world, for only when there is peace with in will there be peace in the world. Compassion is not the property of any one religion, but is a common feeling of brother and sisterhood that all can share when they think of others and try to benefit others instead of themselves." From New York the Dalai, Lama went to New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Texas, and then to Los Angeles where he arrived on September 20th. In Los Angeles he was invited to speak by the World Affairs Council; the International Cooperation Council, the University of Oriental Studies, and the Claremont College, all to full houses of several thousand, among others. His Holiness arrived in San Francisco on the 26th of September, and was welcomed in the Mayor's Office at City Hall at a private reception attended by religious and civic leaders, and spoke on several occasions including a large lecture at Oakland Auditorium, and a luncheon hosted by the Common wealth Club of California, among others. In response to a question. His Holiness said that what he appreciated most about America was the warmth and friendliness with which he has been welcomed a sure sign of the great world family that is one in compassion. Before
leaving the United State he will travel with his entourage Seattle, Ann
Arbor, Amherst, Providence, Howell, New Jersey, New York and Cambridge,
Massachusetts for a final address at Harvard University. |