DDM Abbot President Pays Tribute at Fo Guang Shan Monastery, Mourning the Passing of Elder Master Hsing Yun

On February 10 at noon, DDM Abbot President Ven. Guo Huei set out to Fo Guang Shan Monastery with more than 50 devotees from the Kaohsiung and Ping-Tung area, to offer incenses, pay tribute, and show gratitude to the Elder Master's contributions to Buddhism.

Fo Guang Shan Head Abbot Venerable Hsin Bao and DDM Abbot President Venerable Guo Huei recollected Elder Master Hsing Yun's life-long commitment towards spreading the Dharma and promoting the "Three Acts of Goodness" and "Four Types of Giving". The Abbot President described  the statement, "Commit our devotions to the service of this earthly realm, for in reality we are repaying the kindness of the Buddha" as a wonderful portrayal of the Elder Master's life. After the late Master Tai Xu, Master Hsing Yun was the first true practitioner of Humanistic Buddhism, as well as  an exemplary representation of the Great Bodhi mind. We have deep faith that Fo-Guang-Shan's congregation will follow and abide by the Elder Master's teachings and guidance and continue to propagate the Buddhadharma.

DDM Abbot President Ven. Guo Hui and Head Abbot of Fo Guang Shan Ven. Hsin Bao both earnestly hope that the monastics and lay disciples of both Buddhist organizations will abide by the Buddha and their respective founders' vows, in propagating the Dharma and perpetually keeping it alive. On the morning of February 13, former DDM Abbot President Ven. Guo Dong led the DDM Sangha representatives and lay devotees to participate in the Memorial Service and Cremation Ceremony of Elder Master Hsing Yun. 

Making a special trip to Kaohsiung just to attend the service, DDM's General Association of Dharma Supporters Vice President Shi-Tang Lin and his wife reflected on the highly dignified Buddhist ceremony prepared by Fo Guang Shan for Elder Master Hsing Yun. It brought back memories of Master Sheng Yen's passing 14 years ago. Both ceremonies affirmed the value of cherishing and living our lives to their fullest, while encouraging future generations to learn and practice diligently.

Text，Photo：Yao-chung Chang (張曜鐘) 2023.02.10
Translation：Ariel Shen (沈純湘)
Edited by：Keith Brown, Cheng-Yu Chang (張振郁)