Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Purity in Character


While I was writing out a chapter on purity in character from the Flower Adornment Sutra as part of my practice in Chinese calligraphy, I was notified of the passing of Master Sheng Yen by Linda, a fellow Buddhist friend. As some of you may know, Master Sheng Yen is the initiator and prime mover of the Dharma Drum Mountain movement that has made signficant contribution to the propagation of Buddhist practice in US (the image at the top containing his great vow, is taken from the Dharma Drum Mountain website). And his demise, perhaps not unexpected because of his long drawn medical condition resulting from kidney dysfunction, marks yet another episode of the cyclicity of life and death as we mortals see it. But to Buddhist stalwarts, this is the ultimate liberation after having been enlightened.





















1 comment:

Lee Wei Joo said...

The passing of Master Sheng Yen is a loss to Buddhists everywhere. I pray for him and for Buddhists. May Guan Yin watch over us. I know Mom is generating merit by writing out the Sutra chapters. I love you Mom!