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中華民國立法院長王金平偕夫人於八月廿七日前往萬佛聖城參加地藏菩薩聖誕法會。同行者包括臺北駐舊金山經文處處長曾慶源伉儷以及僑選立委洪讀等人。
王金平院長本人是佛教徒，他在地藏菩薩聖誕法會的午齋中向在場約七百餘名佛教徒致詞時指出，他每年從農曆五月起就開始誦《地藏經》，誦到農曆七月底為止，依自己時間多寡而訂誦經遍數，總是以七的倍數為原則。王平院長說他誦《地藏經》頗有感應，冥冥中受益無窮。午齋期間由恆實法師、易象乾教授、易果參居士等人陪同這些來賓。其中恆實法師在最近萬佛聖城三壇大戒期間，擔任得戒師，成為佛教在美國第一位傳授具足戒的美籍法師。王金平院長認為這意味著佛教在美國的紮根。恆實法師也為王金平院長等人講解佛法，並答覆有關佛教修行方面的問題。
王院長一行除了參觀萬佛聖城的景觀之外，也瞻仰了宣公上人的舍利。他這次到舊金山灣區是專程參加臺灣同鄉聯合會第23屆年會，在返臺之前，特地抽空到萬佛聖城來一趟「心靈之旅」。
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Wang Jinping, the Secretary of the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China, came with his wife to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas to participate in the Dharma Assembly celebrating the Earth Store Bodhisattva's birthday.
Accompanying him were Zeng Qingyuan, Director of the San Francisco-based Taipei Office of Economy and Culture, and his wife. Overseas Legislative Representative HongDu, and others.
Secretary Wang is a Buddhist. During his address to the more than 700 Buddhists at the Earth Store Bodhisattva birthday celebration and luncheon, he pointed out that every year he recites the Earth Store Sutra starting in the fifth lunar month and concludes at the end of the seventh lunar month. He would recite the Sutra a number of times depending on his time, but always in multiples of seven. Secretary Wang said that he has received quite a few responses and boundless, though invisible, benefits, from reciting the Earth Store Sutra.
During that vegetarian luncheon, Dharma Master Heng Sure, Professor Ronald Epstein, Tcrri Nicholson, and others accompanied these guests. Among them, Dharma Master Heng Sure was the Precept Master who presided over the transmission of the Complete Precepts during the Threefold Ordination at the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas He became the first American Dharma Master to transmit the Complete Precepts in the United States. Secretary Wang Jinping believes that this symbolizes the strengthening of Buddhism's roots in America. Dharma Master Heng Sure also explained Buddhadharma and answered questions related to Buddhist cultivation for Secretary Wang and others.
Secretary Wang Jinping and company not only toured the sights at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, but also paid respects to the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua's sharira [relics]. He had come to the San Francisco Bay area to join the 23rd annual conference of the Overseas Taiwanese Association. Before returning to Taiwan, he specifically took time out for a "spiritual journey" to the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.
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