Gratitude for the Nurturing of Alma Mater - Abbot President of Dharma Drum Mountain Visits Rissho University for Lecture and Donation of Scholarships

From May 22nd to 26th, the Abbot President of Dharma Drum Mountain, Venerable Guo Huei, went to Japan for a visit. In addition to delivering a special lecture and meeting with former teachers and friends at his alma mater, Rissho University in Tokyo, this trip also fulfilled the compassionate vow of the founder of Dharma Drum Mountain, Master Sheng Yen, by making donations to the "Sheng Yen Scholarship" of the alma mater. This was done in the hopes of benefiting more young students to engage in Buddhist studies and spread the Dharma more widely and profoundly.
 
On the morning of the 24th, the Abbot President delivered an academic lecture titled "Research on the 'Sutra on the Concentration of Sitting Meditation' - Focus on the Six Wondrous Dharma Gates".  Rissho University made a special invitation to the Abbot President's mentor, Professor Kenyo Mitomo. The faculty and alumni of the Department of Buddhist Studies also participated in this wonderful event.
 
Before the lecture, the Abbot President played the Japanese version of a video titled "The Rising Great Compassion, the Eternal Sound of Dharma Drum”. This video introduced the concepts of Master Sheng Yen's promotion of the three types of education and four kinds of environmental protection, as well as the efforts of Dharma Drum Mountain sangha in promoting Chinese Chan Buddhism worldwide. "Both Guo Huei and I completed our degrees at Rissho University. We have been engaged in teaching and propagating the Dharma in Taiwan and around the world. If any merit is attained, I am willing to dedicate it to Rissho University and my predecessors, through the merits of our practice and propagational efforts." The sound of applause filled the venue when the voice of Master Sheng Yen came through the video.
During his period of study in Japan, Master Sheng Yen successfully completed his studies with a scholarship provided by an anonymous donor. In order to repay this kindness, Master Sheng Yen subsequently established scholarships both domestically and internationally. In 2005, Master Sheng Yen returned to his alma mater to donate and establish the Sheng Yen Scholarship, thereby encouraging students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees in Chinese Buddhism.
 
On May 24th, following in the footsteps of his teacher, the Abbot President made a donation in support of Sheng Yen Scholarship. The donation was accepted by Professor Annaka Naofumi, the head of the Department of Nichiren Buddhism at Rissho University, in the hope that it would further contribute to the advancement of Buddhist studies and the propagation of the Dharma. After the lecture, the Abbot President and his entourage visited the Honno-ji Temple to meet with Professor Kiriya Seiichi. On May 25th, they visited the dojo of Professor Kenyo Mitomo, Kooji Temple in Saitama Prefecture. In the afternoon, they paid a visit to the widow of the president of Sankibo, who printed Venerable Master Sheng Yen's doctoral thesis to express their gratitude.
 
Amidst his busy Dharma work, the Abbot President made a rare visit to Japan to deliver a lecture. The Abbot President drew inspiration from Master Sheng Yen’s quote "The busy make the most of time" and shared with the audience that although Master Sheng Yen's physical body is no longer here, his Dharma body is eternal. As his successors, we should remember Master Sheng Yen's compassionate vows and strive to pass on the Dharma to the next generation.

Text: 隨行小組
Photo: 隨行小組
Translation: Glen Sha
Editing: Keith Brown, YKL