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北加州達摩鎮萬佛聖城自十月十八日至廿一日舉行第七屆佛教僧伽會議，這項會議由加州紅木谷無畏寺的阿莫若法師，與科羅拉多州噴泉市的卡丘法師負責聯繫安排，無畏寺的吉亭地拉法師從旁協助。
今年與會的四十二名僧眾（男十六名，女廿六名）來自佛教各宗派 -- 泰國南傳住山僧眾、日本曹洞宗、中國大乘教派、藏教金剛乘、韓國曹溪禪宗等、越南禪宗等。這項一年一度的會議，旨在為佛教各宗派的僧眾代表提供集思廣益的場地，以研究討論如何在西方將佛教發揚光大。
會議於十八日（週四）晚間以歡迎介紹掀開序幕，週五至週日共召開五項議程，各為時兩個半小時。週五上午的議程由佐莫法師與帕沙諾法師擔任召集人，討論「在西方守持佛門清規 -- 基本要義是什麼。」討論重點包括「捨」的價值、受戒與訓練、以及西方民主與平等理念如何影響佛教。梅度法師、丘卓融法師與善提卡若法師擔任當天下午的召集人，討論題綱為「適應西方 -- 返本歸真。」其重點有：兩性平等或無男女相、比丘尼戒律、女眾在僧團中的地位，佛教與西方心理學的接觸，現代科技對佛教的影響。
週六上午，卓爾瑪法師與恒持法師提出「轉世間法學出世法」的見解，討論如何在有志出家的人當中進行挑選、考驗與訓練；如何處理問題人物，以及西方人在適應古老亞洲佛教規矩的困難之處。美籍恒持法師極力主張西方人不宜貿然自創西式佛教門風，儘管對西方人而言，接受亞洲佛教傳統有若干困難之處，但也應小心不要隨意丟棄許多傳統，否則佛法即將式微，無法流傳久遠。亞洲佛教融入西方的過程應採漸進方式。
週六下午討論「生命的核心 -- 奉獻與服務」。由實法師與伊可法師擔任討論召集人。兩位法師都強調奉獻在佛教中的重要性，也強調佛教儀式採用母語唱誦的重要，以提昇心靈，淨化每日生活與修行。
週日上午由卡丘法師與阿莫若法師領導議程，邀請所有與會者分享經驗，並提出明年會議主題的建議。目前暫定第八屆佛教僧伽會議，將於明年十一月中旬在萬佛聖城舉行。
除了參加討論議程之外，與會者也在萬佛聖城隨眾參加早、晚課、午供、用齋，並前往無言堂瞻仰上人舍利，參觀戒壇。
所有與會者都很感謝有這樣的機會與不同宗派的僧眾共聚一堂，在修行路上互相勉勵提攜，並對僧團在西方的茁壯與健全等重要議題提出建議。今年會議雖已閉幕，但與會的僧眾代表均深受啟發，充滿希望，也更加認知到和合的僧團所能夠為西方世界帶來的貢獻。
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The 7th Buddhist Monastic Conference was convened for the first time at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, Talmage, northern California, from the evening of Thursday, October 18 to noon on Sunday, October 21. This year's conference was organized by Ven. Ajahn Amaro of Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in Redwood Valley, California, and Ven. Tenzin Kacho of Colorado Springs. They were assisted by Ven. Ajahn Jitindriya of Abhayagiri. The 42 conference attendees (16 men, 26 women) this year hailed from a diversity of monastic traditions -the Theravada Thai Forest Tradition, Japanese Soto Zen, Chinese Mahayana, Tibetan Vajrayana (Gelugpa, Kagyu), Korean Chogye (Tsao Chi) Zen School, and Vietnamese Zen. The purpose of this annual conference is to create a space for representatives of different traditions and schools of Buddhism to discuss issues pertinent to the development and flourishing of Buddhist monasticism in the West.
The conference schedule began with a welcome and introduction Thursday evening, followed by five 2½ hour discussion sessions from Friday to Sunday. The Friday morning discussion, led by Ven. Lekshe Tsomo and Ven. Ajahn Pasanno, focused on "Upholding the Monastic Tradition in the West - What are the Essentials?" Points of discussion included the value of renunciation, ordination and training, and how Western ideals of democracy and equality have influenced Buddhism. Reverend Meido, Venerable Thubten Chodron and Ven. Ajahn Santikaro led the afternoon session, entitled "Adaptation to the West - Keeping True to the Source." Some of the issues mentioned included gender equality or irrelevance, Bhikshuni ordination and the place of women in the Sangha, the interface with Western psychology, and the effects of modern technology.
On Saturday morning, Ven. Konchok Drolma and Bhikshuni Heng Ch'ih presented their perspectives on "Transforming Worldly Ways into Monastic Ways," discussing the selection, testing, and training of aspirants for the monastic life, dealing with problematic people, and areas of difficulty for Westerners adapting to an ancient Asian form. Bhikshuni Heng Ch'ih strongly recommended that while Westerners may find it difficult to accept Asian Buddhist traditions, we should take care not to casually dismiss traditional ways while rushing to invent our own Western traditions, lest the Dharma becomes too weak to last. Transition should be gradual.
The Saturday afternoon discussion "Heart of the Life - Devotion and Service" was led by Rev. Heng Sure and Rev. Master Eko, both of whom stressed the importance of the devotional aspect of Buddhism and of a liturgy in the native tongue that uplifts the mind and sanctifies daily life and practice.
Ven. Tenzin Kacho and Ven. Ajahn Amaro led the discussion on Sunday morning, inviting all attendees to share their experiences and to suggest topics for next year's conference, which is tentatively scheduled for mid-November at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.
In addition to discussion issues concerning monastic life, conference participants attended the regular morning and evening recitations, as well as the meal offering and formal noon meal. They also paid respects to the Venerable Master's sharira at No Words Hall and visited the Ordination Hall.
All the participants expressed their gratitude for this opportunity to meet monastics of various different traditions, to mutually support and encourage one another in our monastics practice, and to broach important issues concerning the establishment of a strong and healthy Buddhist Sangha in the West. We were all truly inspired and filled with enthusiasm and hope as this year's conference concluded, and also more aware of what we can offer to the Western world as a harmonious, united Sangha.
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