Fujian Buddhist College Visited Dharma Drum Sangha University – The Abbot President Presented the Chinese Calligraphy Work of Master Sheng Yen as a Gift

At 9:30 a.m. on September 10th, Venerable Master Benxing, Dean of Fujian Buddhist College with 40 years of history and Abbot of Guanghua Temple in Putian, led an educational exchange delegation of 8 people, including the Vice President of the Fujian Buddhist Association Venerable Rumiao, specifically to visit the Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education and the Dharma Drum Sangha University. Accompanied by the Vice Deans of Dharma Drum Sangha University, Venerable Chang Kuan and Venerable Guo Guang, as well as more than 40 monastics and Buddhist followers, Dharma Drum Mountain Abbot President Venerable Guo Huei warmly greeted and welcomed the visiting group from Mainland China.

During the tea gathering, the two parties exchanged views about the Sangha education subject. Abbot President Venerable Guo Huei stated that the Fujian Buddhist College's Bhikshu and Bhikshuni Sanghas, which reside in Guanghua Temple and Chongfu Temple respectively, are both monastic communities well-versed in the precepts and Buddhist practice. Venerable Master Benxing's books also have had a great effect on spreading the Dharma to benefit sentient beings in various places. After the pilgrimage tour to India, DDM Sangha also plans to visit mainland China again to maintain positive interactions with various Buddhist temples and monasteries.

Venerable Master Benxing explained that there were four reasons for their visit. The first was to show gratitude to Dharma Drum Mountain for its support in the academic forum held by Fujian Buddhist College in the past. The second was to commemorate Master Sheng Yen's passing, as well as familiarize themselves with the traditions and characteristics of the Dharma Drum School founded by Venerable Master Sheng Yen. The third was to seek to obtain suggestions from DDM's Buddhist educational institutions, including the Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies, for future academic activities pertaining to Fujian Buddhist College's 40th anniversary. Lastly, it was hoped that DDM and Fujian Buddhist College can more frequently conduct educational exchanges.

Afterwards, Venerable Chang Kuan and Venerable Guo Guang explained the characteristics of DDM's extensive academic education and Dharma Drum Sangha University. Meanwhile, Dharma Drum Sangha University's main executive monks and nuns successively addressed topics raised by the visiting group members, which included the transmission and innovation of Buddhist education; Buddhism that is both socially engaged and world-transcending; sanctity and secularization of Buddhism, Buddhist faith, Sangha education, social responsibility and scientific literacy, and so on.

After lunch with the visiting group, DDM former Abbot President Venerable Guo Dong also joined in the guided tour around the Center and personally introduced the visiting group to the Wish Fulling Guanyin Bodhisattva Hall, the Founding History Memorial Hall, and Dharma Shop, which deeply moved the group members. During his feedback remarks, Venerable Master Benxing stated that the "Spiritual Environmental Protection" proposed by the DDM founder Master Sheng Yen— in addition to the four steps in dealing with problems "face it, accept it, deal with it, let it go"— are all highly recognized and known by the religious circles and people in Mainland China today.

Venerable Guo Huei explained to the visiting group that the mission of Dharma Drum Mountain is to propagate Chinese Chan Buddhism with Spiritual Environmental Protection as its core, thereby achieving world purification through the three types of education. At the same time, Venerable Guo Huei also presented each one of the visiting group members a copy of the Chinese calligraphy work of Venerable Master Sheng Yen "Blessings and Wisdom" as a gift, as well as "Finding Way Home" and other books, wishing them fruitful exchanges with other Buddhist organizations and monastic educational institutions.



Text: 張曜鐘
Photos: 張曜鐘 
Translation: YKL
Editing: Keith Brown